Quite well, thank you. Went to Jaco on the west coast. It's a surfer town, with a lot of Americans riding the waves, so it had a SoCal surfer scene aspect to it, complete with aging Spicolis. Add a good dash of Juarez, Mexico, of the '70's (before the cartels) and Central America's Next Top Model thrown in, and you can get a pretty good idea of what it's like.
Lots of diesels in Costa Rica. In fact, at least 40% of all the 4-wheeled vehicles (lotsa motorcycles down there, too) are diesel-powered. SUVs and 4-door mid-sized pick ups are very popular, and most anything over KIA Sportage-sized are diesel, many with "TURBO" emblazoned somewhere, and with little factory-installed hood scoops for the intercooler. Mitsubishi Montero and Sportero, Isuzu Rodeo and D-Max, Toyota HiLux, HiAce, Fortuner, something called a Land Cruiser Prado (Toyota is by far the largest seller down there), Hyundai H1 and Starex (Hyundai is also extremely popular), all diesel-engined. You're walking down the street in Jaco and hear the characteristic clattering as an unusual Ford Ranger drives by (turns out they're still being made in Australia). A third of the taxis are Corollas with "2.0D" on the trunklid. There are a couple of Yaris cabs that are gassers, the rest were diesel-powered Toyota HiAce vans and 4-door HiLux pickups.
It was much the same in Barbados last year, where I saw my first Mahindra pick-up (diesel, of course). Though almost no motorcycles on that island, curiously.
In both instances, diesel fuel was about a $1.00US cheaper per gallon, after currency exchange was figured in. Rudy (Diesel) would have been proud of this, as he invented his engine with the idea that it would help modernize developing countries, believing they could run cheaper fuels (specifically, peanut oil). Sad that anti-diesel sentiment in North America has resulted in our current pricing....
Also saw many Citroens (Berlingo) and other French cars; Peugeot (Partner, diesel) and Renault, all long-gone from the American scene. German cars were a bit unusual, VW, mostly, some Audis. Only saw a couple of Benzes; cars, not trucks, and not one was diesel-powered. Though, Freightliner does have a pretty good presence there, along with Mack.
Mark (now back) in Centennial, CO
I hope all is well in Costa Rica .-Nate
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