VW's Amarok pickup is perhaps the best transportation bargain in El Salvador
We’ll be the first to admit that, like smoked beer or steak tartar, Alex Roy is an acquired taste. He may come across as arrogant, but only because he really has been there and done that, with the t-shirt to prove it. We’ll also admit to being a bit skeptical about his latest J.F Musial-inspired mission, but it didn’t take long for this video to suck us in.
When it comes to road trips, we prefer ours north of the border. We have too many friends with too many stories about road trips ending in Mexican jails, which just isn’t our idea of a good time. Head farther south, and the political climate gets even more heated; El Salvador, according to the U.S. State Department and the CIA Fact Book, isn’t really an ideal place for a vacation getaway.
If you can get past the fact that your rental car will likely be the biggest piece of crap you’ve ever driven, and if the sight of barbed wire and ever-present (heavily) armed guards doesn’t give you cause for concern, El Salvador has perhaps the most active car culture in Central America. It’s also a reminder of how good we have things in the United States, since a Volkswagen GTI sells for roughly $45,000 in El Salvador. Ouch.
Also, don’t forget that you can get discounted new car pricing with a free quote through qualified local dealer partners.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
