Pick-up truck - Buriram service centres

[Hermit]

Hi Hermit,
In answer to your questions.

Yes the Ford workshop in Buriram is built and appears to be operated to European standard. Tiled and polished concrete floors, painted/tiled walls etc. They seem to be well knitted out. I've not had the need for engine diagnostic but my best guess is they have all the kit as needed.
As a matter of course I check oil and fluid levels after service. All have always been correct. I've never had any after service problems or issues.
Apart from window switch replacement as previously mentioned the only other issue o had was a flat battery. My fault entirely as I left the dash cam plugged in for 2/3 days without driving. It was completely dead. Jumper leads to start it and it's back to full charge with no issues 2/3 months since. I was expecting it to die again but it's been fine. Seems to be good quality heavy duty.

Why did I go for the Wildtrack. Just like the interior and exterior styling. Nicer wheels, step bar, leather, trim etc. Only intended to buy the one vehicle and keep for many years so just opted for top of the range. Nothing wrong with the XLTs and I believe they now have another modem that sits between the XLT and the Wildtrack. Different wheels got some graphics on the bodywork. Kind of a blacked out look.

I also rate the ride and handling on the Rangers. Prior to purchase I was in a borrowed not old Hilux. Ok truck but the ranger performs and handles better.
I also test drove a Nissan. Personally I just didn't like it but just a matter of taste. I know they are reliable.
My friend bought a new Isuzu a few months ago. He previously had a Wildtrack but his wife started doing market stalls and wanted a smart cab with larger load bed. As the purchase of a new truck hadn't been budgets for they went for the Isuzu purely because they offered the best trade in value on the 3.2 Ranger. He hates it and wishes he'd stumped up the extra for the ranger. I've driven it, it's OK but seems to lack power loaded and certainly doesn't handle as well. Obviously just my opinion.

Regarding bodywork and build quality. Mines nearly 3 yrs old. No rattles, squeaks or buzzes. All feels and sounds as tight as when new. In fact, considering it's a Ford truck I think the build and fit quality is pretty damn good. I'm not a ford man. Before moving here I hadn't owned a Ford since my early 20s. For me it was simply the best option out of what's available on the Thai market and within budget.

No bodywork issues, no seal leaks etc......

Hi Freddy, Thank you for your helpful posts, I really appreciate the details you give.  I owe you a beer sometime.   

You had remarkably similar requirements to mine - I also want to run it into the ground, and am willing to pay a little more for all the nice trimmings - this may be the last vehicle I'll ever purchase.   

I just wish you weren't talking me into the Ranger, I wanted to be talked out of it!     And the Wildtrack is quite a nice ride... 

I haven't actually test driven the Nissan yet, so it may not appeal to me either.  "On paper" it looks good for us, apart from the 'heavy steering at low speeds' many reviews mention.  And it is going to be difficult enough parking one of these behemoths at Big C as it is, especially for my wife.  (And I have watched Thai women trying to park pick up trucks - how are their trucks not covered in scratches??)

So, lots to think about.  Still plenty of time, our next visit is not until January.  I'll get my wife to do a few local (Oz) test drives before we decide.

[Hermit]

100kms/h  at under 2500rpm hardly screaming.

Funny how people who have never driven such a vehicle ask for advice and then tbink they know better.

Sorry mate, I seem to have rubbed you up the wrong way.  Wasn't my intention, just stating my personal preferences.  I trust a 3.2l engine in a 2 tonne vehicle to last 15+ years, I'm not so sure about a 2.2l.   Simple as that.

Technically I'm just after advice re service centres anyway, but loving the way we have morphed into discussing the actual trucks.   

Now, I hope not to be posting in four or five years moaning about my 3.2l engine and eating humble pie!   

[Starman]

100kms/h  at under 2500rpm hardly screaming.

Funny how people who have never driven such a vehicle ask for advice and then tbink they know better.

Sorry mate, I seem to have rubbed you up the wrong way.  Wasn't my intention, just stating my personal preferences.  I trust a 3.2l engine in a 2 tonne vehicle to last 15+ years, I'm not so sure about a 2.2l.   Simple as that.

Technically I'm just after advice re service centres anyway, but loving the way we have morphed into discussing the actual trucks.   

Now, I hope not to be posting in four or five years moaning about my 3.2l engine and eating humble pie!   

I did say "funny" in my post.

[Hermit]

I would advise strongly against trying to buy a truck over the phone.....You will get ripped off big style

Hermit, just worth a mention. Most of the dealerships here seem to have on-site stock. Unless you've a list of specifics you should be able to purchase and drive away within a couple of days. If memory serves me correctly we paid deposit on Wednesday afternoon and picked up truck Friday morning. You'll have anything from a month upwards on red plates.
I'd tend to agree with Nookie and avoid a phone purchase simply because TIT.

Thanks guys, appreciate the guidance.  Over the phone is not ideal for sure.  My wife has tried the over the phone route with a few minor matters.  Even she gets frustrated.

I was reading a post somewhere by someone that got first class insurance as part of the deal on a new car, or so he was told.  When he went to renew it a year later it turned out he'd been driving his shiny new car on the lowest class of insurance they offer - he hadn't read all the docs at time of purchase.  If Thai salesmen try that sort of BS on in person how's it gonna play over the phone right?   

The original plan was to buy second hand in person, but you know how it is with second hand in Thailand.  We're close enough to our permanent move to justify getting a new vehicle anyway.

I'm actually trying to talk my wife into going over early and attend the Bangkok Motor Show in December; her friend claims to have ordered a "top of the line Ranger" for B800k last year (top of the line 2-door I'm thinking).  Failing that we may have to do the rounds, maybe in Bangkok, when we hit the ground - we won't have a list of specifics, but we will want a particular colour.   

Pity about the red plates - I understand you cannot drive after dark or drive outside of your province while you have them.  Which might complicate the buying in BKK thing as well.  Hmmm, must look into that.  And we need to visit family outside of Buriram province.  Ha!, I'll have a nice shiny new Ranger / Navara / D-Max sitting there, and will still need to borrow the BIL's ageing D-Max. 

Cheers.

[Ahab]

We just bought a four door Isuzu V-cross 4x4 with a 3.0 liter diesel from Nang Rong Isuzu and are very happy with the truck. The larger diesel is averaging a bit more than 12 km/l for us (with automatic transmission). 

[Ahab]

With red plates you are not supposed to drive after dark, but you can drive out of province, you just need to log where you left from and where you are going (in the red book). We put over 1200 km on our truck the first week (Buriram, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai, and back to Lahansai (all with red plates).

[Freddy]

Another little bit of nonsense about red plates is that you can't do any modifications on the vehicle until registered with permanent plates. The guy I know who bought the Isuzu for the market set-ups got fined 200 baht 3 times over 5 weeks because he had fitted a box to the back. He went all over the country. No mention or fines from  Police of being out of province.

[Hermit]

We just bought a four door Isuzu V-cross 4x4 with a 3.0 liter diesel from Nang Rong Isuzu and are very happy with the truck. The larger diesel is averaging a bit more than 12 km/l for us (with automatic transmission).

This is the one I'd get - the one I'm leaning towards actually.  Did you get the 'Maxx' version or the regular V-cross?  My son has a lower-spec 4x4 auto DMax with the 3.0 litre here in Oz as his work vehicle - he accelerates like he's driving a sports car, scares the crap out of me.  I keep telling him it only has drum brakes on the back...  But the fact you can drive it like that impresses me. 

Did you purchase it in Nang Rong because that is your local dealer?   

[Ahab]

We got the V-Cross with almost all the same options as the Maxx version (including 4x4 and auto trans for the wife). We were considering getting the Maxx version but for an extra 35,000 baht for the extra trim and other junk did not seem worth it to me. I also turned down a bunch of extra trim pieces that were being offered, the sales woman asked if I knew that they were free (I did and they looked like crap so I still did not want them). They could not believe that someone would turn down free stuff.

Nang Rong is the closest Isuzu dealer, and why we bought it there. Nice truck

[vpi78]

I have a 2012 2.2L Wildtrac that just rolled over 175k Klicks. They are ample power for Thailand as another poster has noted. Keep in mind that power/speed are relative and although that small of an engine might be small/slow in Australia, it's average size or larger in Thailand, especially considering all of the LPG/NPV, etc., cars around.

In the country you want higher ground clearance and low end torque passing power to get you around those slow sugar cane and similar overloaded lorries.

As far as Wildtrac v. XLT, I like the bigger 18-inch wheels on the Wildtrac. But either XLT or Wildtrac being from Australia you have to like the better pricing in Thailand since the trucks are made here in Rayong and shipped to Aussie-land where they attract import tax.

[Hermit]

We got the V-Cross with almost all the same options as the Maxx version (including 4x4 and auto trans for the wife). We were considering getting the Maxx version but for an extra 35,000 baht for the extra trim and other junk did not seem worth it to me. I also turned down a bunch of extra trim pieces that were being offered, the sales woman asked if I knew that they were free (I did and they looked like crap so I still did not want them). They could not believe that someone would turn down free stuff.

Nang Rong is the closest Isuzu dealer, and why we bought it there. Nice truck

HaHa, I know just what you mean - I'm not keen on all the "bling" on some of the top-spec models from various manufacturers.  And turning down free stuff!  There must have been a few "farang pee bar"s muttered in the back room.   

We were at a Mazda dealer yesterday.  They had a new BT-50 out the front done up with a special edition paint job and all the off-road gear / roo bar / black wheels / fat tyres / spotlights.  I'd be mortified to be seen driving that, but plenty of people seem to like them - to each his own. 

The BT-50 itself has had a facelift though - not as ugly as it used to be.

[iammike]

We got the V-Cross with almost all the same options as the Maxx version (including 4x4 and auto trans for the wife). We were considering getting the Maxx version but for an extra 35,000 baht for the extra trim and other junk did not seem worth it to me. I also turned down a bunch of extra trim pieces that were being offered, the sales woman asked if I knew that they were free (I did and they looked like crap so I still did not want them). They could not believe that someone would turn down free stuff.

Nang Rong is the closest Isuzu dealer, and why we bought it there. Nice truck

We are also looking at the V cross in addition to our Pajero Sport, but we both like the Maxx version because of the Dual Tone leather. We don't like the extra trim on top of the pickup bed, but according to the dealer that can be removed.

The dealer in Buriram offers a couple of extras but NO Free insurance. Is Nang Rong the same ? If so maybe worth our while to go to Nang Rong

[Ahab]

We did get one years worth of insurance when we purchased our truck in Nang Rong.

[maraudingscot]

Hello Hermit,


Don't know if you have purchased yet! as this was way back in May. 

I bought the Chevrolet Colorado, High Country 2,5, lovely vehicle, very comfortable and quiet. Doesn't sound like a pickup at all.   

The only think I would say was DON'T buy the top of range model as you'll be frightened to use it to carry anything, best getting a model further down the list if it is going to be more of a work horse than anything else.

Chevrolet  , have been great, only a few minor hiccups, but you get that with any dealership. Mainly communication, a lot gets lost in translation

[Hermit]

Just to finish this off I guess - we ended up getting an Isuzu V-Cross Max.  Thanks for all your suggestions and advice. 

We got the Isuzu for several reasons - the old DMax we usually borrow in Thailand has almost 400k on it and still going strong (with minimal maintenance), and Isuzu after-sales service seems to have a good rep - there are certainly many of their vehicles on the road.  Isuzu have only sold their own product in Australia for around 10 years, having previously supplied re-badged models to the local General Motors franchise.   And their market share / reputation is growing there too.  My son drives a mid-spec model as his work truck in Sydney; I hate the way he drives it like a sports car but am impressed that he can.

I wanted 4WD so it had to be V-Cross, and my wife refuses to learn to drive a manual so it had to be Max.  I had decided on the non-Max V-Cross, but the 2018 model does not come in Auto - which is slightly bizarre.  And none of the Hi-Lander models come in 4WD. 

And yes, I am terrified of scratching the damn thing!  But I can borrow the brother in law's aging DMax if I need to carry anything "scratchy", at least for a year or so.      Once we move over permanently / I get over the Max's "suwoi" looks I will remove the plastic trim from the top of the tub and replace the tub liner with a "workhorse" version.  Will also get one of those metal guards behind the cab to protect the roof when carrying long objects.  But I'll enjoy it as is for a while.    

We bought from the Buriram dealer - 'Kings Yon' over toward the railway station.  Very happy with them - my wife did it all over 'Line' / the phone, with her brother visiting in person when necessary, and they had it there waiting for us on the requested date.  She got a 20k discount for being local, 2k for her brother as a finders fee, a year of first class insurance and a long list of accessories - 3M window film, brake security lock, spare wheel lock, lots of shiny chrome on doors etc and other stuff like T-shirts and a dust cover etc..  All in all I don't think she could have done much / any better in person.   

If we had done it in person we may have made some different choices though - the Isuzu website is absolute shite and not much help.  For example it wasn't until we walked into the dealership to collect the truck that I realised all (most?) colours have metallic paint, and I may have chosen a different colour had I known that.  But we needed something waiting for us on day 1 of this visit, it had to be this way.  And anyhoo, the white colour looks great with all the black trim / black alloys / dark windows IMO. 

Two different dealers told us the non-Max V-Cross is no longer available, but we now know they meant 'in auto'.  Big difference.  Plenty of scope for other more painful miscommunication there when not doing it in person. 

There are a few things I'm surprised at with the "top model" - no aircon vents in the back seat, I haven't found a way to dim the dash lights (but I don't have an English manual yet), and the ride is harsh.  It is just a Hi-Lander with leather seats and fancy trim.  But I knew the Isuzu is "workhorse" rather than "prestige"; buying the "show pony" model doesn't change that basic fact! 

Very happy with the power and responsiveness of the 3 litre motor too.  So nice not to have to get a run up when overtaking! 

So anyway, here I am with my Isuzu.  I'm in town until after Songkran on this visit, should be over permanently within two years.  White VCross, red plates.  Toot and I'll know you're an Expats member!  (Or an impatient a-hole    )

Cheers.