pookett

Sort of with you on that, my take is; >Panoramic sunroof : For me is a negative point here. >Low-profile tyres : Another negative Power back door – Yes, that's desirable Panoramic View Monitor – Not on the wish list and I have driven taller cars before Tyre Pressure Warning System (TPWS) – Another negative, these go wrong for a past time and tyre fitters tend to damage them. Wireless charger – Not bothered >Pioneer 6-speaker system : most factory systems are pretty meh at this level >Two-tone leather upholstery: I do like that, eye candy that works >Acoustic glass windshield: pretty pointless That means I'm left with the power hatch and two tone interior as positives, with a gaggle of negatives. Hmmmmm.

Thanks for the replies thus far; The cross has larger loading space, greater ground clearance and taller road view. Corolla cross is over budget. We split our time currently, mostly Phuket and some oop-coontray. Yikes, same platform as Yaris Cross, Lexus-afied at 2 mil plus, no thanks. Yup, I have not got my head into the pure EV world as yet. Maybe next time around. 4) Yes, it's a small upcharge but the extras didn't appeal to me. I suppose one could argue enhanced second hand price...

Two years down the line, can I revive this thread. I've started looking for a new car. Went into the process thinking of a Suzuki Swift but it's too small. Favourite at this point is the Yaris Cross Premium, I certainly do not want to spend more. As most driving will be slow paced, local roads are mostly very busy, high performance is unimportant. Loading space is a high priority which the Cross has plenty of. Others looked at in showrooms; Honda WRV (very possible alternative) Honda City Hatchback ( I liked this too but was wowed by Cross height, ground clearance for rough roads and my own house's road entrance that has a deep "bump" to negotiate and large space). Mazda 2 (too small) Mazda CX3 (lovely car with disappointing space and poor all round visibility). MG ZS ( appealed in itself, bargain price but reliability history a major worry). With two years past since the OP, I'd be most interested in hearing from those that have purchased since around that time.

Another useless requirement. Yes there are plenty of foreign maniacs on the road BUT a negligible amount compared to the mass of untrained and lethal Thai drivers. Introduce a stringent driving test ( up to falang standards ) for ALL drivers on Thai roads. Existing license holders get a 2 year reprieve to catch up. Start policing/inspecting and applying laws to all the rental businesses, all vehicles must be factory standard and all renters must have correct papers. Make fines actually hurt! Non standard bike = permanent confiscation. Renting to anyone without correct papers, ฿10,000 flat fine per instance and same for the driver/rider. Using phone while driving/riding, proper fine, if cannot pay, impound vehicle and cancel license.

More and more these days. "If a Thai can do it ..." attitude, made worse by the fact that the UK drive on the same side as Thailand.

I hope you're not being sensible and logical! How very dare you 😉

Just to add to this topic. We picked one up and are very pleased thus far. The tyres were pumped up way too far as usual. Once corrected the ride is smooth enough. Re an earlier post of easily steering off line, correcting the tyre pressures eliminated this as well. The thing that did annoy was the available space between the tyre valve and the spoke-cross(front) or hub(rear). It's a bit of a struggle to squeeze the pump's tube head on, poor design there.

Thanks for the thought. Everything except the depth would be ok. Even the 180 turn can be changed to 90 by using the old limiter collar.

I'm trying to find a replacement lock for a small safe. It's a cam lock with tubular key, 16mm mount with 20mm depth and a cranked lever, the lock passing through 90 degrees only. I have found many with a straight lever but with a different size fixing so I cannot swap the levers from old to new. Does anyone know a shop that would hold these in stock (presumably an old style) in central Phuket? TIA

Ahhh, you still have it up in Patts. Unfortunately no CJ down here (Phuket).

I haven't seen the Carabao Dunkel on the shelves anywhere for some time now. Have they been squeezed off the market for daring to make a decent beer? Back on the Laos Dark for now...

Helmet 100%, a decent open face one. I need my head intact! Guilty of not wearing any other real bike riding protection gear on my scoot. Big-bike trips I will don my full face lid, proper jacket, gloves and boots, trousers have some knee pads.

Very odd headline spot lighting 3 Brits instead of over 700 money grabbing Thais, fully complicit and possibly/probably offering the service in the first place. Let's not dwell on that one eh, damn falangs!

If a dish is way off normal flavour standards or simply not to my taste, I'll try and fix it with condiments or quietly ask if the kitchen could "adjust" it. On the odd occasion when the food is badly cooked or suspicious in freshness, I'll simply push it aside uneaten. The staff usually ask why and are quietly informed, usually volunteering to remove the dish from the bill. In good quality restaurants I will always reject over/under cooked food, as they are supposed to have much higher standards.

The travelling part I have no problem with but hotel rooms, definitely not. Even as a dog owner myself, if I was given a hotel room that had a dog inside before me, I'd be mighty hacked off, it's in the same vein as a non-smoker getting a smokers room.