I guess you all know how it is since you're on NAM. I've wanted a MCS since they came out and have had a MINI Cuckoo clock since it came out! Couldn't wait any longer.

So, I bought a '05 BRG MCS white roof, stirpes with the premium & sport packages, the chrono pac, alarm system and, of course, an iPod adapter on December 23. I had the 17" wheels replaced with the 16" wheels. Yes, the 17s look nice, but the 16s are better for questionable roads and still corner past my maximum rate. Oh yes, I also bought an extra 16" tire (no wheel) for the road trip. Additionally I brought a couple of cans of FlatFixIt and a tire pump. Thankfully none of it was needed.

On January 1, my wife & I left Los Angeles with a little over 800 miles on the MINI. On January 5, we arrived in Guatemala City with just over 4000 miles on the car. We went through LA, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, crossed at Brownsville and drove down the Mexican Gulf Coast.

So now our Green Hornet is one of less than a dozen new MINIs in Guatemala. All have been brought in from the States, but as far as I know, ours is the only one that was driven.

Although this was a quick trip, it was nice to motor from Tuxtla Gutierrez to San Cristobal de las Casas with the sunroof open. I also recommend the iPod combined with audible.com books for those 15 hour days on the road.

Oh yeah! The car is everything I hoped it was. I've done US to Central America and vice versa trips in everything from SUVs and motorcycles, but a MINI is unique ride.

We saw lots of MINI's in LA, but we didn't see any on the trip. Come on folks! Let's do some serious motoring! Many thanks to all who have contributed their knowledge and MINI experience in the forums. Saludos!

 

very cool trip that is awsome.

 

Please post some pics! Now THAT is a road trip!

 

That guy just said he drove 3200 miles, in 4 days. Thats pretty amazing.
Could not have done it in a better colour, or car!

 

That is one awesome trip. I would love doing this but I am very afraid of driving in a foreign country with regions in turmoil and political unrest. I don't want to be robbed, shot at or kidnapped!

 

Hey guys. First of all no pictures on this trip. Sorry! Hopefully I can do some local trip pictures in the future.

It was actually a full five days. We left about 8 AM on Jan 1 and got in about 8 PM on Jan 5.

Finally, we all are wary of what we don't know. I'm from California but have worked most of my life in Latin America. My first road trip to Guatemala was on a Honda 350 in 1972. Yes, there are some things to be careful of, but I've been most worried when lost in parts of Miami and Washington DC that I didn't know!

Saludos

 

Great trip GuateMINI,

I used to live in Guatemala (among other places) and have done the drive too (except I went up the Eastern side of Mexico, through Texas and on to Ohio) Its a blast.

In Guate, I lived in Zona 9 and worked in Zona 12 for about half of my time there and lived and worked in Puerto Barrios, Izabal the other half of the time. Great Country enjoy it.

MGC

 

Wow - that sounds like a great road trip! Congratulations. I'm sure there aren't too many MINIs that can say they've made that trip - wait...you said less than a dozen....oops

Thanks for sharing!

 

I've got a history with Guatemala going back a ways. I originally came here on a Honda 350 in 1972 and have been in and out of the country over the years. Between '98 and 2002 I split my time between Zone 15 and the Ixcan (Northern Quiche). Now I split my time between Zone 14 and the Department of San Marcos. It is truly a beautiful country with great people.

Saludos

 

GuateMINI,

Your road-trip sounds amazing. I'm a fan of the fast jaunts myself (I've been known to do over 1400 miles in 2 days), so I find your pace to be pretty normal .

On my "list of things to do before I die" is a road trip down to Central America. Of course, being a short white girl from L.A. who speaks not a lick of any of the languages in Mexico or Central America, and having that stereotypical fear of driving south of the US border, it's always seemed a distant dream. But crazier things could happen!

I'd be interested to know more details about your route and the types of areas you encountered along the way.

 

Guatemini,

Thanks for the trip information and glad that you had a pleasant and safe ride in your new mini.

I have visited GC and Antigua and loved every minute of it.

Drove across the Yucatan Penninsula to Merida and had an eye opening blast...sorry it was in an Audi

Can't wait to take delivery here and cruise the Alps this spring without ski poles in my new mini.

No habla espanol though....is "mini" a seperate universal language? I hope so.

Veilen Spass Kommt Mit Mini

 

Nice to see there are folks interested in the Land of the Quetzal!

If my photo is approved, you should be able to see a picture of the Avispón Verde with Lake Atitlán and three volcanos in the background. This is about half an hour outside of Guatemala City.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...php?photo=4313

Yes, even though they don't sell MINIs here yet, it does bring smiles to peoples faces! A great combination; a non-threatening car that sticks in corners no wider than the MINI itself!

Saludos