We have a 1997 Nissan Patrol 4x4 SUV. I don't think they sell this model in the U.S. It is a great vehicle for both a family car and to use in the the rural communities. I just bought a winch for it from our pastor so we won't get stuck in the mud when the rains start again. Thanks to price controls, both diesel and gasoline is a good bit less expensive than in the U.S. Diesel costs a little less than $2.00 a gallon. The only problem right now is that it uses diesel. Diesel is in short supply in Santa Cruz and more often than not the gas stations are out of it. I have to spend several hours a week driving around town looking for diesel, and when I find it, I sometimes have to wait in line for several hours. We have to park it occasionally and take taxis because we are down to fumes in the tank. The papers say the short supply of diesel is a logistical problem. The MAS government has nationalized the gas and oil industry and now they are having problems providing enough fuel for the national market. The Bolivian refineries are working at maximum capacity but they can only provide I think 70% of the diesel necessary for the country. They are trying to import diesel from Venezuela, but it is slow in getting here. I read that they are negotiating some private contracts with companies in Brazil and Argentina. It will be a real crisis when harvest time comes and there is not enough diesel for the tractors to harvest the soy and other export commodities. I would love to get another work truck to use in the well drilling project. We need a small 4x4 pick-up or jeep with a trailer so we can get back into the rural communities and carry in our well drilling equipment. That way I could leave the Patrol here in town so Vanessa would have a car while I am away.
1 comment:
Our family car- used to be work car but it is old now- is a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder, also diesel. It has a lot of stories to tell (over mountains, up river valleys, sunk in a river once). But fortunately we have some Toyota Hilux's to do the project work now. They are not as comfortable to ride in but they are indestructible and can go straight up a mountainside. All run on diesel but we can get diesel these days. There have been times when we have had no access to diesel or gas but that has not happened for a while. God bless you as you try to get a project vehicle, if anyone is reading this let me say that it is really needed.
Post a Comment