Toolong

Interesting comment, spidermike! As far as size goes, for me (cos it's kind of a relative thing) the CX-30 gets very close to being too big.....on paper, anyway......and this is a point I'm starting to consider : 'What if it turns out that my wife CAN, with careful practise, drive a bigger vehicle?' Especially if the vehicle is as easy to drive and manouevre as well as you say. I think we both need to go back down to the Mazda place and spend more time in ALL the models. We only looked at the Mazda 2 last time. Thanks ????????

Interesting! Looks similar.....though bigger?.......to the Nissan Cube model that came out some years ago. What some might call the 'no-nonsense' look, which I mean, in this case, as a compliment. ????????

Interesting to read of your experiences with different vehicles as it relates to floods & suitability to environment, etc. 'Functionality and practicality' is also important to me. Plus of course reliability. But I find I have to be ready to compromise on that....to some extent.....as it relates to possible different concerns of my wife. I think she tends to evaluates vehicles in ways not always in accord with good sense! (Or what I see as 'good sense', to be fair!) ????

Do Bentley do small hatches? If so, game on! ????????

????.....the CX-3 does seem to be 'calling out to me' for a thorough look over and maybe a test drive. ???? (The high Mazda build-quality, in general, does seem to stand out, doesn't it. ????)

That's a nice simple formula to use! ????

Agreed!????

Yes of course. ????

Ermm...........dunno!???? Don't retirement ext's need health insurance? I genuinely thought they did!! I am very sorry if I have given wrong information. ???? I have an extension based on marriage. I find the marriage extension/ application such a complicated process and I have often regretted not being able to get a retirement ext' because of the high-cost (for me) of annual health insurance, which......to my understanding, is a requirement for such an extension. scottiejohn, I still think my understanding is correct about that requirement (with coverage up to 3million,afaik)........despite you not needing it somehow. If I am wrong, scottie, I would be delighted (really!) to BE wrong, and I'll be the first to declare myself a misinformed fool! ????????

Just a comment, Captor...... maybe helpful, or maybe not, or entirely unnecessary.......but only want to point out that currently having health insurance is not a requirement for getting an extension based on marriage, though it is for an extension based on retirement.

Ahhhh......now that's true. ????????????????

Well of course, lads have spoilers, transam. Otherwise they wouldn't be lads ????. Old farts like me stick with polite 'standard trim'!!????????????

Yes....you're right about those specs. Interesting to me because of how the humble little Mazda 2 has greater ground clearance than the longer Yaris and the even longer City. So compared to the wr-v you're right about 'failing miserably' but then other options are even worse...ie, the City's 13.5cm. ????????

???????????? Love this recommendation, Yellowtail! And your enthusiasm.....because that's how I feel! I would LOVE to go....but I'm a country boy and far from the big mango. But....who knows? Maybe I could 'arrange' it. We'll see. ????????

Vinny....you know your stuff. ???? You sound like someone I could really enjoy chatting with over coffee or beer......all about cars!???????? Thanks for the specs.

Spidermike.....call this coincidence or whatever, but for the first time - today - I really thought about the CX-30 as a possible......despite it being way longer than I'd like, for my wife's sake (so to speak). I was considering the shorter Mazda CX-3. Still am in fact, but thought about indulging myself with the CX-30. It's a contender for sure.....but is kind of in the territory of 'too big', as far as my wife is concerned. I'm weighing things up!!???? But I do appreciate your glowing testimonial to the CX-30. Who knows, it could push me that way! ????

Cult of the Sun... thanks for your post. To honest, I have never heard of scion xB. I'm guessing it might be something I'm familiar with......but maybe named differently in the States. Possibly. ????????????

This is why I love this forum. Differing opinions are good and help lead they who seek advice & help towards an informed resolution....hopefully. ???? CLW.....what you say is very interesting, and I appreciate you saying it. I have taken note of the points you make. ???? City hatchback?.....my wife likes them. But I have doubts......longer than I'd like. And 13.5 cm ground clearance.......just got doubts that I can't honestly put my finger on conclusively! ???? But maybe......

Vinny......I really appreciate your detailed comparative mini-analysis!!???????? Interesting. Fortuners are 29 inches longer than the WR-V? 29 inches! Wow. ???? I can't get over that 4,060mm WR-V length.....shorter than a Mazda 2. Local Honda place has a wr-v and I plan to check it out over the next few days. After I have, I'll get back to you with my thoughts! ????

I agree with, and can relate to, what you say here, overall, regarding ground clearance & floods. ???? Interestingly, my wife today brought up another issue re ground clearance: being so close to the road that many situations, like steep ramps or even difficult speed bumps, etc, can leave you with bits of front or rear exterior trim breaking off or cracking. She's got a point, I reckon. ???? Btw....local Honda place has a wr-v. Will check it out asap. ????

And yes (I forgot), the ground clearance thing is something I'm increasingly coming to think of as a desirable feature. (I was here in the 'big flood'.) ????

Certainly where I am in Isaan, your dealership comparison does seem to indeed be the case. Toyota place...shiny, landscaped to the max, all bells & whistles! Honda place.....small, tatty, half-hearted kind of vibe, as if Head Office in Bkk has told them they'll be shutting down the place & laying off workers! I even feel sorry for them. It interesting Loslobo, and of course pure coincidence, that I kind of considered the Corolla Cross earlier today, for the first time, before reading your comment. Bit larger than ideal, and not a thing of great beauty or flair (at least IMO), but when it comes to pedigree, Corollas have it in spades, right? ????????

Well, damen, your comment does make me think. While I can't myself be sure if the point about repair time & availabilty of spare parts is really the way it (you could be right), I do kind of agree with the idea that with Toyota those problems would be less likely to arise, ie repair time & spare parts. Resale value better? Again, you could be right. Thanks for the advice. ????

Yes, I'm not ready yet to put my faith in EV's. Too many doubts. ????????

Now that's salesmanship! ????????