Toolong

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! ????????

And yes, we are in Isaan, btw.

Yes, I noticed that height off-ground too. And like you, we get floods here. I used to think that people who liked to sit higher up on the road were often just being pretentious, but whether or not that's true, I know now there are definite, practical advantages to it and I prefer it myself now!???? As soon as I'm able, I'll get down to the local Honda dealer and see if they have one to look over. My wife is certainly interested. ????

That Verso looks entirely practical, has a modest cuteness to it and I love it! ???? I like the big windows. Visibility must have been good, meaning increased safety. I recall early Yaris cars & hatchbacks had bigger windows and then all of a sudden, Toyota switched to the lower profile, smaller window look that matched the Ford Fiesta styling and that really bugged me, because to me it was a blatant compromize on safety. But that's just my opinion! ???? Anyway.....love that Verso!

True enough, Connda, true enough. ????

DavisH, this is a pretty comprehensive & enormously helpful selection of advice & tips and I'm grateful for it. ???? First thought: those crv's sound good. ???? I'm tempted. Popular for a good reason, right? The comfort level on bad roads re the City would be problematic for us as around here the roads are particularly bad. Interesting. Lanewatch? Any increased-safety features have to be good, so if not there on cheaper models, not great. Will consider that. Honda wr-v....good info. Higher up seating no problem. 'Basically a Honda Jazz engine..' I don't think i have any complaints about that! ???? You're right about Bkk dealerships vs the sticks. Out here in Issarn it's more 'sleepy' and can get frustrating!???? Ceramic coatings? I am ignorant of such things. Sounds very good, though ???? I will do some homework on that and its availability in my area. Thanks again. ????????????

Yes, he was referring to the Yaris. I love getting all this feedback, because in its limited way it exposes the cracks, so to speak. What you helpfully point out about the weight/power difference between Yaris & Swift is interesting. And it matters......because I start to wonder just how clever Toyota are at marketing their baby. And you're right. 2023 Yaris seems like a minor facelift. But, will I be drawn to the Toyota brand anyway....in the end.....because of their reputation? Could be. ???? ????????????

Yes, regarding the overall height and higher seating set-up, I feel that would be a good thing, that does not negatively affect the advantages (IMO, as far as my wife's needs are concerned) of it being a shorter vehicle length-wise. I think she wants to be more higher up, rather than way down low. She's used to being (as a front passenger) in our pick-up for 14 years, a bit higher than the average car, I suppose. For me, the length, and to some extent the width, is what's crucial. (Said the actress to the bishop! ????????)