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danielita · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 281 Location: SLP

This morning a Mexican colleague told me that I drive like a Mexican. At first I thought it was a compliment. You know, like I am really fitting in well here and adjusting to the culture and stuff. On second thought, perhaps it wasn't.
It was just after I crossed a tope and then changed into a different lane (if context helps). Thoughts?

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

My wife says I totally drive like a chilango...and it isn't a compliment. Rather a white-knuckled expression of fear.

MELEE · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:39 pm Post subject:

Considering that you live in a place where people think "knowing how to drive" is the same as "knowing how to operate a motor vehicle" I don't think that was a compliment Danielita!

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

The remark was not complimentary...

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

I think it would have been uncomplimentary had she said "you drive like a Mexican woman" which is what everyone here maintains to be the worst of drivers, but not necessarily a bad thing that Danielita simply drive's like a Mexican. I sort of drive like a Mexican myself after years of driving here. Survival of the fittest, and I am not sure I could drive anywhere else again without being put in jail! Once, a Mexican woman blew her horn at me as I was scurrying across a cross-walk and I swear she was prepared to run me over had I dawdled. I haven't done that yet, but those pesky pedestrians do get in the way and slow traffic. Smile

El Gallo · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 318

Could be worse. I was told I drive like a Chiapaneco.

Everyday I drive here I feel like I'm on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

Back home, my brother wont let me drive his car anymore Razz

danielita · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 281 Location: SLP

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Ahhh...you didn't mention in your original post that your back-seat-driver friend was a Mexican MALE! I refuse to drive with my husband in the car. There is something about the infamous machismo that creeps out in this particular scenario. Don't try to figure it out or give it another thought.

MELEE · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:58 pm Post subject:

I actually taught my husband, brother-in-law and one of their male cousins to drive. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th best drivers in town if you ask me!

El Gallo · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 318

One of my Mexican acquaintences drives like my father used to say, "Like a mad god after a bad Mormon" (I don't know why he picked on the Mormons but I suspect it was because we lived in Utah and he wasn't one) Anyway, this Mexican, when he rides with me, is one's worst nightmare of a backseat driver. "Tope, tope!", he screams. "Aguas!" "Aguas" "La policia!" "La policia!" Finally, in frustration, I pull over and ask him in English if he wants to drive. Although he pretends not to understand English (he lived in the US), he meekly smiles and say "gracias, no" Question

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

... and they won't let me drive here because in the UK we drive on the opposite side of the road!

MELEE · Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:05 pm Post subject:

danielita · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 281 Location: SLP

thelmadatter · Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 2:47 pm Post subject: driving

I wonder how much of this is regional. I remember being shocked and scared when I first saw how Toluque�os drove. Mexico City? Well, big cities are the same everywhere.

However, when I lived in Arizona, my then-husband and I used to drive around Sonora and I never saw anything that bothered me, except for the occasional bad road and learning the word "tope" the hard way. Maybe there is a north-south divide in driving styles?

Gary Denness · Guest