tom yum goong

if you r sure that u have a 7 speed auto gearbox instead of a CVT gearbox u should sue Honda for false advertising.

not quite. According to Honda, youuse the exactly same gears in automatic mode as in manual mode. Else you would need two gear boxes. However, if you drive at a constant speed and press the manual button, the revs go up by approx. 500 instantly.

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please excuse my ignorance here, but isnt the point of a CVT gearbox to be able to select an infinite (?) number of gear ratios. isn't that why its called "continuously variable transmission".

so wouldnt locking 7 arbitrary gear ratios to give u a feel of a manual transmission negate the efficiency you were benefitting from in CVT mode?

sorry if i'm way off mark.

edit - typos

i've been living in Phuket for 18 months and have had no personal experience of any crime here. however, u do hear of the occasional break in.

this may or may not apply to you but becareful when riding round at night on a motorbike. there are guys on motorbikes who knock ppl off their bikes to mug them, or snatch purses etc.

this has happened to 2 (thai) ppl i know here in Phuket, and i've heard of other incidents. Mostly in and around Phuket Town, but there's no reason it can't happen in other areas.

all in all, i'd say its about as safe as the next place in Thailand. The only criminals u have to worry about are the ones driving taxis.

Funny it is: Once you switch into the manual mode, the revs go up by about 500 rpm at the same speed. I asked Honda what it is about and they simply denied the fact. I took the manager and the chief engineer for a ride and they were still denying what was plain to see...

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I'm definitely no expert but from what i've read about the CVT in the Jazz/City, is it possible your engine is having to rev harder in 7-speed mode because your automatic is no longer able to select the optimum gear ratio for that particular speed?

just a guess.

Cobber - r u sure that most new cars don't come with seatbelts? I've just been shopping for a new car, checked out every model at the lower end of the scale and they all came with rear seatbelts.

The only model i can think of, and i think its produced exclusively for taxis, is the Toyota Corolla Limo. This is basically the no-frills version of the Toyota Corolla Altis. I can' t remember of the top of my head but it would be plausible that this model doesn't have rear seatbelts. I guess when they say no-frills they really mean it.

On a side note. I was told by a Bkk cabbie that taxi drivers dont like to wear their seatbelts, especially late at night, because a mugger who got in the cab would use it to strangle him. He reckoned it wasn't uncommon.

Passenger cars and 4 door pickups are sold moslty with auto, I read about 80% of them are auto. Two door pickups sold for commercial purposes are mostly manual, Vigo doesn't even offer auto in 2 door models.

As for switching from one to another - my gf and her father used to drive manuals, but won't go back anymore if you force them - autos are so much easier in Bangkok.

Jazz with manual? Does it even exist? It's CVT with seven speed "manual mode" buttons, isn't it?

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I hope the Jazz has a manual version, i just paid a deposit on one.

One thing i found when i was shopping around for a car, all the larger engines or models with ABS and Airbags were auto transmission only.

I used to know a guy who rode a motorbike in Bangkok.

being a dj u should know what that sentence refers to, i would hope.

I'm also very interested to hear about Honda service in Phuket if anyone has any experience.

Absolutely love it.

The best car car i've owned,(which doesn't say alot)

You wont regret it.

have fun:-)

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great to hear that.

thanks.

house music all night long...

oh cr@p, its 1am ... ...

welcome to the new social order

nickkbh - may i ask what r ur impressions of the Jazz after owning it for 2 days?

Nothing bad i hope, i just put my deposit down.

Buadhai - I know you're right, but i've decided the Jazz vtec is the car i want (after much uhmm'ing and ahrrrr'ing).

The Jazz looks great in white, and as u pointed out, at least it won't get as hot. I suppose silver is much more practical and easy to take care of (my friend's silver '92 civic looks brand new after a wash), i think its a bit boring.

I'm going to put my deposit down today.

Thanks for all the great advice.

I learnt to drive in an auto and took my driving test in one. Both my parents cars were autos so thats all i drove for ages.

Once i learnt to drive a manual, i've never looked back. You have a lot more control over the car, its a lot more fun to drive, cheaper to buy, less likely to break down and uses less petrol.

Not sure i would want a manual in Bangkok though.

Get a light colored one to match the local dust and soil....

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Buadhai - So a light coloured car is good? What about white?

The Jazz that the dealer here has in stock is white, which looks pretty cool, but ppl are now telling me its going to be hard to take care of.

I've also been told that silver is the easiest to take care of.

With some cars though, black looks awesome. If i were to go for a Vios, it would have to be black, with at least 15" rims and low profile tyres.

I think I'm going to go for the white Jazz anyway. At this point i dont want to wait any longer than i have to.

Maybe its just me but i'm not too worried about safety in the Jazz. Yes, there is more space for a "crumple zone" at the front in a sedan, but its not as if the Vios has a long nose anyway.

Anyway, at least in the UK the Jazz is pretty safe:

http://world.honda.com/news/2004/4040624.html

Of course, that doesn't mean that it is in Thailand. because i want a manual, the one i'm going for doesn't have ABS or airbags.

Tedkarma - r u buying an automatic? If so, i think i would rather go for the CVT with the 7 speed "steermatic" of the Hondas than the boring 4 gear auto in the Vios.

Tedkarma - yeah the City is basically the sedan version of the Jazz. Just a shame that the City is so hideous otherwise i would have bought it already.

In Thailand Honda does have a reputation as being more expensive to maintain than Toyota but i think in the class that the Vios and City are in, they should both be pretty cheap to run.

After going through the pros and cons with the missus last night, i'm going to put a deposit on the Jazz this afternoon. What swung it was the fact that they have the model that i want in stock, so i only have to wait 1 week. Toyota told me at least 1 month for the Vios.

To answer the OP, of course its for marketing reasons.

If you are an "International" hospital then it sounds like u operate to international standards.

They are currently expanding Siriroj, i think. Lots of building going on.

I prefer it to Bangkok Phuket hospital.

Wasnt there a Manfarang section in Metro Magazine?

I could have been imagining things though.

And,you can negostiate at least 20.000.- discount on both the jazz and the vios,

and i'm sure the city as well.

But you'll propably blow it all on options...

Good luck

Nick

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R u living in Bkk Nickkbh?

Here in Phuket, i can only get 10,000 off the Vios plus free insurance, and nothing off the Jazz but a load of extras thrown in, no insurance though!

I might have to buy it in Bkk and drive down to get a better deal, not sure if its worth the hassle though.

You may be on to something there Buadhai.

I always assumed Echo was another name for the Yaris. The Vios is based on the Yaris's platform. I think the Vios was first developed for China.

Still can't decide between the Jazz and the Vios. Waiting time for the Vios in Phuket is 1 month, pretty standard i'm told. However, Honda have a manual Jazz Vtec in stock, so i could get it within 1 week. Its white though, looks good but i'm not sure how easy it is to take care.

My head says Vios, my heart says Jazz.

On a side note, i'm glad the Vios doesnt have too much resemblance to the Echo in the US. Yuck!

isn't there snow on some of the peaks in Indonesia?

Dont think its easy to get to though.

enjoy while it lasts. Usually about 2 weeks in my experience.

Forgot to mention, Vios doesn't have intermittent wipers. This is a big minus point for me. Why leave it out? Surely it wouldn't be hard to include it.

Maybe i'm being too fussy.

Finding a house to rent in Phuket "City" is all about word-of-mouth.

For apartments, just look in the Phuket Gazette directory and telephone around. Need someone who speaks Thai obviously. This is also advisable to ensure u dont end up paying over the odds. Not sure how many 2 bedrooms there are in town though.

For a house, i may be wrong but if you can't find one through word of mouth, your best bet is to drive around the sois where u'd like to live and look for "for rent" signs.

There is a website which has some houses in Phuket City on it but i've lost the addy. Will post it if i find it.

Good luck.