wailee

I have resolved this at last. Thanks for all your suggestions. For the benefit of anyone else with this requirement, I have found that Kingston Data Traveller thumb drives work fine, but an early Sony Microvault does not. It is not an encrypted Sony - but just plain formatted to FAT32.

All drives are formatted to FAT32 in fact. They all work fine in a PC.

The Sony phone memory card (called M2, FAT32 shown in the picture) worked in the old card reader (before it failed), but it does not work in a another card reader I bought here in Thailand. In the picture attached, the first two are card readers. The latter three are thumb drives, namely Sony Microvault 512MB, Kingston Data Traveller 512MB and Kingston Data Traveller 8 GB.

What to make of this? I can only presume that certain drives present the file system differently to the host device. I have no idea if it is only Kingston drives which work, or if there are a multitude of others. The conclusion I draw from this is that it is not a function of the card reader or thumb drive which determines compatibility with the Toyota equipment, but the type of memory.

Perhaps someone at Toyota has the answer but I'm sure not going to bother asking!!

what format was the mini memory card then format the usb thumb drive to the same. ?

fat32 is recognized across many devices. but then again many usb thumb drives come with this fat32 format pre-installed.

just a wild guess without any further info, you could also try fat16

Yes, FAT16 is worth a try. I have just re-formatted it to FAT (which I presume is the same as FAT16). Tomorrow morning I'll go and give it a try again!

Yes, excellent suggestion to you both, but it is already formatted to FAT32. In fact I'm using the same memory card (Sony M2 4Gbyte) in the new card reader, which doesn't work, as I was in the old card reader which worked when it was working (if you get my meaning).

I have checked the format of the card by using Windows 7's Disc Management utility - see attached. It's a real puzzle. At one point, soon after buying the Camry and not being able to read any USB drives, I drew the conclusion that the USB was solely for charging one's phone, but then one day I happened to try this very cheap card reader, and was pleasantly surprised. It's been quite short-lived though!

Since owning my late 2013 Camry 2.0G (Extremo), I have had difficulty finding a USB thumb drive which is recognised by the Toyota DVD/Navigator system. In fact no USB thumb drive works at all, and the only thing that has worked, is a cheap USB card reader (see picture), with a mini memory card pushed into it.

That worked perfectly, until the other day, when the card reader died. I cannot get another like that, as it came from overseas. I have tried another type of card reader, but that doesn't work either. If I plug my phone into the USB, then the DVD system recognises it and it finds all the music on the phone. It isn't what I want though. I definitely do not want to use my phone, but to prove a point, doing so enabled me to check that the vehicle's DVD system was still functional.

Is there some special type of card reader, or thumb drive, that presents the file system in a suitable way, and which satisfies the Toyota DVD? Any ideas?

Thanks to all for the help. I have been to the local welding supplies store. Yes, it is medical oxygen. The type looks to be the same as Big Willy's advice, and type A in my original picture, exactly as Big Willy said.

I have posted pictures of the oxygen cylinder and also a picture of a medical regulator that the store had in stock. I did not need to buy the regulator, but I'm simply posting the picture here in case anyone else should find it helpful in the future, for clarification.

The medical oxygen tank cost Bt. 2,800 + Bt. 80 for the oxygen. Obviously it's mine to keep but they said they would buy it back for Bt. 1,800 if I don't need it any longer. The height of it is about 1 meter, maybe slightly more.

... In the U.S.A (larger cylinders), Thailand, the Philippines, parts of Indonesia and certain other parts of Asia, many oxygen regulators are fitted with a CGA-540 threaded valve.

Thanks Harry. I did look at the link you sent earlier. I noticed that the site is for diving oxygen, is that correct?

Perhaps my best option is to visit a pharmacy and obtain the cylinder first, and then show the fitting to the supplier who is to send me the paediatric regulator?

Thanks to Harrry and Big Willy for the replies. The only problem is that you both say quite different replies. Perhaps it's worth clarifying further what I want. It is not a diving requirement but medical oxygen. My equipment will be supplied complete with a regulator (actually a paediatric regulator) and he gives me the choice of obtaining from him, either device A or B in my picture, for connection to my cylinder that I will need to purchase in Thailand.

According to BIg Willy, you bought the same as type A at Fascino already. This sounds more promising, but I'm hestitant that Harrry says otherwise.

I just need to be sure, but thanks for all the replies!

Please can someone who is familiar with this help. I need to specify which oxygen tank/cylinder connector is used in Thailand. Is it type A or B in the attached?

Also, if any recommendation of a Bangkok supplier of the tank, that would be helpful too. Thanks.

I have held an SCB savings account with passbook and ATM for some years, with a fairly respectable balance. However, for the past few years I've been ensuring that I've got around 500THB in the bank, so that each February, they've sufficient to take their 200.-- THB ATM card fee.

This year, being personally busy and generally outside of Thailand, I've just noticed quite late, that in February they took the 200.-- fee out of the account and then since March, have been removing an additional 50.-- THB with no notification to me whatsoever.

If I had not used Internet banking to check my account this evening, I would not have known and the balance eventually would have become zero. Presumably some sort of minimum balance is required now? Does anyone know what this is? I have never known about this in the past. They did not do this last year when the balance was a similar amount. They did not inform me in the various papers issued with the new account back in 2007.

I can't seem to find any information on SCB's site to say there is a minimum balance needed. Why don't they write to their customers or drop them an e-mail?

I see in the news, there's a current ongoing complaint from a Singaporean customer, a Mr. Tan, who's a frequent traveller to Thailand and has pointed out that Thai banks charge greater fees than Singapore. His letter seems to have received a pithy and worthless response from SCB's customer services dept. I think it's about time clients voiced their dissatisfaction about the relatively high fees which Thai banks charge for small insignificant transactions. Quite simply, they get away with it due to Thailand having a dysfunctional consumer power, to work on their behalf.

Needless to say, my relationnship with SCB will end tomorrow and I shall be writing to express my feelings. I hope others do too. I opened an account at Kasikorn recently and found them to be very foreigner-friendly. I recall when I was opening my SCB account years and years ago, the reception I received was very unhelpful. That said, I think the way the Thai banks operate here is based on the fact that they have little overseas competitiion to contend with and can therefore be run like wasteful and inefficient organisations, making money from customers who care not to complain, instead of building useful and effectiving banking services which benefit both the customer and the bank. I urge anyone else keeping minimal balances to check their accounts too.

My blue book for my new truck was issued in my name. I am not Thai.

Is that clear enough?

We'll only know when I try, but it's good enough for me. Thanks for the clarification.

Incidentally, the residence certificate was a Notarised document before on the Notary's letterhead, both several years ago when I bought a car and then recently when I bought the Honda motorcycle. I also do the same when I renew my Thai driving licences. I don't recall the reason, but it's entirely historic - I simply believed that a Notarised copy of one's address was required.

I think my motivation for this was always that official documents tended to indicate the need to obtain proof from my embassy. They charge a fortune!

I'd like to know if there is an official proclamation on this please, as I heard in the past that dealerships sometimes have difficulty putting the blue book (tabien rot, is it called?) in the foreign purchaser's name.

I purchased a Honda motorcycle recently and had absolutely no difficulty whatsoever (although that of course is a green book). The sales rep. at Honda said they arranged them often for foreigners and all I had to provide, was a letter which my lawyer obtained from the immigration office, to say where I lived. There was no trouble at all.

The Ford motor showroom in Phetchburi however (see my other post on this forum about purchasing the Everest) was unclear about this - she said she normally sold the vehicle to a Thai spouse, but anyway that Ford purchase has unfortunately died a death, in view of the models no longer being made - they are just being drawn from stock. So, that Everest is out of the equation, sadly.

All I need is some form of evidence to show that a foreigner has done this already (with a new motor car), and I will then include the clause within the purchase agreement with the dealer. Thanks.

I'd like to thank all of you for your input on the Ford and some other suggestions. Freemindxs's post has some excellent links to an Indian site which comments on the various factors in comparison with other models, perhaps some of which are peculiar to the Indian market, nevertheless, the report on the Everest is helpful indeed. It's approximately the vehicle I was expecting. A bit like a Land Rover, with harsh ride and less refinement - but frankly that suits me, so all in all, the Everest is ok.

So thanks to you all for your efforts in replying and enlightening me. For the record, I do not normally rush into purchases here, as I find often when I do so, it results in grave disappointments (partly because of culture and partly because of my Thai language skills, which aren't perfect). An example in point is that when the Phetchburi Ford lady showed me around the car on Saturday, I asked her if it was the XLT (the base model) that she's pulled out of the owner's garage at Kubota. She replied that it was. I then asked why the brochure showed the front fog lights as a cost-option, if the basic XLT had them already, as this one clearly did. It also had a wooden interior trim. I then went around to the tailgate door and saw "LIMITED" written. I said, "hang on", this is the LTD edition, not the XLT.

She'd been withholding the truth, allowing me to think it was the basic XLT model with all the extras like fog lamps and wooden trip. She even told me that the owner had ordered this car with lots of extras - a complete falsehoold, since the LTD edition comes with them all as standard. This (potentially) would have meant, had I gone ahead with the deal, that I'd have taken delivery of a basic XLT with cloth seats, no fog lights, no wooden door trip. As it happened, I'd read every line of the brochure already, but looking at a vehicle, one can easily forget the specifics in the brochure.

Plainly, she's mislead me. I know this is Thailand and after being here a few years, I expect it anyway. And I still love them. But that's the answer why I take my take and consider the facts, because not to do so, is foolhardy.

In answer to NanLaew's comment in which he suggests I've been sitting on the fence and failing to make a decision since 2011, the reason is because I've been ill since shortly after October 2011 and that's the reason nothing has been done further. Keeping the brochure since then seems reasonable to me and having the occasional look and a reappraisal. I still keep brochures from the 1970s. Why not? Apart from that, NanLaew, I thank you for your other useful contribution, which is helpful.

Can I confirm with you, CTO, where you purchased your Everest, as it is Phetchburi Province in which I was specifcally interested, as it's my nearest dealer. And Hua Hin, some 60km away, has developed a somewhat bad reputation on the local Hua Hin web site, such to the extent that I think they are best avoided.

I'm also needing the vehicle registered to me, as I have done previously with Honda motorcycles? Are motorcycles any different? I doubt it.

Do you have the XLT, Manual, or some other?

How about resale values -- Ignis's post above sites an example (with link) which is a 2013 (so no more than six or seven months in age), at 799,000. Although as Ignis has pointed out, this potentially represents a 200,000 saving to me, in actual fact on reading the advertisement the model for sale is a LTD Edition NAVI, so it's second-only from top of range and therefore the depreciation is far more than just 200,000. The price of this vehicle when new this year would have been 1,169,000, so it has lost 370,000, disregarding the fact that the seller will probably reduce it further in order to sell.

That's a staggering depreciation for vehicle in Thailand - it's at least 61,666 THB per month, or £1,312 per month, for those coming from UK. That is shocking and comparable to huge loss-making vehicles like Ranger Rovers and the like.

It seems to me that Ford in Thailand, although someone said earlier, was the first manufacturer here, rather lost its position in the market, perhaps due to the efficiency of the Japanese introduction into the domestic market. Perhaps Ford's placement has dropped because it rested on its laurels. Someone said many months ago that he had difficulty getting spare parts for his ford ten years ago. However, things have changed now. People are looking for alternatives to the dreadfully boring and characterless Japanese cars, in spite of their reliability and service level.

Ford then stepped-in with the Fiesta, which has been selling well and represents a great and fun additional choice, at a good price too, a range of attractive colours rather than the Japanese black, white, silver, and so one can perhaps see Ford's position improving, on the Fiesta at least. However, the Everest is a bit of a dinosaur from the Mazda 2200-age, that they're still attempting to sell at a premium price.

So, my dilimma is that I like the motor a lot, but I'm paying dearly for three things: horrendous depreciation, possibly difficulty selling it, and an old outdated 1990s technology. Would you agree?

More or less the same but far more up-to-date and in that blue you want ?? http://en.chevrolet.co.th/cars/trailblazer/model-overview.html 60 months O% interest (25% down) and free insurance are being offered.

Also don't like the look in pictures of the all new Everest,..... have you test driven the present Everest ?

I drove a 2007 model of a friends, all I can say is my Pickup [Mazda BT50] is far more comfortable and better to drive, but then it is not the under pinnings of a 15+ year old model..

You could buy a few months old one ? save 200 k http://showroom.one2car.com/carDetail.aspx?car_id=l17120314

Thanks Ignis, I've answered some questions in the above to IMHO, so my apologies for not addressing you directly in doing that. Yes, I did test drive the current Everest today, although it was the LTD NAVI version, whereas I am interested in the standard manual-gearbox XLT version.

The Phetchburi dealer did not have access to this XLT vehicle so I'm left slightly at a disadvantage not knowing, should I purchase the XLT, what exactly I'm going to get on arrival at the showroom to collect it and what dreadful disappointments with which I might be met.

Again, as I've suggested to IMHO, I do not understand if the finance deal is available to me without a work-permit. I do not need finance anyway, but it would be a consideration to me, given that I might find it easier to sell it back to the fianance company when I leave Thailand in the foreseeable years.

Sorry, I do not like the style of the Chevvy, as I've mentioned in the earlier post regarding SUVs. Like you, I think from the pictures I've seen of the new Everest, it looks like a copy of the Toyota Fortuna, but with the Ford Ranger pick-up's grille. I like a long Land-Rover-style SUV. Anything that is Fortuna-like, I will immediately avoid, hence the appeal of the Ford Everest.

Frankly I think motors in Thailand especially, are becoming more boring by the minute. The manufacturers not only are resorting to copying other brands' models, taking advantage of their successes, but also basing their models on existing platforms. The choice is frankly quite awful.

Even the Mercedes A-Class that I went to see last weekend was a boring front-wheel-drive car and I'm doubly shocked to hear that it shares its engine with Britain's cleapest car - the Dacia, or some such name.

Sales volumes for the Everest, while never high, have really plummeted in the past 12 months - down from around 300-400 units/month to just 80'ish. Given such low production volumes (indeed it probably only has a production run every 3-4 months now), it would make sense they might have discontinued some colors, or that certain colors might not be available for several months.

O% interest (25% down) and free insurance are being offered as a factory campaign ATM, and seeing as these incentives are not funded by the dealer, I say go for the entire accessories list At just 1 unit per province per month in sales, you'd expect them to be pretty generous, just to move another one..

Before you buy, you might want to consider reading some of the more recent Ford service horror stories. And also ask yourself the question: As the longest established car manufacturer in Thailand, why do they sell only a mere fraction of the other majors here?

That said, the one saving grace for the Everest is that it's a 15 year old Mazda B2200 underneath - so not too much Ford DNA in it

OK, that's as politically correct as I'm going to be now.. time to answer the question posed in your topic title: NO

IMHO That's interesting, and certainly very kind of you to provide that level of information. Is there any way that I can verify the sales figures that you mention, viz-a-ziz the 80 units, not wishing to doubt you in any way, but by way of support for the arguments I intend to put forward to the dealer (or dealers).

When you mention the 0% interest, is that for work-permit holders and not retirees? Without wishing to go into my personal arrangements, I would not have anticipated under normal circumstances, being elligible for that, but your comment makes me wonder.

What, may I ask is "ATM"? Also, what do you mean by going for the "entire accessories list"? Surely that would represent a major cost? My plan was for the basic XLT Manual-gearbox model, for 989,000. Sadly, the vehicle they took me to see today was the LTD with NAVI and leather seats. I was not entirely happy with the fact that I could not see the vehicle in which I was interested, but she did say she would try, so I'm not necessarily complaining in that regard.

Just for the record, and in response to ignis's post also, the Chevvy looks ok, but my wish is for a long-format SUV, as one might expect to compare with a Land Rover Long-Wheel-Base Station Wagon. Frankly, I do not like this newer style of vehicle (i.e. Fortuna, Chevvy, Honda CRV and many others). Please don't be offended because it's just a matter of personal preference, but I dislike intensely, the style of the Toyota Fortuna and the typical way owners drive them and the reckless use of them. Therefore, any vehicle which looks in the slightest akin to a Fortuna, I would normally avoid, both whilst on the road, and whilst in the dealer's showroom! No offence please, if you're one of those owners - I'm just voicing my preference. I also prefer to purchase products which Thais typically do not purchase. The Ford Everest fitted that category to a certain degree.

You also refer to horror stories of Ford service? I have been reading of some of those about Ford Hua Hin, which is a separate company from Ford Phetchburi, and frankly, after seeing their level of assistance, I would no longer consider them. This was primarily my reason for visiting Ford Phetchburi yesterday and arranging the test drive. Would you be able to point me in the direction of those said problems?

Phetchburi's branch is not without its problems however. I asked if they had often sold to foreigners and issued the tabian rot in the foreigner's name, but she said that they always issue it in the Thai spouse's name. In my case, I am a lone Westerner and wish not to marry in order to obtain a tabian rot ;-) I did not have to marry the Honda dealership sales lady in order to purchase my Scoppy scooter last year, although I dare say, had she have suggested it, I would have considered it.

^ pics please to verify your statement on those legs.

Ha ha, a man after my own heart indeed SoloFlyer. Alas, I have to disappoint you but I shall do my best on another occasion, if opportunity arises. I expected that when she came to the house today, she would be similarly fitted out in her mouth-wateringly scant attrire. But instead of arriving in the Ford Everest, her arrangement was that she collected me to take me to Phetchburi to see the Everest, along with a seemingly uncommunicative male colleague, in a thirteen-year-old tired-out Ford saloon. I presumed the male colleague (who hardly communicated with me even in clear and brief Thai) was the "protector" just in case her physical appearance was too much for me to withstand.

Furthermore, the frilly skirt had been replaced by awful ripped and messy jeans. Sadly the only vestige of yesterday's memory of a vision of beaty were the six-inch heels that she'd kept on. So, SoloFlyer, I'm sick inside from disappointing you. I should have tried to aim my camera yesterday at the showroom while I had the opportunity. The problem was that the other members of staff were giggling a little, evidently from the look on my face and the position of my jaw. I'm sure you get the picture.

An excellent thread by the OP indeed. He (or she) has spent time putting a lot of information in that post which can benefit many, I'm fully aware how much effort went into that. I'm currently interested in a Ford Everest from Ford Phetchburi (the Province, not the Road). The dealer has been helpful but we haven't talked figures until she brings it to my home tomorrow for a test drive.

In the showroom today, she had the longest legs and the shortest skirt I have ever seen. Quite honestly I don't mind if she drives it from my house, instead of me, because the view will be breathtaking either way.

In some ways, OP, your experiences of harsh treatment, such as bullying over the copying of other dealers' offers and insisting that you sign away all indemnity for damage, that stinks, frankly. I'm personally more inclined to go for the pleasant non-pushy dealer with the less-advantageous deal, than the persuadable but stressful dealer from whom I can potentially get a better deal.

I've been considering a Ford Everest 2.5 for a while and went to chat to the dealer up-country today. I'm aware that there is a new model Everest to be released but frankly, from the pictures I've seen, it doesn't appeal to me and I flatly do not want one, despite the fact that the front looks good (viz-a-viz the new Ford Ranger pick-up, presumably from which it's based). I do not want a pick-up either. It's Ford Everest, current model, or nothing, essentially.

The basic Everest is 989,000 and the colour that I really like, Blue (which has very recently started appearing on the web site and in the new brochure), is, according to the dealer, discontinued.

I have been looking for my old Everest catalogue from 2011 and although I can't find it, I swear that there wasn't a blue option back in 2011, and yet in the current brochure and Ford's web page, there is a "gunmetal blue". I do not know if the dealer is telling me the truth therefore.

So, what I'm asking is this: does anyone know if the blue is indeed available and not discontinued as he claims?

I'm also asking, what is the standard list of free options thrown in, as is usually customary with Thai cars...

a) Mats?

Slight tinted windows?

c) Minor Wood trim option?

d) Cargo bay net?

e) Cargo luggage tray?

f) And most importantly, free insurance, because I know that's generally normal?

Frankly the dealer (Phetchburi) was very helpful in other respects but I could detect that they see a Western man on his own, with no wife or Thai friend to guide him. I have no desire to be short-changed in terms of what they offer me. I speak Thai with them, but I don't understand all of it.

Therefore, similar experiences with Fords in general and what is normal to be expected from them, I would be most grateful indeed to you. Thanks.

P.S., As can be seen on Ford's web site, the gunmetal blue is still in evidence... http://www.ford.co.th/en/suvs/everest/colours-trims

I feel terribly sorry for the chap. I think the worst, by far, is the emotional impact on him. His heart's been broken and the cost, frankly, is more of a lesson than anything. Hopefully next time, you'll be extra careful my friend.

If it's any consolation, I've spent more than that on girls here, over a period of time. The lady I really love is a true gem, she'd rather give to me than take, but how rare that kind of lady is, I frankly don't know anymore. Good luck to you. I wish you all the best mate.

Welcome to a fool's car market .

Absolutely a true word spoken there.

The distance between the front bumper and front wheels, first guess would most likely be for crash protection minimum distance or room for a turbo and room around it for cooling. Turbo diesel or small petrol turboed engine.

Or is the engine leaned forward for a lower bonnet line ?

Thanks, I'm glad someone picked up on this. It's become a gripe of mine and I think it's related to that modern fad of manufacturing cheapness -- front wheel drive. If you take a look at the Fiesta in the attached, the front overhang is crazy. It means that you've got no legroom in the front compartments because the interior wheel arch is in the way. And the enormous frontage between the wheels and the bumper, well, with Thai roads and forecourt ramps at 45 degrees, you're sure to leave pieces of broken plastic behind you as you leave.

http://drivingtorque.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/2013-ford-fiesta-front.jpg

The Camry is even worse (see below). I drove this car (the 2008) for five years until recently and hated the way it wallowed along, not only pitching forwards and back due to the short wheelbase and the weight in front and behind the wheels, but also because of the the tipping from side to side on Thaland's joke road surfaces. The front overhang looked inelegant enough, but the wheels so close to the front doors looked absolutely ludicrous. It's even worse on the new camry model shown here. When I bought this car and started driving it, I couldn't believe what a bad drive it was. By contrast I bought a Jaguar XJ6 in 1986, and frankly the 22-year-old Jag showed more refinement than this so called "modern technology".

http://stwot.motortrend.com/files/2011/08/2008-Toyota-Camry-SE-side-view-1024x640.jpg

Now take a look at the BMW, a properly configured rear-wheel-drive layout, with all components in their rightful places - fewer compromises and therefore no stupid engine sitting right inside the driver and passenger compartment with a massive dashboard top to conceal the fact that the engine is really inside the passenger compartment. Franky, I think what happened is that in the 1970s I remember everbody with a modest interest in motor engineering (including my father) regarded the front-drive cars of the day as being inferior and full of trouble -- think of the crappest cars of the 1970s, the Maxi, the Austin Princess, the Metro, the Austin 1100, the Austin Ambassador, most of the French cars - all that <deleted>. Whenever you wanted to sell it, people would come and look, open the bonnet and proclaim, ugh, a transverse engine - no thanks. Most people with a slight knowledge of engineering-purerty, regarded these cars as junk, but no doubt the manufacturing companies, run by bean-counters (accountants) insisted that it was the way to go because of corporate cost savings -- the whole power plant can be dropped into place using a robot in one single operation. All the resulting technical breakdowns which later ensued, such as the Austin Pricess and Ambassador's 'release bearing' constantly whining and grinding, the poor lock-to-lock turning circle because of the UV joints, the broken half-shafts and the <deleted> way that the vehicles pull-away from standstill when the wheel is slightly turned -- well, the manufacturers continued to sell these crappy inferior pieces of junk and the poor public, restricted by choice, had no alternative but to buy them. The weaknesses, as I've mentioned, such as the bearing problems, the broken half-shafts and the <deleted> drivability, just got refined and refined until the public were not even aware of them. But now I see the legacy with which this rubbish engineering has left us... the engine is up inside the passenger compartment and this ridiculous overhang at the front looks pathetic. The Japanese have embraced it completely, but thankfully Merc and BMW have hung on (with some notableable exceptions such as the disappointing A-class, which I understand from the earlier poster, that it shares its engine with the cheapest car in UK!). Goodness me.

http://www.eurocarnews.com/media/pictorials/1156/5202.jpg

So, what does it leave us with? C-Class, E-Class, Ford Everest, Pick-up trucks. How about Tuk-Tuks - are they rear-wheel-drive? I guess so. Maybe I'll have a tuk-tuk. What's the import tax like on those?

I believe you need to examine at the model level. Not all models are made in Thailand

Thanks. I have checked on Thonburi Group's web site. The company indicates that it manufactures C-Class Benz, which is the model in which I'm interested.

They do not appear to manufacture the A-Class, which is the model I originally went to see. This is perhaps corroborated by the dealer rep. at Benz Rama IV, who said that the A-Class awaiting its customer to collect, had been ordered-in from Germany.

However, I still can't reconcile the figures. The car is 1mb above the price of a basic Toyota Camry. It is made in Thailand, the same as the Camry and so therefore one might assume the percentage of tax would be the same.

Looking at the Benz web site for other countries - the C-Class is just price a little more than a normal family saloon. For example, the equivalent of 1,222,000 THB.

So what is going on with Benz here, if the taxes are the same percentage as (say) Toyotas? Why is the car nearly double the price? Is it price-gouging/profiteering?

I have just visited the Benz showroom on Rama IV Road (corner of Sathorn Road) to discuss a potential and more-or-less immediate purchase. I had been under the impression that Benz was imported from Germany, therefore accounting for the significant import tax. The range starts at 1,890,000 for what is essentially a relatively low-specification and unappealing vehicle - the A-class - with front-wheel-drive and a dreadful front-wheel placement, where the wheels are far closer to the A-pillar of the doors, than to the front of the valance. It seems to be a classic Japanese front-drive configuration, in which they don't seem to be able to locate the front wheels in the right place, perhaps inhibited by the transverse engine - I don't know, but my best theory.

The sales staff were helpful but I was disappointed that they don't offer insurance into the price and also that Satellite Navigation isn't provided as standard on such a premium car. In fact there isn't very much provided as standard anyway. They also didn't volunteer a test drive. Is that normal here?

Anyway, after looking at the A-class, it left me feeling that the C-class is the only suitable option and that starts at 2,250,000 - again without satellite navigation. The driving position is very low, it seemed.

I'm currently trying to reconcile the prices, given the premise that Thai-manufactured saloon cars represent better value than imports. Can anyone therefore confirm please, if Benz is indeed manufactured in Thailand or not, because having read this wikipedia article below, it appears that Mercedes Benz manufacture is carried out by the Thonburi Group.

"Thailand - assembly of C, E and S class vehicles by the Thonburi Group"

... from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz

If Benz is manufactured here, with such a low specification on the A-class and C-class, I can't help thinking that it is a case of profiteering rather than offering value for money. I've attached the price list, as it doesn't indicate anything to suggest it is copyright. Please delete it if otherwise.

I also considered BMW but notice that the web site is poor by anyone's standards, making me wonder if BMW is serious at all about the Thai market.

Can anyone give me details of a good agent to sell my freehold property. The two or three web sites I have looked at so far are really poor standard and I doubt they could possibly attract anyone to them.

Also what is the usual commission payable to these companies?