Why Are Toyota Alphard's So Popular?

[aussiebebe]

While I'll admit to 1)starting this thread partially out of boredom 2)being a Toyota owner and 3)being jealous, the number of Alphards I'm seeing is beyond a joke. Just recently I was in a restaurant in Siam Discovery opposite Paragon and almost every other car heading inside was an Alphard. It's a Toyota mini-van, right? it costs up to 4.6Million Thai Baht? Why are they so popular? How is everyone suddenly able to afford a brand new one? If anyone could give any insights or suggestions....Am I the only person who thinks they are crazy or am I missing the point?

[angiud]

Status symbol for rich bangkokians

Edit: PS: It's hugly

[ScubaBuddha]

While I'll admit to 1)starting this thread partially out of boredom 2)being a Toyota owner and 3)being jealous, the number of Alphards I'm seeing is beyond a joke. Just recently I was in a restaurant in Siam Discovery opposite Paragon and almost every other car heading inside was an Alphard. It's a Toyota mini-van, right? it costs up to 4.6Million Thai Baht? Why are they so popular? How is everyone suddenly able to afford a brand new one? If anyone could give any insights or suggestions....Am I the only person who thinks they are crazy or am I missing the point?

Never heard of them. Now, the AWD Chevy Captiva, that's a nice looking car. Fairly popular here in Phuket.

[keemapoot]

Yup, it's basically a modern limousine. Roomy, luxurious, every creature comfort you could want, reclining captain's chairs, laptop tables, you name it. I like the electric sliding side doors, operated by remote. You just hop in and out.

Of course, you need a driver or the concept is useless.

These type of vehicles have been the choice of people with families who can afford car and driver in places like Hong Kong for years.

[jcon]

Rather nice piece of kit, actually - if you want to front the cash. I would not, but let's just say I never deny hitching a ride in somebody's Alphie... rest assured on every night that I go out with anybody that I know who has an "El-Faht" + driver, it's "let's take the Alphard!" night.

Then comes the fun part about the "El-Fart":

"let's get sheet-faced in the Alphard!"

"stop at this 7-11 in the Alphard!" (to facilitate above and below)

"let's get more sheet-faced in the Alphard!"

"let's burn one in the Alphard!"

I tell you it's one heck of a fun-car! Now I guess Thais do all of the above anyway in most of their cars and on their motorcys, but everything is just more comfy in the El-Fart...

[katabeachbum]

While I'll admit to 1)starting this thread partially out of boredom 2)being a Toyota owner and 3)being jealous, the number of Alphards I'm seeing is beyond a joke. Just recently I was in a restaurant in Siam Discovery opposite Paragon and almost every other car heading inside was an Alphard. It's a Toyota mini-van, right? it costs up to 4.6Million Thai Baht? Why are they so popular? How is everyone suddenly able to afford a brand new one? If anyone could give any insights or suggestions....Am I the only person who thinks they are crazy or am I missing the point?

Rich people. BKK and going to Hua Hin some weekends. With a driver, at max 120 kmh, its the most comfy ride in LOS. Recliners with massage, DVD bigsize and 6 passangers with lots of space.

[stingray]

While I'll admit to 1)starting this thread partially out of boredom 2)being a Toyota owner and 3)being jealous, the number of Alphards I'm seeing is beyond a joke. Just recently I was in a restaurant in Siam Discovery opposite Paragon and almost every other car heading inside was an Alphard. It's a Toyota mini-van, right? it costs up to 4.6Million Thai Baht? Why are they so popular? How is everyone suddenly able to afford a brand new one? If anyone could give any insights or suggestions....Am I the only person who thinks they are crazy or am I missing the point?

Rich people. BKK and going to Hua Hin some weekends. With a driver, at max 120 kmh, its the most comfy ride in LOS. Recliners with massage, DVD bigsize and 6 passangers with lots of space.

Different culture!. In US they drive LIMOS (wich i prefere), in Thailand they drive this (horrible) Minivans (The Asian Style of a LIMO)

The Ugliest one is the SSayong Stavick

[MrSnrang]

Rich people. BKK and going to Hua Hin some weekends. With a driver, at max 120 kmh, its the most comfy ride in LOS. Recliners with massage, DVD bigsize and 6 passangers with lots of space.

This.

The car is comfortable to sit in for long trips, it has room for 6-7 passengers, and has generous luggage space.

The longest trip I've been on in this car was from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, round trip.

Six passengers, four golf bags, and an ex rallycross racer at the wheel and it felt no different from lounging around on the sofa at home except for the lack of a nice big TV. Though I'm prone to motion sickness when sitting in the back seat of a car, I had no problems being seated at the very back for three hours without stopping. The ride quality is excellent and the mileage averages at a modest 9km/L.

But really, I know people don't buy them for the 'practical' reasons. It's a status symbol.

[tb86]

Its not really that new been around for a while but they are muuuch nicer than the merc or the vw versions, we use ours for family outings ie hua hin, ect. Or a night out, that way you can fit 6-7 ppl and no one needs to worry about driving, great for going to the market, can carry alot more beer and food than a suv. DVD keeps whatever children or fully grown thais in tow quiet and not complaining about how hungry they are after all we have been in the car for more than a hour and not stopped for a snack...... the captians chairs are very nice but the back bench is terrible if you are unfortunate enough to get stuck in the middle. At the end of the day its the thai version of owning a escalade or big excursion/suburban. Ours gets used maybe 6-7 times a month. Oh very good for trips to the airport.... Got ours from exec supercars pretty good set up

[meteorainc]

i think it base model cost around 3.2 million baht, I wouldn't say its for status symbol, thai people would show off in a bmw or mercedes for status symbol. Reason why there are so many around is because if you want a car with sofa style reclining seats, it's either the Toyota Alphard or the VW Caravelle which are both priced similarly. The VW has been on the market for a long time, the Alphard are newer thus you see more around. There are VW caravelle around, if you peak inside the newer models, they have lazy boy style seats, even bigger and more comfy than Alphards seats. Many of these VW Caravelle are fitted with 20-30" retractable tv!

In the past, like around 10 years ago, it use to be the Toyota Granvia. As with "How is everyone suddenly able to afford a brand new one?" most people who own a Alphard, it would most likely be there 2nd, 3rd or 4th car. Many of the people you see driving newer bmw and mercedes, I would say 80% + are all millionaires. Its not that surprising to see so many rich people in bangkok.

[katabeachbum]

i think it base model cost around 3.2 million baht, I wouldn't say its for status symbol, thai people would show off in a bmw or mercedes for status symbol. Reason why there are so many around is because if you want a car with sofa style reclining seats, it's either the Toyota Alphard or the VW Caravelle which are both priced similarly. The VW has been on the market for a long time, the Alphard are newer thus you see more around. There are VW caravelle around, if you peak inside the newer models, they have lazy boy style seats, even bigger and more comfy than Alphards seats. Many of these VW Caravelle are fitted with 20-30" retractable tv!

In the past, like around 10 years ago, it use to be the Toyota Granvia. As with "How is everyone suddenly able to afford a brand new one?" most people who own a Alphard, it would most likely be there 2nd, 3rd or 4th car. Many of the people you see driving newer bmw and mercedes, I would say 80% + are all millionaires. Its not that surprising to see so many rich people in bangkok.

Caravelle is the best. Unfortunately Yontrakit is importing and servicing VW, making it tough to own one.

[rixalex]

Maybe be are attracted by the fact you can sit in one and survive being sprayed at by hundreds of bullets!