Service not keeping pace with car prices

Commentary: Umesh Pandey

Service not keeping pace with car prices

Published: 11 Mar 2013 at 10.19
Newspaper section: Asia focus

I have agreed since I was young with my father’s view that a car is a vehicle to get a person from point A to point B, and not a status symbol.

But after having driven my current Nissan for just over 13 years, its future has started to look bleak. I concluded that it was time to finally fork out some cash and buy some new wheels.

In the more than a decade since I’d last done any serious car shopping, prices seem to have gone through the roof. After careful consideration, I settled on what my friends jokingly called “your personality of a car”, a Toyota Camry.

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Ken

Discussion 2 : 11 Mar 2013 at 19.082
Yes as above Hybrids are a con. They are not good for the environment. Later this year I believe we will start to see Mazda's Sky Active engines in the Mazda CX5 and 3 which are genuinely efficient and shut engines down at the lights and restart when you put your foot down. They also use braking to generate power to run the aircon and entertainment systems. Last year I bought a 2L Mazda 3 and I know for a fact that the 2.5 L Mazda 6 that we can't get here is 25% more economical than my Mazda 3. As far as customer service goes I was told 4 weeks delivery but got it in 3 weeks, the service from all the staff at Mazda Chonburi was exceptional, can't fault it at all. I love the car but just wish I had the option here of the sky active 2.5L version that you can buy in New Zealand that is more powerful and way more economical. My girlfriend also bought a new Mazda 2 under the first car buyer scheme (though this is not her first new car, go figure), she bought in BKK and also experienced delivery on time and great service. And looking around I think Mazda 2 looks like the best seller in its class (just my opinion)... My only complaint is that after 5 months I still have red plates and have been told I could have to wait up to another 6 months for my white plates due to quality issues at the new plate supplier (smell procurement leakage here). Come on, they are plates.
from iPhone application.
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Asian Hand
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Discussion 1 : 11 Mar 2013 at 12.111
Post this to my Facebook
You are among millions conned tp believe the Hybrid is good for the environment. If you investigate how Toyota manufacturers this by shipping it all over the globe in the manufacturing process - it contributes more to impacts on the environment than its conventional fueled counterparts. Including the Prius. An in about 5 years you will face around 100,000 THB to replace the batter and then how will they dispose or recycle these batteries, particularly in Thailand. As for BMW and Merc - none have made any improvements on fuel efficiency. Go back to basics in your car buying and you will help the environment.
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Service not keeping pace with car prices | Bangkok Post: business