Wiggy

Its all rather personal choise, the Focus ,just dont like much about it, but the Mazda 3 is a pleasure to drive, no point being anti as there are good bits even in the Ford. Theres some rubbish bits on the Merc too. Like the silly little engine.

Uh huh. Like the base-model-like halogen mirror headlights on the Focus Turbo - what are they thinking?

I know it seems like a petty gripe, but it would be a deal breaker for me... because you can't even retrofit xenons or LED's into them.

Doesn't the civic have full led lights now...only on the top model or all?

The RS has them all round. The lower specs have them all round bar the main headlights (projector).

Its all rather personal choise, the Focus ,just dont like much about it, but the Mazda 3 is a pleasure to drive, no point being anti as there are good bits even in the Ford. Theres some rubbish bits on the Merc too. Like the silly little engine.

Completely agree, Ace.

Its all rather personal choise, the Focus ,just dont like much about it, but the Mazda 3 is a pleasure to drive, no point being anti as there are good bits even in the Ford. Theres some rubbish bits on the Merc too. Like the silly little engine.

Uh huh. Like the base-model-like halogen mirror headlights on the Focus Turbo - what are they thinking?

I know it seems like a petty gripe, but it would be a deal breaker for me... because you can't even retrofit xenons or LED's into them.

Completely agree with you, IMHO, and I don't think it's a petty gripe at all. I was stunned to see the specs for the new Focus with only halogen bulbs. What are these people thinking? Brand new update, decent power plant, oozing with smart features, but with 1970s headlamps. Unbelievable. TBH, I thought it was odd having only halogen bulbs on my current Focus. You know what? This could be the deal breaker for me as well.

Don't forget Ford will give you a loyalty discount since you've already bought one car from them. I believe it's currently 20k.

Wow. I didn't know about that. Thanks. Sounds good. I wonder if I could squeeze them for a bit more, as the Fords aren't exactly flying off the shelf!

Bit off Topic - buy 99% of my cars and trucks second hand. Use the following, seems to work. Decide on a make and model. Decide what you will pay - low end to high end as cars are different, with mileage and condition. Call the dealers, look at the cars. Find one you like - make an offer. If no wiggle room, walk. Go to dealer #2 ... When buying our Teana we found most in BKK. Got a central hotel room, started calling dealers. The very first one came to pick us up in the car, took it for a test drive, made an offer. Refused. Bye-Bye. Spent 2 more days doing the same with different dealers. Day #3 the first dealer called back, said he would accept. Stand Your Ground. Many cars for sale. Do not be in a hurry.

Fair point, and thanks. I have thought long and hard about this, but after so many years here I just can't bring myself to trust second hand. Second hand car dealers throughout the world tend to be crooks, let alone here. I'm sure there are some good ones, but how do you know? Plus, when they can't even bring themselves to show the price, it's a bit of a lottery. I'd love to do it, but I worry about how it's been driven (probably badly) where it's been driven (maybe idling in traffic most of its life, or possibly through flood water), previous accident damage and possibly repaired badly (maybe even an insurance write-off and rebuilt). The chance of a 'cut and shut', plus a possible lack of service history due to laziness and/or ignorance (I don't mean this in a Thai bashing sense). Finally, there's a good chance it's been 'clocked'. Yes, I'll pay more for new, but I feel it's worth it for sheer peace of mind. All that said, I haven't totally discarded the idea of second hand. My first ever car here was and it was a great little car.

The only way you'll get a decent price for your existing car is by selling it privately.

Thanks. Do you think that's the way for all cars, or just ones with generally lower resale value, like a Ford? I know the second hand market has dropped lately following the flood of cars after the first-time buyer debacle. I read somewhere on here that tents have increased their margins from around 50K mark up to around 100-150K. Does anyone know if there's any truth to this? If so, privately may be the way to go. Thanks again.

All cars.

No longer does the agent/tent want just 30-50K profit, these days they start at 100K, 150K, 200K even.

Thanks again. That's what I'd heard. It might be a good time to buy first and then sell privately later, thus avoiding being without a car for a while.

The only way you'll get a decent price for your existing car is by selling it privately.

Thanks. Do you think that's the way for all cars, or just ones with generally lower resale value, like a Ford? I know the second hand market has dropped lately following the flood of cars after the first-time buyer debacle. I read somewhere on here that tents have increased their margins from around 50K mark up to around 100-150K. Does anyone know if there's any truth to this? If so, privately may be the way to go. Thanks again.

Dealers here don't usually handle trade ins themselves apart from Toyota Sure etc, and even they are hit and miss. Most used cars are handled by used car sellers. Some of the new car dealers have contacts with these but you are probably better off shopping around the used car sellers yourself or selling privately.

We were offered 10K more for our honda city at a tent compared too the honda dealer. The dealer then offloads it to a tent and pockets the 10K. You would get more privately, but depends oh how fast you want to get rid of it.

I'd be inclined to go for the honda - reliable, good service centers, good resale (I've also had a civic for 12 years too. It's had a few issues but the engine and gearbox are still strong with no problems). Yes it costs more but you get it back over time and on resale. Ford's service reputation is slowly improving but still has a way to go.

The big unknown for me is how turbos will hold up to the hot tropical climate here. I'm not in the market for a couple of years so will be watching closely:)

Thanks DavisH.

Interesting point regarding the turbo. Could be worth watching for a bit, as you say.

If you care about how a car actually drives the best in every class here is a Ford (countless comparison tests bear this out). If you think resale value or the few hours a year the car is at a dealer being serviced then get an inferior to drive Japanese car.

Thanks, JTB.

I totally agree regarding the Ford being the better car to drive. The Focus handles like it's on rails and it has plenty of power (currently 170HP), with the new at 180HP. The ONLY issue with the old one it is the clutch. It works fine, but occasionally it hesitates as to which gear to select, so it's just not responsive enough. And why Ford put the 'manual' selector on the gear stick I'll never know. The new one has paddle shift, and with a conventional automatic transmission. Resale value is a concern, but once you get over 6 or 7 years I understand the gap closes again.

Hi all,

I have a 2013 Focus 2.0 Titanium saloon (sedan). I love the car, bar the dual clutch transmission. It's good, but not THAT good. I want to change in the next few months. I'm torn between the new Focus Ecoboost with a wonderful array of features (and no dual clutch!). I know that the resale value on the Ford may suffer (Red Book values mine at between 450K and 530K depending on type of sale).

Does anyone think I'd get a better trade-in price by taking it to Ford over Honda? I like the look of the Honda (I'm thinking RS), but it is more expensive. Plus, Ford don't seem to be offering the saloon at the moment, and I'm not a fan of hatchbacks. I've had no problems with Ford's after sales service and the car is very well built. Generally I'm happy with it. It's just that clutch. I also like the HR-V, although it's lacking in power, so I have a bit of a dilemma. What would you do?

Thanks in advance.

RIP. Good memories.

I wonder if that's for Thai children only.......

No wonder, why these girls want to marry an outsider instead of there countrymen. Such a result of a fling with a Thai idiot. Now she is gone leaving poor, old Mummy-Papa and 3 small dependents (under 10 years of age) without any caretaker. Is there any God???!!!

No, there isn't a god.

I wish they'd tested my gearbox before delivery.

It would have been easier to lay in wait until she was home and then raid her apartment. Closing the barn door after the horse has bolted. Completely inept. But maybe there's no need to catch her. After all, a Thai wouldn't do such a thing.

The Bangkok Post said the police were looking for a Thai woman after the raid on the apartment in Minburi.

If a Thai woman is involved then I really doubt the story about revenge for deportation of friends.

You'd think that they would've waited until she was home and then move in. Surely she might have some useful information. But then again a Thai wouldn't do such a thing so no need to talk to her. Did they deliberately wait until she was out? Skeptical, I know, but I'll never trust the RTP.

I obtained my Easy Pass at the office next to Tha Ruea (Port) toll gate. I put it in in my wife's name as I didn't have my passport handy. Also, I have linked my Easy Pass to my Thai credit card so I simply SMS "500" or "1000" to a mobile number and my card is topped up in a few seconds and the amount charged to my credit card + a nominal service fee. Simple. I did this from their website.

The BKK Post said he had been out of work for three years, but drank with his friends at a near-by grocery store.

I will never understand some men. Out of work, but money to drink, I guess wife worked. This is very sad, but more typical of the way some deal with their problems. How can you be out of work when 7/11 hires all the time, construction laborers needed all the time. I would not feel sorry for him, but do for wife and children !! God Bless them or who ever they believed in, at any rate we are all God's creatures.

I am not one of god's creatures. So don't say I am.

I'm surprised you saw the motorcycle coming at all with that window tint!

I'd check the mileage on return. My previous Toyota went in for repair to a few little knocks gathered over time and came back two weeks later with +2,300 km on the clock. I guess they'd been using for their own purposes. Needless to say they denied it. I always take a photo of the odometer before leaving it with anyone these days. Just in case.

This is going to kick up a stink!

I've just painted over paper on my condo ceiling with white emulsion. No problems thus far. The ceiling is dry wall/fibre board, but I'm not sure if that makes a difference. It looks pretty good after two weeks, so I'm sure any problems with bubbling/peeling/adhesive weakening would have occurred by now.

Best way to ruin a Paint Finnish if your not carefull.

Only if you're in Scandinavia.

Surely "walkway" should read "motorcycle path", as that's what I fear it will become.

Good idea if it works though, and for which the BMA should be lauded.

Why does the article feature a photo of Alcatraz? Are the Swedes detained there?