thaicruze

But then, let the beemer devalue and THEN get one.

Fully agree, problem with that it no one bought one new then there would be NO 2nd cheaper ones........

Myself would only buy such a car 2nd hand, from what I have seen over the years, most of the Luxury cars are bought and sold after X amount of years most one owner and low Km, often used as a Sunday car as we would call them in the UK. the maid or gardener washes said car if there is a little mark or dust on it + when it is used inside and out.

many are sold after 5 - 10 years as that is the time to buy new again, lots are in showroom condition and very low use, and cost very little more than a Honda or Toyota of the same year.

Yes. If I wanted a BMW or Mercedes I would do some homework and footwork and find a hidden gem somewhere and save myself a million.

Just to quote the first line of the OP in this thread.

"This topic has got nothing to do with opinions on the worth to buy a 2m car in Thailand."

Can we just let rics21 get the opinions that he wants regarding the specific vehicles and range he is interested in. I think the whole reason he started this new thread was to get away from all of the repetative banter that was happening in the earlier thread.

But we are all giving examples of cars in this range. Nobody is saying it isn't worth buying a 2m car in thailand, we are saying which one of the 2-3 million baht cars we think is the best value.

TC, while I can understand your point, in Europe, people would not dream of suggesting a VW over a BMW. Two different categories of cars, as far as prestige is concerned (and I guess in these price ranges, that is all that really matters for the buyers).

You have to understand that the buyer is paying for the brand (the badge), or the "face", and does not care much if it is cramped, bad quality etc. All that counts is the name and the knowledge that there is a lot of money behind. Otherwise, who would buy a porsche 911 or a Ferrari?

Hence, even if VW does excellent reliable and comfortable cars, it is not the main criterion for buyers at this level of revenues.

I get that. But then, let the beemer devalue and THEN get one.

For example, what's wrong with a previously loved 2010 520d for 2.5 million? Cheaper than a 3 series, AND you get more car

http://showroom.one2...ar_id=g11120569

Nothing's wrong with you and me (or maybe just the high mileage, and lack of knowledge of the history of the car). For some others, new car with red plates, means additional prestige in Thai society. That's all. Their call on that one, even if you and I may find it a bad allocation of resources (esp. if bought on finance!).

Well, before plopping down 2.5 million on a pre-loved Beemer I would find everything about it. There's a place in Bangkok that does that and gives you a complete diagnosis of the car. They don't repair cars, they just have set fees and inspect everything.

TC, while I can understand your point, in Europe, people would not dream of suggesting a VW over a BMW. Two different categories of cars, as far as prestige is concerned (and I guess in these price ranges, that is all that really matters for the buyers).

You have to understand that the buyer is paying for the brand (the badge), or the "face", and does not care much if it is cramped, bad quality etc. All that counts is the name and the knowledge that there is a lot of money behind. Otherwise, who would buy a porsche 911 or a Ferrari?

Hence, even if VW does excellent reliable and comfortable cars, it is not the main criterion for buyers at this level of revenues.

I get that. But then, let the beemer devalue and THEN get one.

For example, what's wrong with a previously loved 2010 520d for 2.5 million? Cheaper than a 3 series, AND you get more car

http://showroom.one2...ar_id=g11120569

Now, the 1.9 million Camry Hybrid. E-CVT smooth transmission. You put a couple of extras in there and it'll get to the 2 million range that we are talking about.

Nice and spacious. Seats are superbly comfortable.

Adults will be very comfortable with all that leg room

Door trim is nice and quality.

Awesome steering wheel. Soft touch dash surface. Navigation.

We should stop speaking hypothetically and put it to the test for real. Let's be about it and not talk about it.

Here is the 318d that you say isn't in Thailand.

Let's start with the exterior. I like it. The body redesigned is way better than the last one, which looked a bit gay to be honest.

Now, as I said before, the issue is in the inside. NICE, yes, but NOT 3 million nice. Seats, as I said, comfy. Real or Fake leather, it doesn't matter. It's comfy. Then we start. It's really cramped in there. Not ME saying, you can see that. The dash is OK hiding the cheap plastics.

The back seats, as I said, really cramped in there. Adults won't be very comfortable.

Mix of hard plastics and soft surfaces in the door. Neither here nor there. Just OK. The flimsy door handle doesn't give much confidence when it flexes as you squeeze it.

and an overall view of the cockpit. This is way too cramped to spend 3 million. It really DOESN'T feel like 3 million in there no matter now much IMHO likes it.

But people don't have to listen to what we say, they can just get inside one and judge for themselves.

You can certainly get MUCH more car than that for 3 million.

TC, Thai models and US models (reviews you are quoting) may differ in the specifications for similar models. So, artificial leather in the US may be replaced by genuine leather in Thailand.

That's Australia. But, there is no evidence to show it IS in fact real in Thailand.

There's no such thing as a 318d in Thailand. And every single one of your other observations there clearly outlines you've never actually sat in the F30 3-series.

http://showroom.one2...ar_id=h17120236

There you go. Wiz Auto = 02-718-3906. Give them a call.

Maybe it was a 318i. Who cares. It's a 3 series. It was OK, but it wasn't as nice as you describe it. Actually, my wife's dream was always to own a BMW until we sat in that 3 Series. It's an OK car, but it's not 3 million baht OK. and YES, I've sat in the new 3 Series. It was an Central Pinklao not too long ago. They have the Peugeot now. I also sat in the Cayenne and checked the C class Mercedes, which I personally like much more than the 3 series.

My observations aren't wrong. Just because I don't like it as much as you do doesn't mean I'm wrong.

A Camry Hybrid is just under 2 million with Navigation. Better that. More comfortable as well.

ou're getting confused with the base model C-Class now, which has MB-Tex seat coverings

http://news.drive.co...0412-1wvnd.html

BMW 320d Modern

From $60,900 plus on-road and dealer costs. 2.0-litre turbo diesel 4-cyl; 135kW/380Nm; 8-sp auto; 4.5L/100km and 118g/km CO2; RW.

Value

Gets cruise control with braking function, Bluetooth, powered driver's seat with memory function, 17-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, 6.5-inch display and artificial leather. Six airbags and a crash-anticipation system. Metallic paint costs $1415.

Advertisement

Do YOU have any insights??

OK. Final offer. How bout one of these

I like the IS250 more than the BMW 3. I think it's new quality inside. But that engine must be a gas guzzling monster. Since the IS250 is a Toyota, just get a tip of the line Camry Hybrid and save a few.

At up to 3M, the very first car that springs to mind is the BMW 320d 2.0L twin turbo 8AT (2.9M) - it's just such a hard car to find any fault in. Drives superb and looks fantastic IMHO.

Of course, you're also in range of the C-Class without all the compromises.. It's a nice car, but after test driving, hard to choose over the 320d.

You're also in the price range of an official-import Mini Cooper or Countryman (which are also BMW's) - if it's the kind of car that floats your boat.

If it doesn't absolutely have to be European, the Lexus CT200h (1.8L hybrid hatchback) and IS250 (2.5L sedan) are also within this range, but IMHO you'd have to be a devout Toyota/Lexus fan to buy an IS250 over the 320d

There's also the Passat CC 2.0L turbo, but well outclassed by the 320d again IMHO.

Did I mention the BMW 320d BTW?

I got a guy next to my house that will sell you a Cooper for 800,000. Only fair price for a Cooper.

BMW 320d. I think that's over 3 million. I'm looking at one now in one2car for 3.3 million.

If the budget is 2-3 million I would stay away from BMW or Mercedes. Why pick from the bottom of the pile when you have 2-3 million for a car?

I've been in a 3 series. 318d I think, falls within the budget?. It was the new redesigned model. It was OK, but not 2.9 million OK. It is very crammed in the back. Feels very small inside. Seats are comfy. Lots of hard plastics.

Not sure if the seats are real leather or fake. I read its fake leather.

So, 2-3 Million baht Machine means, ANY machine right? I mean, you're not saying only that list? Because I don't like any in that list.

If you asked me to get you a 2-3 million baht car in Thailand, I would come to your house with this:

VOLKSWAGEN - PASSAT - VARIANT 2.0TSI AT

Thaicruze,

I (surprisingly) agree with a lot of what you've said on this thread.

Although I think there are better ways of getting your point across.

I think that the top of the range Focus models for just over 1 million

Baht represent excellent value.

Back in Oz, I had a few VW Golf's, GTI and VR6 which I loved. Would

love to have one again but they're just way over priced here.

so I think if you're after a hatch, you can't go wrong with Mazda, Ford

and Honda etc for the price.

The thing with the Beemers and other European cars is that you're paying

a lot of extra Baht for the name.

But hey, if you've got money to burn, go for it I say.

Regards

Will

If I had the dough I would go for a real luxury car ad really overpay instead of getting an X1 for a Luxury car price. Maybe if the X1 was a great car, but it's not even that.

I think the top Focus Titanium/Sport+ or whatever they call it is the best value for a car (if you have the money) and 1 million baht is a LOT of money.

For a big SUV, I'm not quite sure. Maybe a Pajero Sport if you can afford the diesel.

Crossover is not really something that's available here at a decent price. Maybe that's why the Captiva is selling well. It's not a CRV but not as big as a Pajero.

Unless you have 4 kids and a dog, why get a big SUV?

I'd say, if you have 2 million to burn, best value is the Focus. Instead of getting the cheapest car of one company, you can get the top of the line car of another AND save 1 million baht.

As far as the X1. Have you ever sat inside one? 1.2, sure, 2+ million, no way. It really didn't feel any more premium than an LTZ Cruze or a Focus Sport. It didn't feel any bigger than my Cruze. Actually I was dissapoited. The rear seats are really uncomfortable. It's deceptive. Looks like one thing outside and feels like another inside.

I've never driven one, but the reviews don't seem really impressive.

While I personally would find it difficult to pony up $60K for a car that sells for $30K in the US, I do not fault others that might want to, more power to them. I saw a guy pulling out of Terminal 21 in a red Ferrari this past Sunday, not my thing, good for him.

The fact is, once it is legally in Thailand, it’s not a $30K car, it’s a $60K car, if you don’t want it, don’t buy it, but why this need for some people here to constantly attempt to rain on someone else’s parade.

I grew up in Southern California, and this reminds me of people moving out and living in the sticks bragging about how much more house they could afford. Of course when you start talking about the two-hour commute or the cost of fuel, they always want to change the subject. It all about location, nicer cars cost more in Thailand, if you want one, you have to spend the money.

I get what you're saying but I disagree that just because its built here its magically now a 60-$70,000 car. It is the same $40,000 car, just marked up a lot. Same quality. The quality didn't change, just the price changed. $40,000 and $75,000 that, in the USA, gets you 2 different cars in 2 different leagues. But just because a $40,000 car is sold here for $75,000 that doesn't make it a $75,000 car.

[surely the 875:10100 ratio has statistical significance, comparing to the price ratio and the volume sold ratio.

10,100 what? Have you actually LOOKED at the hits when you type that in?

There are thousands of hits that are websties saying "Problems with your Cruze? Ask a Question here", and the site is blank full of adverts. It may be that only a few of those 10,100 hits are actual problems being stated and it may be that all 875 hits for the X1 actually ARE X1 problems. Maybe out of the 10,100 hits, only 500 are actual Cruze problems and the rest are nothing. Being a more popular car there are millions of websites devoted to it. X1 not so much.

Chevrolet sells millions of cars. BMW sells thousands of cars.

If you sell hundreds of thousands of Cruzes and only get 10,000 hits of "problems" (most of the hits are god knows what), then you're doing good. If you sold 1,000 X1s and you get 875 hits on Google of "Problems" you're not doing so well are you?

You're still not addressing the issue here which is that the X1 is cheap plastic shit being sold for a luxury price. THAT'S the issue.

BMW X1 September TOTAL WORLDWIDE sales = 16,661 cars sold

Chevy Cruze September sales IN THE USA ONLY = 25,787 cars sold

Which, yet again, puts the Chevy Cruze as the BEST SELLING car in the USA.

It's amaxing the X1 is selling that well, but it isn't at the same time, because it's a CHEAP car (by BMW standards). $40,000 bucks at the most for an X1. Only here in Thailand you pay $70,000 for that shit.

...before moving on to the Isuzu pickup, which is next on your buying list.

Anything good for under a million. That should be the top for any person, even if you're rich. if you're super rich, get a van and hire a driver.

NO no, much better Look up xxx car and Recalls. opps sorry Mr Cruze, the list appear to be long for different items on the Cruze since 2011.. Thailand and worldwide

There again look up any car and recalls

Not nearly as long as a Honda Civic, but sure. Actually, Chevrolet has been very good with recalls even calling recalls for problems that affected only a small number of customers.

But again, we aren't talking about recalls or problems. We are talking about Luxury vs non-luxury. But I wont repeat that again.

I googled for You Tube videos of "Chevy Cruze Problems" and got 4 million + results, but please carry on with the X1 bashing.

That's because in a query, it will give you all results that have Chevy all results that have the word Cruze and all results that have the work Problems and all results that have a combination of those words.

if you actually Google "chevy cruze problems" in quotes, so that it looks it up together, you get 10,100 hits. And a lot of those hits lead to websites about nothing. There is no problem or chevy cruze just a blank page.

Do the same with the X1 which you despise so much.

I never said I despised it. I said that, do I have to say this again? Come on... I said that it is a 30-$40,000 dollar car being sold as a 65-$70,000 dollar car. Those 2 cars are in 2 different categories.

Paying 1 Million for a Focus Priced at 830,000 back home is NOT paying a price for a car in another category.

Why can't you guys get that concept through your thick heads?

At the same time, I said that paying say, $200,000 dollars for a $100,000 dollar car, IF you're rich, then I would say go ahead, because you're paying LUXURY price for a LUXURY car.

In the case of the X1 you're paying LUXURY car price for a NON Luxury car.

Is that clear now?

I googled for You Tube videos of "Chevy Cruze Problems" and got 4 million + results, but please carry on with the X1 bashing.

That's because in a query, it will give you all results that have Chevy all results that have the word Cruze and all results that have the work Problems and all results that have a combination of those words.

if you actually Google "chevy cruze problems" in quotes, so that it looks it up together, you get 10,100 hits. And a lot of those hits lead to websites about nothing. There is no problem or chevy cruze just a blank page.

Thanks for the tip, I looked up "BMW X1 problems" and got 875 results.

Yes. Now, sift through those and see which websites are actually problems. Same with the Cruze. That doesn't mean anything.

I am sure you will find more issues with the Cruze because the Cruze is the best selling car in the USA and it's sold all throughout the world. More cars, more owners, more issues. I'm sure the Honda Civic will have a mountain of complaints. So, what's your point?

I am showing that you are paying a Luxury Car price for a Car that ISN'T a luxury car. The Cruze isn't a luxury car and isn't priced as a luxury car.

I googled for You Tube videos of "Chevy Cruze Problems" and got 4 million + results, but please carry on with the X1 bashing.

That's because in a query, it will give you all results that have Chevy all results that have the word Cruze and all results that have the word Problems and all results that have a combination of those words.

if you actually Google "chevy cruze problems" in quotes, so that it looks it up together, you get 10,100 hits in Google, in Youtube you get 6 hits.. And a lot of those hits in Google lead to websites about nothing. There is no problem or chevy cruze just a blank page.

TC this is for you...

Yea. happened to 1 person. Ever.

Also, that Cruze cost $16,000 dollars, not $40-$60,000.

More shit design

Engines.

This one is tragic

Shit design

Here's the LUXURIOUS X1. 2++ Million

This one is funny. HAHAHAHAHA

BMW assembled in Thailand ? Am i dreaming ?

Details please ? I never hear this before. Which models exactly ?

What about Benz ?

Thanks.

The X1, X3, 3,5,7 series. At Rayong. Probably next to Chevy and Ford. Same complex I bet. The assembly guys probably have Sum Tum together during breaks and talk about the new D-Max.

if the Diesel version is imported and they only assemble the Petrol version here, then overpay for the Diesel X1 if you just HAVE to HAVE a crappy X1.

Enjoy the Popeye forearms.