Let's go Carspotting in Mexico City using Google Earth: Vexing Volkswagens Edition!

"Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available" (whoistheleader2)
05/08/2020 at 16:34 • Filed to: Carspotting in Google Earth, Google Street View, Dots, Carspotting

I recently poked around on Google Earth out of boredom, happening to land in Mexico City. As usual, I decided to document some of the most unusual stuff to be found around the city.

Previously I have gone virtual carspotting in !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , so this time the vehicles were a little more familiar. Nevertheless, the streets were absolutely covered in interesting autos.

Volkswagen is absolutely huge in Mexico, so let’s start off with some of the more Germans I found on the streets of Mexico City.

Most of the Jettas around were in far far poorer condition than this minty blue GL model. I like how the graphics and color combo cheer up this otherwise relentlessly practical commuter coupe.

Indeed, despite the popularity of old VWs, lots of old Golfs and Jettas are sacrificed to the crusher every year to allow others to live.

Sold as the Caribe in Mexico, this Mk I. Golf is resplendent in its bright orange paint and GT graphics. Plenty of M k I.s were around, but very few came close to looking this good.

The scrap heap is not far away for most survivor Mk I. Caribes.

This graffiti’ d VW squareback otherwise would have been in excellent condition. I was surprised that this was the only Type 3 I could find on the streets. Plenty of other air cooled Type 1 and 2s littered every street corner, yet the more modern body style was notably absent.

As you can see, most air cooled volkswagens are beginning to look a little ragged after this long out of production. Plenty of more respectable Beetles and buses were available, but this patina was almost too perfect.

In the background, you can see another Volkswagen. Why don’t we get Utes in the US? That looks so useful.

Stay tuned, because we are just scratching the surface. From a well preserved AMC Eagle to what I think may be an old Skoda, the best is yet to come.

Can you recognize anything in the background I glossed over? Let me know. Thanks for reading.

DISCUSSION (12)

The Ghost of Oppo > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/08/2020 at 16:45

Going on what I call a “Google Street View Vacation” has been a great time killer for me recently and there are always unique cars catching my attention.

ranwhenparked > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/08/2020 at 16:48

I believe that Type 3 is actually a Volkswagen Brasilia, which used the Beetle’s floorpan and taller engine. They were designed by VW Brasil, but were also built in Mexico through 1982.

dogisbadob > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/08/2020 at 16:54

I was expecting to see more cool cars we don’t get up here

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > The Ghost of Oppo
05/08/2020 at 16:55

Indeed. I love visiting these exotic places that I might never otherwise see.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > dogisbadob
05/08/2020 at 17:29

That is tomorrow. Today is VWs, which are everywhere.

Svend > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/08/2020 at 20:04

1, 2000 Peugeot Partner.

2, VW Polo.

3, Suzuki Swift.

4, Chevrolet Chevy (what we had as the Vauxhall/Opel Corsa B), but with an odd grille and headlights.

5, (non U.S. available) Ford Focus Mk2.

6, SEAT Leon, with a refrigerated Renault Kangoo behind.

7, SEAT Mk2 Cordoba.

Kinja'd!!!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Svend
05/08/2020 at 20:57

Nice work! Most of the stuff I screenshotted tended to be a little older but I am always surprised by how much low end European stuff makes it to Mexico. I didn’t know SEAT was one of them though.

I actually thought that red Chevy in the background of the colorful Type 2 above was a Chevrolet Chevy (I learned about them from a Murilee Junkyard Find) but I think they were hatch only.

And doesn’t that mean that the Mk II Focus was sold alongside the US equivalent? I know I saw one of the US Focus sed ans around.

I’m assuming this is Mexico City as well.

Svend > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/08/2020 at 21:04

According to wiki. The one I posted is the Chevrolet Chevy also know as the C2 after 2004, while yours is the Chevrolet Chevy sedan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Corsa

All Mexican previous versions were known as the Chevy, with the names Monza used on the saloon , and Swing (five-door) and Joy (three-door) for the hatchbacks, all with a 1.6-liter 78 PS (57 kW) four-cylinder. There was also a low-end three-door model called the Chevy Popular, which was equipped with a 52 PS (38 kW) 1.4-liter engine. [35] The latter 2004 and 2008 redesigns were simply named Chevy and Chevy Sedán. The Chevy was a favourite among taxicab drivers and one of the best selling cars in the country.

Likelythe U.S. and Euro Focuses were sold alongside each other.

Yes, it’s Mexico City. Near the centre.

Mexico has a colourful mix of North American and Eu ropean vehicles.

I’m not sure if Skoda still sells in Mexico though.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Svend
05/08/2020 at 23:25

Ah ha! So that was a Chevrolet Chevy! That’s a crazy name for such a popular car from a major company.

I always do find the mix of vehicles fascinating. You’ve got a bunch of French cars and even SEATs (Spanish, I know) and lots of Americans cars and even used USDM cars when you get close to the border.

Svend > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/08/2020 at 23:45

They were sold in other parts of South America as Chevy Corsa, which makes much more sense than Chevrolet Chevy.

Skoda sell in Colo mbia, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guade loupe and Martinique but not Mexico.

Two of them are tiny islands, maybe those six sell Skodas but not SEATs.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Svend
05/09/2020 at 00:11

And I suppose many of those markets are easier and less expensive to enter than the US, making importing low end cars from abroad much more financially viable.

Svend > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/09/2020 at 04:56

Much easier. The islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique are French and they class their Commonwealth the same as their home country, just as they do Saint Pierre and Miquelon off the coast of America. The other countries probably have manufacturing or trade deals to offset any incoming cars.