Thread: what model of small car to buy

my father in law is in his 80s and has to travel over 40klm to visit the hospital in burriram

at present his daughter takes him on the back of a small motorbike
i am going to buy her a small car so she can take him to the hospital in comfort
i have never owned a small sedan and would like recommendations of what make and model to buy
current i am thinking about buying a Toyota yaris but would welcome suggestions about other
car models that people have owned and are happy to recommend as a a[alternative
thank-you in advance for any suggestions

New or used?

Originally Posted by malmomike77

New or used?

looking at the ridiculous prices people are asking for high mileage used vehicles probably new

Suzuki Celario, from 338,000 new. Seems to have good reviews.

Suzuki CELERIO | Suzuki Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Dealers | Suzuki Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Originally Posted by PAG

Suzuki Celario, from 338,000 new. Seems to have good reviews.

Suzuki CELERIO | Suzuki Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Dealers | Suzuki Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

have been thinking about Suzuki quite a few on phuket roads but there is a Suzuki dealer here
the thing is with toyota every where i have traveled in Thailand from Changmai in the north to Satun in the south the has been a Toyota service cent-re and from my own personal experience Toyota are the only make of vehicle that keep their technicians up to date with there training

I’m a fan of Suzuki’s Swift.

Originally Posted by misskit

I’m a fan of Suzuki’s Swift.

i agree it is a nice lookin car

Over to you, harriet.

Any small Toyota (Yaris) or Honda (Jazz) will be reliable with good build quality and hold their value second hand. Make sure you have a good dealer service centre locally as some places are all about selling you the cars and that is where the service ends, try to speak to owners and find out their experience of dealer service.

wrt second hand, the two brands mentioned do have their own approved second hand network (they sell second hand cars with their own full dealer service history) and may be an option.

https://www.toyotasure.com/ContentDetail/ContentDetailsUI?ContentId=176&_ts=1661822099542

https://usedcar.honda.co.th

I'll cop it but also consider Suzuki Swift, good build quality too and Hazza on here owns one so may be able to give his opinions now he's owned one for bit.

Originally Posted by Troy

Honda

All except the Brio.

Every time I see one I wonder how they are allowed on the road.

The rear passenger's spine is the rear crumple zone FFS.



You don't want to be in the back of that when a Hilux goes into the back of you.


Not if you want to walk again at least.

I like the Toyota Yaris but Honda and Suzuki are also good quality cars. As Above, I would choose according to the local dealer rather than the make. I have found there is a big difference between the dealerships, even for the same make.

Originally Posted by petercallen

my father in law is in his 80s and has to travel over 40klm to visit the hospital in burriram

at present his daughter takes him on the back of a small motorbike
i am going to buy her a small car so she can take him to the hospital in comfort

For this, after staying away from cans of coke - Brio, March, Mirage, not much difference given your needs. Yaris, Jazz, Swift, look at the interior size (will there be wheelchairs involved and him being lifted in and out?), the ease of servicing (which dealership is closest?)

I was gonna say resale value, but if you think she's gonna sell the car and give you the money once he passes on you might be surprised. If selling it and getting your money back after that event do leasing or long term rental.

Originally Posted by Edmond

For this, after staying away from cans of coke - Brio, March, Mirage, not much difference given your needs. Yaris, Jazz, Swift, look at the interior size (will there be wheelchairs involved and him being lifted in and out?), the ease of servicing (which dealership is closest?)

I was gonna say resale value, but if you think she's gonna sell the car and give you the money once he passes on you might be surprised. If selling it and getting your money back after that event do leasing or long term rental.

not interested in getting my money back and if my FIL kicks the bucket and she wants to sell the vehicle its up to her i wont buy here a replacement vehicle

Originally Posted by cyrille

Leasing seems a good idea.

Ask the better half to head up there and see what's around.

And not mention anything about a farang paying.

These 'super compact' cars all scare me because of the possibility of a shunt from behind.

Hopefully the two of them would be in the front seats.

leasing is only a good idea if you have a business and claim the lease costs as a tax deduction
leasing is not a good idea when a vehicle is for private use

jazz, they are like a tardis for room, great bit of kit
yaris is ok too

Jazz or Yaris will be your best bets. Check with the dealerships about the maintenance service costs and compare the pricing and specs then make your decision. I like the Swift as well, but its a bit smaller and more of a younger persons car I would say. The Yaris comes as a hatchback or 4 door sedan is one thing to keep in mind.

Lease a Jazz.


Done.

Originally Posted by thailazer

We had a Mazda 2 in Thailand and liked it so much we bought another one in the USA as a second car. Toyota bought out the rights to that model and it is now manufactured as a Toyota Yaris with the same engine and drive train. Ultra reliable car that is fun to drive and it gets 30-35 miles to gallon no matter how you drive it.

I think it is the other way round, mazda bought the rights to rebadge it as a mazda.

Mazda has added a rebadged Toyota Yaris to its range, branded the “Mazda2 Hybrid”, which will be sold alongside the existing – and completely unrelated – Mazda 2 in the UK from next year.

This confusing situation is a result of Mazda needing to reduce its average CO2 emissions, which it’s unable to do with its car as the company has lagged a long way behind in electrifying its model range. Facing enormous fines from the European Union, Mazda needed a quick way to head off the problem.

As a result, it has turned to Toyota to rebadge the hybrid-powered Yaris as the Mazda 2 Hybrid, creating a bizarre naming situation with entirely different cars sharing essentially the same name.

Just offering up another option, not knowing how often the old fella has to go to the doctors, you might just want to find a driver who can take and pick up. A lot cheaper and easier. Obviously if these are emergency type visits then a personal car is best, but if routine kind of check ups just hire a driver. My wife set this up for her Aunt. She visits the doc once a month, it's 1k baht RT and the driver waits.

Originally Posted by Stumpy

Just offering up another option, not knowing how often the old fella has to go to the doctors, you might just want to find a driver who can take and pick up. A lot cheaper and easier. Obviously if these are emergency type visits then a personal car is best, but if routine kind of check ups just hire a driver. My wife set this up for her Aunt. She visits the doc once a month, it's 1k baht RT and the driver waits.

better of buying a vehicle so hey have there all the time if hey need it
the cost is not going to make or break me and is not a problem

Most Japanese cars will prove reliable, and in the unlikely event that they don’t, there are plenty of them about.

Originally Posted by Switch

and in the unlikely event that they don’t, there are plenty of them about.

....eh?

Leasing rather than buying could be a very good idea depending on one's situation. If the old boy carks it next week and circa half a million baht matters to you, for example.

But this is the point, after a few people have made helpful suggestions, that you usually start slagging them off...so have at it.