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Thai-ing the knot

I emailed you last year about a car for my Thai wife and settled on a Jazz, but then delayed due to the economic situation. Now I’m glad that we did because, having read your excellent report on the new City, that will suit us even better. For the Thai market Honda seem to have come up with the best combination of engine and transmission and done away with the intrusive ‘A’ pillars which put me off the previous City, Jazz and Civic. At one point I was disappointed by the demise of the CVT but Honda is right about the variable quality of that unit judging by my experience of hire cars. The only minor glitch is that to get ABS and two airbags I have to buy the SV, which comes with 55 profile tyres and I’m doubtful that they can withstand the brutal pot-holes on the roads where my in-laws live. I will try to persuade the dealer to substitute a set of wheels from the V model. Many thanks for your report, which helped us make up our minds.

Asked on 25 April 2009 by

Answered by Honest John
Many thanks for that feedback. I really tested that car to check the alternative to the European powertrain for the Jazz. We have a year old Soluna Vios 1.5 auto in Thailand and that came on 185/55s, replaced twice through wear, not punctures and that rode well. But S.W.A.M. (She Who Absorbs Money) has had it pimped and I have yet to see what sort of bling now lurks under the wheearches.
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