MoonRiverOasis

Hehehehe, but she was in love with the Evoque before you both even sat in it !!! They do look great!

PS SD4?

Yep, 5-door SD4. The first part of the deliberations was me capitulating into buying her a car costing 2x what I originally had in mind, the 2nd part was deciding betwen gasoline and diesel And somewhat on-topic again, it was the test drive that helped sway the decision in favor of the oil burner in the end

So according to some posters there is a boat going to Aus every week with Rangers on them.

Then some others say that the Rangers in Aus are being sourced from Sth Africa.

The truth is out there, if only we could find it!

I am seriously looking at the BT-50 which seems not to have any similar issues(?).

Mazda are making all sorts of promises, which Ford are not making even as an apology for being a bunch of d**kwads.

The Colorado is 905k and its not even leather! So dropped that one straight off.

So the butt ugly BT-50 appears to be the best choice.

BTW, can I leave my Ranger order and 5K at Ford and when they ring in 2014 to say its here I can say "Sorry I forgot I don't want it give me back my 5K please?" and actually get it back?

There could be a few reasons why they aren't (making/ delivering) Wildtraks in Thailand.

1, They can't be seen fulfilling orders in Thailand before Australia.

2, There are parts shortages in Thailand. (This for me is the least possible answer because I'm sure it's cheaper to send parts to Thailand than a container-ship of trucks to Aus from SA.

3, They are waiting for any teething problems to arise on the XLT before they start to mass produce the Wildtraks. (This for me is the most possible answer.)

4, There's a design fault on the Wildtrak.

5, The new ATT plant is having issues with QC. (This is also a good possible answer.)

All of these do not change the fact that they're not selling Wildtraks till after June. (maybe, who knows if that is for certain.)

I went to the Mazda dealership yesterday, and I just can't bring myself to do it.

Edit;

I read on an Aus forum that Ford has got massive fleet sales to mining corps.

One of these deals alone was in excess of 4,000 XLTs, maybe they just still can't keep up with demand in Aus.

It's well known that parts supply issues due to the floods crippled early production. While engines come from SA, body panels are all local, and it would be hard to imagine that Ford's SA suppliers who are already running at full capacity would spend the money to scale-up to help supply a very short-term transient demand from TH. Not only that, importing panels would cost substantially more than local suppliers, so would unlikely be able to make a business case.

As for the lack of 3.2L versions, I can't think of any excuses, seeing as both diesel engine variants come from South Africa anyway. My gut says there's a problem with the 4x4, or the LSD, or the W/T bits, and/or or some type of body panel related issue at play... but that's just a total guess.

The good news I guess is that they aren't letting a substandard product make it out the door - well, except for one particular media car, that's attracted a fair amount of criticism as a result.

So according to some posters there is a boat going to Aus every week with Rangers on them.

Then some others say that the Rangers in Aus are being sourced from Sth Africa.

The truth is out there, if only we could find it!

You have to appreciate that Ford doesn't make announcements each time a shipment of vehicles goes out, so we rely on intel from various different sources around the world to get this type of info.

Originally, it was openly discussed by various Ford insiders that Aus market Rangers would be sourced from Thailand, so everyone worked on the assumption that that was the case. However, the floods hit right around the time of the Ranger's offficial launch in Aus (October 2011), and supply lines were crippled. What we've since found out is that Aus have been getting it supplies direct from South Africa (inluding the first batch way back on October), and that the first shipment of Thai-made Ranger's only left the docks a few weeks ago..

This isn't some sort of up-to-the-minute blog - everyday there dozens of info snippets that come to light, but they don't get posted here until someone asks, heh

while I used to accept the looks of the WT just to get the spec and engine, I now honestly dislike it, I always did, I just managed to ignore it

Same - it ws only after seeing it in the metal that it struck me that it looked like a base model with a body kit..

This is always obvious within the first few kms, even to novices.

Yep. If you've already weighed up all of the packaging and pricing pro's and cons, the test drive is just about 'validation' - i.e.making sure there's no unexpected surprises, and making sure the car is a good 'fit'.

That said though, a test drive should cover a range of typical driving scenarios, surfaces and speeds - being stuck in traffic with a max. speed of 50km/hr doesn't qualify as reasonable IMHO.

One this topic... It feels like such a long time ago now, but I still remember back in 2009 being somewhat certain I was going to buy the wife a 4WD Pajero Sport GT - but after taking her to test drive it, and seeing her driver's chair acting like some type of 'vibration torture test' as the 4WD selector lever rattled her (all the way forward) seat to pieces was an unexpected surprise... So she ended up with the 2WD instead.... (now replaced, after much deliberation and several test drives, with an Evoque).

When it comes to head units, I have vowed never to install one again. The next time I have a car that needs a source unit upgrade, it's going to be a 7" Samsung Galaxy Tab. Why add just USB, or just Video, or just internet Radio, or just Bluetooth, or just GPS when you can add everything plus internet and virtually unlimited apps for around the same sort of cost as a decent aftermarket CD player?

Is it that easy? What a great idea!

Could it be piggy-backed onto an existing head unit so there would be no ugly space? On second thought, that's probably what you would do for that very reason.

If your OEM source unit has an AUX input, and you already have an additional 2DIN space in the dash, fitting a tablet should be a pretty straight forward job for a decent fitter... If your car has only a 2DIN opening, you're going to need external amplification though, as the tablet is going to have to replace the OEM unit entirely, and it only has line-level outputs.. Either that, or you'd fit a signal processor like the JBL MS-8, which has built-in OEM-level amplification..

In my younger years I was an IASCA SQ judge, so a little custom fabrication seems pretty normal to me, heh

A 'reasonable' test drive is one that's enough for you, personally, to understand the car's merits and flaws. For some people, 10 minutes might do, for others they might want/need weeks behind the wheel...

Then again, for some cars, 30 seconds might be enough to know you'd never buy it

A 'reasonable' test drive for a salesperson is the shortest one possible that will get your signature

I'm curious - has the dealer you're talking to got the F30 already, or are you looking at an E90? I haven't heard of any F30's hitting Thai showrooms yet...

Update after today's trip to Ford, CM.

The first salesman just repeated the usual answer, that USB etc not available in XLT, only Wildtrak. Later on, while sitting in the XLT, I noticed a "phone" button on the dashboard. Asked the more senior salesman what that does, as the XLT doesn't have phone bluetooth function. "For the future" was his response. When pressed further, he suggested that there should be options to upgrade the system without having to change everything behind the dash....

RIght, I'm convinced - All you need now is a Ford parts guy that will spend the time working out the required part numbers.... Either that or ask to have a look at the microfiche* yourself

* no longer an actual microfiche, but still commonly referred to as such.

Paid a visit to Ford, Chiang Mai today & they had a chilli orange Wildtrak on show

It was a 4x4 2.2lt, but only for show. The 2x2 model they said 6 months for delivery. XLT 3 months.

To be honest, I don't like it. Less choice of colours, the chilli orange looked darker than this photo, may be they should've parked it in the sun. Black (or dark grey) plastic door handles, dark grey grill.

I don't mind the orange color, but I wouldn't buy it...

However, the black door handles, grille and fender 'vent' trims make it look like some sort of weird base-model 'taxi pack' with some aftermarket body parts added. The XLT's small amount of brightwork makes it look 4 levels higher up the range IMHO.

When did Pontiac go under?

Lucky for you - it seems you missed the whole GFC, GM's specatacular crash, and the $52 Billion dollar US Gov't bailouts that saved them

It wasn't just Pontiac - Saab, Hummer and Saturn were also casualties of GM's GFC implosion.

Do not even think of importing your car.

As many members know I lost my Supra at Laem Chabang, The agreed import tax just went up and up everytime I agreed the new price.

Seems the customs (crooks) guys will just keep increasing the duty until you walk away, then they seem to be able to buy the car through a dealer on the cheap.

TTM

Cars the customs dept. have seized go to auction, but you can probably guess how open that process is..

Isn't there a sticky about this yet?

No kidding, there ought to be. Right along with 'Why are cars so expensive in Thailand?'

I dont believe in brand loyalty. Probably because i want the best technology at the best price. I shop around and buy the product that fits my need and offers good tech at a good price.

Which makes you... somewhat like most of the buying public these days

So

If the flood is the reason for delay, how come the 3.2 is being delivered in Australia eh?

According to sources, the Ranger's currently being sold in Australia are coming from South Africa.

Then maybe they can divert some to Thailand as well then.

I understand Honda is now delivering Japan assembled cars to keep market share here in Thailand.

I suppose Ford thinks thats too hard!

I suppose they rightly think that it's impossible for them to replicate the Honda deal

Even pulling in the 'big guns' to lobby for the 1st car buyer scheme to include the 1.6L Fiesta didn't work, so the way I see it, there's not a chance in the world that they'd be able to broker a Honda-style duty-free deal.

What a clusterf#@k in marketing!! The Wildtrak has unnecessary extras, the XLT is lacking in features. Mazda offer some of the Wildtrak features on their more basic models. Give me, sorry sell me, an XLT with some of the Wildtrak accessories that are available on a basic Mazda. Too much to ask? And to top it all, the Wildtrak isn't available in my favourite colour!!

I'm pretty conviced it's all strategic. I fully expect we'll see a new top-spec 3.2L XLT announced, that matches all the features of the 3.2L W/T, minus the W/T styling and W/T seats for (just) sub-1M Baht - but that might not be until Q4 or later.

No way we're going to even get a whiff of it until Ford have full production capacity though, and even then it may be held off until the Hilux refresh launches or even untl the new Nismitsu trucks launch, so they can insure their packaging and pricing is right.

Ahh yes, CD only in Ranger, sorry!

As for asking a Ford sales rep, forget it, they won't know - and if you're Thai and you don't know something that a farang just asked, that must mean it's impossible..

Your best chance of getting the upgrade will be a helpful parts dept who will spend the time comparing drawings and part numbers between the XLT and Wildtrak models to get to the bottom of it. Good luck with that though...

Maybe they know whether the audio unit will accept a plug in cd changer box. If so, I found on the web a gadget by GROM that plugs into that socket, allowing USB input.

Btw, does the BT-50 Pro offer all that the 2.2 Wildtrak has, without the bars etc?

There's no CD changer option available for the Ranger or BT50 in Australia, so that's probably a good indicator that no such thing exists:

http://www.ford.com.au/commercial/new-ranger/accessories/interior

http://mazda.com.au/vehicles/bt-50/accessories?bsid={435894B6-C4FE-42EF-9463-E464B8281276}&gid={76C590A4-167D-4457-82EF-50D69B033DCF}

The BT-50 Hi-Racer 4-door 2.2L 6AT 4x2 V-Grade ABS/Cruise/Leather model (874K) is practically the same spec as the Ranger 4-door 2.2L 6AT 4x2 Wildtrak (869K), less the roof bars, roll bar and tray rails.

Note that USB input is available on models as low as the 639K Baht 2.2L Extracab V-Grade in the BT-50 Range though, and all; BT-50's with ABS also get Bluetooth - which again tells me that the source units are all the same, and that USB and B/T are just plug-in accessories...

I tried contacting Ford Th a while back, but got the standard reply that "Wildtrak has USB"

When I previously tried playing an mp3 player through AUX plug, the sound was cr@p, & another time the jack plugs I tried were a bit loose fitting in the socket. Also, I'm not sure the player in the XLT plays dvds. mp3 cds only I think.

Think I'll pay another visit to Ford in Chiang Mai tomorrow & see if they can help with an upgrade.

Ahh yes, CD only in Ranger, sorry!

As for asking a Ford sales rep, forget it, they won't know - and if you're Thai and you don't know something that a farang just asked, that must mean it's impossible..

Your best chance of getting the upgrade will be a helpful parts dept who will spend the time comparing drawings and part numbers between the XLT and Wildtrak models to get to the bottom of it. Good luck with that though...

I haven't seen any dash kits for the new Ranger, and without one of them, it's going to be next to impossible to change the source unit.

There's 3 possible options I can think of (off the top of my head) that don't go overboard into things like external signal processors etc:

1) Ask Ford how much it's going to cost to upgrade the stereo to the Wildtrak spec (which adds USB, Bluetooth and Steering Wheel controls). I would be surprised if the core source unit in the XLT was dfferent to the Wildtrak -i.e. I imagine and these are all just plug-in upgrades.

2) Wait for the aftermarket to come up with a dash kit that will allow the whole thing to be replaced with a standard DIN or Double DIN unit.

3) If you only want USB so you can play MP3's (w/out a screen I couldn't see what other media you'd want to play?), you can either just burn DVD's of MP3's, or use the AUX connector with an iPod or Smartphone.

There would be some safety concerns here. Tablets and computers should be be operated in the rear passenger seats methinks rather than front of car unless the interface is severely crippled so as to make the options limited and allow driver concentration on the road conditions.

I'm guessing you've never (tried to) use OEM systems like BMW's I-Drive, Benz's COMAND, or Lexus' EMV then?

An Android tablet with a few appropriate widgets ought be worth an extra NCAP star compared to cars with those OEM systems

If the flood is the reason for delay, how come the 3.2 is being delivered in Australia eh?

According to sources, the Ranger's currently being sold in Australia are coming from South Africa.

Lot of people buy into the whole "green" marketing thing. That combined with the regs and tax incentives make sense out of the silliness.

Perhaps, but I'm talking about the buying public, not the politicians who subsidze hybrids/EV's so they can be competiitive against ICE's for other reasons.

To the average Somchai, the reason to go EV/Hybrid is a resounding 'because it's cheaper on/than gas' - very few will cite 'it's better for the environment' as their pirmary reason for buying..

Would you pay 25%-100% more for a car that was 'greener', given that would be it's only advantage? Of course not, and statistically, nor does anyone else

I don't care about carbon footprint why should I.

Exactly. Who cares? If you're going to own a car and drive it, you're damaging the environment, period.

You can argue about carbon this and pollutant that all day, but at the end of it all, a car that's slightly less bad for the environment than another car that's really bad for the environment, is still a car that's really bad for the environment.

My advice? These EV car companies need to stop trying to put green (or blue) lipstick on environmental pigs, and instead focus on the actual merits their products can lay claim to, e.g. cheaper running costs, better acceleration, and quieter ride etc - if in fact their designs achieve them...

Yep, it's referred to by the English loan word: heat shrink.

In CM, the Amorn in the Carrefour carpark (or whatever it's called now) should have racks of it.

The Innova is another Indonesian special. It's built on the same chassis as the VIGO (IMV1), but uses a 2.0L gasoline engine. Due to it's weight, it feels underpowered and is also pretty bad on FE.

Then again, all of these MPV's running with a naturally aspirated gasoline engine are underpowered and suffer terrible FE when loaded up with people

How much all of that matters depends on how many KM's you're going to drive over it's lifetime I guess. But as a very rough comparison, you can expect something like the Freed to cost ~400,000 Baht to travel 100,000KM, vs ~285,000 Baht in the 2.5L Diesel Pajero Sport (based on today's fuel prices) - so if your planning on big KM's, spending a little more on something like the PJS (and getting much more due to much lower tax), could work out reasonably close in the end...