flare

You can't go wrong with the CX-30- if it had a bit more room in the back I would have bought one as I really liked it- when the wife needs a new car in a couple years, I'm going to look at it again as something a bit smaller than the CX-5 would be fine for her (or maybe give her the CX-5 and keep the CX-30 for myself).

OK- made a deal and sent a deposit- I should have my red CX-5 next week. 

8 hours ago, DavisH said:

Mazda can knock off 100K, but just check their interest rates of the principal-  I think it' over 3.5%. Or you could get a small discount with a low interest rate. They may be getting desperate now, so many ou can haggle more out of them. 

They're offering me 1.99% (the salesman said 'Our interest rate is under 2%!'- yeah, that .01% will save me an extra 10 baht per month????).  
 

I've basically got a deal on a new 2018 2.0 Skyactiv SP- at this point I'm holding out for some accessories (the sticking point is the spoiler- their selling price for it is 55K, which is nuts- obviously it costs the dealership way less than that, but I was really surprised at that number.  They'll toss in pretty much everything else, but they're holding out on the spoiler- I'll find out today what they're willing to do for me.

I've driven the Everest- it's a nice vehicle, but I don't want a pick-up based SUV as I want a different suspension and a benzine engine option (I believe the Everest only comes with a 2.0 diesel these days)- it's super-roomy, but a but bigger than I need (it's closer to the CX-8). 

There are also some leftover, never-been-registered (meaning the warranty starts as if new) 2018 CX-5 top-spec models (with the 2.0 engine) in the dealer network- except for some minor changes (like a sunroof, which appeals to me in Thailand about as much as a robotic arm that pops out of the steering wheel and hits you in the nuts), it's nearly identical- I'm also looking at one of these if I can work a steep enough discount.  If not, I'll go for a 2020.

I should note I also drove the top-spec MG HS (a friend just bought a base HS and said I should take a look as he really likes it), which is aimed at the CX-5, but for just over 1m- the interior was really good- the two-toned seats looked great (the Mazda interiors are kind of dead looking), the electronics and large touch-screen were excellent, and the engine was actually better than I expected (the turbo-lag mentioned in many reviews wasn't bad at all)- that said, it's sprung so soft I couldn't deal with it, and the wife in the (extremely roomy) back seat practically got tossed to the opposite side from which she was sitting during fast lane changes- I took one quick turn, and the body roll was significant- where the Mazdas were 'tight', the MG was 'loose'.  It's too bad, because for the price I REALLY wanted to like it...  With better suspension, the HS might be worth buying at its current price (though that's said without the benefit of knowing how the HS holds up after a few years)- MG has upped their game a bit with it, though they're still behind Japan in overall quality.  If you're out kicking tires and you're near an MG dealership, take it for a ride just for the hell of it.  The CX-5 is way better, but it should be for another ~500k.

Yeah- I test-drove the top-spec CX-5 with the 'big' engine (231hp) as well, and I definitely agree that the 1.85m price was way more than it was worth (though it was nice, of course).   I'm gonna try to get them to deal a bit on the 'Skyactiv 2.0 SP' version currently at 1.56m (I need all the safety bell-and-whistles, though more for the wife than me).  They're not selling many SUVs since the shutdown, and they might give a bit more than they usually would.  
 

While the atmosphere the last few months has been pretty bad, it's a good time to buy a car as dealerships are pretty hungry.

I test-drove the CX-30 today- I really liked it, and the top-spec (~1.2m) has a really good safety/electronics package- the issue I had with it was the same thing that's noted in the reviews (which are mostly very positive), which was the small rear seat.  My wife is only 155cm, and she wasn't able to get comfortable in the back (and she's not a complainer).  If I were single or didn't have a kid to transport (as well as the occasional full-sized adult) in the back, I think I would have bought it- it handles well, the 165hp the engine puts out moves it along just fine, and overall it feels 'tight'- it was just too small for my needs.

I'm likely going to buy a CX-5 (I like Mazda and have owned them in LOS before with good results) as I need a bit more space, but that CX-30 is a really nice vehicle (much better than the CX-3, IMHO)- it looks good, too.

14 minutes ago, Throatwobbler said:

I think it is run by the same people who run Ambassador. See where the OP rates that school.

I'm more interested in hearing from someone whose kids actually go there- this likely wasn't the best thread to ask, I suppose...

Does anyone have an opinion of Unity Concord?

3BB should have given you a small card you can keep in your wallet- just give it to the 7/11 cashier (your bill will of course work as well).

Not in the area you're looking for, but the KT Optic shop next to Rimping in Mae Hia Market has a sign taped on the window that says 'Now Open' (I saw it before their normal opening hours so the shop was closed at the time, but it's definitely a new sign, so I'd guess they're back in business).

1 hour ago, JohnBarleycorn said:

Well...

Does anybody know if the service will resume no later than the end of June, 2020?

I can wait until June.

But I can't wait until the end of July.

 

So....what are the odds, please?

No date given, but I hope it's sooner than that- this is the text of the email they sent me, which is similar to what's already been posted:

Great- thank you both very much.

The US Consulate (both in CM and BKK embassy) is closed to non-emergency citizen services, and I need to get my passport renewal started (terrible timing, I know...) Does anyone have any idea if renewals are still being processed by mail as usual?  They aren't answering their phone (except for emergencies), and their email system is backlogged, so I don't know when I'll get a response, and I'd like to get on it this week if possible.  

Any info would be appreciated.

5 hours ago, Chelseafan said:

Why ?

 

Makes perfect sense. A lot of retailers in the UK are devoting special hours for those in the frontline including mine.

 

Same in the US- most markets also have specific hours for seniors, which is very helpful for people who are 80+ (like my dad), as it allows for a lower-stress environment for people who move with a bit more... deliberation.

4 hours ago, saengd said:

I guess there will be a lot of people escaping from Bangkok and headed up this way which is not great for residents. I also expect supermarkets to be manic today as a result.

Makro HD had a line of maybe 25 people waiting to get in at 6:00AM this morning, and the parking lot was getting full when I left at 6:40AM.

Saw this on FB:

All gyms are closed from today through April 1st.

An update- I was at Makro HD yesterday, and the booth was closed with a sign on it saying the use of parking cards had been suspended.

The supermarket runs and hoarding going on the US is big on Thai news- TP is a major item- the Thais buying loads of it are just copying them. 
 

I told my wife that butt-washers aren't big in the US, necessitating a greater need for the stuff.

Got tested at Big C Mae Hia today.