Want To Buy A New Jazz, Few Questions!

[GAS]

The girlfriend sold her truck (surprised the money in brought!) and we have been looking at small cars to replace it!

After looking at the Nissan March and the Jazz as well as the Tiida and some others I think we are going to go for the Jazz.

We went to a few dealers and most are saying it would be a few months wait if we want to get one with a manual trans, is this always the case? Do dealers in Thailand do dealer trades for cars like in the states, or is there a way to find dealer inventory other than just calling a lot of dealers?

It seems the new 2011 Jazz will be a hybrid, but I know Honda offers the manual in the new CRZ hybrid, wondering if anyone knows if that will be the case with the Jazz.

Aside from the cost savings on the 5 speed, it just seems like a pretty boring car to drive with an automatic, even the top model with paddle shifters!

[MoonRiverOasis]

Manual Transmissions are not at all popular in Thailand - in most cases they're only included so they can advertise a lower starting price, they don't actually think someone would want to buy one Try driving in BKK in peak hour and you'll soon see why MT is hated, and power doesn't matter a hoot.

Honda dealers do not trade-in themselves per se, but there will normally be used car agents stationed at most dealerships who'll buy it from you.

Jazz Hybrid will be an additional model, it will not replace the standard models. Pricing will be well into lower model Civic territory, so as with most current hybrids you'll be sacrificing comfort, size, refinement and resale to go "green".

The CRZ is not officially imported to Thailand and never will be - they're only available through the gray market at a touch over 2M baht, and AFAIK there's never been a manual version imported.

Yes, it's a boring car to drive - what else would you expect from an entry model 1.5L auto? hehe Thai's are much more easily statisfied with cars than Westerners are - you only know what you know..

[MikeyIdea]

Is this you buying a car or the girlfriend? I cannot in my life imagine a Thai girlfriend actually wanting a manual, are you sure this is what she wants?

I used to prefer manual until I moved to Bangkok...

[onnut]

Even the top of range Jazz is still a boring ride. There is no arm rest, so expect to get a neck ache on not so long trips. Apart from that it's not a bad run around and cheap to take care of and easy to resell.

[theoldgit]

Even the top of range Jazz is still a boring ride. There is no arm rest, so expect to get a neck ache on not so long trips. Apart from that it's not a bad run around and cheap to take care of and easy to resell.

onnut, is the lack of arm rest new? my Jazz is 2 years old and has an arm rest in the middle.

I agree it's a good little run around in Bangkok.

[onnut]

Even the top of range Jazz is still a boring ride. There is no arm rest, so expect to get a neck ache on not so long trips. Apart from that it's not a bad run around and cheap to take care of and easy to resell.

onnut, is the lack of arm rest new? my Jazz is 2 years old and has an arm rest in the middle.

I agree it's a good little run around in Bangkok.

This is my sister in laws jazz, it is about 1 year old. The new style one.

I just took a look, no armrest, just the handbrake. I found I had a neck ache for a couple of days after driving Bangkok to Pattaya.

[GAS]

Thanks guys, great info, especially glad to hear that the hybrid will be offered alongside the the regular Jazz and not replace it.

This will be her car, I am not there full time and will only be driving it occasionally, and she will be paying for it mostly but I will chip in as it is only fair since I will use it as well. She has a good chunk of change for the down payment after selling her truck and can afford payments with some assistance from me...she just bought a brand new house all on her own and is paying for all of that along with her BKK apartment close to her office.

We have lived with the Toyota Tiger 4wd diesel 5 speed for the last two years (6 for her actaully) so not really worried about it so much as I do not think we will use it much in BKK. She walks to work and will mainly use the car on weekends and other times to commute to the new home in Nonthaburi, so by and large it will not see a whole lot of time in BKK traffic, I think it is livable, and I think she also prefers a stick shift as it is a bit more fun and engaging.

Problem is that the stick model can not get airbags, something that pisses me off since the Fit in the states here comes with something like 6 airbags as standard plus other features and is way cheaper!!

Some of the US extras like cruise control and some other stuff (wheels) I will be able to adapt from the US model and put on the car so not too worried about that, but I have found out how poorly these cars come equipped in los, I really wanted her driving something with airbags and ABS etc etc.

She has found a number of second hand Jazz's on Thai websites but the prices are so near new I would rather just buy new and get the color and options we want and have her enjoy the "new car experience"!

I can buy nice one year old low mile Fit's here for 350,000 baht all day long...GRRR....

[Guest]

Definitely go for an auto - traffic in Nonthaburi is not much better than Bangkok and there are building works (train construction) on many main roads, plus the expressway in the rush hour is more like a car park. I used a Jazz to drive to Mae Hong Son the hard way, and had no problems with it. Of course if you're looking for a cheap car, wait for the Honda Brio.

[katabeachbum]

Definitely go for an auto - traffic in Nonthaburi is not much better than Bangkok and there are building works (train construction) on many main roads, plus the expressway in the rush hour is more like a car park. I used a Jazz to drive to Mae Hong Son the hard way, and had no problems with it. Of course if you're looking for a cheap car, wait for the Honda Brio.

2 airbags in Jazz is a must to survive 65 kmh crash.

Only 2 options in LOS IMHO, approx 660k with auto and airbags, or 699k with larger wheels and some stuff

[onnut]

yes, here is a photo. no armrest. how come your car has one? and this one doesnt!

Just noticed that this photo has a Manuel gear box, my SIL has auto.

[katabeachbum]

yes, here is a photo. no armrest. how come your car has one? and this one doesnt!

Just noticed that this photo has a Manuel gear box, my SIL has auto.

I have rented Jazz with armrest, but cant recall if its the 660k or 699k model.

Auto starts at approx 590k baht

[onnut]

yes, here is a photo. no armrest. how come your car has one? and this one doesnt!

Just noticed that this photo has a Manuel gear box, my SIL has auto.

I have rented Jazz with armrest, but cant recall if its the 660k or 699k model.

Auto starts at approx 590k baht

It must be the start price model she has. she loves the car and thats good for her anyway. but trust me, my neck was aching for 3 days after a drive from Bangkok to Pattaya. I use the Jazz to nip to the shops but thats it now.

[sgunn65]

I have just bought a top of the line Jazz which I am collecting next week (waiting for leather seats to be fitted) . I tried the yaris and the Jazz and the Jazz came out on top. I drove it to Nakan Sawan (4 hours) and back and it felt very comfortable (I have had the CRV 2.4 for three years). Maybe its the way I drive but no armrest doesnt seem to bother me.

[travelmann]

I have just bought a top of the line Jazz which I am collecting next week (waiting for leather seats to be fitted) . I tried the yaris and the Jazz and the Jazz came out on top. I drove it to Nakan Sawan (4 hours) and back and it felt very comfortable (I have had the CRV 2.4 for three years). Maybe its the way I drive but no armrest doesnt seem to bother me.

I too have no problem not having an armrest in our jazz drove to hua hin and back from bkk 3 times in a day once when the wife forgot her keys!!!!!!

Stick to 100km per hour its quite thrifty on fuel too.