Our New Diesel Pick-up

We had a fun day.  I started out about 4:15 AM with a little coffee and emails.  Daeng woke up about 5:30, got dressed and we headed over the the morning market for a little breakfast.  


While we were there a group of four or five ladyboys came through the morning market in a whirlwind demonstration of portable electric vibrators.  Of course lots of jokes were told.


They were really fun and entertaining even at 6:30 in the morning. 

After a little breakfast, we stopped on the way home at the exercise equipment beside the road.  I haven't worked out in a while and my arms and back could feel it.  I like this machine as it rolls up and down your back as you do sit-ups. 

Then we went home and cleaned out the side of our home were we are going to park our new truck.  

It was a good thing because a little after 1:00 PM, "Ta" called from the Toyota Dealership and told us our pick-up truck was ready.  One of the ladies, "Ann", has worked with westerners before so we think she knew to tell us it would take longer and deliver sooner and be heroes. 

We told her we would shower, go to Bangkok Bank and get the cash.  We should be there by 2:30 or 3:00.  
Yes, I said cash as no checks are used in this part of the world.  It's cash or money transfers.  


When we got there we had them remove some of the advertising sticker that were all over the car and tighten the bolts on the front "cow catcher" style bumper.  


We did all the paperwork, paid the money and they gave us the key.

I spent about a half hour learning some of the electronics before I drove home.  Daeng drove the motorbike home.  "Ann", one of the ladies at the dealership was amazed that my old Nokia phone would work with the bluetooth handsfree calling system of the car. 


I must say, the pick-up drives very nice!

We did a practice parking job in our garage area. Wow, it just fits and the back up camera works wonderfully. 

Now, I will need to spend the next couple of week learning all the electronic, GPS, audio system, hands free bluetooth calling and voice activation systems.

This vehicle also has a DVD player.  I guess in Thailand they are legal to have one in the front seat.

After we did the practice parking, Daeng jumped into the pick-up and we went to the filling station and filled it with diesel fuel.  It filled up from empty, about 19 gallons, for $71.00 USD.  That is about $3.75 per US gallon of diesel.

The dealership did give us a gift certificate for 500 THB for fuel.  Thank you.  

Now we need to see how the mileage is.  The electronics in the vehicle says on this short trip that we got 8.1 km per liter. That would be about 18.7 miles per gallon but I sat with the engine running for almost an hour and only drove about 4 km. 

It will take some more practice to get this pick-up into it's parking area straight. 

We are very happy with this purchase.  We think we make the correct choice of pick-ups

More will be reviled.