Bmw X1

[ignis]

New Subaru Legacy 4x4 is under 2 million, or the Forester 4x4 is under 1.7 million, nowhere near as common as a BMW..

Brand new model and here, good reviews Hyundai Tuscon in 2 WD = 1.3 million petrol.., in 4x4 Diesel 1.6 million.

The 3 above you maybe see 1 or 2 a month, BMW and Benz you see 100's per day and are as common as muck

I agree the Volvo V50 look good, pity is did not have the 1.6 Turbo engine here

Edited October 27, 2012 by ignis

[eaustev]

Other Euro non-hatchback options at this price point are the Volvo S40/V50 (1.7M), S60 (1.9M), and Skoda Superb (2M)

I think the V60 is also around 2 million baht which is a nice looking car and has the added versatility of the wagon.

[rics21]

Other Euro non-hatchback options at this price point are the Volvo S40/V50 (1.7M), S60 (1.9M), and Skoda Superb (2M)

I think the V60 is also around 2 million baht which is a nice looking car and has the added versatility of the wagon.

Haven't have got good reviews on the Volvos. Anyone here tried a Volvo?

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[ignis]

Other Euro non-hatchback options at this price point are the Volvo S40/V50 (1.7M), S60 (1.9M), and Skoda Superb (2M)

I think the V60 is also around 2 million baht which is a nice looking car and has the added versatility of the wagon.

Haven't have got good reviews on the Volvos. Anyone here tried a Volvo?

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No idea where Volvo are going........ Volvo Estates always = Load Luggers......... now the new V60 is a coupe-like shape Estate...

Older Volvo's the model number = size and engine size, now you have a brand new S40 which is 2 lt, the next size up S60 has a 1.6 lt ??????

​Look like a new thing, Ford Fiesta 1.5/1.6, yet the new Mondeo [Honda Accord Class] get the 1.0 lt engine ???????

Edited October 27, 2012 by ignis

[IMHO]

I think the V60 is also around 2 million baht which is a nice looking car and has the added versatility of the wagon.

yep V60 is 2.3M, with only the one variant available in TH.

Haven't have got good reviews on the Volvos. Anyone here tried a Volvo?

They receive generally positive reviews, but the lack of dealerships in TH really takes it toll on resale.

[IMHO]

​Look like a new thing, Ford Fiesta 1.5/1.6, yet the new Mondeo [Honda Accord Class] get the 1.0 lt engine ???????

The Focus also gets the 1.0L Ecoboost in EU/UK - the Fiesta is likely to get the option too at the next model change (but not in TH)

Edited October 27, 2012 by IMHO

[inapeartree]

I've been doing some homework since finding out about the huge import tax fees as I plan to buy a car and bike when I move here next year. More decent bikes are being made here now so should have plenty of choice but not so much with the cars. Volvo's prices don't seem as inflated as much as BMW or Benz when you compare the prices here to here in Germany for example. Any reason for that?

[Payboy]

I've been doing some homework since finding out about the huge import tax fees as I plan to buy a car and bike when I move here next year. More decent bikes are being made here now so should have plenty of choice but not so much with the cars. Volvo's prices don't seem as inflated as much as BMW or Benz when you compare the prices here to here in Germany for example. Any reason for that?

Most of the Volvos sold here are built in Malaysia.

[thaicruze]

TC, thanks for all your advices. But I do have some spare cash and I guess its nice to make myself comfy and get myself some face.

What's wrong with spending more on a german car? Been driving the Japanese cars for years, tried the American cars.

Both types of cars can't be compared to the German design and technology.

I have got the PJS while my wife is driving the vios. I just feel that its time for an upgrade from the PJS to a benz or BMW.

I went thru the 2m price range European car. I guess there are only the X1 and the C200.

The C200 is somehow a small sedan with almost 180hp while the X1-18i is with 150hp. Both models r there for quite some time, will, there be a facelift?

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No. That's not the point. You're not spending more on a German car. The point is you're getting a $20-$30,000 quality car for $65,000. That's the point.

What are you going to do when all the interior plastic paint starts peeling off? That's not supposed to happen in a $65,000 car. You can get WAYY more than an X1 for $65,000. It's not worth the money.

Get a nice car (Toyota, Honda, Isuzu, Mitsubishi) and take the rest of the millions burning a hole in your pocket and buy your wife good land in a great location and invest in the future.

Even if I had millions sitting around doing nothing, if I tell my wife I want to get a big BMW for BIG face she'll say I'm an idiot and won't let me waste money in something as stupid as a car.

Take 1 million. That'll buy you a really nice car. Take the other million and give it to me. I'll flush it down the toilet for you.

Edited October 28, 2012 by thaicruze

[thaicruze]

I've been doing some homework since finding out about the huge import tax fees as I plan to buy a car and bike when I move here next year. More decent bikes are being made here now so should have plenty of choice but not so much with the cars. Volvo's prices don't seem as inflated as much as BMW or Benz when you compare the prices here to here in Germany for example. Any reason for that?

Yes. Like the other guy said. If they don't raise the price by 500% it means its built here or in Malaysia. Like the Peugeot is built in Malaysia.

The X1 here is probably Chinese or Indian.

Edited October 28, 2012 by thaicruze

[thaicruze]

I would much rather a driver. Really rich people don't drive.

Really rich people won't buy a Chevrolet.

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Really rich people wouldn't be so stupid as to spend $65,000 dollars on a $30,000 car.

And if you are truly rich, you wouldn't even think about buying a car. Only people pretending to be rich pay $65,000 for a $30,000 car just to look rich. It's ridiculous.

[thaicruze]

Hey _rics21. I'm sure you're trying to rationalize this. It's a nice car. I've been inside the X1. It was at Central and I went in to check it out.

I just can't believe your wife agrees with this. You must be filthy rich.

Even if I was filthy rich, my wife would slap me in the face just for mentioning it. She would rather I just buy her land. Our house here, 150 sq. wa close to Bangkok. We bought it for 3.3 million. It's now over 6 million (6 years later) and climbing because the sky train will be about 5 minutes from here.

Just think, you'll end up selling this eventually for a lot less. Your pretty X1 will end up in a junk yard in a pile of recyclable scrap.

We wanted to go bigger than a 2005 City. It was getting shaky and uncomfortable. So, we bought a Cruze. Obviously not a luxury car. 875,000. It's already about 300,000 over what I would've paid for it in the USA. 875,000 is about as much as I would pay for a car. SUV or Pickup, up to 1.2 million. MAYBE. And that's a huge stretch.

Also, the bigger the car the bigger the fuel cost

Also, the fancier the car (BMW) the fancier the repair bills.

When the pretty X1 starts with the issues and the repair bills come you'll curse the day you bought it.

The best car is the one you can pay for Cash comfortably.

If I had the cash, and I wanted Big, I'd get the Dmax Z prestige with navigation. There's no car better than cash in the bank.

Edited October 28, 2012 by thaicruze

[guzzi850m2]

Really rich people wouldn't be so stupid as to spend $65,000 dollars on a $30,000 car.

And if you are truly rich, you wouldn't even think about buying a car. Only people pretending to be rich pay $65,000 for a $30,000 car just to look rich. It's ridiculous.

Have you been drinking TC?

The amount of expensive imported cars on BKK plates I see in Pattaya during the weekends are staggering. Ferrari's and Lamborghini's are not seen every weekend but are not that seldom either, those supercars cost something like 15-20 mill bath a pop and they often park on Beach Road in front of Hofh brewhouse where the parking guard scramble to make room for them to park. Those people driving them loves to show off in them and they must have BIG money and most likely don't give a shit what they cost.

[stevenl]

Some people spend money on cars, some on other things. Some buys look ridiculous and stupid to some, but others are happy with those buys.

Each to his own.

Edited October 28, 2012 by stevenl

[thaicruze]

A Ferrari isn't a nice car off the track. or practical. It's a show off car that stays in the Garage most of the time. The OP isn't that guy.Your comparison doesn't make sense. You're comparing the quality of a Ferrari (and over paying for a Ferrari) and the quality of an X1 and paying over twice the price.As I said, the issue with the X1 is that you are getting a $30,000 car for $65,000. A car that costs $30,000 and one that costs $65,000 are in 2 different leagues.

This doesn't happen in a 65,000 car, but these are X1 pictures.

In order for BMW to keep this car at $30,000 bucks (with full options you can easily get a mid-size Ford at this price), BMW has to cut corners. You aren't getting a $65,000 car is what I'm saying. That's it. So, why would you pay luxury car price for a mid-size full spec Ford price?

Plus, the dream that the X1 comes directly from a german plant and you're getting german engineering is bullcrap. This is a Chinese built car (or indian built).

I've been inside the X1, and although it is a nice car, it is obvious that this is a $30,000 car. There are plenty of hard cheap looking plastic painted parts. It really doesn't look like a $65,000 car.

If you are rich, then i understand overpaying for a Ferrari or a 911. You're getting THAT quality of a car.

For example, same mall. Mercedes was showing the CLS. Overpriced, sure. Would I overpay for that one? Yes I would, because you are getting that quality of a car. Have you ever been inside one? now THAT's quality.

Get inside a decked out CLS. That's closer to the quality for the price they're charging you for an X1 here.

Edited October 28, 2012 by thaicruze

[thaicruze]

This is the quality of a 2 million baht car (in reality)

not the wall of cheap beige plastics that hit you when you go inside an X1.

[madjbs]

Seriously what is your problem? Some people like to buy nice cars and can afford to do so. Your extreme jealousy of those people really shows in this thread!

[anon210]

TC, first, regarding where the car is built, provided there are appropriate QC measures by the original manufacturer, I believe the quality can be the same. Now, obviously, if they cut corners on materials to be able to propose "low-cost" cars, it is another question. It seems however that the X1 gets some mixed reviews:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/x1/interior

It’s in materials and finish where the X1’s cabin is less than convincing. BMW has tried hard to provide smoke and mirrors by coating regularly touched surfaces in soft-feel materials. But move away from the driver’s direct line of sight and you’ll find brittle plastics, particularly low down in the centre console.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-reviews/bmw/x1/44746

I have been given this as a company car . for me it is too small has no interior space too noisy has an apalling ride ( does any BMW owner think run flats are a good idea? )

I need a higher than normal ground clearence car with part time 4WD as I spend a large part of my working life down unmetalled tracks and in fields ect. This car was passed to me by another BMW mad owner who had it for a year and hated it, I can see why. It is suprisingly difficult to drive has poor handling and visibility, is akward to park as not only can you not see the front and rear even the sides are invisible despite the large mirrors which seen to show nothing worth looking at. The car is noisy on the motorway suseptable to crosswinds and has poor handling seeming to suffer from too much understeer, The gearchange is clunky and awkward reminding me of an early range rover, the change from 5th to 4th being particularly troublesome. The engine is 2.0 ltr badged as a 1.8 and is agricultural and lacking in power, pressing the throttle produces more noise but no apreciable increase in speed, We have two of these on our company fleet the other belongs to a long term BMW driver and he hates it too, From my point of view the worst part of driving it is that people think I actually chose it ! I have never BMW'd before and never will again. What a donkey.

Is it worth 2 M THB and all the additional headache after the warranty expires? For me, it would not, but then, everyone chooses what they like.

[madjbs]

Seriously what is your problem? Some people like to buy nice cars and can afford to do so. Your extreme jealousy of those people really shows in this thread!

It ISN'T a nice car. Not 2 million nice it isn't.

If you want a BMW, then it looks like a pretty good deal for Thailand.

[rics21]

Seriously what is your problem? Some people like to buy nice cars and can afford to do so. Your extreme jealousy of those people really shows in this thread!

Let him be. Some people r just jealous.

Any owners of a X1 or a C200 here?

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[anon210]

Seriously what is your problem? Some people like to buy nice cars and can afford to do so. Your extreme jealousy of those people really shows in this thread!

Let him be. Some people r just jealous.

Any owners of a X1 or a C200 here?

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Rics, nevertheless, his comments on the interior quality of the X1 should be heeded, I believe. I believe that when you pay top money, you are entitled to some quality in the finition of the car.

Buying a car, paying a premium because of taxes and then having something that is inferior to a Japanese car in terms of interior quality is not really gaining more face... Just a bad financial decision (esp. as Thais all know that X1 is the "'BMW of the poor"). See also reviews that seem to talk about poor comfort on bumpy roads (you will have a lot of these in Thailand!).

In terms of driving experience, better not move only according to the price, but test-drive it for a given duration, and see if it fulfills your expectations. That's the best advice anyone can give you. In some of the reviews I read, they complain about the sitting position and view on the road, the mirrors, the difficult view behind etc...

Try all this and see if it affects you, or if you feel comfortable (and take it for a long drive on bumpy country roads!).

[IMHO]

Volvo's prices don't seem as inflated as much as BMW or Benz when you compare the prices here to here in Germany for example. Any reason for that?

Volvo S40/V50/S60/V60 are all assembled in Thailand (and Malaysia as pointed out by another poster).

The BMW X1 and lower-spec 3-Series are also assembled in Thailand, as are lower-spec Benz C-Class.

So no import duties on these.. they 'only' attract the usual 37% - 76% in excise taxes and VAT....

The Volvos with the E85 compat 1.6L turbos do the best job of minimizing taxes, hence their keen pricing... Pity the resale sucks.

[IMHO]

Seriously what is your problem? Some people like to buy nice cars and can afford to do so. Your extreme jealousy of those people really shows in this thread!

Let him be. Some people r just jealous.

Well, on the other side of the coin... Just think about what this place would be like if he *could* afford any of the cars being discussed in this thread.. I don't know whether that'd be something to laugh at, or cry at...

[thaicruze]

This is the quality of a 2 million baht car (in reality)

not the wall of cheap beige plastics that hit you when you go inside an X1.

Think you may have become muddled ?? The CLS550 cost a little more than 2 million... well a lot more...... 15.5 million, so one would expect the interior to look better, you would be paying over 13 million more baht. !!

You still don't get it. The CLS is closer to a 2 million baht car in REALITY because the CLS is just over $70,000 in REALITY.

The CLS is the quality you would expect from a $65,000-$70,000 car.

Are you guys really not getting it? Come on.

The CLS is the 2 million baht quality. THAT'S the quality you should expect from a car that expensive (regardless of how much they charge you in thailand). Thai price aside, the CLS is a 2 million quality because that's the real price of the car, not 15 million. 15 million is the inflated Thai luxury price. 2 million is closer to the real CLS price.

X1= $30,000 not $65,000. The X1 is a 900,000 baht quality in a 2+ million baht price tag. The CLS is a 2+ million baht car with a 15 million price tag.

Please tell me you get it. I've explained it about 29 times already.

Point is, you're getting a Toyota ALTIS/Honda Civic quality with the X1, not 2+ million baht quality yet you're PAYING 2+ million for it.

Edited October 28, 2012 by thaicruze

[thaicruze]

Seriously what is your problem? Some people like to buy nice cars and can afford to do so. Your extreme jealousy of those people really shows in this thread!

It ISN'T a nice car. Not 2 million nice it isn't.

If you want a BMW, then it looks like a pretty good deal for Thailand.

Would you pay 2+ million for a Ford Focus?

Not only is it NOT worth 2 million, but if its assembled in Thailand the cutting corners to save cost continues.

If it is in Thailand, they probably put an old transmission and /or a gas guzzling shit and underpowered petrol 2 liter engine that will be drinking benzene like a raging alcoholic. And I'm sure it doesn't take Gasohol either.

It's a bad investment all the way.

Edited October 28, 2012 by thaicruze

[thaicruze]

Seriously what is your problem? Some people like to buy nice cars and can afford to do so. Your extreme jealousy of those people really shows in this thread!

Let him be. Some people r just jealous.

Any owners of a X1 or a C200 here?

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Rics, nevertheless, his comments on the interior quality of the X1 should be heeded, I believe. I believe that when you pay top money, you are entitled to some quality in the finition of the car.

Buying a car, paying a premium because of taxes and then having something that is inferior to a Japanese car in terms of interior quality is not really gaining more face... Just a bad financial decision (esp. as Thais all know that X1 is the "'BMW of the poor"). See also reviews that seem to talk about poor comfort on bumpy roads (you will have a lot of these in Thailand!).

In terms of driving experience, better not move only according to the price, but test-drive it for a given duration, and see if it fulfills your expectations. That's the best advice anyone can give you. In some of the reviews I read, they complain about the sitting position and view on the road, the mirrors, the difficult view behind etc...

Try all this and see if it affects you, or if you feel comfortable (and take it for a long drive on bumpy country roads!).

Thank you. That's what I'm trying to say. The X1 is a $30,000 car!! Like a Toyota or Honda quality. That's the REAL price. Doesn't matter how much it is in Thailand. And the cutting corners continues under the good because it is built in Thailand.

An you're right about being the "poor man's BMW". It's a sucker mom car to drive her kids to their Bilingual school and have the other moms look at her.

I would never buy an X1 unless I was in the USA paying $30,000 bucks, which is what I paid for the Cruze.

If you can't afford a luxury car, DON'T BUY ONE. The OP Cant afford a real luxury car, he just wants to pretend he can. If you want to buy a real luxury car here you're looking at 5+ million baht price tag.

The best decision for him is to buy a nice car. If he wants big, Fortuner, Pajero, Captiva, and save the rear of your money.

Get a Fortuner.

Edited December 11, 2013 by sbk

[Payboy]

Just to set the records straight, the X1 isn't imported from China or India. It is assembled locally in Thailand.

[anon210]

Just to set the records straight, the X1 isn't imported from China or India. It is assembled locally in Thailand.

I think TC set the record straight himself...

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[thaicruze]

Just to set the records straight, the X1 isn't imported from China or India. It is assembled locally in Thailand.

Yea. Which makes it even worse.

Don't take my word for it floks. Just sit and watch

I particularly like the part where he says the steering is so awful you'll end up with "forearms like popeye" and the part where he starts banging on all the hard cheap plastic.

2 million baht my ass.

The idea is you get the most quality for the least money. Here you get the least quality BMW can give you for a super inflated price. The Focus has a much better interior than this one, it throws in technology the X1 doesn't have, it stops if you get too close to the car in front of you, it parks itself and you save a million baht. Titanium Plus or Sport plus top of the line makes out at 1,079,000. It's much more car than the X1 and the people in the back will probably be more comfortable.

Edited October 29, 2012 by thaicruze

[ignis]

'thaicruze' the problem is we all here choose to live in Thailand, so must accept the prices....

In UK the new Daewoo Kalos opps Chevy Sonic, cost less + is full of airbags and has ABS cost 2,500 GBP less then the like for like Ford Fiesta....

even a Toyota Yaris in the UK has more options + has a 5 speed Auto or 6 speed manual and cost less....

As for the Cruze like for like cost some 100,000+ baht less in the UK

As for the BMW X1, no myself if i wanted a BMW would go for a 2nd hand X5 for the same price.. much better and more class.. everyone is different, need said car for a different reason.

Myself the pickup is renewed every 3 years, the car well did buy a new Jazz when they arrived in Thailand, but early 2008 sold it and bought a 10 yr old Audi A6, so is now almost 15 years old.