Are 'premium' car brands overrated?

[JaseTheBass]

I bet the new 7 Series is a cracking car but only owners of government contracting companies could afford one here.

Buy a 2nd hand. The prices are falling like the twin towers did during 9/11.

For the new one?

[mortenaa]

I think he meant the seat in the back wasn’t as comfortable and I guess it is a bit more 'closed in' than in the Ranger.

As for the Beemer having more tech than our Ranger - it doesn't. This one is somewhere between 5 and 10 years old.

Anyway, the ceramic coating place called and our car is ready. Never seen the missus move so fast...

So I guess it was a E90? Its low, and the steering feels more heavy. The gas pedal is mounted differently. So are blinkers. Takes time to get used to I guess.

[mortenaa]

For the new one?

No, the F01. From 2009. Can still find one in warranty, with service package. Now the prices drop even further, since the new model was introduced. The new model is also introduced at a lower price.

People that can afford these cars like buying new ones, so the 2nd hand market is small, hence the drop.

[mike324]

3 series backseat is pretty bad, its so cramp and if you are sitting at the left or right side, you can't sit back flat at all, your whole body is angled towards the middle, its pretty much the same for the 5 series too, just a tad more legroom.

I had the three series coupe (M3), with the awesome electrical seat, 8 ways adjustable + shoulder support + thigh support + lumbar support. Totally awesome. I couldn't care less about the back seat space, other than it was practical with four seats for the occasional trip. So it's quite definite that BMW care more about the front seats when they develop their cars

e46 m3 owner here...definitely one great car - backseat is pretty good and comfy for a sports coupe though.

Did you sell your car already?

[mortenaa]

e46 m3 owner here...definitely one great car - backseat is pretty good and comfy for a sports coupe though.

Did you sell your car already?

Yes I did.. And do I miss it...

[DavisH]

It annoys the hell out of BMW and Merc owners when you suggest they're driving a german taxi.

..and most are E class diesels.They wouldn't be caught dead in a C class lol...they flog them to Thais who enjoy spending they baht on the taxes.

[JaseTheBass]

For the new one?

No, the F01. From 2009. Can still find one in warranty, with service package. Now the prices drop even further, since the new model was introduced. The new model is also introduced at a lower price.

People that can afford these cars like buying new ones, so the 2nd hand market is small, hence the drop.

Just had a look online. There are some nice examples from the turn of the century at affordable prices. Just as long as they don't have a 'new' engine or f*****g LPG installed.

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[mortenaa]

Just had a look online. There are some nice examples from the turn of the century at affordable prices. Just as long as they don't have a 'new' engine or f*****g LPG installed.

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Here is one example

http://showroom.one2car.com/carDetail.aspx?car_id=2836069

[JaseTheBass]

Just had a look online. There are some nice examples from the turn of the century at affordable prices. Just as long as they don't have a 'new' engine or f*****g LPG installed.

Sent from my R2D2 using my C3P0 manservant

Here is one example

http://showroom.one2car.com/carDetail.aspx?car_id=2836069

Nice car, but I'm not rich/dumb enough to pay 2.5m for a 750k car.

I'd prefer to pay 180k for a 15ish year old model as a second car.

[mortenaa]

Nice car, but I'm not rich/dumb enough to pay 2.5m for a 750k car.

I'd prefer to pay 180k for a 15ish year old model as a second car.

I don;t understand "for a 750k car". But I guess you are American or British? First of all, I doubt you can find a 7-series LI anywhere for that 750K. In Norway, where I come from, BMW's cost about the same as Thailand.

[JaseTheBass]

Nice car, but I'm not rich/dumb enough to pay 2.5m for a 750k car.

I'd prefer to pay 180k for a 15ish year old model as a second car.

I don;t understand "for a 750k car". But I guess you are American or British? First of all, I doubt you can find a 7-series LI anywhere for that 750K. In Norway, where I come from, BMW's cost about the same as Thailand.

English. I can spell.

[mortenaa]

Nice car, but I'm not rich/dumb enough to pay 2.5m for a 750k car.

I'd prefer to pay 180k for a 15ish year old model as a second car.

I don;t understand "for a 750k car". But I guess you are American or British? First of all, I doubt you can find a 7-series LI anywhere for that 750K. In Norway, where I come from, BMW's cost about the same as Thailand.

English. I can spell.

Some people might claim you are stupid to even waste your money on a car, since Taxi is much cheaper...

[JaseTheBass]

Nice car, but I'm not rich/dumb enough to pay 2.5m for a 750k car.

I'd prefer to pay 180k for a 15ish year old model as a second car.

I don;t understand "for a 750k car". But I guess you are American or British? First of all, I doubt you can find a 7-series LI anywhere for that 750K. In Norway, where I come from, BMW's cost about the same as Thailand.

English. I can spell.

Some people might claim you are stupid to even waste your money on a car, since Taxi is much cheaper...

True. I did consider just renting a car or using taxis instead of owning my own car, but it would mean having to put up with poorly maintained crappy Toyotas and I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

[seedy]

Post Edited - large Foto - 640 x 480 keeps the page from requiring scroll right

[dezy1801]

Just out of curiosity what kind of car did your Mrs have before meeting you? Yeah 'Luxury' cars are overpriced........unless you can actually afford one here in Thailand . Cant live your life in Thailand comparing the price of everything to that of your home country. The car is only worth what people are prepared to pay and here in Thailand there are lots of people prepared to buy these cars because majority are Thai's and don't compare the price to other countries. Seems to me like your trying to justify buying a Thai made car over another brand of 'luxury' car. Lexus, BMW, Mercedes all seen as luxury cars in South East Asia due to the high import taxes and they are better all round than the average brands built in Thailand. Yes they are over priced compared to Europe but the price in comparison depreciates the same just double what it is in Europe. I have owed a Mitsubishi, Toyota, Isuzu, Ford and a 'Luxury' car in Thailand. I know what I prefer but that's the thing its all about personnel preference. Also safety is a major consideration when buying a new car, just because its bigger and feels safer doesn't necessarily mean that it will be all of that if its ever in an accident.

[ExpatOilWorker]

It annoys the hell out of BMW and Merc owners when you suggest they're driving a german taxi.

Not really. They reason they are used at taxis is because they pretty much last forever and can easily drive 300,000+ km.

My Bimmer is 12 years old and it feels, looks and handle like a new car, except it hasn't build in Bluetooth.

[JaseTheBass]

To be honest, my thoughts were more about how a premium motor of less than a decade old is actually a worse place to be than a circa 1m baht commercial vehicle of now.

On the upside, I could definitely see us spending 200k on a 15 year old 7 Series Beemer if they're as good as I hope they are.

It's not about knocking a brand but being impressed with the advancement of others.

[cumgranosalum]

It annoys the hell out of BMW and Merc owners when you suggest they're driving a german taxi.

Yes!! People don't realise that the home market has basic work-horses and the high-end versions are exported to countries where high import duties can only be justified if the buyer thinks he is getting something special.

a few years ago now in France I had to organise a hire car for an American customer - at the time it was going to be a large top of the range Renault or a Citroen - I thought the American might find the XM interesting.

Anyhow on arriving at the garage to pick it up, I was told that the Renault/Citroen weren't available nd would he make do with a Merc?

My customer was over the moon...that night at the hotel he went on and on about it to everyone how he's been upgraded to a Merc.......I just kept quiet....then he eventually turned to me and said

What, d'you recon? upgrade to one of the best car makers in the world?"

I replied - "Well, they make good taxis" - that shut him up for a bit.

i've said it before and I'll say it again....I'll never be old enough to buy a Merc.

[cumgranosalum]

To be honest, my thoughts were more about how a premium motor of less than a decade old is actually a worse place to be than a circa 1m baht commercial vehicle of now.

On the upside, I could definitely see us spending 200k on a 15 year old 7 Series Beemer if they're as good as I hope they are.

It's not about knocking a brand but being impressed with the advancement of others.

in UK a 10 year old Merc C class will knock you back 2000 to 3000 quid = 100,000 to 150,000k baht.

[JaseTheBass]

To be honest, my thoughts were more about how a premium motor of less than a decade old is actually a worse place to be than a circa 1m baht commercial vehicle of now.

On the upside, I could definitely see us spending 200k on a 15 year old 7 Series Beemer if they're as good as I hope they are.

It's not about knocking a brand but being impressed with the advancement of others.

in UK a 10 year old Merc C class will knock you back 2000 to 3000 quid = 100,000 to 150,000k baht.

And here they're stupid money. I've never really been a fan of Mercs. The old skool (50s & 60s) ones were gorgeous but I'd be scared of some retard running his Wave bar end along the side of it.

[JaseTheBass]

I really like the look of a very late E38 7 Series, but most are 3.0l V8s which according to Wiki stopped production in 1996. Did they simply use up old engine stock in the Thai market or is Wiki wrong?

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[Dagnabbit]

It annoys the hell out of BMW and Merc owners when you suggest they're driving a german taxi.

Not one bit to be honest. Why would it bother anyone that the car they chose is used as a taxi somewhere in the world?

Perhaps you'd like to think they'd be bothered. That for some reason you'd like to get one up on them.

[Dagnabbit]

In the OPs case, his wife went from a Wildtrack to a 3 series. That in itself is going to feel weird. If you are used to sitting high and you go to a small saloon like a 3 series, you will feel like you are on the floor & that you have less visibility. The 3-series is not a large car and so there is much less room in the back than a 3. The 3 series is also rear wheel drive, which also limits legroom in the back. It would be interesting to see how she'd feel stepping into an X3 - which is probably about similar size.

Some people have been comparing a 3-series with an Accord but I think that's an unfair comparison. A better comparison would be a 3-series and Civic as they are about the same size.

The 3 series is a really fun drive and that is a lot of what BMWs are all about, the driving experience and finishing every journey with a smile on your face.

As for the cost - well, I've lived all over the world and Thailand isn't the only place with a crazy tax scheme. I lived in Denmark and I think the tax there was 180%. Singapore is crazy - I have a friend there that ended up paying S$115,000 for a second hand Citroen. So it's all a matter of perspective. If you came here from Singapore, then BMWs are cheap and if you came from the US, they are damned expensive.

[fosseway]

Last week I went out in a two year old Camry, haven't been in a biggish car since l have been here,I was very impressed on the ride quality and quietness of the thing..

Agreed. Very comfy but if you're the one driving they're gutless and have terrible brakes.

Try the 2.4 litre

[JaseTheBass]

Last week I went out in a two year old Camry, haven't been in a biggish car since l have been here,I was very impressed on the ride quality and quietness of the thing..

Agreed. Very comfy but if you're the one driving they're gutless and have terrible brakes.

Try the 2.4 litre

Yes, probably much better than the 2 litre model.

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[JaseTheBass]

In the OPs case, his wife went from a Wildtrack to a 3 series. That in itself is going to feel weird. If you are used to sitting high and you go to a small saloon like a 3 series, you will feel like you are on the floor & that you have less visibility. The 3-series is not a large car and so there is much less room in the back than a 3. The 3 series is also rear wheel drive, which also limits legroom in the back. It would be interesting to see how she'd feel stepping into an X3 - which is probably about similar size.

Some people have been comparing a 3-series with an Accord but I think that's an unfair comparison. A better comparison would be a 3-series and Civic as they are about the same size.

The 3 series is a really fun drive and that is a lot of what BMWs are all about, the driving experience and finishing every journey with a smile on your face.

As for the cost - well, I've lived all over the world and Thailand isn't the only place with a crazy tax scheme. I lived in Denmark and I think the tax there was 180%. Singapore is crazy - I have a friend there that ended up paying S$115,000 for a second hand Citroen. So it's all a matter of perspective. If you came here from Singapore, then BMWs are cheap and if you came from the US, they are damned expensive.

Totally agree. I did try to argue the Beenmer's virtues but both were having nine of it. I'd love to lose 25 years and have a 2.8i Capri again, but I'm sure it would be similarly trashed by the other 2/3 of the family.

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[cumgranosalum]

If you're worried about space, get the Chinese version, most are stretched to give extra legroom in the back.

[cumgranosalum]

It annoys the hell out of BMW and Merc owners when you suggest they're driving a german taxi.

Not one bit to be honest. Why would it bother anyone that the car they chose is used as a taxi somewhere in the world?

Perhaps you'd like to think they'd be bothered. That for some reason you'd like to get one up on them.

EEeooooooeee! Touched a nerve, have we?

[tomwct]

The Toyota Fortuner is a piece of Junk. It's a Pickup Truck with a passenger body! I ask friends who bought one "why" and they said everyone has one!
DELETED They all make the same mistakes!

[ExpatOilWorker]

To be honest, my thoughts were more about how a premium motor of less than a decade old is actually a worse place to be than a circa 1m baht commercial vehicle of now.

On the upside, I could definitely see us spending 200k on a 15 year old 7 Series Beemer if they're as good as I hope they are.

It's not about knocking a brand but being impressed with the advancement of others.

in UK a 10 year old Merc C class will knock you back 2000 to 3000 quid = 100,000 to 150,000k baht.

And here they're stupid money. I've never really been a fan of Mercs. The old skool (50s & 60s) ones were gorgeous but I'd be scared of some retard running his Wave bar end along the side of it.

Mercedes makes "cheap" cars and sell them expensive. They have to make up for the $36 billions they lost on the Dailmer Chrysler merger failue.

BMW makers great cars.