MoonRiverOasis

Interesting. My last car i didn't use a cover, and it ended up covered in scratches thanks to a cat sleeping on it in the night (not my cat by the way!)- by the time i realised where the scratches were coming from, it was too late to do much about it. Damage done as they say. My new car i am therefore using a cover at night. I hope i don't experience the same problems as you guys. Daren't leave it uncovered. Or do you guys think that modern car paint would be resistant to cats claws?

You're looking at this problem from the wrong angle Rixalex.

You shouldn't be asking about ways to armour-plate your new car, but instead ways of eliminating the problem

Ever thought about owning a dog?

The 2.8L is better than Ford's 2.2L and every donk in the segment, but behind the Ford 3.2L 5-pot.

I take that back. The Chevy 2.8L is a pile of crap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W2s6x8XwA0

yep

It would appear that marketing triumphed over engineering on this one, and it failed. miserably.

Note that the reference VM Motori design for this engine apparently makes 200HP/430Nm - but the Chevy tune makes 180HP and 470Nm.....

Agreed!

I bought a cover for my first car in TH (about 13 years ago) - it didn't take long to realize it was just a big scrubbing brush once that Thai dust had made it's way under it.

Not worth the hassle at all IMHO. Much easier to clean off 3 month old dirt and bird shit than do a full cut on your paintwork

He's not having a go at you - it's the climate destroying them, and it's real.

I typically hear and feel the degradation sometime within 18-24 months, regardless of KM's travelled,

In fact, on one car I replaced a full set of tires with just 2,600KM on them, because they had clearly gone off at just 24 months old.

Hyundai and Kia cars have the most competive price in Laos. Import tax much cheaper than Japanese cars.

There's no import duty at all in Laos regardless fo where the car is made - Korean cars are cheaper than Japanese there just because they're cheaper

The 2.8L is better than Ford's 2.2L and every donk in the segment, but behind the Ford 3.2L 5-pot.

I take that back. The Chevy 2.8L is a pile of crap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W2s6x8XwA0

Went to Laos for a few days end of last year, believe it is the same car called the i20..... also lots of i30 and i35 there, they do look good, heard they drive much better then the Honda Civic.

The Elantra is AKA i35. The i20 was previously known as the Getz (and preceded by the Excel), and the i30 is the hatch version of the Elantra sedan (i35).

Bah, too many obstacles in their way.

Too much bad blood from their last complete fail in TH where they left customers high and dry, and I'm sorry, for a mainstream car you just have to provide mainstream service - and with service centers in just 13/76 provinces, they just don't cut it.

it's not a Fezza or a Lambo..

Leave them to the more "adventurous" buyers I say. I wouldn't touch one with someone else's money.

Carefully consider many options, prices, accessories and extras. Compare features, economy and comfort and then go buy a CRV.

I think that you inadvertently misplaced this post. No doubt it was mean to go in the "jokes and humour" sub-forum. Perhaps the moderators will be kind enough to toss it in there or the bin, which ever is easier.

Have to say I was also waiting for it to end in a "not", "J/K", "LOL" or

Quick question for all you experts.

Submitted a finance request last Saturday on a 699 2dr XLT, 10% down, 6 years.

Should be granted or denied today, but the finance man phoned up yesterday saying that the 3.8% interest figure we were told was wrong, and it should actually be 3.9%.

My questions are, can he actually do that after we have signed the documents already and submitted the request (he was actually there at the time, too).

And is that the right figure or can it be negotiated?

We have called another dealership to see what they offer for a comparison, but they have yet to get back to us, seeing as it is 8am...

assuming you signed blank forms, yep, thats what they do if you are on the edge of approval, higher risk, higher interest. Better than a no

if you want a second opinion you need to check with another dealer using another financecompany

and if you move up to 20% down, you should get 3,15% at 72 months without prior car finance history

on the other hand I just had interest reduced from 2,45 asking by mazda to 2,15 delivered from Tanachart, due to good history with Tanachart and 10/10 reports on my Th creditcard. 20% down

Thanks for the response, I guess I should just go with it then.

Tanachart came out much more expensive, and after ringing the Prachinburi dealership, they said that they can only do 3.95% on 10% down over 6 years.

It's the 10% down and 6 year term combined that's making it difficult and expensive for you. If you were able to up the downpayment to 25%, or reduce the term to 3 or 4 years only, you'd be a much easier application to approve.

I'm surprised you've been able to achieve <4% as a first (TH) buyer with those parameters. Many brands wouldn't even consider your app... so well done

Honda have announced that production at their Rojana plant will resume in late March 2012, with customer deliveries starting "gradually" from April 2012 onwards.

In addition, Jazz and Accord models will be imported from Japan under a special duty-free deal struck with the Thai Office of Advanced Economics, with deliveries for them starting in late February 2012.

Production at Honda's Rojana facitlies was stopped due to flooding back in October 2011, and resulted in 1055 new cars (mostly Brio models) being destroyed due to flood damage.

pffft. Not many BIB's that won't take an oppt'y to stuff their shirt pocket with your 100 Baht notes. I'm not at all concerned about the points system

Even if you did become a victim of it, 200 Baht is enough tea money for not carrying your D/L. Just don't have an accident unless you have a passenger that can say they were driving

Sorry, do you mean Prerunner (new price 673K)?

if so, given low KM's I'd expect to get around 525-550K as a private sale, and around 450-470K as a trade in.

Expect a price range from 800K to 1.1M.

1) It is unusual for it to be sitting around that long, yes. Under the Thai system, it's definitely a 2011 vehicle though.

2) Most manufacturers work on a "3 strike" rule - i.e. miss 3 scheduled services, and no more warranty. It sounds like this truck one strike short of this, but it would be worhtwhile making a call to GM to verify.

3) I can't htink of any fixes that wouldn't look like patchwork. Retrimming the whole thing shouldn't cost more than around 1-2K Baht, and you might even find that a new seat squab from GM is a reasonably priced option.

4) Depends on the depth of the scratches. if it's just in the clear coat a cutting compund can take them out. Any deeper and it'll need a repaint. A full door respray normally costs ~3-4K baht.

I have read dusins of places about Ford using a Getrag in Ranger, but always found that info od as traditionally Getrag only has made small expensive series and stayed away from the volume market.

Well, ZF is Europes largest autotranny maker, so doesnt really change much.. They often handle much more dieseltourque than Ranger puts out

as for fuel, my experience with small contra larger engines of similar design, is at 80-120kmh steady speed the small one wins. But pushed hard like maintaining 160kmh crusingspeed or off road, the larger is equal or less on fuel. In the case of Ranger/BT50, with identical autos and rearends, my average will probably be less with 3,2 engine, as I go kinda fast

Well, it wasn't me that said it was a Getrag - I've known about the 6R80 since I first asked you if you'd be interested in a 200HP 5-pot pickup, way back in early-mid 2010, hehe

According to ADR FE figures, there's almost no difference between the 3.2L 6AT and the 2.2L 6AT, so you'll probably get even better mileage than aniticipated, given your driving style

Picture supposedly taken yesterday in Rayong.

I'm not sure if they're 3.2s or 2.2s but I hope there's a black 2.2 in there somewhere!

That chilli orange doesn't look anything like the pictures on the Ford website

The Ford website is closest to actual. My guess is that photo above has been taken with a cheap cellphone.

This may sound crazy, but it could also be that the torque band on the larger engine is wider so the Isuzu might not need the sixth speed.

From a torque perspective, there's not much in it between the 2.2L Ford and the 3.0L Isuzu:

Have to agree with the people who've suggested the Ranger 4-door XLT for 799K - so long as you're open to buying a pickup that is. For 80K more than the top-spec Fiesta, you're getting a crapload more car..

There is no reason to assume Aisins 5auto as used by Izu and many others is more durable than Getrags 6auto as used in Rnager. Both have excellent track record for several years

I'm suspicious of "innovations", so I thought that Isuzu has a compelling reason to use the 5-speed automatic, but if it is only a economy measure... This is a shame because I liked the Isuzu.

Suspect Mazda and Chervolet also use the proven Getrag 6-Auto.

BT-50 and Ranger 6AT is a ZF design manufactured under license by Ford, and the Colorado 6AT is a GM unit. All are well proven designs, used in dozens of different makes and models.

GM has had great AT for a long time...

Yep, especially those AT's from the early 2000's, which were a collabration with Ford (yes, really)

There is no reason to assume Aisins 5auto as used by Izu and many others is more durable than Getrags 6auto as used in Rnager. Both have excellent track record for several years

I'm suspicious of "innovations", so I thought that Isuzu has a compelling reason to use the 5-speed automatic, but if it is only a economy measure... This is a shame because I liked the Isuzu.

Suspect Mazda and Chervolet also use the proven Getrag 6-Auto.

BT-50 and Ranger 6AT is a ZF design manufactured under license by Ford, and the Colorado 6AT is a GM unit. All are well proven designs, used in dozens of different makes and models.

Sorry if this comes across as sounding like a downer (I'd love to be optimistic about it), but I'm a believer that there's no commercial future for fuel cells in civilian applications. That's not to say they won't have their applications, but when it comes to buyers that are going to be comparing the technology against more mainstream (and far cheaper) options (i.e. civilians), it's just not going to fly.

Hybrids are the short and medium term future - but not necessarily in the same shape/form as we know them now though. We're soon going to start seeing a wider spectrum of hybrid designs - some lower-cost versions that simply use ultracapacitors and low-cost small motors to help FE in stop-and-go traffic (e.g. Mazda's i-ELOOP), up to models like the Volt (AKA Ampere) and Jag C-X75 which are solely electric propulsion, using gasoline (and other fuels) the recharge their battery packs on the move.

Pure EV is still waiting for the "magic electrode" battery that can withstand routine high-rate charging, and achieve higher levels of effeciency, an energy:weight that's competitve against combustion, and a reasonable range (i.e. 300+KM). There's so much work going on in so many places, that it's highly likely we'll be seeing some real improvements in this area within just a few years though.

My guess... In developed markets Hybrid's will be outselling combustion-only models by around 2015-2017, and pure EV will finally get viable range and recharge abilities (though still at a price premium) before this decade is out.

I don't think there's anyone in the world that's optimistic enough to think the Fuel Cells will get anywhere close to competing with these types of timeframes. And form a business standpoint, once battery tech makes the grade, fuel cells will quicly be relagated to strictly military applications only.

Just my thoughts

Thanks all OK, consider this the start of the official 2012 version then!

Chery:

2013: un-named Pickup Truck to be locally assembled

BMW:

2012: New F30 3 series

2012: New 520i

2012: New Z4

Chevrolet:

2012: All-new Trailblazer - to be unveiled in March

2012: Spark (Aveo replacement - codename T300)

2012: Cruze minor change (new 2.0L diesel)

2013: New MPV (Codename PM-7)

Citreon:

2012: DS4 - Q1 release

2012: C-Crosser - mid year

2012: DS5 - Q4 release

Ford:

2012: New Focus - unveiling in March, deliveries close behind. TDCI later in the year.

2012: New Everest in Q4, or Q1 2013.

2012: All New Escape model in Q4/2012 - Q1/2013

2013: Fiesta minor change

2013: New Mondeo? (TBC)

2014: EcoSport? (TBC)

Honda:

2012: New Civic (codename 2HC) - to be unveiled in March, but deliveries not expect until mid-year

2012: New CR-V - preview in March

2012: Freed minor change

2013: New Accord + Accord Hybrid

2013: New Jazz

2013: Brio minor change

2013: Civic (2HC) minor change (moved forward from 2014)

2014: New City + CNG City

2014: Brio 4-door

Hyundai:

2012: New Elantra (AKA: i35) - release delayed until March/April.

2012-3: Genesis & Veloster under consideration for TH

Isuzu:

2012: New D-Max limited edition model

2013: New RT-50 based PPV (SUV) to replace the MU-7

2013: New D-max first minor change

2014: New D-max second minor change (new engine options expected)

Jaguar:

2012: XF and XJ minor change (updated 2.2L diesel)

2013: C-X16

KIA:

2012: Grand Carnival minor change

2012: Rio minor change

2012: Soul minor change

2013: Carens replacement

Land Rover:

2014: Grand Evoque (7 seater)

Mazda:

2012: New Mazda3 released in 2011 becomes available in 1.6L

2012: More Mazda2 limited editions

2013: New CX-5 in Q1

2013: New MX-5

2013: New RX-x (TBC)

2013-4: New Mazda 2

Mercedes Benz:

2012: New SL-Class

2012: New ML-Class

2012: E-class minor change

2013: New S-Class

Mitsubishi:

2012: New Mirage eco-car

2012: Last Triton minor change

2013: New Triton

2014: New Pajero Sport

2014: Mirage 4-door

2015: New Lancer

Nissan:

2012: Upgraded GT-R with 550HP (gray market)

2012: New TIIDA replacement.

2012: New C Segment sedan (codename L12F) to compete with Corolla/Civic/3/Focus.

2012: March minor change

2012: New Urvan

2013: Almera minor change

2013: New compact sedan (TIIDA Latio replacement)

2013: New Teana

2013: New Navara

2014: New Navara based PPV (though not likely to be called the Pathfinder and that's now a crossover)

Peugeot:

2012: 508

2012: 408 (ex Malaysia)

Porsche:

2012: New 911

2012: New Boxster (unveliled)

2012: New Cayman

2013: New Cajun SUV

Proton:

2012: Persona Replacement

2012: New Exora Crossover version

Subaru:

2012: New XV crossover to be unveiled in December with deliveries in Q1 2013.

2012: New BRZ

2013: New Impreza

Suzuki:

2012: New eco-car in April

2013: APV Replacement

2014: Swift 4-door

Toyota:

2012: New Camry in March

2012: VIGO/Fortuner minor change with 5AT and 190HP/410Nm in Q3

2012: Yaris last minor change

2012: VIOS last minor change

2012: Altis minor change

2012: New FT-86

2013: New Yaris

2013: New VIOS

2013: New eco-car in H2

2014: New Hilux (codename IMV2)

2014: New Altis

2014-5: New Fortuner

Volvo:

2012: V50 Drive (T4F+powershift as per 2011 V40 Drive)

2012: V60 new pricing (ex Malaysia)

2013: New XC-90

VW:

2012: New Beetle

2012: Golf minor change

Standard disclaimer: this is just what my crystal ball says - the actual future may vary.

I'm a fan of the Garmins.. Maps are updated about every 6 months, Junction-views are updated every 3-6 months, and there's monthly POI updates (covering everything from NGV stations and 7/11's to massage parlours and pet shops). They can also do Thai + English simultaneously (i.e. you can have both languages on-screen at the same time, and elect to type in either one).

MBK is the place to buy.