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Thread: Subaru XV or?

  1. #1
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    Subaru XV or?

    Dear Teakdoor,

    I am looking for a car small enough to get around (and park) in Bangkok where I live and work during the week, but capable of taking on the roads in and to Sai Yok, Kanchanaburi. I now have a second hand Honda City which is fine (just about) at the moment but is not quite so appropriate in the rainy season for the drive out west.
    Now, as a result of a few days research I have identified that the Subaru XV may be the answer. Small enough but with a bit of off road capabilities.
    Ofcourse my wife is dead against it as she only has only heard of Honda and Toyota.
    I'm looking at second hand by the way and my budget is around 500 to 700k baht

    I would now like to invite the opinions of the TD readership. Thank you.

  2. #2
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    gets mixed ratings

    https://www.whatcar.com/subaru/xv/hatchback/review/n17311

    https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/subaru/xv

    https://www.parkers.co.uk/subaru/xv/review/

    i wouldn't say its small, its classed as a crossover and is up against a range of SUVs from Honda, Toyota, Nissan etc which will have a better dealer and service network

  3. #3
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    From my understanding it is comparatively small as an SUV and none of the SUVs of a similar size from those manufacturers have AWD as standard - as far as I know.
    I'm also interested in the Mazda CX5 but that seems to be an extra 200k to 300k more than a Subaru XV of the same year

  4. #4
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    ^ how long are you going to be fighting BKK traffic?

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    Jammer looks nice... but commuting between Bangkok and Kanchanaburi, surely the train and mocy taxis make a shit load more sense?

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    Listen to your missus… the ongoing costs will make up or eat up any savings (not to mention headache)


    And a Honda city???

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    They are extremely capable vehicles and I was looking at getting one of these in the UK, but their thirst for fuel, the peculiarities of the boxer engine and 4wd system and their need for regular specialist servicing put me off. Not many dealerships in the UK.

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    we have an HRV
    had it about 3-4 years and no problem
    not the best, but more than handled Kanchanaburi when we visited and fine for Bangkok
    and as said above easy to have seen to etc.

  9. #9
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    If you go to Kaidee.com using a browser that translates to English automatically such as chrome, you can enter your budget, location, car type, age and mileage range etc and see what is all easily available to you.

    Try this link for SUV, BKK, 2017-2022, 500k - 700k:

    Just a moment...
    Lang may yer lum reek...

  10. #10
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    ^ lots of good options instead of a Scoobi but he's nailed his colours to the 4WD mast.

    I think you may have to compromise SBF

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    I drove Subaru in Oz and UK and liked both but lack of dealers and knowledgeable mechanics in rural Lanna put me off. Toyota seems all they know and ready avaiaibility of spares makes them popular.

    Of course it is your choice but from what you wrote the key factor that would put me of any purchase that my wife disapproves of , not worth the earache.

    Happy motoring and good to see you back.
    Quote Originally Posted by Latindancer View Post
    I just want the chance to use a bigger porridge bowl.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Reg Dingle View Post
    Jammer looks nice... but commuting between Bangkok and Kanchanaburi, surely the train and mocy taxis make a shit load more sense?
    You never did own a car here did you?

  13. #13
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    Or caught the train if he thinks training it to Kan is preferable to driving yer own car.


    Though he did have a 286cc motorbike that he wasn't able to control and had to sell.

  14. #14
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    Thanks for the feedback, which I have taken onboard.
    My wife has given me permission to buy a NEW car as long as it is a Toyota or a Honda.
    So I'm going with a Toyota Corolla Cross I think.

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    ^ i don't think you really need 4WD, the Toyota will be fine

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    Quote Originally Posted by DrWilly View Post

    And a Honda city???
    I don't think we're allowed to call something 'gay' these days. Anyway I bought the Honda City to try out first whether I would get on with driving in Thailand (I only got a driving licence in 2019, just before I left Singapore!)

    Not that I have to explain myself to you Willy (I see you are a doctor now, congrats)

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by reinvented View Post
    we have an HRV
    had it about 3-4 years and no problem
    not the best, but more than handled Kanchanaburi when we visited and fine for Bangkok
    and as said above easy to have seen to etc.
    I like the older HRV. The new one looks a bit too futuristic for my taste!

  18. #18
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    Show your wife photos of a white Subaru xv with extra pink decor. She might change her mind.

    But go for a Honda if there is no Subaru dealer near you.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by slimboyfat View Post
    My wife has given me permission
    Iknow the feeling, wears off after a few cuddles and a shandy or verse vicer

  20. #20
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    ^^^
    agree SBF
    but Honda's although a bit more pricy,, are a lot comfier and better equipped than the equiv toyota

    actually loved the Jazz we had before

    dont know much about the cross, tyhey look good, but no 1st hand insights to offer

  21. #21
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    My wife and I just spent a month looking at every kind of mid sized SUV Honda, Toyota......

    I sat in and looked hard at the corolla cross but for the money it was a bit basic, We also thought hard about the CRV but it seems expensive for what it is. Finally I convinced my wife to look at Subaru as they are very popular back home in America and she liked it. We ended up with a Forester it was almost 300k less than the CRV and has most of the same equipment and seems a bit nicer than the Cross.

    As said above most Thais aren't familiar with Subaru though of course the family says why not a Toyota or Honda or Mercedes .

    Anyway good luck with your search we are pretty happy with the Subaru just did a 1000 kilometer trip around Chiang Rai and Chiangmai.

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by naptownmike View Post
    We ended up with a Forester
    hows the turbo

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by naptownmike View Post
    My wife and I just spent a month looking at every kind of mid sized SUV Honda, Toyota......

    I sat in and looked hard at the corolla cross but for the money it was a bit basic, We also thought hard about the CRV but it seems expensive for what it is. Finally I convinced my wife to look at Subaru as they are very popular back home in America and she liked it. We ended up with a Forester it was almost 300k less than the CRV and has most of the same equipment and seems a bit nicer than the Cross.

    As said above most Thais aren't familiar with Subaru though of course the family says why not a Toyota or Honda or Mercedes .

    Anyway good luck with your search we are pretty happy with the Subaru just did a 1000 kilometer trip around Chiang Rai and Chiangmai.
    Thanks, I know what you mean. The Corolla Cross doesn't exactly get me excited either - but my choice is either a second hand Subaru (in which case I am bound to pick a lemon and have the extra expense and my wife saying I told you so at every opportunity) or a brand new Toyota CC or Honda HRV, neither of which really float my boat, but ok lah. Or the third choice ofcourse is to stick to my Honda City but the esteemed DrWilly has already called that one out.

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by slimboyfat View Post
    Thanks for the feedback, which I have taken onboard.
    My wife has given me permission to buy a NEW car as long as it is a Toyota or a Honda.
    So I'm going with a Toyota Corolla Cross I think.
    When I was driving my Everest (3.2) back from udon I had a long and ongoing duel with a Toyota Cross on the Phattalung to Hat Yai road.

    It's got some beans and appears to be nippy enough. I smoked him in the end though once the road work congestion had eased up.

    Honda always takes my preference over Toyota however. Our 10 year old Jazz which is now an abused rental car just threw it's first problem at us since new. A new fan blower for 2,850 baht with labour.

    Whatever new car you decide to go for, look for 2 years old and barely used over a new one, that's my advice.

  25. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by aging one View Post
    You never did own a car here did you?
    What makes you think or guess at that?

    The car was in the wife's name so technically no, but what the fuck this has to do with car ownership i dont know, anyhow I drove everywhere in Thailand and I remember spending 4 hours in traffic driving back to Bangkok from Kanchanaburi and thinking never fucking again

    And my son and daughter were over there in September and here's the WhatsApp message from their taxi that i recall...


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