Euro Spec Or Thai Spec Japan/amer Suvs...advice Please

[OMGImInPattaya]

Here's the deal: I'm in the market for a new SUV. I have looked at most of the models in this vehicle class available here in Thailand. I currently own both a Toyota Sportrider and Honda CRV, both about 10 years old. For my new vehicle, I want something closer to the Honda than the Toyota, as I want a more car-like ride and don't need the space of a 7 passenger SUV. Therefore, I have ruled out all the larger truck based Thai SUVs, e.g., Fortuner, Everest, Pajero, etc., and am concentrating on the smaller 5 passenger car based SUVs like the CRV, Escape, Tucson, etc. At the Bangkok auto show last month, I happened to chance upon the Skoda booth and had a chance to check out their Yeti and I was very impressed.

The Yeti is based on a car platform and is the size I am looking for. The model offered for sale in Thailand is very nicely fitted out in terms of safety and luxury features, including 7 air-bags and a double moonroof. There is also a long list of additional passive and active safey features and creature comforts. Although the design is a little quirky, I sorta like it and it is certainly different. When sitting inside, the interior feels like a quality euro-made car, which it is. Since seeing the car, I have researched the model online and it has received almost uniformly rave reviews in therms of quality, practicality, and price.

Also, with the Skoda brand, one is basically getting Audi/VW quality on the cheap, as it's a VW brand and the engine on the model in Thailand is the same in the Audi A4.

Now the downsides. In Thailand, Skodas are imported by an imported and not Skoda itself. As such, there is no official Skoda dealer network for after sales service and warranty work, except thru the importer. The importer is associated with Yontrikit motors, which has a long history of importing and servicing smaller brands of cars to Thailand. However, its been my experience that cars are so well made now days that outside of normal scheduled maintenance and replacements like tires, rarely does much else have to be done. Of course, there is also the issue of resale but I am not so concerned with this as I tend to drive my cars for many years and only sell them when most of their useful life is over.

My main question is: Would it be better to buy a euro designed, spec'ed, and manufactured vehicle sold in Thailand or something like like the local versions of the CRV or Captiva? Again, not taking resale or servicing into account, which is the better buy purely on the car's merits? How does the build quality and fit and finish of a euro-made vehicle compare with similar vehicles made in thailand? All of the SUVs cost about the same, ranging from 1.3-1.7M (the Yeti is 1.6, while there is some range in the others depending on trim and engine). For the money, it seems to me that the Yeti is heads above any of the local contenders and gives much more value for money. It is also much cheaper than any of the BMW contenders, save the base X1 or a base Freelander. Even the top line Captiva only has 4 airbags I believe and the CRV maybe 6. (Plus I just can't bring myself to like the new CRV's looks.) The Yeti also comes with a 7-speed Tiptronic transmission...again, I don't think any of the local competitors offer this. Also, would there be any issued with the vehicle not being "tropicalized"? What is generally done to prepare a car to operate in the humidity and heat here in Thailand, other than to yank out the heater?

Any thoughts or feedback would be most welcome.

Edited January 2, 2013 by OMGImInPattaya

[anon210]

Well, a very practical consideration first of all: if you break down on the mountain road in Mae Sot and need to be towed to the next city (Mae Sot or Tak), you probably want your car to be fixed by the next couple of days, to get back on your way. Sure, cars are far more reliable nowadays, but you can never know what pesky little issue might arise.

With a European car, and furthermore, one nobody knows at all, you are most likely condemned to have your useless car towed back to BKK at your own cost (no roadside assistance, no warranty, nothing...).

As you say you intend to keep your cars a long time, you will most likely need to purchase parts and have them replaced by a mechanic. That means that during that timespan, your car may well be immobilized if the part is not in stock (I don't know anything about the aftersales service by that importer).

Airbags will help in some small measure, but two other aspects are important for safety: buckling your seatbelt, and driving slower. As to tropicalization, it can be as basic as adding an extra fan to cool down the engine. More generally, the Thai models are "stripped" down compared to those available for other markets.

My piece of advice would be to better look for models assembled in Thailand (and the BMW you quote have at least 5 years of service included). Or if you absolutely want an European car, go get a second-hand car. At least what you save on the price can be used towards paying for parts.

[manzan]

what engine did the Yeti you saw at the motor show have? was it the 1.2?

[Jitar]

Choosing between a dull, conservative car and a more unusual one is a personal decision only you can make. Most Thai car buyers look for good reliability, good resale value, reasonable repair time and cost, (including accident repairs as well as worn components). Design and driving dynamics do not seem to rate particularly highly in LOS, but that is probably not surprising considering the average driving conditions. I never understand why safety does not sell well here considering the accident rate but TIT. So we end up with basic Toyotas and Hondas.

Anyway, if you have different priorities to the average Thai car buyer and you like the Skoda, go for it. But before you do, will the importer give you a decent test drive to make sure the Yeti suits you? 7 speed trans sounds nice on paper but is this the VW DSG gearbox? Some drivers complain about twin clutch gearboxes in city driving and a few reliability issue with some VW units so some research may be a good idea. If you are in Pattaya like you name suggests, is there a service center there with access to Skoda technical support for problems, recalls or updates etc.

You certainly have a tricky choice. The CR-V is aesthetically challenged but the Skoda has had a close encounter with the ugly stick as well. An Evoque would be worth putting up with some inconvenience but they are priced above your budget. Freelander and VW Tiguan are silly prices as well, CX5 and Escape replacement some way off. What about Subaru XV (Japanese quirky)? Ssangyong also has the Korando (Korean quirky), less ugly than usual?

Good luck with what ever you choose. If you get something unusual it makes life for the rest of us a little less dull when something different drives past in the sea of Toyotas and Hondas. Personally I reckon it is worth it if you like the car enough or want a hobby, but then again I once bought an old Lotus Elan,

[raffo77]

I have the same dilemma as the OP. I really like the yeti but i'm afraid I will get no after sales service. I am now looking at the Subaru xv, which has a somewhat better and more stable after sales service. but skoda has higher safety spec than the Subaru, so I still can't decide. another strong point for the yeti is the big trunk, which I will need to load my ageing german shepherd. I can do this with the xv too, but I will need a new dog cage. price for the skoda is negotiable; I have gotten as low as 1.4M from the original 1.6M, while Subaru dealer will not discount a single bath!

Sent from my Windows 8 device using Board Express Pro

[frankphuket]

I guess you would need to ask yourself another rather important question: Do you want your SUV to have 4WD?

if you need it than you can cut the Yeti. I was looking long and hard since nearly a year for a replacement of my wifes Xtrail (she still loves it....).

She liked the Yeti, but no 4WD and the 1.2l engine, although seemingly quite peppy was a bit of a hold back. Why they don't bring the diesel or the 2.0 petrol engine with 4WD escapes me...if they would be able to sell it under 1.9m, this would be a nice one.

I personally think the Korando looks nice, but surely resale might be worse than a Yeti?

If you want 4WD the mentioned Subaru XV is probably at the moment one of the few options, well priced and different. Not really having a spectacular engine, again they should bring the diesel.

if you don't need 4WD, the Nissan Xtrail (although older model) is not bad for the price. must say, experience of 100K with my wifes have been very positive. Interior stands time very well and is a very easy to drive car with good space. Slightly odd looking, which i like.

and yes, if you have the cash, go Evoque....

[raffo77]

my main concerns are safety and carrying around my friend Otto (12 year old german shepherd). of course price is important too. if i was still living in Europe my choice would be yeti. now, i don't know.

hope i haven't confused the OP even more!

Sent from my Windows 8 device using Board Express Pro

[thailoht]

Well, a very practical consideration first of all: if you break down on the mountain road in Mae Sot and need to be towed to the next city (Mae Sot or Tak), you probably want your car to be fixed by the next couple of days, to get back on your way. Sure, cars are far more reliable nowadays, but you can never know what pesky little issue might arise.

With a European car, and furthermore, one nobody knows at all, you are most likely condemned to have your useless car towed back to BKK at your own cost (no roadside assistance, no warranty, nothing...).

As you say you intend to keep your cars a long time, you will most likely need to purchase parts and have them replaced by a mechanic. That means that during that timespan, your car may well be immobilized if the part is not in stock (I don't know anything about the aftersales service by that importer).

Airbags will help in some small measure, but two other aspects are important for safety: buckling your seatbelt, and driving slower. As to tropicalization, it can be as basic as adding an extra fan to cool down the engine. More generally, the Thai models are "stripped" down compared to those available for other markets.

My piece of advice would be to better look for models assembled in Thailand (and the BMW you quote have at least 5 years of service included). Or if you absolutely want an European car, go get a second-hand car. At least what you save on the price can be used towards paying for parts.

Choosing between a dull, conservative car and a more unusual one is a personal decision only you can make. Most Thai car buyers look for good reliability, good resale value, reasonable repair time and cost, (including accident repairs as well as worn components). Design and driving dynamics do not seem to rate particularly highly in LOS, but that is probably not surprising considering the average driving conditions. I never understand why safety does not sell well here considering the accident rate but TIT. So we end up with basic Toyotas and Hondas.

Anyway, if you have different priorities to the average Thai car buyer and you like the Skoda, go for it. But before you do, will the importer give you a decent test drive to make sure the Yeti suits you? 7 speed trans sounds nice on paper but is this the VW DSG gearbox? Some drivers complain about twin clutch gearboxes in city driving and a few reliability issue with some VW units so some research may be a good idea. If you are in Pattaya like you name suggests, is there a service center there with access to Skoda technical support for problems, recalls or updates etc.

I have the same dilemma as the OP. I really like the yeti but i'm afraid I will get no after sales service. I am now looking at the Subaru xv, which has a somewhat better and more stable after sales service. but skoda has higher safety spec than the Subaru, so I still can't decide. another strong point for the yeti is the big trunk, which I will need to load my ageing german shepherd. I can do this with the xv too, but I will need a new dog cage. price for the skoda is negotiable; I have gotten as low as 1.4M from the original 1.6M, while Subaru dealer will not discount a single bath!

Here's the deal: I'm in the market for a new SUV. I have looked at most of the models in this vehicle class available here in Thailand. I currently own both a Toyota Sportrider and Honda CRV, both about 10 years old. For my new vehicle, I want something closer to the Honda than the Toyota, as I want a more car-like ride and don't need the space of a 7 passenger SUV. Therefore, I have ruled out all the larger truck based Thai SUVs, e.g., Fortuner, Everest, Pajero, etc., and am concentrating on the smaller 5 passenger car based SUVs like the CRV, Escape, Tucson, etc. At the Bangkok auto show last month, I happened to chance upon the Skoda booth and had a chance to check out their Yeti and I was very impressed.

It's good that you know 'exactly' the characteristics you want in your next SUV purchase, but the fact that you also want to keep this new SUV for the 'long run' puts your list of options on a new track: Availibility and cost of parts as well as 'service' are very important considerations to be factored. I, too, recently bought (one of those larger-sized) SUVs that I plan to keep for the long run. I like to take road trips and I have the piece of mind knowing that wherever I go, there are service shops and parts in the event I may need them.

[stevenl]

@ op: After reading your post I think you'll be happiest with the Yeti.

[OMGImInPattaya]

Thanks to everyone who replied with constructive feedback. I am actually surprised that there are a few others out there that seem to have an appreciation for the merits of the Yeti besides me as well. There is allot to mull over with the feedback given above.

It's funny how design is such a personal thing. I actually like the boxy design of the Yeti...it is very similar to the design of my current older model CRV. The thing I like is the large square window panels and small B and C pillars, which make for very good outside visibility (as well as practical cargo space). One problem I have with many of the highly stylized SUVs available now is the oval shapes and small size windows in relation to the vehicle size. One thing I want when negotiating the crazy Thai traffic and when parking in confined spaces is good outside visibility. The Yeti is also the perfect size for me...I don't want to drive any more bus size SUVs like my Sportrider or any of the current crop of larger SUVs.

As to servicing, yes, this would be more difficult with the Skoda as there is no Thai dealer network...only the Bangkok importer and his garage facilities. However, this importer is quite well established and has been in business for many years and has been importing Skodas for awhile now. I do live in Pattaya so there would be no dealer service here but there are plenty of regular garages for routine maintenance. I also get up to Bangkok often so it would not be a problem to drop off the car for routine scheduled maintenance during these times. Of the two cars I currently own, I have had only one instance in 10 years of ownership of a mechanical failure on the road. This was when the 10 year old CRV's radiator blew and it needed to be towed to a local garage. The radiator was replaced in a day. I assume the same would be the case for an out of warranty item on the Yeti, however, the wait and cost of the part would be longer/higher. I would also hope the dealer would still be around to obtain the part. Accident repairs and body panels would also be more of a challenge but this is sorta like not getting married to a woman you like because 50% of married couples end up getting divorced. You can't think of the practical things when a new love in blossoming.

I mainly use my vehicles to putter around Pattaya and the surrounding area and I don't take long treks upcountry or to the north so being stranded out in Issan-nowhere without a service center is not a concern to me. For the same reason, I don't need four-wheel drive. This is a tough decision, the pracical side of me says to just go with a Japanese or American Thai made SUV and be done with it. Someone also mentioned if I want Euro design and quality to maybe go with one of the Thai assembled Euro brands like BMW. However, the BMW X3, which I would consider (the X1 is too small and has received mixed press reviews) is over twice the price of the Yeti. I could buy two Yetis and keep one in the garage for spare parts and accident body panels for the price of the BMW. One option may be to wait for the new Ford Escape, which may be out by mid-year, and is a really nice and different looking mid-size SUV. However, again, for the price, probably under-spec'ed compared to the Yeti. However, the upper trim levels may be competitive as this seems to be the tact Ford has taken with their newer vehicles like the Fiesta and Focus. The Nissan X-Trail is also a model I have not really investigated and I will check it out...thanks to whoever it was who brought this model to my attention...from the Nissan website, I can see that it too would not win many beauty contests and still only two airbags.

Edited January 3, 2013 by OMGImInPattaya

[thaicbr]

What about the Suzuki SX4?

sent from my Q6

[frankphuket]

Thanks to everyone who replied with constructive feedback. I am actually surprised that there are a few others out there that seem to have an appreciation for the merits of the Yeti besides me as well. There is allot to mull over with the feedback given above.

It's funny how design is such a personal thing. I actually like the boxy design of the Yeti...it is very similar to the design of my current older model CRV. The thing I like is the large square window panels and small B and C pillars, which make for very good outside visibility (as well as practical cargo space). One problem I have with many of the highly stylized SUVs available now is the oval shapes and small size windows in relation to the vehicle size. One thing I want when negotiating the crazy Thai traffic and when parking in confined spaces is good outside visibility. The Yeti is also the perfect size for me...I don't want to drive any more bus size SUVs like my Sportrider or any of the current crop of larger SUVs.

As to servicing, yes, this would be more difficult with the Skoda as there is no Thai dealer network...only the Bangkok importer and his garage facilities. However, this importer is quite well established and has been in business for many years and has been importing Skodas for awhile now. I do live in Pattaya so there would be no dealer service here but there are plenty of regular garages for routine maintenance. I also get up to Bangkok often so it would not be a problem to drop off the car for routine scheduled maintenance during these times. Of the two cars I currently own, I have had only one instance in 10 years of ownership of a mechanical failure on the road. This was when the 10 year old CRV's radiator blew and it needed to be towed to a local garage. The radiator was replaced in a day. I assume the same would be the case for an out of warranty item on the Yeti, however, the wait and cost of the part would be longer/higher. I would also hope the dealer would still be around to obtain the part. Accident repairs and body panels would also be more of a challenge but this is sorta like not getting married to a woman you like because 50% of married couples end up getting divorced. You can't think of the practical things when a new love in blossoming.

I mainly use my vehicles to putter around Pattaya and the surrounding area and I don't take long treks upcountry or to the north so being stranded out in Issan-nowhere without a service center is not a concern to me. For the same reason, I don't need four-wheel drive. This is a tough decision, the pracical side of me says to just go with a Japanese or American Thai made SUV and be done with it. Someone also mentioned if I want Euro design and quality to maybe go with one of the Thai assembled Euro brands like BMW. However, the BMW X3, which I would consider (the X1 is too small and has received mixed press reviews) is over twice the price of the Yeti. I could buy two Yetis and keep one in the garage for spare parts and accident body panels for the price of the BMW. One option may be to wait for the new Ford Escape, which may be out by mid-year, and is a really nice and different looking mid-size SUV. However, again, for the price, probably under-spec'ed compared to the Yeti. However, the upper trim levels may be competitive as this seems to be the tact Ford has taken with their newer vehicles like the Fiesta and Focus. The Nissan X-Trail is also a model I have not really investigated and I will check it out...thanks to whoever it was who brought this model to my attention...from the Nissan website, I can see that it too would not win many beauty contests and still only two airbags.

Hi, I did bring in the Nissan Xtrail, and i was also the one here in this forum to talk very positive about Skodas incl. the Yeti. I do like the design of the Yeti, and I do like the Nissan Xtrail for the same reason. I for one, think the new CRV is butt ugly. Do have a look at the Xtrail, it has done us well with 4 dogs, as it is (as you can easily see) a very square design and is really extremely easy to drive. In the older model (not sure the newer) you can take out the floor of the trunk and it is easily hosed down. Really quite sturdy. As you don't want 4WD it could actually be an option. No issues with dealer network either. Plus you safe quite a bit compare to the Yeti....