MisterBeetle

How about providing books and pencils to schools in the east and north.

This is just PR to make the government look like it is doing something Modern and Tecnological.

I just drove through here too. What a mess.

Feel sorry for the 120 injured. My wife heard from locals in the nearby market that female driver was drunk on her way home from a party. Who knows it that is true or not.

I drive through this crossing 3-4 times doing the school run. This is a automatic gate.

I have seen many times motorbikes going around the guard rails when the lights are flashing and its a wonder this hasn't happened more often.

So in short, they're not all Homepro staff, but rather distributor's reps wearing Homepro uniforms.

Do they work on commission?

Went to Tesco to replace my flooded fridge and the rep said Mitsubishi fridges were bad. Went to Power Buy and the rep was saying Mitsubishi was one of the best. I say a fridge is a fridge nowadays. I went with the Mitsu because I thought it looked nice.

Also, they couldn't possibly have one rep per brand. There were at least 10 different brands of fridges available and I only saw two guys in each fridge section of the respective stores. - Although the TV sections were packed with sales dudes...

Oh, and by mentioning Mitsubishi I'm keeping this thread motor-related. (fridges have motors too)

Thats Cool, A Mitsu Pajero G.T. Fridge. Tinted Glass Sections inside, and Little Mag Wheels no doubt..

I would love it if you could deck out your fridge with a rocking sound system!

Oh yeah and a GPS tracking system so I could find out who has been eating my private chocolate stash

And heres me thinking you actually filmed someone stealing your car! Classic.

Obviously the Thai Tourism Minister doesn't get out of the office much. The business owners I know around the CM area say "it's slow". I tend to believe the people who cater to tourists.

I manage a Boutique Resort in Hua Hin area and after 1 1/2 weeks of full occupancy with mostly Bangkok escapees, our November forecast is looking dismal.

We had a staff meeting today and bookings have dropped to nearly 16%.

November is high season and normally by now I would have filled around 50-60% of rooms for the month, so I would have to say that the flooding of Rama II expressway would have part reason to this.

Just like every other business that has been affected, we just have to take it as it is and hope we can survive on walk ins and online promotions like Agoda.

I can also remember these types of furniture stores back in the UK.

Total rubbish.

Stuff that did not fit together from the flat packs, would fall apart after a year.

These products became a standard joke.

At least in Thailand good quality furniture is still affordable and easy to avoid these junk places.

This is why IKEA owner became billionaire...

Not sure that your opinion about IKEA is trustable...

I can vouch for IKEA's quality..

I have an IKEA "Klippan" lounge in Australia that was handed down from my parents when I first moved out to go to Uni.

It has survived numerous drunken parties, had people sleep on it and what not else.

I have moved it probably at least 5-6 times in the 15 years I have had it. I'm guessing mum had it maybe 5-6 years earlier than me as well.

It has no broken springs or boards that I know of.

best thing and the reason why we have kept it so long-I can still walk into a IKEA and buy a new cover for it.

I would like to think they still make quality like that now, but maybe not.

We visited so many Honda, Mazda, Toyota and Nissan dealers that I had to actually keep a journal to remember the details. We accidentally stumbled upon a Nissan dealer on the North end of Phahon Yothin past the Royal Thai Air Force. My wife and I were treated with kindness and respect by Siam Nissan Mahanakorn near Phahon Yothin 25. May, the salesperson, along with the Finance Manager, Sukit, and Nok, the Bank Representative did there absolute best to speak clear and understandable English. (They did not, I repeat they did not, play the speak Thai to her and English to him game.)

I made it clear to them we only wanted the least expensive Nissan March model with manual transmission. We were told by every dealer it would take more than one month but they could not be sure. After having this same conversation with May on Sunday she looked me in the eye and said no problem. We can have the car two days after your finance is approved with the bank. She said that would be Wednesday and the car will be ready Friday at 17:00. We get a call from May on Wednesday saying that everything is approved and the car will be ready at 15:00, not 17:00, on Friday.

We arrive at 15:00 on Friday as planned. The car was ready and waiting for us in the staging area. May, the salesperson, and Raywat, the Service Manager, spoke English to us and went over every detail about the car, the warranty and the maintenance schedule. They made sure both my wife and I understand everything. They even asked permission to explain a couple of things in Thai to my wife that she did not fully understand.

We can whole heartedly recommend May and the guys at Siam Nissan Mahanakorn. I will keep you posted on our future experiences with the service team.

Glad to hear some farangs are getting some decent sales service.

I have heard so many complaints.

Do you realize you just dragged up a 2.5 year old thread?

To inform us secondhand car dealers buy and sell for a profit ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

hahaha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVWBOXM61Tw

when you have used a keyless and push start car for a year, you will always miss it..

Only occasion I took remote out of pocket, or wife took her out of hand bag, was when locking car

approach car and it unlocks automaticly, be seated and push start. Never think about where the key/remote is

not to mention his and her remote, she approaching drivers door, seats and mirrors adjust to her settings,

next step, remote changes music and AC temp according to drivers preference list

snap

On a Benz or a BMW I guess, not likely to see this on a Vios for a while lol.

But guess it will happen not far along the track.

My 1993 Range Rover we at least had his and her remote adjusting seat and mirrors

keyless and powerseats in place, the memory costs nothing

My step mums E220 Merc has keyless entry, you keep the key fob in your pocket and just press a button on the gearshift, I'm sure it probably has the seat memory feature as well.

Our 2004 Volvo VC70 has memory settings for the drivers seat and mirrors, but not connected with the remote, I guess it was a natural step to add that though.

I didn't realize that you could program two separate remotes to store 2 different settings! Now that is good.

Would solve a lot of discrepancies with the misses

Will have to live with the 20 second adjustment for now

when you have used a keyless and push start car for a year, you will always miss it..

Only occasion I took remote out of pocket, or wife took her out of hand bag, was when locking car

approach car and it unlocks automaticly, be seated and push start. Never think about where the key/remote is

not to mention his and her remote, she approaching drivers door, seats and mirrors adjust to her settings,

next step, remote changes music and AC temp according to drivers preference list

snap

On a Benz or a BMW I guess, not likely to see this on a Vios for a while lol.

But guess it will happen not far along the track.

Personally I think push start should belong in race cars and the like, in a daily driver it is just a gimmick

With a proper keyless entry and driver memory system implemented, it makes perfect sense - your keys stay in your pocket, upon proximity to car it unlocks, open the door and the driver's chair and side mirrors remember your last settings, jump in (key still in pocket) and hit the start button. It beats the crap out of fiddling with remote controls, adjusting chairs and mirrors after the wife has been in the car, and then fumbing to find the ignition that's nearly always hidden behind the steering wheel..

That is a valid point MRO.

Having one (height challenged driver) sharing my car as well, but only takes 20 seconds to adjust, I just need to train her to put the seat back before she gets out.

They do have this as an option on the Fiesta Sport. hmmmmmm.

All this whining about prices of cars and mc's here and comparing to back home. Best advice is from Johnnie Walker " Keep on Walkin"

Since 15 years i living here. Yes i can't hear anymore. Make me sick! They want the cheap living, cheap houses, cheap food, cheap labour, cheap insurance, cheap rentals (homes and cars), cheap property, low taxes, chep police tickets and of corse the cheap girls, but it when comes to the car they start whining. Why this peaple only complain and complain and complain? If can't accept the Thai prices of cars, why they don't buy the cars in their home countries, instead of Thailand? Bring them over if you can.

Yes, i'm sure as a used car dealer yourself, you're sick of hearing people's moans about the expense of used cars in Thailand, but the truth is that there's a lot of crap here that is sold for a lot of money. You shouldn't be surprised if your customers raise this to your attention.

Correct Rix, also there is no where near as stringent second hand quality checks here. eg MOT, so half the time you don't know what you are buying or how safe it is , and from what i have experienced when in a crash lately, where the car which was badly damaged, was actually repaired and is back on the road , you also do not know if the car you are buying has been in a smash or worse still may even be a cut and shunt, ie Two cars previously involved in smashes being cut in half and stuck together to make one apparently new car for resale.

So MR STINGRAY, that is why Johnny Foreigner is trying to point out to all Thai's and sellers of second hand cars what seems to be very unfair pricing in the second hand market, it is not a complaint persay, just an observation on the fact that we farang and also the Thais are really getting ripped off in this market, and the sooner that all people realise this the better. If I have to lose Face by paying a high price but know the car is safe and has a good history, then fair enough. But if I lose face by being in ripped off in a suspect car I have had to pay a high price for, and in which I might also risk losing my face in, if in a smash, then that is another matter altogether.

Actually, just had a chat with the missus quickly , her old car was a 12 yr old Corolla, 1500cc manual with 400,000 kms on the clock, which the toyota dealership gave her 120,000 bht for against a new car.

I could have bought a second hand car like this in the UK for about 25,000 - 50,000 bht, from a an independent non dealership second hand car sales place like we see on many roadsides in Thailand, and it would have had an MOT and i could have had it checked by the AA or RAC for any dodgy aspects for a small fee.

So yes there is a great difference in the cost of a car here on the second hand market. The only rational explanation is that everyone wants one, and while finance is easier to arrange ( as previously stated)for the average Thai when buying secondhand then the high cost for most Thais becomes irrelevant i guess, and any safety aspects are just ignored anyway, seeing how people drive here and how people transport themselves on public vehicles and in other peoples cars or on motorcycles.

And that my friends is why (if you can) you should always buy a new car in Thailand. Less worries and when it comes time to sell, you might actually get some baht back.

In Australia, in my family, we normally bought a car second hand, drove it for 6 or more years and then traded it in for peanuts on the next one.

I remember being offered $500 trade in on my old Alfa Sud 'Clover leaf', when I was looking for an upgrade. I ended up selling it private for $750, with 6 months rego and pink slip.

Nice.?.Not if they are jerky, id be a bit bothered if id bought one,when there are non jerky available from Mazda Honda etc. You would think Ford could make it right first time.Some folks cant just dump it and get another, they have planned and looked forward to Skippy the Bush Kangaroo.Aint Funny at all.

Wadrinstar. Well, I'm one month in after purchase of my 'new' Fiesta and happy as larry. When they say jerky, it was not "kangaroo hoping down the road" like a 15 year old Learner driver might do in a manual. More like a low speed grabbing of gears. Very minimal movement or noise.

Like the vid says, it is purely the clutches bedding in, like many things on a new car, cams, springs, chains what ever, they all have a bedding in period, some just take more than others.

IMO what Ford did was quite innovative and not dissimilar to other European automotive companies- by putting a dual clutch into their small cars as well.

The Honda and Mazda both use your usual automatic gearboxes.

Old tech, yes it works, but so does my toaster.

Clear answer Mr Beetle, perhaps you could explain to the But Holes at Ford to instruct their Dumb Tart Sales Girls, to inform the Customers, and save them worried days.Product Knowledge here sucks.

This happens a lot with tier 2 and 3 dealers, lack of information. I guess gradually as the market expands, they train their staff more proficiently.

I guess it depends on the dealer, I had a choice of 3 dealers when I t came to actual purchase, Hua Hin, Lumlukka Rd and Sukhumvit (60?), I found all 3 we were talking to a guy and in 2 they took us for a walk through the workshop. In the Lumlukka Rd one, sales guy was quite knowledgable and actually pointed out a few things that I hadn't found in my research.

We had also looked at a Mazda 3 in Hua Hin, and yep- sales girl there was HOPELESS, had no idea about anything on the car, didnt have access to a key for a start up, couldn't even tell me when a test model (hatch back would be in), my wife got so pissed off with her attitude she walked out and left me standing there. Quite a funny afternoon that one.

Personally I think push start should belong in race cars and the like, in a daily driver it is just a gimmick, and now it seems just like mobile phones and tablets, car manufactures are competing to see who can add as many gimmicks as possible!

I'm happy with the bluetooth as I think it makes talking on the phone safer while I am crossing over 4 lanes of traffic a bit safer, and I'll take the DSG or DCT gearbox as it makes sense economically. But for the most of it, who really needs that other stuff? Navigation ok, but push start?

As far as I know most sales girls are selected based on looks and maybe personality as apposed to knowledge.

I actually know one personally and sorry Nut if your reading this, but she really has not much knowledge at all about cars.

She knows how to drive one I think, and she may know where the petrol goes, or is that where you put the oil, hang on I better check with the mechanic first.

Speaking of toasters, how many slices does it take before my staff can produce a decent tone of brown? Loafs of bread are getting harder to buy right now! (and no I don't have a maid, I run a resort)

Nice.?.Not if they are jerky, id be a bit bothered if id bought one,when there are non jerky available from Mazda Honda etc. You would think Ford could make it right first time.Some folks cant just dump it and get another, they have planned and looked forward to Skippy the Bush Kangaroo.Aint Funny at all.

Wadrinstar. Well, I'm one month in after purchase of my 'new' Fiesta and happy as larry. When they say jerky, it was not "kangaroo hoping down the road" like a 15 year old Learner driver might do in a manual. More like a low speed grabbing of gears. Very minimal movement or noise.

Like the vid says, it is purely the clutches bedding in, like many things on a new car, cams, springs, chains what ever, they all have a bedding in period, some just take more than others.

IMO what Ford did was quite innovative and not dissimilar to other European automotive companies- by putting a dual clutch into their small cars as well.

The Honda and Mazda both use your usual automatic gearboxes.

Old tech, yes it works, but so does my toaster.

I stayed at the Swiss Inn in Petaling (China Town).

room was 1,500 baht, clean, aircon, good breakfast.

Easy access to monorail to stop close to Embassy.

All the hotels close to Embassy row are over priced and not that great.

Plus, China town area is bustling with things to do and see, great food as well( chinese fare)

Pranburi (rooms) very full already also

Just returned from the centre of Hua-Hin this afternoon and it is absolutely full of vehicles. I have heard that nearly all the condos and hotels etc are fully booked , but I can't be sure as this is just local gossip. If you cannot get accomodation in HH just travel further south about 10kms to Khoa Toa/ Khoa Takiab lots of accomodation in this area and Pranburi about another 10kms again lots of accomodation of all sorts.

Villa Market nearly empty shelves re meat etc, but Makro in Pranburi still plenty of veg/ fruit and meats, but sold out of rice I believe; don't know about water.

Hope this helps

Its pretty much the same in Cha Am, the place is packed, which is very unusual for Cha Am! Yesterday at the local Tesco's most of shelves were empty. There was no water, rice, meat, fruit, fish sauce, tinned fish, fruit juice etc. It's mad!

Our resort in Samroiyod (30 mins sth of Hua Hin) has rooms available starting again tomorrow.

We had longstay guests escaping the floods book all our rooms out.

Most are heading back due to work requirements.

www.away-huahin.com

On Fiestafaction forums in US, other drivers have mentioned a "learning period" where the system needs to be run in.

According to the video you posted, it takes around 1000 miles (1600KM) for the clutches to bed in - interesting.

Perhaps a couple of trips to the drag strip would speed up the process

haha! That I would love to see.

Im afraid even with a decent exhaust and some custom airfilter work, the 1.6 Fiesta would be a bit of a joke at the drags!!

Hi Jim,

My car just hit 2,000kms and I have noticed that the powershift has settled in, much smother gear shifts and less stumbling around thinking about what gears to pick.

I really noticed it before in parking lots, slowing to speed bumps and in bumper to bumper traffic.

Yesterday I thought I would do a bit of a test, under similar driving conditions and I am happy to say the powershift is working really well.

On Fiestafaction forums in US, other drivers have mentioned a "learning period" where the system needs to be run in. Seems my car is learning well now, I hope this is the same with other drivers?

Here is a youtube vid that explains about Powershift (Albeit in American accent)

Now I only have one drama to fix- the split folding seats were mis-aligned when they refitted them after the leather seats were done!! Just waiting for the floods to settle(?) before I do a trip to the dealer!

Luck y I didnt buy from our local dealer in Klong 2, as they would be up to the roof in water at the moment.

But why dont you see many about. Thais love something New.

The Cruze was launched in TH in Nov 2010 - and it usually takes the Thai market 12-18 months before they really start taking notice of a new model from a (relatively) unpopular brand - so we'll know within the next 6 months or so how it's really going to do in the market..

The new Civic launches before that peak is reached though, and everyone will know about that, and I also expect Ford have already successfully generated enough brand interest to accelerate sales of the new Focus when it arrives in March 2012.

The new Civic will definitely be the popular one IMHO.

Focus still struggling to get the thai markets attention.

Need some RS versions going around to get some more interest

I saw one on a Thai TV show the other day called Love My Car? or something similar, appeared to be older model RS.

Sounds good....but I'm thinking about this little engine and all the new technology,how long will it last ?Also the transmission is something new and sophisticated(xtronic cvt??)..

Yeah anything new is dicey. For sure I'd opt for the 5-speed manual transmission.

CVT's have been around for ages. Sure things can go wrong but they are designed for economy and getting the most power out of the smallest capacity engine to the wheels.

Wandrinstar- I was referring of course to the styling (hints of Teana)- not the build or performance, but yep an entry level Civic is not far off the Top spec Jazz, if you don't mind a manual Transmission and less carrying space.

W I just read through some of the past pages, and thought I was in the wrong bl**dy section!

Thailand Cars or Thailand Ego? No offence, but guys!!

I test drove the Cruze and it was quite close to being on my pick list.

Actually have a strong contact in Thailand in Chevrolet company (i.e- client)

was offered a great deal- full options etc.

As it was my money being spent I ended up going for a smaller car.

Cruze looks good on paper, looks good in the flesh, drives decent as well, has some nice tech inside.

Yes, but it's overpriced and up against some overbearingly strong competition because of that...

Agreed, one good reason why I didn't buy one.

Mazda 3 similar money, better car IMO. Civic same.

Honey I shrunk the Teana.

Thanks Moon River,

I thought as much, until a 7 airbag (if ever) is available on the thai Market, I guess it would be pointless even trying.

Even then I may as well just trade up to a new model or something else.

Worth a try.

lol

Sure you can add them.

Just another question,do they have to function as well.

preferably yes.

Have a 20 mth old in the back.

Its not my driving I don't trust, its 'them'.

Side airbags would be some extra added relief.