The SUV Thread

[BOZ]

I have been doing my research as I am getting ready to buy one in the next month or so... The Mitzu has too low of a roof line and they force black interior on you regardless of color.. So out of the running.. The Tunner is like a taxi cab, everyone has one so last year I was leaning towards it as it had all the features I wanted and it had great color choices with interior choice... Now I have moved away due to rides like a truck and is quite heavy.. Pricey too for the smaller engine... I did like the full time 4WD though, but small inside... So it is out of the running.. Tried the MU-X, liked it very much rides great, decent interior but lacking key features I want, like cruise control and a decent audio system, seats a little small which all in killed it for me.. That brings me to the new Ford and the improved Trailblazer... I decided not to wait for the ford as who knows when it will finally arrive a what features it will have.. So Trailblazer wins out, when I drove the 2013 I found it to be noisey and lacking key features... Well in 2014 they sorted it all out, totally redesigned engine for max horse power of the lot.. The features are all there now and the ride compares with MU-X, with the chassis sharing, great ride, quiet, great economy, interior fit and finish is there, color choice on interior... We are going with the Chevy for sure...

[Bristolian]

Thanks DB. I will need to check with the leasing company as leasing costs do not always align with the sales price. They determine their monthly lease costs based on purchase price, cost of service, resale value and a whole host of different factors. Cars that you might expect to have low leasing costs often are more expensive, maybe also due to the purchase prices that they can negotiate. If I can get a list from my leasing company I'll post some examples

[Bristolian]

I have been doing my research as I am getting ready to buy one in the next month or so... The Mitzu has too low of a roof line and they force black interior on you regardless of color.. So out of the running.. The Tunner is like a taxi cab, everyone has one so last year I was leaning towards it as it had all the features I wanted and it had great color choices with interior choice... Now I have moved away due to rides like a truck and is quite heavy.. Pricey too for the smaller engine... I did like the full time 4WD though, but small inside... So it is out of the running.. Tried the MU-X, liked it very much rides great, decent interior but lacking key features I want, like cruise control and a decent audio system, seats a little small which all in killed it for me.. That brings me to the new Ford and the improved Trailblazer... I decided not to wait for the ford as who knows when it will finally arrive a what features it will have.. So Trailblazer wins out, when I drove the 2013 I found it to be noisey and lacking key features... Well in 2014 they sorted it all out, totally redesigned engine for max horse power of the lot.. The features are all there now and the ride compares with MU-X, with the chassis sharing, great ride, quiet, great economy, interior fit and finish is there, color choice on interior... We are going with the Chevy for sure...

Thanks for your complete analysis. I guess that there is no single model that suits everyone but like you, i want to have an SUV that drives like a car and not a truck. I had looked at the Chevy last year but was unimpressed with the features/options and interior. I will need to look again

[usual suspect]

I was with a few ex-pats sat around a table this lunchtime..2 of the men owned Hondas..both agreed what has been said here over the last few pages..service is excellent.
Many folk say the Fortuner is an SUV sat on a pick-up chassis..(But would you be able to live with the Toyota 'brainwash syndrome'..that turns normal drivers into complete t*****s once they take a Fortuner out onto Thai roads??)
In contrast to the above..I find MU 7 drivers are about the most sensible SUV-drivers out there on Thai roads..could this be due to this vehicle appealing to generally older, more mature drivers..??

I personally would go for a Ford Everest..good old stalwart..but alas that would mean dealing with
HH Ford again..over to you at this point B.B...

[STEVE G]

Many folk say the Fortuner is an SUV sat on a pick-up chassis..

That's exactly what most of this class of vehicle are, that's why they're more affordable than imported SUV's like Range Rovers. Pick-up derived SUV's built in Thailand have their own purchase tax class that keeps the price down.

[Dannie Boy]

I have been doing my research as I am getting ready to buy one in the next month or so... The Mitzu has too low of a roof line and they force black interior on you regardless of color.. So out of the running.. The Tunner is like a taxi cab, everyone has one so last year I was leaning towards it as it had all the features I wanted and it had great color choices with interior choice... Now I have moved away due to rides like a truck and is quite heavy.. Pricey too for the smaller engine... I did like the full time 4WD though, but small inside... So it is out of the running.. Tried the MU-X, liked it very much rides great, decent interior but lacking key features I want, like cruise control and a decent audio system, seats a little small which all in killed it for me.. That brings me to the new Ford and the improved Trailblazer... I decided not to wait for the ford as who knows when it will finally arrive a what features it will have.. So Trailblazer wins out, when I drove the 2013 I found it to be noisey and lacking key features... Well in 2014 they sorted it all out, totally redesigned engine for max horse power of the lot.. The features are all there now and the ride compares with MU-X, with the chassis sharing, great ride, quiet, great economy, interior fit and finish is there, color choice on interior... We are going with the Chevy for sure...

I read a review on an Australian website which showed the top of the range MU-X model had both cruise control and a decent stereo, so assumed the Thai version would offer the same? I must go to the showroom and take a look.

This was some of the spec:

Audio & Entertainment
CD/MP3/FM/AM audio unit with iPod? and Bluetooth? phone and audio streaming
"Sky Sound" roof-mounted sound system
Satellite navigation system with live traffic updates
Roof mounted 10" DVD entertainment monitor
Convenience
Power windows with one-touch down/up driver's window
Central locking with keyless entry
Power-adjustable door mirrors
Cruise control
Rear view camera with rear park assist

[BOZ]

I read the same article on the ANZ version and the Thai version does not have it... It was called out in a Thai review on the MU-X and they said it was a big oversight on their part.. The 5 link rear suspension on the chevy and Isuzu makes the ride very different from the others.. Take the new motor and upgraded interior of the LTZ1 and you have a great larger SUV... I am sure the new Everest will be nice, but I can't wait for that rollout.... The new DuraMax matches the HP of the ford with better fuel economy to go with it.... It is nice to have choices!!!

[usual suspect]

Dannie boy's original post on this subject was the start of July last year..when the £/Baht rate was ~44.
Now it's 54..another 2-3 weeks of deciding which car to buy may see the rate improve some more..?
(Providing you're pulling funds from abroad).
OK this is nowt to to with choosing an SUV, but it is comforting to know your car may be getting
cheaper..

[PeteC]

I have a feeling that when the new Fortuner is introduced here in a few months, it will look a lot like the Highlander in the USA, although scaled down in size a bit. Pete

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/egdh45ee ... -for-2014/

[Dannie Boy]

I have a feeling that when the new Fortuner is introduced here in a few months, it will look a lot like the Highlander in the USA, although scaled down in size a bit. Pete

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/egdh45ee ... -for-2014/

It will be good if it does, but I'm not so sure it will - more of a revamp of the current Fortuner.

[Dannie Boy]

I have a feeling that when the new Fortuner is introduced here in a few months, it will look a lot like the Highlander in the USA, although scaled down in size a bit. Pete

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/egdh45ee ... -for-2014/

It will be good if it does, but I'm not so sure it will - more of a revamp of the current Fortuner.

I believe that this is the new Fortuner - called a 4Runner in the US

[PeteC]

I don't know. The 4 Runner has been a Toyota model in the US since the 90's. They could use it as a template for here I guess. There, it's not built on a truck based frame/suspension. Maybe the new Fortuner won't be either, but I don't know what that will do to the Thai excise tax incentives if it's not? Pete

[musungu]

Are you people playing a GUESSING GAME regarding the new Fortuner or do you have any realknowledge about specifications?

[PeteC]

Are you people playing a GUESSING GAME regarding the new Fortuner or do you have any realknowledge about specifications?

Nothing firm, just bits and pieces picked up in the news over the past year:

1) New and different looking model with probably the same power plants available.
2) Being introduced sometime in the 2nd half of 2014.
3) Need to compete with the better looking SUV's that have been introduced by competitors.

The Hilux pick-up is also due to a change given the model age. Pete

[Bristolian]

Are you people playing a GUESSING GAME regarding the new Fortuner or do you have any realknowledge about specifications?

Nothing firm, just bits and pieces picked up in the news over the past year:

1) New and different looking model with probably the same power plants available.
2) Being introduced sometime in the 2nd half of 2014.
3) Need to compete with the better looking SUV's that have been introduced by competitors.

The Hilux pick-up is also due to a change given the model age. Pete

I did the rounds and checked out each of the models and liked the Chevy. However as I mentioned in an earlier post my company lease their vehicles and when you look at a comparison of the leasing costs, the Fortuner is the winner hands down. I guess that the leasing companies look at the total cost of ownership including maintenance not covered by warranty and resale value etc. as it is based on the Hilux, parts and service are available everywhere and as STEVE G wrote earlier, "it's basically a Hilux with their legendary Toyota reliability"

On a 4 year lease inclusive of all maintenance costs and scheduled changing of the tyres (tires), battery etc the Fortuner 3L diesel 2WD works out to be approximately 21,000 baht/month ( same as a 2L Camry). The Chevy and Isuzu have almost identical sticker prices but the leasing cost is over 28,000 baht per month and well out of my leasing range.

7,000 baht more per month for a Chevy or Isuzu.

So I will start driving a "Tuner" in April but I promise not to be a typical Fortuner driver.

The Fortuner I have ordered is a 2014 model which typical of a phase out model has a few more bells and whistles. Most dealers are still holding stock of the 2013 model at reduced pricing. I have also read some of the articles regarding the all new Fortuner, which is being designed and developed by Toyota in Australia. Some of the articles indicate that the launch of this new model has been delayed and it may not appear until the first quarter of 2015 but there does not appear to be a statement from Toyota so you may be right with a launch sometime in 2014. The test models have already been seen as a mule in India but of course the new exterior shape is well covered by black panels.