Buying a Car

[moe666]

When I move to Thailand next year I will be buying a car or truck most likely a used one about 5 years old. Does anyone know the ins and out about this process.
 All input welcome.

[mardhi]

I have done it 4 times - what do you want to know. However one thing to consider - is that clocking is common on used cars in Thailand and values to do nto drop fast for the mainstream brands which are Toytota, Isuzu and Honda. As an indication, a 5 year old pickup with NO service history of any credibility, will probably sell for approx: 70% of its New price. The best deals on used cars are imports relative to the new price - they drop like a stone and you can pick up 2/3 year old vehicles, especially SUV's for a bargain price. Probably one of the best value 'stones' is a 3l petrol Ford Escape which after 2 years will be selling for about 700,000 b a 50% reduction over the new price. Pickups lose virtually no money at all.

Cheers
Mardhi

[Road Runner]

Herself had to buy a car for her job selling property to falangs.  I (sort of) helped her out looking although in the end she made the choice.

As Mardhi said used car prices are not much less than new in Thailand and the Thai's do not look after their cars very well.
Servicing tends to be optional.  

Normally I would never take the advice of another on cars and so I don't bother to offer it.
But if you are buying a car (as opposed to a truck) go and buy a new Honda Jazz        

Herself has had hers for 2.5 years and it has performed faultlessly throughout despite what she (and I  ) have done to it.
It's also a great car to drive  -  if I lived/worked in a city in the UK I would have one here.

RR.

[stogie bear]

I wouldn't buy a used vehicle in Thailand. You may get lucky but why spend a fraction less on an old banger when you can get a brand spanking new car for just a little more.

You can buy crappy old trucks from about 40,000 Baht but I don't know if they work or not. There is a garage in Samrong that has a line up of old bangers around this price. For a decent 3 year old truck expect to pay between 300K and 400K.

A good place to go shopping for used vehicles (cars and trucks) is Srinakarin road. Lots of fairly newish cars but expensive and not guaranteed to work after you get them out of the shop!

http://www.expatmotors.co.th/

My mate runs this place and can help you out a lot, but they are a bit up market, though...

Have you thought about long term renting a car?

[allstar88]

are you sure you want to drive in los?maybe out in the sticks would be ok,but in bangkok   then again maybe im being a bit

[stogie bear]

It sure does take some getting used to... Just remember to take along a magazine or a gameboy for the traffic lights!

[allstar88]

and look out for the elephants!!!

[Road Runner]

(stogie bear @ May 02 2007,11:46) Just remember to take along a magazine or a gameboy for the traffic lights!

You stop at the traffic lights?

RR.

[stogie bear]

Only the green ones...

[Road Runner]

(stogie bear @ May 02 2007,12:13) Only the green ones...

Ahhh..... That's Ok then.....

You had me worried for a moment

RR.

[moe666]

Thanks all, I am just doing reserch now getting a feel for prices. Checked out a few websites the prices vary. Road Runner, agree with you on the Jazz a friend has one and it is a great little car. Four of us drove up to Pitsanalok from Bangkok before Songram and the Jazz was a comfortabe ride, I would have prefered a zipper engine.

[mardhi]

New prices do not vary much at all - there is hardly any discounting on a car here. Big difference though if you try and sell a car to a trader (same same everywhere) and they offer about 30% below its market value for instant cash.

Let us know how much you want to spend and can advise accordingly. Honda Jazz/City is underpowered unless it has a VTEC engine. Ford Focus is a very good value secondhand car here - they often pop up for sale with farang owners moving back home (or raising money as the dream bar collapses etc etc). I saw one going recently for 400,000b cash and it was less than 2 years old - owned from new by a farang guy with full service history from Ford in Pattaya.

Cheers
Mardhi

[Road Runner]

Hello Moe666,

Herself's is a VTEC + automatic  -  or CVT to be exact.
I agree about the engine.  It's fine around Bangkok but a bit more urge would be good on fast roads.
That's why I got a 2.0TDi Skoda for the UK  

A cooking 1.8 or 2.0 litre would be magic.  However I suspect that Honda don't want it to compete too closely with the Civic.

You only had 4 in it?  When we visit Herself's family we regularly get 4 adults and 4 children in and that is without using the boot (trunk)  

RR.

[mardhi]

Oh by the way - foreigners can only own cars these days with certain types of visa's - unless you have a work permit, retirement visa or a 1 year extension (not multiple entry 90 day visa valid for 1 year), you cannot register the car in your own name.

Cheers
Mardhi

[moe666]

Mardhi, thanks for info I will have a retirement visa so no problem. I am probly doing my reserch early but it will give me a heads up on how much money I will need. The Nissan Frontier King Kab looks good for about 400,000 new.
Road Runner, we were guest of my friend and his wife she is from Phitsanalok they have no children at present but are expecting later this year. the trip to Hau Hin was a bit different we had 7 in a taxi we rented for 3 days; the driver, girl friend, her sister, three kids and me great road trip.