Klonko

2600 km road trip with Ora GoodCat Ultra 500 Sattahip - Kabin Buri - Korat - Chaiyaphum - Nam Nao NP - Lam Nam Man NP - Doi Phu Kha NP - Doi Chang (Chiang Rai)- Ping River - Bangkok - Sattahip Trip planned in InRoute app with GoogleMaps and PlugShare. Car navigation with Apple Maps (CarPlay). We do not use the car's navigation system because addresses are often not found, GPS coordinates not accepted, and traffic congestions less considered. We have A/C switched on @ 25-26°C, pre-cool the parked car and keep the 90 kph speed limit. Range 100% charged is ≥ 400km @ ≤ 90 kph, which translates into an efficient 200 km range during long trips (battery between 60% for faster charging and 10% as safety margin). Continuous 120 kph reduce range to 275 km. Once we could trickle charge overnight, else our onboard AC charger indicated grounding errors. Therefore, it is most efficient to DC charge up to 60% after two hours driving, resulting in 35 minutes gross charging time, i.e. after deducting the 15 minutes regular break after two hours driving, charging takes 20 minutes extra. DC charging costs were THB 121 per 100 km. Slow DC charging and Thai only navigation and voice commands were known to me upon purchasing the car. The slow DC charging is mitigated because most DC chargers in Thailand are limited to 50-60 kW. Positive surprises were how well the adaptive cruise control and lane assistance worked in curves, smoother than in the Tesla, albeit at cautious speeds. Negative surprises were the very harsh one pedal drive when driving away and stopping, the harsh adaptive cruise control in stop and go traffic, the inability of the adaptive cruise control to scope with larger speed differentials, and the lack of regeneration braking while adaptive cruise control is active. The GUI has room for improvement. But overall, it is a car with a comfortable and enjoyable ride, decent range and good value for the price. I like its exterior and interior design. Our road trip was very much sabay. My priorities for improving my BEV experience in Thailand are: 1st: one pedal and adaptive cruise control to be smooth also at low speeds, adaptive cruise control working at any speed differential, and regeneration braking while cruise control is active. 2nd: car navigation with improved traffic routing and accepting GPS coordinates or locations sent from navigation apps. 3rd: flood resistance > 30 cm water depth. 4th: both the car and the DC chargers to charge @ >100 kW. 5th: car with 500 km real range. Ease of driving is more important to me than faster charging and more range. Usually we charge at home. For our one or two road trips and a few longer one day or overnight drives per year, charging on the road is no problem.

Are the chargers at MG dealerships for MG cars only or also for other car brands?

We have now installed a good quality 80% tinted foil on the tinted sunroof glass and it makes a noticeable difference, though the temperature beneath the sunroof is still warmer. Unfortunately, deselecting the sunroof as option was not possible.

Thank you. Looks like condo only. I thought so. Dreams do not come true (using LTR for direct ownership of property, which could give me more flexibility in the long run).

As long as there are enough people booking with an airline which does not refund canceled flights, there is no reason to pay old debt. I congratulate Thai Airways on saving THB 50k with me. I spent a multiple thereof this year with another carrier.

Thank you, but I am not on Facebook

What are the rules for investing in Thai property under the LTR scheme? Condo of course, company probably not, direct ownership with obligation to sell when visa expires?

Thank you for your correction. I should not rely on Wikipedia.

The ORA GoodCat has an anti-collision assistant but I am hezitating to find out out how it works while driving with active cruise control @ 90 km/h and approaching a car or motorcycle stopped ahead at a red light. The Ora GoodCat still drives on while my Tesla smoothly brakes and stops for any car, motorcycle or bicycle driving or stopped ahead, and prevents me from passing bicycles giving less than 1.5m space. Most Tesla stories stem from drivers blaming the car for their own mistakes.

South East Asian NCAP is focused on Malaysia, Phillipines and Singapore. Its members consist of these countries' automobile clubs and a Malaysian safety institute, limiting the financial resources for testing compared with European NCAP with its many more, partially state agency members. Therefore, fewer cars are tested, 3 cars in 2021 and 3 cars 2022 to date (European NCAP 37 cars 2021 and 37 cars 2022 to date). The SE ANACP test rating excludes general vulnerability of other road users, but includes motorcyclist safety since 2021, which focus makes sense. I understand @vinny41' arguments that a test is accurate only for the country specific version of a car model. We do not know if the manufacturer saved on a driving assistant for Thailand, the Philippines, or both, i.e. we do not know if a SE ANCAP or a European NCAP test result is more relevant for Thailand. I assume that the ratings for occupants' protection (given same number of airbags) do not much depend on the country version, but there may be a different test result for the driving assistants. E.g, I consider the inabiliy of the Ora GoodCat's adaptive cruise control to scope with large speed differentials to be safety relevant, and other country versions may not have the same problem, because GWM forgoes on the THB 1'000 savings per car for other markets. *****-NCAP ratings probably indicate decent safety standards irrespective of the NCAP body and the car's country, while the ≤ THB 500'000 cars are not likely to get *****-ratings anywhere.

"Light" vehicles rarely get decent NCAP ratings, and I assume most cars listed second tier by KhunLA will not be sold in western countries and therefore not obtain respective safety ratings. Official NCAP site with all tested and rated cars: https://www.euroncap.com/en.

Ora GoodCat NCAP ***** https://www.ridebuster.com/2022-ora-good-cat-euro-ncap-result/

Google does not show all chargers, even Apple Maps shows chargers which are not on GoogleMaps. Plugshare is currently the best source. It is a PIA there is no common app with map and pay mechanism for all providers.

Given the current rules, I expect many Elite visa holders to switch to LTR upon expiry of their membership. I do not think that the lower LTR costs will motivate many more wealthy people to come to Thailand. If your wealthy, you are financially more driven by tax considerations (sorry for U.S. citizens) than visa fees, and choice of domicile has not been likely to depend on annualized fees for Elite membership..

Waiting for China's claims as Thai speaking people initially migrated from Southern China.

Tint foils vary much as regards heat insulation. Our new car's foils are much better than the old car's foils. There is a rubber/plastic seal around the sunroof glass. The questions remains, does adding a UV-protective foil to a UV-protected glass reduce temperature significantly, or does the UV-protection of the glass depend on direct sun rays and not function properly anymore if the sun rays are already partially blocked by an UV-protective foil?

Though my sunroof is tinted with UV-protection, the roof sunshade still gets warmer than the other parts of the roof. Any experiences if adding a 60-80% tinted foil to the sunroof reduces temperature?

Thailand abstained while 143 of 193 U.N. memberstates condemned Russia's annexions in Ukraine,

The degree of criticism of the living conditions in Thailand seems to correlate with the financial inability to freely choose domicile.

Ora GoodCat 500 Ultra first impressions Last Friday we collected our Ora GoodCat Ultra 500 from the dealer. We ordered the car in March and could have it delivered in May, but waited while we spent the summer in Europe. Total cost including tinted foils, VCR, window deflectors and wall box was THB 1 Mio. We purchased the car based on specs, Björn Nyland's videos, a short test ride, and in comparison with the Tesla Model 3 AWD Long Range 2020 which I drive in Europe and the Honda City 2015 which had been our car here to date. Other BEV with the same or more range are more expensive and mostly available in 2023 only. The GUI is overloaded. Too many buttons and steps for my taste. Navigation is in Thai only but (1) I am more motivated to improve my Thai skills and (2) I can also use navigation apps with Apple CarPlay. Switching between Apple CarPlay and car menus requires a workaround. Voice commands are in Thai only. Acceleration is good, regeneration braking acceptable. One pedal drive is harsh for parking and driving off and needs to be activated before each drive. I do not yet use it and brake to come to a complete stop. Adaptive cruise control and lane assistance work effectively, except at higher speeds when approaching stopped cars ahead. Apart from that, I consider drive assistants overall as good as in the Tesla. Blind spot detection is good. Lights for night driving would be good but we have tinted windows. Rear window view in heavy rain is acceptable despite the missing rear wiper. AC is working with less draft than in the Honda. It has a heating function for Northern Thailand. The ride is more comfortable than in the Honda. If you are looking for a sporty ride, choose another car. Sound insulation could be better, but overall noise level is lower than the Honda. Seats are comfortable for me (185 cm). Seat memory is not usable because it requires cumbersome account change in the car menu. Not all functionalities as per manual are activated or installed (e.g. seat ventilation) for Thailand. The GWM app includes AC control, battery information, scheduled charging, charging map and booking services. For our two person household without a farm, space is ample. The rear seats have more leg room than the Honda. However, luggage capacity is limited for 4-5 people traveling. We have the two color white/turquoise version. Full white is more practical in hot weather but we did not like its dark interior. If looking for other colors, check with actual cars as the photos are misleading. We have good quality tinted foils and may not need and get rid of the wind deflectors. After AC-charging to 90% over night the first time, the 12V-battery was dead at noon next day. Within an hour, a mechanic showed up at our house, as I did not have a jump starter. I know now that the AC-cable must be unhooked after charging to protect the 12V-battery. I position the GoodCat, which costs 40% of the Tesla's European price, closer to the Tesla than the Honda. The drive feels good and is smoother than in a BMW X1 Hybrid. There are a some operating glitches which must be accustomed to and may require some enthusiasm for a BEV. I am happy with the Ora GoodCat and do not see an alternative for me for the time being. Reporting on range and charging will follow.

(1) 30 year lease not possible if married (at least in Sattahip). (2) Under Swiss law, widow would be (co-) heir to Swiss real estate unless agreed upon otherwise (notarized). Other assets subject to last will.

I will have to renew my 2 year driving licences with 5 year licences and get an international driving license at DLT Banglamung. Previos posts say that you have to book a slot in person i.e. make the trip twice, and booking online or by phone is not possible. Can I obtain the international driving license simultaneously? Do I need an agent in order to make only one trip to DLT Banglamung and not to need a 2nd original residence certificate for the international driving license (I already have one original)? If yes, any recommendations on an agent?

For people having worked in Switzerland, the widow is entitled to pension benefits after ≈5 years marriage. Therefore, my life expectancy will be at least 4 years more. Painless Schengen visa for my wife, and most probably much easier for my wife to get other visas. Hazzle free choice of domicile between Thailand and Switzerland, though this is not a reason in my case. In addition, there are irrational romantic reasons for marriage. Still contemplating which reason has priority.

Correction, the charger is on Plugshare. I forgot to change the vehicle in settings.