Visited the local Honda dealer in Chiang Mai this morning to take another look at the Jazz which has a 5 month delivery time. My question: if my wife goes ahead and orders one (paying the deposit, I assume), does that secure the subsidy or is there a chance that they will discontinue it before we take delivery?

The salesgirl was too busy trying to convert me to a Freed (down to 820,000, now) to give me much confidence in her answer. Although I'm doing a test drive in a Freed tomorrow, it's mostly just out of interest since it's not a very attractive design and with the jump seats in place the cargo area is miserably small and a difficult shape. Anyone got experience owning one?

Honda City takes 8 months, they say....

PS. Sorry. I see there's a thread about this already on the page but it doesn't actually seem to give a clear answer on my question.

Can't wade through 132 posts on the other thread to find if anyone else has this info but thought it worth sharing (if it's accurate).

The Honda dealer on the Superhighway in CM told me today that the purchase date is the date the registration plates are issued (or possibly when the registration number is allotted) so cars ordered now and delivered after the end of the government's rebate period won't qualify. She told me that there were strong rumours in the trade that the period may be extended and I'm getting the impression that given the increasingly long delivery time for vehicles that qualify, many people may be unable to claim when it actually comes time to sign on the dotted line for the finance which will undoubtedly cause some upsets. The government may have to make some concession to this.

This was my second Honda dealer of the day, the first failed to have a Jazz for me to test drive despite my having made an appointment and really only wanted to sell me a Freed of which they have plenty in stock and doesn't qualify for the rebate scheme. Oh yes, the overall design and interior layout is pretty miserable too...

If it is the date that the actual plates are issued then to the long delivery time for the vehicle you will have to add 3 months or more for the issuance of the actual registration plates. Today I have just received my plates for a car delivered in early March.

I pointed that out to her. She said it's usually 45 days - I know she's hugely optimistic but I didn't pursue it ....

If they extend the deadline I'll order a Jazz with the minimum deposit and hope for the best.

If it is the date that the actual plates are issued then to the long delivery time for the vehicle you will have to add 3 months or more for the issuance of the actual registration plates. Today I have just received my plates for a car delivered in early March.

One applies at the moment the car is handed over and paid for, either cash or finance or combination. So it is not the date the actual plates are issued.

I have heard that because of long deliveries at the end of the year the period will be extended, but personally I would not count on that.

i heard it is going to be the time the car was ordered not the delivery time for the rebate. i wait and see

i heard it is going to be the time the car was ordered not the delivery time for the rebate. i wait and see

We were told yesterday rebates are only on the Jazz, City, and Brio, they told us if we ordered a City now it would be outside the rebate period, then the but !!! they said they have cars in stock which we could have now and get the rebate.

Local media are reporting today that there is a proposal to extend the first car buyers scheme until mid-2013 due to the delays in car delivery.

It says that "transfer of ownership" must be completed to apply for the subsidy. For me this implies issuance of the blue book but this is not necessarily clear.

I believe the proposal for extension still has to go to cabinet so not 100% certain that it will be extended.