TOP GEAR

- We find the two-door format appealing. There’s plenty of space in the trunk and the front seats. You just can’t sit in the back for long periods of time.
- Very comfortable, sporty front seats that hug your back.
- The car feels light enough with its punchy 1.4L engine and 5-speed auto box which can also be used in a semi-manual mode. (You pick the speed but there’s no clutch.)
- Tech details like the USB plug and hands-free control look good on paper but the model we tested had its radio locked so we did not get to check it out.

STUCK IN NEUTRAL

- No doubt the sporty suspension feels great when you’re cornering a hairpin turn in the Alps. The rest of the time, it makes for a slightly bumpy ride.
- Past 130kph (or 3,700rpm in fifth gear), the engine’s noise becomes too present.
- The finishing is OK but not luxe either: slight vibrations in the dashboard, car key casing falling apart, dashboard actually made of painted plastic, not metal. We wish the car felt more Vespa and less Fino.
- You need to operate two levers to put the front seat back in place after folding it down to get to the back—super annoying!
- The price: starting from B1,690,000.

Verdict: Interestingly, the upcoming 2012 model mostly addresses issues of noise and suspension harshness, so Fiat’s engineers seem to agree with our main gripes. If you can’t afford to wait but can afford the 500’s import price, this is a fun little car. Available at Thai Prestige Auto, 1707 Phaholyothin Rd., 02-930-1490/-5.

Marsi

44/15 Convent Rd., opposite BNH Hospital, 02-632-0041. Open daily 10am-8pm.
The newest option for Silom and Sathorn office workers who are addicted to treatments in Japanese-style salons. A compact-sized space decked out with simple designs and lots of white, Marsi Salon & Spa is one of the best places to get a long, concentrated head massage as well as a Japanese-style digital perm that makes you look like a kawaii Tokyo chick.
Best for: Office workers who need a cozy break from work, and will settle for a new hairdo instead of a new job.
Price: Haircuts start from B400 for men and B500 for women.

Luis KraEmer

3/F, RSU Tower, Sukhumvit 31, 02-662-2714. Open daily 10am-8pm.
The French salon with 47 branches in France alone, as well as other European countries, has landed in Bangkok with a modern contemporary boutique decked out with graffiti, geometric motifs and vivid colors. Despite a full staff of well-trained Thai stylists available all the time, professional hair stylist Vincent Berenguer flies in from the headquarters in France every two months to offer Thai customers the latest Parisian look.
Best for: Those who spend their lunch breaks on Vogue.com in search of the latest catwalk looks.
Price: From B500 for Thai stylist and from B1,500 for French stylist.

Heads Up

2/F, Park Lane Ekkamai, 02-382-0128, 081-647-1777. Open Tue-Sun 10am-7pm.
Not exactly a place for a haircut or coloring, Heads Up is where you pamper you hair and scalp. Offering a wide range of treatments for different types of problems, from damaged hair to alopecia, Heads Up uses pure organic Thai herbs in order to get rid of all the artificial substances from your hair. With only three seats available, a reservation is recommended. Treatments last for more than an hour, but you can walk out with a head-wrap if you just absolutely need to get back to the office.
Best for: Beauty queens who’ve done too much coloring.
Price: Treatment starts from B450 for men and B550 for women.

Seat for Set

2/F, Park Lane, Ekkamai, 02-382-1600. Open daily 9am-9pm.
A homey little salon with only six seats hidden on the second floor of Park Lane, offering hair styling from two pros who have competed in contests from Katevadee Institute. The wooden and black furniture décor will make you feel like you’re getting the service right back at your own home.
Best for: Couples looking for a hair date at an affordable price.
Price: Haircut from B400 for men and B500 for women. B2,500-B3,000 for a 10-session hair spa.

Phy-A

73 Sukhumvit 63 (Ekkamai), 02-391-6442. Open Thu-Tue 10am-6pm.
Claims to be the first hair color bar in Thailand, allowing you to co-create the right color you want. All techniques used at Phy-A are acquired directly from Colorsophist NOBU, a world-leading hair pro colorist from Tokyo and a long-time stylist and colorist of Hollywood celebrities. Downstairs from the salon is a café serving inter dishes. You might also consider getting a fancy Harajuku manicure on your way out.
Best for: Hi-sos who want to make an afternoon-long lunch/manicure/gossip session of their new haircut.
Price: Coloring B2,900-7,900. Dry cut B900-1,500. At the café, mains run from B220-B290.