Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Californians Buying Mexican Gas May Face Hidden Costs


The irascible blogger WC Varones yesterday reported on a story about San Diego residents driving to Mexico to fuel up, taking advantage of federale-subsidized prices.




Americans crossing the border to buy subsidized gas in Mexico:

A surge of drivers from the United States eager to escape record high gasoline prices flooded gas stations near the border crossing Saturday.
Motorists with California plates moved steadily through service stations. [...]
Lopez estimated that demand was up 30 percent from an ordinary weekend.
Workers at the stations surveyed attributed the increase to motorists from the United States.
Mexican gasoline comes from Pemex, the national oil company, and is subsidized by the federal government.Regular unleaded (87 octane) gasoline sells for $2.54 per gallon in the city, premium (91 octane) for $3.20 per gallon and diesel for $2.20 per gallon.


But is it such a good deal in the long run?


I asked some friends of mine from San Diego, and their responses were completely negative. One told me "You don't want Pemex. By the time it's trickled through the different levels of corruption five different politicians all have tanks full of pure and pockets lined with pesos and the fuel is about 10 percent water. Even the high-octane option'll make your car rattle and stink and run like shit."


Another friend said simply "I absolutely ruined an engine in a jeep on that trash."


Bear in mind that the plural of anecdote is not "data" but their response bears consideration.

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Sounds kinda like going across the border for women...