Thread: KMs New Car Dilemma: Accord or Camry

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Just out of interest is there any particular reason it has to be a sedan? You could go for something like a Toyota Wish as well. That would be perfect for touring.

Image Ant: Wish is fine for the twins but doesn't fit the top end range that is my market...yesterday for example I took a couple from the Krungthep wing of the Shangri La where rooms start at 10000 baht a night...

can hardly pull up at the front door in a Toyota Wish...

Originally Posted by chinthee

if your primary purpose is impressing clients (especially if they're foreign), for the same money, I'd buy an older S class or E class Mercedes. I guess it depends on what you need it for, but remember both Camry and Accord are basically still considered entry level economy cars in the west.

CT: good thinking except I'd have to pay cash for used and can have credit for new...

It's more than a decade since I've been 'in the west' so have no idea of what is considered 'entry level'...all I look at is what the likes of TAT, AOT and the luxury hotels use for their limos...Camry & Accord seem to fit at the level under benz/BMW which is where I want to be...

Originally Posted by panama hat

I believe the Accord has a lower ceiling than the Camry, providing more comfort for the rear-seat passenger

Not sure I follow this PH: lower ceiling would be a disadvantage surely...

continue to value everyone's input...even Tuds...

Originally Posted by klongmaster

CT: good thinking except I'd have to pay cash for used and can have credit for new...

Yeah, but you'll need at least 300k for a down payment deposit on a new Camry or Accord. That's wasted cash mate.

Originally Posted by klongmaster

Image Ant: Wish is fine for the twins but doesn't fit the top end range that is my market...yesterday for example I took a couple from the Krungthep wing of the Shangri La where rooms start at 10000 baht a night...

can hardly pull up at the front door in a Toyota Wish...

Snob!

I can see what you're saying but the Wish is a very well appointed vehicle in it's own right, we're not talking about a Toyota Vios here. Actually I think it direct price comparison they may actually even be more expensive than the Accord/Camry?

My boss was impressed with me wife's and he's got a Ferrari!

Originally Posted by klongmaster

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Just out of interest is there any particular reason it has to be a sedan? You could go for something like a Toyota Wish as well. That would be perfect for touring.

Image Ant: Wish is fine for the twins but doesn't fit the top end range that is my market...yesterday for example I took a couple from the Krungthep wing of the Shangri La where rooms start at 10000 baht a night...

can hardly pull up at the front door in a Toyota Wish...

Originally Posted by chinthee

if your primary purpose is impressing clients (especially if they're foreign), for the same money, I'd buy an older S class or E class Mercedes. I guess it depends on what you need it for, but remember both Camry and Accord are basically still considered entry level economy cars in the west.

CT: good thinking except I'd have to pay cash for used and can have credit for new...

It's more than a decade since I've been 'in the west' so have no idea of what is considered 'entry level'...all I look at is what the likes of TAT, AOT and the luxury hotels use for their limos...Camry & Accord seem to fit at the level under benz/BMW which is where I want to be...

Originally Posted by panama hat

I believe the Accord has a lower ceiling than the Camry, providing more comfort for the rear-seat passenger

Not sure I follow this PH: lower ceiling would be a disadvantage surely...

continue to value everyone's input...even Tuds...

A bottle of sake down the hatch at the time. . .

Yes, I meant that the higher ceiling in the Camry woud be better

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Snob!

Good reposte and one I deserved except it's not me that needs the 'snob value' it's the clients...

Originally Posted by panama hat

A bottle of sake down the hatch at the time. . .

PH: here's wishing that you can enjoy the same this evening...yes higher is better agreed...

Originally Posted by klongmaster

^^Not sure I follow your logic here CT: I don't have the cash to buy a Benz but can lay down a decent deposit on a new Camry or Accord...

where is the 'wasted cash' in that...

It really depends on how many miles you're going to put on the beast, how much you can spend for the deposit and how much you're willing to lay out monthy.

My point is that if it's your cash, and you don't put a lot of miles on the vehicle, you'd be better off with a used Merc, Bimmer, or even Volvo.

Originally Posted by klongmaster

TAT, AOT and the luxury hotels use for their limos

BMW 730Li when travelling on Thai business or first.

Originally Posted by klongmaster

I look at is what the likes of TAT, AOT and the luxury hotels use for their limos...Camry & Accord seem to fit at the level under benz/BMW which is where I want to be...

Originally Posted by EmperorTud

BMW 730Li when travelling on Thai business or first.

Thanks for the heads up Tud...actually I thought I covered that in my post...
It would be fair to say that most people who travel 1st class with THAI or other airline seldom go on day tours like mine...most of my clients are business class or economy class travellers who are quite happy with the second tier vehicles...

I'd love a BM730 but one has to live within one's budget...

Originally Posted by chinthee

It really depends on how many miles you're going to put on the beast, how much you can spend for the deposit and how much you're willing to lay out monthy.

A lot of kms CT: daily round trip is about 400-500 kms so it adds up over a year...monthly repayments are around 30k...

^yup. I would definitely go for the Camry, and not the 2.4. If you're not driving it makes sense to go for the cheaper model.

Originally Posted by klongmaster

I'm set on the 2.4 though despite the increased fuel economy because the 2.0l is underpowered for the body weight...

I disagree. You spend most time stuck in traffic. Other times on expressway limited to 120 / 130 km/h. So powerwise it is more than up for the job. Plus all airports limos and other comapnies that follow a similar business venture uses the 2.0L Camry.

^cheers for that...I'll have to have another look tomorrow while I'm out with a tour...

I am very satisfied with the Honda Accord though the european version differs from the thai version.

OK...having looked at the options I think I'll go back to my first preference of Isuzu MU7...
It's half a million baht cheaper than either Camry or Accord and has seating for 7 pax. An exaggeration of course but most of my tours are 2,3,4 pax so it will be fine...

Unlike the Fortuner - which requires your knees to be tucked up under your chin if you're unlucky enough to get the rear seats, the MU7 has real rear seats with adequate legroom for adults...

let's see how this pans out during the next week...

Originally Posted by klongmaster

I think I'll go back to my first preference of Isuzu MU7

Good choice if there's more than 2 people.

why not buy another van? Unless cost is the controlling factor in your decision making.

I'm trying to combine a vehicle I can use for tours and also use as my private vehicle when needed...thus a van doesn't really fit...

of course it would be about the same price as the MU7...

maybe next year if things go well...

Go with the saloon car, the MU7 is a dressed up truck. Rides and drives like a truck.
I haven't driven the new Camry but all the Toyota saloons I've driven in the past were very pleasant. I'd be very surprised if the Camry wasn't extremely pleasant to drive.
In the USA when I rent a car I'll choose a Toyota if I can because they're so well put together and refined compared to the Fords and Cheby's.

Earl: have you actually driven a new MU7 or is this just hearsay?..
I haven't talked to anyone who has owned one or actually driven one any distance so would be interested in your comments...
obviously I've been for a test drive but I was more interested in what it felt like to be in the back and then in the very back than the driving part...

Originally Posted by klongmaster

I haven't talked to anyone who has owned one or actually driven one any distance so would be interested in your comments...

A friend of mine has one. He likes it.

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

I'd be very surprised if the Camry wasn't extremely pleasant to drive.

A comfortable boat.

I have driven the Mu-7 quite a bit. It is definitely more truck like than the fortuner, it does have a bit more space as well though. It is how you would expect an SUV to be, whereas the fortuner is more car like. It's nowhere near as bad as it's competitors were (sportrider etc..) and the one I drove had a decent amount of power. If you were looking for a bigger SUV than the fortuner, then it would be the one to get at the moment, however, that could all change soon when the new Mitsubishi is released.

Originally Posted by klongmaster

Earl: have you actually driven a new MU7 or is this just hearsay?..
.

I drove a brand new one recently, not far but enough to say it's more truck than car.
Though it was trying hard to be like a car with the lovely leather interior and doodads like the rear facing video camera. WTF???

I guess I'm old school I want my 4x4 truck to have just the basics, naughty naugahyde upholstery and rubber floor mats, so you can easily hose out the mud. Why have a 4x4 if you're not going to get it muddy?

little bit on the Isuzu MU7,

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