Gotta go with your g/f on the Altis vs Jazz - totally different class of car, especially the sports version, and although the Jazz is more versatile with loads the Altis boot is far bigger if you are carrying four adults.

Ford and Mazda are made here; my second-cousin-in-law test drives them before delivery - he passed his test 2 days before they took him on and had previously only briefly driven a pick-up (two accidents in two weeks).

Yes definitely a different class of car, I dont see us ever needing 4+ people (5 thais) in the car plus luggage, but we will need to transport big boxes sometimes, I hope they fit on the back seat. I wanted the cheaper car for city driving and carrying big boxes with the back seats down, But I wont be complaining 95% of the time on thai roads and highways with the Altis, which from all my test drives had the best ride of the small-medium city cars. However the Honda Jazz would be my next pick anyday.

I bought a Focus TDCI Diesel Automatic based on rave reviews in April 2009. I put it in for repair last October and I am still waiting for it to be fixed. I love the car but Ford aftersales is absolutely shocking.

I bought a Focus TDCI Diesel Automatic based on rave reviews in April 2009. I put it in for repair last October and I am still waiting for it to be fixed. I love the car but Ford aftersales is absolutely shocking.

Say what? There's something you're not telling us here? What kind of repairs??