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Locals cross border in search of cheaper gas

By Jonathon Shacat
Herald/Review
Published/Last Modified on Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 - 05:27:48 am MST

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NACO, Sonora — Erika Saavedra handed $30 to Francisco Moreno and he filled the gas tank of her Chevrolet car with more than 10 gallons of gas.

The exchange, which took place on Friday, seemed like a dream in this age of $4-per-gallon gas prices. But it was for real.

Saavedra, who lives in Naco, Ariz., and works in Bisbee, said she started crossing the U.S.-Mexico border to buy gas in Naco, Sonora, a couple weeks ago.

“I come here for different purposes. Like, right now, my main reason was to get gas. I’m on empty and I wasn’t going to pay $4 a gallon,” she said.

Mark Weber and Rachelle Madrigal, both of Bisbee, get the tanks of their cars filled up at PEMEX in Naco, Sonora, Mexico, where gas is about $1 cheaper per gallon. (Jonathon Shacat•Herald/Review)

Moreno, who pumps gas at the PEMEX station in Naco, Sonora, said Saavedra is one of many Americans who regularly come to Mexico to purchase gas.

Regular gas at the PEMEX station in Naco, Sonora, is about $1 cheaper per gallon than in Bisbee.

At the PEMEX on Friday, magna gas, which is 87 octane, cost 7.53 pesos per liter, or about $2.87 per gallon. The price for premium gas, which is 91 octane, was 8.56 pesos per liter, or about $3.26 per gallon. But, Moreno said, the station is not currently selling premium.

Meanwhile, at the Circle K in Bisbee on Friday, for example, regular gas, which is 87 octane, was $3.84 per gallon. And, premium, which is 91 octane, cost $4.04 per gallon.

Rachelle Madrigal and Mark Weber, both of Bisbee, saved a total of about $50 by getting gas for two cars at the PEMEX in Naco, Sonora, on Friday.

They started fueling up there about three weeks ago.

Weber said he has filled the tank of the Ford Crown Victoria there three times so far and he will continue to do so. It cost about $50 for about 17 1/2 gallons.

“The car runs fine,” he said.

Madrigal said it was the first time filling up the Dodge Ram 1500 there. Moreno put about 33 1/2 gallons in the vehicle for about $96.

Saavedra saved about $10 by getting gas in Naco, Sonora, on Friday. It’s money that she can use some other day.

“If you come down here and you have $10, you could put $5 worth of gas and then go and buy yourself some tacos for $5,” she said.

HERALD/REVIEW reporter Jonathon Shacat can be reached at 515-4693 or by e-mail at jonathon.shacat@bisbeereview.net.

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njbred wrote on Jun 26, 2008 9:52 AM:

" You might be saving now, but you will definitely have problems with your vehicle later on with that watered down and dirty gas.
Why would anyone in their right mind want to go over there in the first place? Murder abounds and it's just plain unsanitary. "

Ditto on the Gas wrote on Jun 26, 2008 8:56 AM:

" Sounds like someone should be a true patriot and lay off all that Tequila, but wait, thats a Product of Mexico. Newsflash, buying gas in America is just as Source suggests, a crapshoot. Where DID it come from Chavez and Venezuela?, our friends the women/gay/western hating Saudis? or some murderous African despot? At least PEMEX gas comes from Mexico. Mexican government policy is more one of neglect and cluelessness than actively trying to do us harm. The Mexicans like us, otherwise they wouldn't want to come here. The Islamists want us all dead. Period. "

Source of Gas wrote on Jun 25, 2008 9:04 AM:

" No one who purchases gas in the US can say where the oil came from, or which country, government, and company benefitted from it. If the buy USA only sentiment holds true and reveals the traitors, Wal-Mart, and every other store in this country is full of traitors on any given shopping day. Why pay more for the same thing? "

Tilson wrote on Jun 24, 2008 7:55 PM:

" United we stand or united we fall. If you are an American buying gas in Mexico and supporting the corrupt Mexican Government you are WRONG and UNPATRIOTIC. Move to mexico u traitors "

Whetstone Wally wrote on Jun 24, 2008 11:13 AM:

" SV Bubba is right. Mexico is for Mexicans and the USA is for true blue Americans! Why do you think we're spending billons of $$$ to build a much needed fence? Buying gasoline from Mexico is wrong and immoral. Keep it up and pretty soon we'll all be speaking Spanish! "

Adam wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:32 PM:

" I just want to thank the Herald for publishing this article. I just got back from Naco and even though I was quite apprehensive my transaction when very smoothly. After I converted the figures I got my gas for roughly $2.85/gallon, I couldn't be happier. "

Rachelle Madrigal wrote on Jun 18, 2008 12:57 PM:

" I just want you folks out there, who think that Mexico is the enemy, that I have been to Mexico many times and have met the most wonderful people with the best family values anywhere. Mexico is a beautiful country and the people are amazing. I also like the gas prices better and yes, the tacos are great. "

Pete wrote on Jun 17, 2008 11:02 AM:

" We have alot more innocent people killed in the USA than in Mexico that is a fact. "

st sierravistan wrote on Jun 16, 2008 3:34 PM:

" life IS cheap in Mexico...they drag their children across the desert to illegally enter the country, they accept the staus quo of Mexico rather than stand up and make changes (or the run for the border which leaves all the other Mexicans to live that life of no future no advancement..look at their gans both in Mexico and here...look at revenge drive-by shootings....yes we too have crime, but not that affects soooo many innocent people... "

Cheyenne wrote on Jun 15, 2008 10:08 PM:

" Pete, Lots of crime goes unreported in mexico. Lots of kidnappings for ransom. Isnt mexico City the kidnap capital of the world? The "Border Bandits" where were they from when they caught them? Yes they were not doing home invasions in mexico, just the USA. The federales/mexican security forces do most of the home invasions in mexico. "

Pete wrote on Jun 15, 2008 10:40 AM:

" To lawman many more kidnappings in USA "

lawman wrote on Jun 14, 2008 11:23 PM:

" To Pete, I've heard of KIDNAPPINGS over there. "

Pete wrote on Jun 14, 2008 7:53 PM:

" To st sierravistan Why you say cheap life in Mexico, more inocent people killed in the USA than in mexico, sure the drug cartels are having a shoot out but do you ever hear of home invasions over there? "

What are you talking about wrote on Jun 14, 2008 2:38 PM:

" There's nothing remotely comparable to people legally entering a country to legally purchase goods and services and people entering a country illegally and illegally acquiring goods and services (credit card fraud, SS fraud, identity theft, etc.) Where's this irony you speak of? "

Rancher wrote on Jun 14, 2008 12:16 PM:

" OK, does anyone know if they take credit cards? "

HA HA HA wrote on Jun 14, 2008 12:12 PM:

" Perhaps we "Mexicans" need to put that fence up to keep you all greedy gringos out? this is IRONY at it's finest, maybe we "MexiCANS" need to complain about all the Americans coming going over there to buy our cheap gas, smokes,liquor....... Where the heck are all those people rasing cane at? I don't see you all boycotting Mexico's cheap gas prices!!! "

Abetting my butt wrote on Jun 14, 2008 11:49 AM:

" It is not aiding and abetting. Mexico is not an enemy of the U.S.. Just because we have illegals does not make them an enemy and there is noting against the law for buying gas over there. It is not treason, just the fact that you are an idiot. Wow, that is your right too!!! Then again, you must be native american and your ancestors did not migrate to the U.S.. Tell me though, "Bubba', what tribe is that from? "

Pete wrote on Jun 14, 2008 11:37 AM:

" To SV Bubba I go over to Mex with a tank that holds several hundred gallons and save alot of money, same with diesel fuel. At least I can feed my family now. Mexico is not our enemy our own government and the oil companys are. "

Get Smart wrote on Jun 14, 2008 11:10 AM:

" SV Bubba, wow your ignorant, Why pay more to get less, when you can get more and pay less. I bet alot of us americans would love the chance to get cheaper gas like these people, I believe we all can say that WE ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF IN OUR OWN COUNTRY!!!! its just sad....... "

st sierravistan wrote on Jun 14, 2008 10:34 AM:

" TexMex, you forgot cheap life in that list of cheap things in Mexico.... "

donzo wrote on Jun 14, 2008 10:26 AM:

" gas cars are going to die out anyway, as we go to air powered cars etc as shown on fox tv news the other day in nyc. time to buy a car with multiple options on it, they are for sale now if not here, in california. get with it if you got the money for a new car, if not, wait a few years and get a used one. lets see some leadership from the car dealers for selling more options. "

Winston Smith wrote on Jun 14, 2008 9:48 AM:

" Nothing Ironic about being ripped off. There is no shortage of supply.
Welcome to the Bush Economy, you are now in the third world. "

Brian wrote on Jun 14, 2008 7:55 AM:

" Now ain't that ironic. "

Happy Day wrote on Jun 14, 2008 7:54 AM:

" Good for them! If I lived closer, I would fill up too! If the U.S. is going to charge this much and I can get it cheaper somewhere else, fine. I am all about it. Oh, and $5 tacos? Really....mmmmmmm...tacos! "

I wrote on Jun 14, 2008 7:48 AM:

" Those $50 saved will be needed later to service their engine due to the dirty in their gasoline. "

TEX MEX wrote on Jun 14, 2008 7:35 AM:

" Welcome to the land of cheap gas, cigarettes, beer, and dental care. "

SV Bubba wrote on Jun 14, 2008 7:33 AM:

" No true American would cross over into Mexico just to save a couple of bucks on gas. This is aiding and abetting the enemy. The Border Patrol needs to jail these "Americans" when they return to the US with full tanks of gas and charge them with treason! "

Senseless wrote on Jun 14, 2008 6:14 AM:

" So the Bisbee people drive extra miles to fill up with Mexican underpar gas, and the more affluent people from Mexico drive to the US to buy gas because it is better gas. I believe the Herald had an article about Mexicans crossing from AP to Douglas for that. "