Motoring in Pattaya
Discussion
I'm going to be living in Pattaya for 10 months at least, possibly 16. I'll be commuting 45km per day, currently in a van shared with colleagues but I'm already thinking about sorting my own transport.
Are there any big 'gotchas' with renting a car here? What about buying a shed?
I'll be gaining a Thai driving license as soon as my work permit arrives and I'm currently on monthly Visas.
Also depending on the replies to the above (!) I'd be keen to hear from anybody who has or knows of an honest solid car for sale at the bottom end of the market (<150,000 Baht), ideally in the South East.
Are there any big 'gotchas' with renting a car here? What about buying a shed?
I'll be gaining a Thai driving license as soon as my work permit arrives and I'm currently on monthly Visas.
Also depending on the replies to the above (!) I'd be keen to hear from anybody who has or knows of an honest solid car for sale at the bottom end of the market (<150,000 Baht), ideally in the South East.
www.bahtsold.com is the best place for used cars (and other stuff)
Having said that, the traffic in Pattaya can be terrible so if you are confident / capable enough a bike may be a better idea.
For B150k you ain't going to be getting much, and anything "interesting" will probably have had the original engine swapped out with a 1.6 corolla or a 2 litre camry engine of unknown vintage.
No idea on rentals but up here in Hua Hin I can get all sorts of stuff for rent for around B15 - 18k a month, from vios's to Pick-ups.
All cars "should" have a basic 3rd party cover, more comprehensive stuff usually involves a B5000 initial payment and probably will not include things like wheel damage.
Having said that, the traffic in Pattaya can be terrible so if you are confident / capable enough a bike may be a better idea.
For B150k you ain't going to be getting much, and anything "interesting" will probably have had the original engine swapped out with a 1.6 corolla or a 2 litre camry engine of unknown vintage.
No idea on rentals but up here in Hua Hin I can get all sorts of stuff for rent for around B15 - 18k a month, from vios's to Pick-ups.
All cars "should" have a basic 3rd party cover, more comprehensive stuff usually involves a B5000 initial payment and probably will not include things like wheel damage.
Edited by XJSJohn on Tuesday 29th April 11:47
Bike is great in Thailand, as long as you can ride, or are prepered to learn properly, ridding sensebly in SE Asia, i.e. not undecuting everyone, is ok and it is safe, main problem in Thailand is diesel spill, I've been down twice because of that. As John says cars are expensive, try to find a tame mechanic and see what he can find, running an older car is ok as repair cost are cheap.
I can't ride. I only have 5 months experience on a 125 (CBT), and to be frank it wasn't entirely successful! I meant to say bikes are out of the question on the opening post...
I want to keep the costs down so either way I'm going to end up with a crap car- the question is do I rent a crap new car or buy a crap old car! I notice that at the bottom end of the market everything is 1.5 or 1.6 and fitted with a 4-speed auto, nothing to stir the soul. I've been taking cheap cars in the UK for granted...
I take it the transfer of ownership / tax / insurance procedure isn't utterly bewildering for a non-Thai speaking farang then? I'm pending visa and work permit at the moment though I do have a residential address now.
I want to keep the costs down so either way I'm going to end up with a crap car- the question is do I rent a crap new car or buy a crap old car! I notice that at the bottom end of the market everything is 1.5 or 1.6 and fitted with a 4-speed auto, nothing to stir the soul. I've been taking cheap cars in the UK for granted...
I take it the transfer of ownership / tax / insurance procedure isn't utterly bewildering for a non-Thai speaking farang then? I'm pending visa and work permit at the moment though I do have a residential address now.
I don't know much about Thailand, except that cars are expensive and nearly impossible to import, but in Malaysia transfer of tile is awfull, I've been here 20 years, got 9 cars and I wouldn't dream of trying to do the ownership transfer myself, at best it takes to much time, I use a 'runner'. I have a great guy who charges a fixed sum, used him for 20 years so I trust him. I'd suggest you look for a good runner to arrange things, a good one should not be asking for advance payment and will give you a fixed price.
In Malaysia there are loads of good 'private' hire deals around, where people can't afford the HP so rather than default they hire the car out for the repayment plus a bit, these can be a good deal but they look dodgy to a new commer, ask about may be the same thing there.
Second hand you will not get a service history, Istoo who comes on here will tell you, he looked for a car using UK mentality and failed to see any thing, in the end i found him a a nice M535, remember that maintainence is cheap and look at cars that use a lot of petrol, as the locals don't like these. No good to you but as an example I was offered a mint 3 liter 97 Saab in KL, last night for 800 pound in KL, owner can't sell as the people look at old cars don't like the road tax and MPG.
In Malaysia there are loads of good 'private' hire deals around, where people can't afford the HP so rather than default they hire the car out for the repayment plus a bit, these can be a good deal but they look dodgy to a new commer, ask about may be the same thing there.
Second hand you will not get a service history, Istoo who comes on here will tell you, he looked for a car using UK mentality and failed to see any thing, in the end i found him a a nice M535, remember that maintainence is cheap and look at cars that use a lot of petrol, as the locals don't like these. No good to you but as an example I was offered a mint 3 liter 97 Saab in KL, last night for 800 pound in KL, owner can't sell as the people look at old cars don't like the road tax and MPG.
I don't know much about Thailand, except that cars are expensive and nearly impossible to import, but in Malaysia transfer of tile is awfull, I've been here 20 years, got 9 cars and I wouldn't dream of trying to do the ownership transfer myself, at best it takes to much time, I use a 'runner'. I have a great guy who charges a fixed sum, used him for 20 years so I trust him. I'd suggest you look for a good runner to arrange things, a good one should not be asking for advance payment and will give you a fixed price.
In Malaysia there are loads of good 'private' hire deals around, where people can't afford the HP so rather than default they hire the car out for the repayment plus a bit, these can be a good deal but they look dodgy to a new commer, ask about may be the same thing there.
Second hand you will not get a service history, Istoo who comes on here will tell you, he looked for a car using UK mentality and failed to see any thing, in the end i found him a a nice M535, remember that maintainence is cheap and look at cars that use a lot of petrol, as the locals don't like these. No good to you but as an example I was offered a mint 3 liter 97 Saab in KL, last night for 800 pound in KL, owner can't sell as the people look at old cars don't like the road tax and MPG.
In Malaysia there are loads of good 'private' hire deals around, where people can't afford the HP so rather than default they hire the car out for the repayment plus a bit, these can be a good deal but they look dodgy to a new commer, ask about may be the same thing there.
Second hand you will not get a service history, Istoo who comes on here will tell you, he looked for a car using UK mentality and failed to see any thing, in the end i found him a a nice M535, remember that maintainence is cheap and look at cars that use a lot of petrol, as the locals don't like these. No good to you but as an example I was offered a mint 3 liter 97 Saab in KL, last night for 800 pound in KL, owner can't sell as the people look at old cars don't like the road tax and MPG.
Car transfer is fairly simple, but do bring a tame thai along to help, also bring a few B1000 notes for grease when things slow down.
The one thing to make sure is that you get the "green book", this is the ownership document, it also shows that there is no outstanding finance if the book is present.
if you buy a car that is registered outside Chon Buri you will eventually need to re-register it to that region if that's where you are addressed, but these things can be strung out until you flog it.
There are some interesting things knocking about but yea, most stuff will be 1.6 corolla's, Vios's or pickup trucks, as they are assembled here in Thailand, and as such have a much lower duty applied to them (for example, a Thai assembled Merc E200 costs B2.3m or thereabouts, a German assembled and imported "grey" E250 will cost B5m )
The one thing to make sure is that you get the "green book", this is the ownership document, it also shows that there is no outstanding finance if the book is present.
if you buy a car that is registered outside Chon Buri you will eventually need to re-register it to that region if that's where you are addressed, but these things can be strung out until you flog it.
There are some interesting things knocking about but yea, most stuff will be 1.6 corolla's, Vios's or pickup trucks, as they are assembled here in Thailand, and as such have a much lower duty applied to them (for example, a Thai assembled Merc E200 costs B2.3m or thereabouts, a German assembled and imported "grey" E250 will cost B5m )
Some Ideas :-
Suzuki Caribbean
Old School Merc
Even Older School Merc
Hair Dresser Spec Vitara
Mitsubishi Colt
Mitsubishi lancer "Rally Car"
Bimmer 525
Datsun Puckup
Naturally all these cars come with a 5 year guarantee, just no guarantee that you will be able to find the seller in 5 minutes ......
you may also find that these vehicles will greatly reduce the quality of totty that's likely to hang around for more than a short time, not necessarily a bad thing mind .....
A few road trip possibilities there too, its realistically a 2 solid days drive from Phuket to Pattaya, through some great country and well worth doing although might take a little longer an a bit of spannering along the way in any of these beasts!!!
Suzuki Caribbean
Old School Merc
Even Older School Merc
Hair Dresser Spec Vitara
Mitsubishi Colt
Mitsubishi lancer "Rally Car"
Bimmer 525
Datsun Puckup
Naturally all these cars come with a 5 year guarantee, just no guarantee that you will be able to find the seller in 5 minutes ......
you may also find that these vehicles will greatly reduce the quality of totty that's likely to hang around for more than a short time, not necessarily a bad thing mind .....
A few road trip possibilities there too, its realistically a 2 solid days drive from Phuket to Pattaya, through some great country and well worth doing although might take a little longer an a bit of spannering along the way in any of these beasts!!!
ohh and I would love to know what the numbers match with on this one 
http://www.bahtsold.com/view/pickup1940-fiat-body-...
http://www.bahtsold.com/view/pickup1940-fiat-body-...
From what I've read on the subject, it doesn't sound too arduous here in Thailand- I stand to be corrected though. Using a nominated 3rd party to do it on your behalf is apparently common. I think the main difficulty will be the language thing. There are lots of British expats here and a number of the cars I've shortlisted are with English/English speaking owners.
The cars are expensive. I think I should stick to Japanese metal as that's what everybody else here seems to have, and at the moment I'm seeing Toyotas and Mazdas at 130k which'd be worth little more than 500 quid in blighty. It hurts a bit to put that kind of cash into such an old undesirable car but it looks like I won't rent anything for much less than 17k per month so the money does stack up.
The cars are expensive. I think I should stick to Japanese metal as that's what everybody else here seems to have, and at the moment I'm seeing Toyotas and Mazdas at 130k which'd be worth little more than 500 quid in blighty. It hurts a bit to put that kind of cash into such an old undesirable car but it looks like I won't rent anything for much less than 17k per month so the money does stack up.
be aware that many "British expats" are the modern version of '80s costa del crime types in pattaya, with a good local translator the Thai option is often the safer one, much to the contradiction of what many will say ....
I.E. I will trust more Thais on first meet than I will farang, especially in Pattaya or Phuket
I.E. I will trust more Thais on first meet than I will farang, especially in Pattaya or Phuket
XJSJohn said:
be aware that many "British expats" are the modern version of '80s costa del crime types in pattaya
Noted, thanks!XJSJohn said:
pork911 said:
far better to rent (as always 
)
this statement does apply to most things in Thailand )My porous plan... By a vehicle in Japan, register in my name in Japan and use on a couple of vacations, temporarily import to Thailand for the 6 month maximum period then ship to the UK to gather dust and hopefully value.
Costs are 550USD shipment to BKK, 100 USD Handling fee (plus massive `returnable` customs deposit), 1400USD to Southampton, 150 duties in the UK. Exemption from UK import tax because ive owned the car outside UK for 6 months.
Potential pitfalls: - Thai customs do not give back the massive deposit or i total the vehicle attempting to drift around mt Fujis switchbacks.
Costs are 550USD shipment to BKK, 100 USD Handling fee (plus massive `returnable` customs deposit), 1400USD to Southampton, 150 duties in the UK. Exemption from UK import tax because ive owned the car outside UK for 6 months.
Potential pitfalls: - Thai customs do not give back the massive deposit or i total the vehicle attempting to drift around mt Fujis switchbacks.
Do you live anywhere in Japan that you need a police certificate proving that you have off street parking before you buy the car? And if so, have you?
I saw you were looking for an NSX-R, I only saw one for sale in Tokyo in nearly 4 years there, and they wanted over 100kGBP for it....
I saw you were looking for an NSX-R, I only saw one for sale in Tokyo in nearly 4 years there, and they wanted over 100kGBP for it....
GlenMH said:
Do you live anywhere in Japan that you need a police certificate proving that you have off street parking before you buy the car? And if so, have you?
I saw you were looking for an NSX-R, I only saw one for sale in Tokyo in nearly 4 years there, and they wanted over 100kGBP for it....
Ewaaaaan's plan taking shape ...I saw you were looking for an NSX-R, I only saw one for sale in Tokyo in nearly 4 years there, and they wanted over 100kGBP for it....
Thats a fair representation of my plan Khun John. Glen, i have no residence in Japan. I had some banter with a fella on a 78` Skyline and he offered to use his buisness adress to register. Thoughts? Thanks for the heads up on the NSX-R, Its as i suspected. The cheapest one i saw so far was 70KGBP.
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