Living in Costa Rica Retirement Relocation Tours.

Vehicles to Own in Costa Rica

1. Best Brand for quality and reliability in CR.

Number 1. Toyota
Number 2. Nissan
Number 3. Landrover
Number 4. Isuzu
Number 5. Mercedes
Number 6. Suzuki
Number 7. Chrysler (Dodge, Jeep, etc.)
Number 8. GMC (Chevrolet, etc.) and Ford
Number 9. Kia
Number 10. Hundai

2. Best Brand for getting parts and technicians who know how to repair that same brand in CR.

Number 1. Toyota
Number 2. Hundai
Number 3. Kia
Number 4. Nissan
Number 5. Isuzu
Number 6. GMC (chevrolet, etc.) and Ford
Number 7. Chrsyler (Dodge, Jeep, etc.)
Number 8. Suzuki
Number 9. Landrover
Number 10. Mercedes

3. Best Vehicle Type or Style for use on very poor unpaved roads during the worst of the rainy season.

Number 1. Full-sized 4×4 pickup
Number 2. Full-sized 4×4 SUV
Number 3. Small to Mid-sized 4×4 pickup
Number 4. Mid-sized Crossover 4×4 like Nissan X Trail or similar
Number 5. Small 4×4 SUV
Number 6. Full-sized front wheel drive passenger van
Number 7. Front wheel drive minivan or wagon
Number 8. Rear wheel drive minivan, wagon or pickup
Number 9. Small front wheel drive sedan
Number 10. Rear wheel drive sedan

4. Safest vehicle type on those same very poor dirt roads during the rainy season.

Number 1. Mid-sized 4×4 crossover SUV (CUV)
Number 2. Full-sized 4×4 pickup
Number 3. Full-sized front wheel drive passenger van
Number 4. Full-sized 4×4 SUV
Number 5. Small to Mid-sized 4×4 pickup
Number 6. Small 4×4 SUV
Number 7. Front wheel drive minivan or wagon
Number 8. Rear wheel drive minivan, wagon or pickup
Number 9. Small front wheel drive sedan
Number 10. Rear wheel drive sedan

5. Automatic Transmission VS Manual

We have already learned it is difficult to find mechanics who know how to repair or even properly service automatic transmissions. Are there any brands of vehicles who have been carrying automatic transmissions in CR long enough to have a good team of trained mechanics and access to parts for this to be a reasonable choice?

6. Gasoline vs Diesel? I would like to hear CRL members experiences with these 2 fuels. Also even Propane?

7. True New Car Dealers in Costa Rica. I would like recommendations for true factory authorized dealerships in Costa Rica. I see car dealers brandishing brand name signs, but I only want to deal with a full service new car dealer who can do all warranted service and repairs without hassle and minimal delays (I am a realist about the delays).