Why A Truck In Issan ?

[Gary A]

I have just recently gotten a car and have been finding more and more places that I CANNOT go. Driveways, road construction areas, alleys and many other places simply require more road clearance than a car has. Even pull in parking is a problem because of the TOO high curbs.The Thais just have not designed Issan to be car friendly. If it comes down to either a car or a truck in Issan, I would strongly advise you to go with the truck.

[guardian]

For non-Americans, what Gary meant is actually a pickup as what it's called here in Thailand.

Isn't this what you meant, Gary ?

[Loz]

Not to get into a p1ssing contest, but I call that a truck too. and I am from England. I also agree. Having a truck out here is very practical. I think the phrase, "When in rome..." applies here. Look around. Most Thais drive trucks/pick ups. THey live here. THey are not stupid. They know what works and has best bang for your buck.

This is one time when Henry Ford's advice can rest on the bench.

[Kujah]

Not to get into a p1ssing contest, but I call that a truck too. and I am from England. I also agree. Having a truck out here is very practical. I think the phrase, "When in rome..." applies here. Look around. Most Thais drive trucks/pick ups. THey live here. THey are not stupid. They know what works and has best bang for your buck.

This is one time when Henry Ford's advice can rest on the bench.

What about SUVs.....Honda's CR-V or Toyota's Fortuner for us 'large' family guys?

[Gary A]

What about SUVs.....Honda's CR-V or Toyota's Fortuner for us 'large' family guys?

The Fortuner has more ground clearance than the CR-V so it more like a truck (pickup ). The CR-V has more road clearance than a car and the front wheels are closer to the front bumper than many cars so it would go most place a car can't go. The closer to the front of the vehicle the front wheels are, the better it will climb over obstacles without scraping the front bodywork and frame. I would have been much better off with the CR-V than the car.

[Neeranam]

I have just recently gotten a car and have been finding more and more places that I CANNOT go. Driveways, road construction areas, alleys and many other places simply require more road clearance than a car has. Even pull in parking is a problem because of the TOO high curbs.The Thais just have not designed Issan to be car friendly. If it comes down to either a car or a truck in Issan, I would strongly advise you to go with the truck.

It depends what part of Eesarn you live in. I live in Khon Kaen and would never get a pick up. Pick ups are good for "bahn nawk", ie if you are a farmer. Parking and general manouverability are much easier in a car. The driving in Eesarn is crazy - I'd much rather be in a car which is much safer, and a lot more comfortable.

I would strongly dvise to go for a truck if you feel lacking in any areas

[Jeff1]

I would strongly dvise to go for a truck if you feel lacking in any areas

Thats a stupid thing to say.

Im sure that the good people of ISSAN that drive on dirt roads that do get wet and leave large potholes, have large familys, tow cargo of all sorts are not doing it because they are" lacking" .

[The Dan Sai Kid]

I have just recently gotten a car and have been finding more and more places that I CANNOT go. Driveways, road construction areas, alleys and many other places simply require more road clearance than a car has. Even pull in parking is a problem because of the TOO high curbs.The Thais just have not designed Issan to be car friendly. If it comes down to either a car or a truck in Issan, I would strongly advise you to go with the truck.

Why don't you take your car to a garage and get them to raise it one the suspension a little bit?

You can get a car lowered, why not raised?

[jayenram]

I'd much rather be in a car which is much safer, and a lot more comfortable.

I would strongly dvise to go for a truck if you feel lacking in any areas

If you are driving only in town and not carrying heavy loads then a car would probably be the best bet. However, considering safety, if I was in an accident with a Honda Civic, I'd much prefer to be surrounded by the steel of my 4 x 4.

'Lacking' in which areas?

[jayenram]

The driving in Eesarn is crazy

No crazier than the rest of Thailand, IMO. Or even the rest of Asia for that matter.

[Pink Mist]

I'd much rather be in a car which is much safer, and a lot more comfortable.

I would strongly dvise to go for a truck if you feel lacking in any areas

If you are driving only in town and not carrying heavy loads then a car would probably be the best bet. However, considering safety, if I was in an accident with a Honda Civic, I'd much prefer to be surrounded by the steel of my 4 x 4.

'Lacking' in which areas?

Dollars I think

[The Dan Sai Kid]

I'd much rather be in a car which is much safer, and a lot more comfortable.

I would strongly dvise to go for a truck if you feel lacking in any areas

If you are driving only in town and not carrying heavy loads then a car would probably be the best bet. However, considering safety, if I was in an accident with a Honda Civic, I'd much prefer to be surrounded by the steel of my 4 x 4.

'Lacking' in which areas?

Pick-ups don't have the asme cell proteciont as a car - I would rather be in my Vios than any pickup - if there was an accident - Of course I would prefer not to be in an accident at all

[Pink Mist]

I'd much rather be in a car which is much safer, and a lot more comfortable.

I would strongly dvise to go for a truck if you feel lacking in any areas

If you are driving only in town and not carrying heavy loads then a car would probably be the best bet. However, considering safety, if I was in an accident with a Honda Civic, I'd much prefer to be surrounded by the steel of my 4 x 4.

'Lacking' in which areas?

Pick-ups don't have the asme cell proteciont as a car - I would rather be in my Vios than any pickup - if there was an accident - Of course I would prefer not to be in an accident at all

can you translate that please Dan?

[The Dan Sai Kid]

I'd much rather be in a car which is much safer, and a lot more comfortable.

I would strongly dvise to go for a truck if you feel lacking in any areas

If you are driving only in town and not carrying heavy loads then a car would probably be the best bet. However, considering safety, if I was in an accident with a Honda Civic, I'd much prefer to be surrounded by the steel of my 4 x 4.

'Lacking' in which areas?

Pick-ups don't have the asme cell proteciont as a car - I would rather be in my Vios than any pickup - if there was an accident - Of course I would prefer not to be in an accident at all

can you translate that please Dan?

A car is designed with the engine as a crumple zone - the idea being that the engine will absorb the impact - not the drivers area.

Pickup trucks are not - I have a picture of a pickup to demonstrate - but I can't upload it!

[The Dan Sai Kid]

Here is the car in a crash... You can see how the passenger's area is almost unaffected by the crash.

[Pink Mist]

Here is the car in a crash... You can see how the passenger's area is almost unaffected by the crash.

is ok just the terminology escaped me

[The Dan Sai Kid]

This is a pic of a pickup crash test - see how the passengers cabin has absorbed a substantial part of the crash.

Apologies for the picture size.

I am having real problems with the upload funtion...

[Gary A]

I have just recently gotten a car and have been finding more and more places that I CANNOT go. Driveways, road construction areas, alleys and many other places simply require more road clearance than a car has. Even pull in parking is a problem because of the TOO high curbs.The Thais just have not designed Issan to be car friendly. If it comes down to either a car or a truck in Issan, I would strongly advise you to go with the truck.

Why don't you take your car to a garage and get them to raise it one the suspension a little bit?

You can get a car lowered, why not raised?

Good thought but that would spoil the low slung look, affect the ride and reduce the aerodynamics.

I'll just drive the Nissan pickup when driving in the boonies.

[jayenram]

Here is the car in a crash... You can see how the passenger's area is almost unaffected by the crash.

This is apparently a crash test performed in the west presumably on a vehicle manufactured in/for the west.

Could anyone confirm that the vehicles manufactured/assembled here actually incorporate all the safety features which are imposed in the west?

For example, some 8/9 years ago, I remember the Proton Wira built for sale in the UK had side impact beams whereas the Proton Wira on sale in Malaysia did not.

[Krub]

Here is the car in a crash... You can see how the passenger's area is almost unaffected by the crash.

This is apparently a crash test performed in the west presumably on a vehicle manufactured in/for the west.

Could anyone confirm that the vehicles manufactured/assembled here actually incorporate all the safety features which are imposed in the west?

For example, some 8/9 years ago, I remember the Proton Wira built for sale in the UK had side impact beams whereas the Proton Wira on sale in Malaysia did not.

The (then) new civic 2006 certainly has

[Neeranam]

QUOTE(The Dan Sai Kid @ 2006-12-17 13:00:52)

Here is the car in a crash... You can see how the passenger's area is almost unaffected by the crash.

This is apparently a crash test performed in the west presumably on a vehicle manufactured in/for the west.

Could anyone confirm that the vehicles manufactured/assembled here actually incorporate all the safety features which are imposed in the west?

I wouldn't want to risk danger to my family by buying a Thailand made pick-up.

[nakhonsi sean]

The Dan Sai Kid Posted Yesterday, 2006-12-17 13:00:52

Attached Image

Here is the car in a crash... You can see how the passenger's area is almost unaffected by the crash.

This is a pic of a pickup crash test - see how the passengers cabin has absorbed a substantial part of the crash.

The two images demonstrate quite clearly the difference in construction between a monocoque and ladder frame chassis' and the inherent inferiority in a crash of the latter. I suspect from the photographs that the crash speeds were probably not the same but they still demonstrate the difference. However, driver cell intrusion is only one aspect of the inferiority found in ladder frame chassis. Even when the driver cell has not been compromised, passangers often suffer serious injury or death. As a ladder frame chassis is not designed with full crumple zones the forces are transfered directly through to the passengers via the seat belts. Serious internal injuries and broken necks are the result! It might even be safer to drive a pickup without seatbelts if fitted with American style airbags. This might prevent some of the forces being transfered to the passangers.

Another problem is the inferiority in breaking and roadholding in ladder chassis', thus making avoiding an accident more difficult.

[jayenram]

It might even be safer to drive a pickup without seatbelts if fitted with American style airbags. This might prevent some of the forces being transfered to the passangers.

Unfortunately the law in Thailand stipulates that you must wear seat belts, at least in the front seats.

[Gary A]

From the Ford web site - Ford Focus safety;

Intelligent Protection System (IPS)

Unmatched safety in its class

One great feature of Ford Focus is the Intelligent Protection System (IPS). Basically, this is a technology you can depend on in time of danger. It encompasses the driver and front passenger airbags activation unit. At a predefined degree of impact, the unit triggers pyrotechnic pretensioner seatbelts that pull back the driver and the front passenger in order to minimize the force of impact. This act, together with collapsible steering wheel , substantially reduce injury to the body. The fortified structure is designed to give passengers optimal protection. Anti-lock brake system (ABS) and Electronic Brake-Force Distributor (EBD) provide for excellent stopping power while allowing ample maneuverability.

[Plus]

If a pickup truck hits a car, the damage appears to be reverse, with pickup truck appearing to be intact and the car displaying all its crumble zones in action. It's a general knowledge, and in the past I even quoted a GM manager on this. In a two vehicles crash the higher and heavier SUVs and trucks are safer.

Also very few accidents result in injuries to drivers or passengers but they all result in some repairs, and there are more of those for cars.

I have actually seen a Fortuner with half of its engine compartment gone, completly smashed, but there was NO VISIBLE damage to the inside cabin. It was parked at the garage and I took time to inspect the interior damage.

The point about impact forces transferred directly to the passengers might be true, though.

[pal78]

Here are a few NCAP safety tests that demonstrate the Truck v Car issue

I suspect that Modern trucks are a bit safer than that one, but then again, the new focus is safer than that older model too... If we're just going for safety.. then a car.

[Plus]

Is it this time of the year again when truck vs. car safety need to be dusted and brought up again? On several threads simultaneously?

There were quite a few threads on it already in the past. You can bump them up to the top if you want to, but starting it all over again?

[stingray]

Here is the car in a crash... You can see how the passenger's area is almost unaffected by the crash.

I beleve a strong Pick Up Truck with a real frame and a nice safari bumper has more chance to "survive" than a small little "PLastic Car". Specially if the Plastic car hit a uprised Pick Up Truck or 4x4 SUV. Doesn't matter from the front or from the back. You will find the "Plastic Car" under the Pick Up Truck. I saw it many times on the Motorway, when i go to Bangkok. I use to have a old Range Rover, and i feel allways saver than in a small car.

[Plus]

One of the members of a Thai resque team, those that help injured in car accidents, said in an interview that after a crash they can ply open a car practically with bare hands whereas pickups require tools.

He also said that at speeds no vehicle is safe.

Here's a picture of a Ford dispaying its crumble zones

[Gary A]

Other than infrequent trips to Jomtien, my wife will drive the car and I will drive the pickup truck. I really enjoy driving the truck. I sit higher, the all around vision is better and I don't have to worry about scraping the bodywork or the frame and oil pan. She is VERY happy with HER new car. If she were not so happy with it, I would be regretting buying a car.