The Road to Zacatecas: 1993 Coupes Across the Border

Back in '93, while we were still arguing about Bafana’s chances, a crew from *Car and Driver* took four seriously lekker coupes – a BMW, a Lexus, a Subaru, and a Ford – and drove them into the heart of Mexico. And it was utterly befok. Before load shedding and Takealot deliveries, there was a time when automotive journalism meant throwing a bunch of fast cars at a foreign country and seeing what happened. This is the story of that trip, a wild ride south of the border, and what it reveals about the cars we crave and the spirit of adventure. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best experiences are the ones you can’t plan for. ## The Setup: Detroit to Despair (and a Whole Lot of Cold) Jislaaik, the start of this trip wasn’t exactly a beach holiday. Imagine waking up to garbage trucks and temperatures hovering around zero degrees Fahrenheit in Detroit. That’s how the *Car and Driver* team kicked things off in February '93. The radio was spewing warnings that nine minutes outside would likely freeze your sinuses solid. Seriously. Lee Iacocca, meanwhile, had the good sense to head to Palm Springs. Smart man. The cold followed them south. Even after reaching Memphis, it was still a chilly nineteen degrees. By the time they hit San Antonio, Texas, the sky was “the gray color of despair,” and the temperature was a mere seven degrees from freezing. Sounds like a proper kak holiday, hey? They were clearly chasing something beyond a tan. ## Peso Problems: When a Buck Gets You 921,000… Pesos Okay, this is where things got properly mental. Forget checking the fuel price; the exchange rate was the real head-scratcher. For years, a dollar bought you twelve pesos. But in 1993, the Mexican government let the peso float, and it plummeted. A single dollar got you a whopping 3070 pesos. One of the *Car and Driver* staffers, Padgett, passed over $300 and received 921,000 pesos in return. He promptly lost his mind, realising he'd been short-changed. It's a good reminder, even today, to double-check the "nuevos" – the new, redenominated pesos. The government had issued bills where a thousand old pesos became one new peso. Easy to get confused, especially after a few Nando's peri-peri chicken wings. ## Boys' Town: Where 'Anything Goes' (and You Need to Watch Your Wallet) Mexico, they discovered, wasn't Club Med. It was… different. The article bluntly states that “anything goes” in parts of Mexico, and they weren’t necessarily talking about the music. They stumbled upon Ciudad de Los Muchachos, or "Boys' Town," a walled compound described as a place "devoted to the most basic ideal of human exchange." Translation: watch your wallet, bru. It's the kind of place you'd need a serious dose of street smarts, the kind you pick up navigating the Durban beachfront on a Saturday night. ## The Contenders: BMW, Lexus, Subaru, and a Yank Tank So, what were these brave cars facing? The lineup was a mixed bag: * **BMW 325is:** The nimble, European contender. * **Lexus SC300:** The Japanese luxury coupe. * **Subaru SVX:** The quirky, all-wheel-drive option. * **Ford Thunderbird SC:** The big, bold American muscle car. The *Car and Driver* team noted that American automakers weren’t exactly pumping out cars like these at the time. It was a “classic ‘foreign’ notion.” They even mentioned the absence of a Legend Coupe, as the PR folks wouldn't send one south of the border. ## The Thunderbird's Tale: Big, Bold, and Surprisingly Quick Let's talk about the underdog, the Ford Thunderbird SC. Weighing in at a hefty 3894 pounds and stretching 198.7 inches, it was the biggest and heaviest of the bunch. But don't write it off as just a land yacht. This thing had a supercharged 3.8-liter V6 under the hood. It managed a top speed of 139 mph and a quarter-mile time of 15.4 seconds – only a tenth of a second slower than the quicker BMW 325is. The supercharger provided “abundant and instantaneous punch,” even if the engine wasn't the most refined. It's a bit like a biltong – not fancy, but seriously satisfying. And on the smooth Texas highways, the electronically adjustable shocks kept things comfortable. ## So, What Does This Kak Story Tell Us About Cars Today? This trip wasn’t just about speed and handling. It was about the spirit of adventure. In an age of self-driving cars and electric vehicles, it’s easy to forget that cars were once tools for exploration, for pushing boundaries. These guys weren't worried about range anxiety or charging stations. They were worried about dodgy cops and getting ripped off in a money exchange. It reminds you that sometimes, the best cars aren't the most technologically advanced, but the ones that can handle whatever you throw at them. And that a little bit of risk can make the journey a whole lot more memorable. ## The 'Outsider' Factor: A Warning From the Border The trip ended with a surprisingly practical piece of advice. At the border, tourists were warned: “Don't Let Outsiders Take You By Surprise.” The sign explained that a stranger with their hand in your jeans wasn’t Mexican, they were an “outsider.” It’s a stark reminder that even in a place as vibrant and welcoming as Mexico, you need to be aware of your surroundings. It’s a lesson that applies anywhere, from Sandton City to a late-night braai. **Verdict:** This isn’t just a car review; it’s a snapshot of a different time. A time when automotive journalism was about throwing cars into the deep end and seeing if they could swim. The Ford Thunderbird SC, despite its size, proved it could hang with the best of them. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the biggest and boldest can surprise you. But does the spirit of this adventure still exist? Or have we become too obsessed with safety and comfort to truly explore? Click here to find out how modern automotive adventures stack up against this wild, befok trip to Mexico.