Thread: How much to buy a car in Thailand?

lol^^ now that's a vast improvement ,
my wife is after a new car and with that I could borrow it for the occasional spin round town.










with tinted windows and after dusk ofcourse !

I think the best used car buys are the 5 year old corporate lease return Toyota Corolla's. They are generally well maintained and not beat to shit.
I bought one 6 years ago and it's been great, it just turned 300k kms and is good for another 300k.
For traveling about the country a larger comfy car beats the heck out the cheap little mini shit boxes.
Insurance is also much cheaper for the used cars.

For commuting around Bangkok the last thing you want is a car, ime. A car is nice for shopping at the supermarket, but getting around town you just cant beat the BTS, MRT, mototaxis and those new LPG buses.

^^good idear . I prefer those bigger cars , safer ( or are they? ) more comfort and the new shape isn't too ugly.


did you buy that direct from Toyota then? , I didn't think they liked old cars on or near the forcourt or was it an independent or auction?

Originally Posted by Exige

I suggest buying anything that got Toyota stamped on it. Avoid the rest.

I have a Vigo diesel and a Yaris. No problem with either and the resale value is great.

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

I think the best used car buys are the 5 year old corporate lease return Toyota Corolla's. They are generally well maintained and not beat to shit.
I bought one 6 years ago and it's been great, it just turned 300k kms and is good for another 300k.
For traveling about the country a larger comfy car beats the heck out the cheap little mini shit boxes.
Insurance is also much cheaper for the used cars.

How much do they go for Earl?

Next Question: I only have an Australian license.... how can I legally drive in Thailand?

Thanks in advance again..

My 16 year old Toyota Corona that has been through the flood is still worth about $5000 USD, it would be worth nothing in the west.

Wally with no credit here are you planning on buying the car cash?

^^ Take the Thai driving test.

PM Withnallstoke for advice

Originally Posted by Exige

I suggest buying anything that got Toyota stamped on it.

If you want to be a boring kunt, go for it.

Originally Posted by Dillinger

Take the Thai driving test.

No. Go to the Vehicle Dept with a medical cert, proof of residence and your Ocker license and they'll give you a 1 year Thai license (you may have to do a colour blindness test and a reaction test).

^ when in Rome.

Originally Posted by kingwilly

In Bangkok traffic, you must be made.

I'm not 'made' and I don't live in Bangkok.

Ouch Marmite. You know that Toyota has the best resale value in Thailand and they are not really much more boring than all the other boring cars in Thailand. Plenty of service centers and never a lack of parts.

Toyota is also held by the Thais to be "number one."

Boring, maybe. A good car that holds its value, absolutely.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

and I don't live in Bangkok.

Yes, but the OP is asking about cars for living in Bangkok, innit he? Not eveyone wants to live in Nakon Nowhere like you do.

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

It looks like I may end up commuting from near Thammasat University to Thonglor on a regular basis.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

You know that Toyota has the best resale value in Thailand

So? I buy a car because I want to drive it, not sell it.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

they are not really much more boring than all the other boring cars in Thailand

The Vios and the Camry are the 2 dullest cars I have ever driven. The Camry was the biggest underpowered boat I have ever had the misfortune to drive. My 1.3 Capri that I had 25 years ago had more go in it.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

Toyota is also held by the Thais to be "number one."

Another reason to go with another company. I have heard that Toyota's service is fairly good though.

I would still get the manual Swift, as the auto costs more, saps performance and is less fuel efficient. Anyone would think I was recommending him getting a sports bike whilst living in Bangkok...

Originally Posted by aging one

My 16 year old Toyota Corona that has been through the flood is still worth about $5000 USD, it would be worth nothing in the west.

Wally with no credit here are you planning on buying the car cash?

The value that used cars hold in Los really is outragious. Here in old Nippon, people will pay you to take away a car that is more than 5 years old!

That's why I am thinking that I may as well buy a new car. Unless the toyotas that Earl is talking about are a bargain too good to pass up..

Yep, will be paying in hard carsh AO..

^^
I didn't know you were so anti-Toyota. Resale value is something everyone thinks about when purchasing a car. They will sell it at some point, and it is always good to get a good trade.

I went to the Nissan dealer in Udon and they were willing to give me a great credit on my 2009 Vigo. All other car models would not fare as well. I did not buy the Nissan, but it was good to know the truck has such a good trade in value.

All cars in Thailand are underpowered IMO. I don't think the Toyotas are an exception to the rule.

I do like the new Swifts however, but not enough to trade in either of my Toyotas. Different strokes for different folks.

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

It looks like I may end up commuting from near Thammasat University to Thonglor on a regular basis.

Thats a pretty grim drive to have to make on a regular basis, right across the centre of the city. Hope you don't have to do it during the rush hour.

I also prefer manuals but if I had to make that drive frequently I'd want a chauffeur, never mind an automatic !

Good luck with it anyway.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

I didn't know you were so anti-Toyota.

Just anti dull, hence I would never buy Toyota, Nissan, Chevy or Proton (with regard to regular cars and trucks).

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

If you're in the sticks, then pickups are a better choice, and as we all know now, there is only one pickup worth looking at.

don't look at mine, not for sale...


Pickups are the way to go, and if you have an old one, the traffic tends to make way for you

those tinny little cars are nasty

I am not a fan of dull either, but I have not seen anything exciting car-wise in Thailand for under 1 million baht.

^ well, if you need a car as a fashion statement, Thailand is probably not for you

^
Don't want to be a model, it would just be nice to see some cars in Thailand with style.

Originally Posted by Bangyai

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

It looks like I may end up commuting from near Thammasat University to Thonglor on a regular basis.

Thats a pretty grim drive to have to make on a regular basis, right across the centre of the city. Hope you don't have to do it during the rush hour.

Good luck with it anyway.

Cheers Bangyai.

I checked lastnight around 9pm thai time, and it said the trip would take 38-45 minutes.

What would you say the worst case scenario is?

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

I checked lastnight around 9pm thai time, and it said the trip would take 38-45 minutes.

Wally my wife does Saphan Taksin/Don Muang on a pretty near daily basis. An hour is good, one and a half near normal. Fridays 2 hours plus. These new eco cars have put 800,000 new cars on the road in the last year. Its hell. Sure at 5am she can do it in less than an hour. The traffic on Sukhumvit is now much worse than when you lived here mate.