I was sitting in a car park in Khon Kaen yesterday waiting for the wife and averaged about 70% pick-ups! Fair enough, if you are buying a lot of groceries.

 

Even on the main Mittraphap highway home there were hundreds. 

 

Who needs a 3.0 Litre engine? Most of these guys go speeding up to the traffic lights, overtaking on the way, what ever has happened to the Isarn , "mai dtong(no hurry) reep", or I should say "bo dtong(no hurry) fao" attitude?

Is it is a macho thing?

 

These cars in my opinion are dangerous on the country roads, they speed which is dangerous.

In Bangkok, it is plain stupidity, unless you are a window cleaner.

Some guys I know say they live up-country so they have a giant pick-up - they only ever use good roads, in fact they usually go long distance and some even say to get the golf clubs in the back, yeah, you are coming to the golf course by yourself, stick them in the back seat. 

 

A few guys have said they help when moving house. I move house about once every 7 years and rent one.

I live up country and a normal car is good enough for me. Mazda CX3.

 

I understand if it's a financial thing, they are cheap.

 

Why do you drive one? Do you live in the city? 

You seem to be asking why farangs buy them.

 

They are more value for money than other vehicles.

They can handle dirt roads, potholes better than saloon cars.

The Thai family will suggest a pick-up and pooh-pooh a saloon as choice of vehicle.

The farang thinks he will be carting stuff around. As you say, it is less often than he imagined.

 

I wouldn't buy one. Don't need one, again, as you said.

Before my girlfriend bought a new car this year I said buy a pickup but she bought an SUV type car.

Just a few months later what a bad decision it was.

She drives to the village at least twice a month on concrete section and red dirt roads, always loaded up with various supplies, back seats folded down so only able to seat two people.

Moving biggish items between homes both friends and family is a regular event. 

Driving between several farms around the village transporting family members can involve a couple trips.

A pickup takes a dozen people effortlessly, carries scooters and all manner of things, copes better with floods and damaged roads, is easy to fix and parts are available everywhere. Golf wise they will carry 4 or 5 sets of clubs and 5 adults, I’ve even seen them with a golf cart on the back.

Tha SUV we have won’t survive long on poor roads, suspension and chassis, tyres just aren’t up to the job. 

Next cars a pickup, no question.

Is it a macho thing ?

 

In a Village People sort of way .

 

People who live in villages with dirt roads and provide a gratis taxi service to their extended family find them very useful. And when the buffalo gets sick and needs to go to the vets it can be hell shoehorning them into a Vios not to mention the mess on the cloth seats.

I understand having a pick-up living in the country, bad roads, carting people and goods around etc. What I will never understand is the guys that have huge pick-up trucks living in suburban Pattaya, Bangkok etc.

A weekly 5k trip to Tesco, Nothing ever goes in the back of them, they are hard to park in small sois and car parks. A six point turn to get in/out of a parking spot.

 

Some argue that they are safer which I dont understand, a 5 star safety rating is as high as it goes, its not like a pick-up has a 6 star safety rating and many have a lower safety rating than a sedan, leaf springs, drum brakes, high centre of gravity, one airbag, blind spots etc.

Also the golf clubs argument, defeats the purpose if you can carry 3 lots of golf clubs and only 1 passenger, a 4 seater pick-up and the tray ends up no bigger than the boot of a mid size sedan.

Everyone to their own ... I live outskirts of BK and bought a V-Cross when they first came out in 2012.

 

It had a lot of +'s ...

Ride ok and better than many small cars ...

Big boot .... I had the electric cover

Relatively economical

No worry about pot holes

OK up to 1/2 meter of water on the road

Service costs okay

Good view of the toad shead 

 

Three years later I bought an Everest T+ ... looking back I maybe should have  kept the V-Cross as a 2nd car instead of selling it.

 

 

 

if i ever buy a car, its going to be a pickup,

i think they are comparatively good value here,

and its the only option if moving,

and as an extra plus i can also load the bike on it

The only option for moving or loading a bike? How often do you do that? So you buy a substandrad vehicle for an event once in 7 years.

17 minutes ago, Henryford said:

The only option for moving or loading a bike? How often do you do that? So you buy a substandrad vehicle for an event once in 7 years.

 

Might be a Harley Davidson. In which case a pick up is essential.

I need a pick up truck because my neighbor has one and if I don't get a better one than him, I will lose face big time. Of course I can't afford it and I can't drive but that is irrelevant!

I used to have a Chevy Colorado, sold it when I went back to the US to work and spend less time in Thailand. Big mistake! Got tired of renting every time we came back and bought a small car to have while in Thailand,

  Now I am about to fully retire , be in Thailand full time and I am looking to buy a more substantial vehicle.

From my research it looks like it will endup being a pickup truck.

   Why?

Because of what you get for what you pay. Value, and Utility.

Price range will be between 800K bht -1.5 mil bht

All the Utility vehicles in the 800k bht price range come with an inadequate size engine for their weight  except for the pickup trucks.

All the MPVs (Sienta,mobilio etc) and small SUVs (MG zx etc) come with a 1.5L about 108 hp engine .  Engine too small for their weight. In the US I have a small toyota with a 1.5L 108 hp engine that weight 500 lb less than the Sienta, and it is underpowered. I can only imagine what the Toyota Sienta that weight 500 lb more will be like empty, load it up with people and stuff and....

 About 800k gets you a four door pickup truck, diesel engine about 130 hp , but more important plenty of torque , plenty of Utility, height , Solid. 

Or go for 1.3-1.5 mil baht and get an Everest or a Pajero  

So That's where I am. Get a weak MPV for about 800k, Get a Pickup truck for about 800K or go for broke and get a proper SUV for 1,3-1.5 mil bht.

 

I like the Toyota Sienta but 1,5 L 108 hp for a 2668 lbs  car? ......

 

 

 

Wife is a fashionista chick, most of her life in BKK, but prefers SUVs and pick up trucks.  She, and I, like the larger size/mass and that they sit up higher/better visibility.  City or village/countryside is irrelevant to that preference. 

 

I've always been partial to trucks/SUVs anyway.  Jeep CJs, Ford Bronco, Explorer, Toyo Landcruisers in the Gulf/middle east.  On holidays in the US, we both like to kick the tires on the large pick ups there - Ford F150s, fully loaded Chevy Silverados, etc. 

 

 

I bought a pick-up because it gave me most of the benefits of a large SUV at about 70% of the cost.

 

I dont actually need the size at all as I rarely have any passengers or luggage, but with Thai roads and Thai weather and Thai drivers to contend with I find it more reassuring to be in a larger vehicle. I also dont like having to clamber out of sedans which are mostly much too low on the ground for me.

The poor roadholding is a downside.

 

Had the best of both worlds for years, a car and a Toyota pick-up. The pick- was getting on and thought I hardly carry anything anymore and swapped it for another car, regretted that move. Many times I wished I still had it especially just being able to throw anything and everything in the back. Loved the high position, feeling of safety and "go anywhere" that it gave. Just so damn useful, I miss it.

Part of the decision to move here was because it is pick-up country and i dont mean the girls!

Love driving one and we use it to haul a lot of stuff.

chicken feed,hay,manure,trees and what not.

Last year sold ym beloved Toyota Tiger and got a Ford Ranger..

I am not going offroading anymore so this is a two wheel drive.

Never go fast and never in a hurry, now i just need a gunrack to put my fishing rod in.

My first lump was a 3lt Vigo 4x4. Got that as obtained a new house and I needed to cart thing's about. Once house finished 4 years. I changed it for a Tuna. 

 

The one or two things that were great about the pick up was it's size (room for carrying things) vision. But it did have it's down falls. Was crap on a bumpy road as the Butt used to jump all over the place at speed, if not loaded. Also the shelf at the back would fill up with water during the rainy season. I put a top on mine that sorted the latter.

It's horses for courses. If you need the room get one, if not a large MPV. Does much the same thing without any aggro. Also better appointed. But they do cost a lot more.

 

I have driven small lumps here and I think they are a death trap. Lack power loaded, and being able to see round the 80% bigger things on the road is a cant do. Ok if you want to only use it in town but try them on a long journey. You also wont be able to carry 4 peeps with all their luggage. Don't even think about 5 peeps. If you don't believe me give it a go. Then you'll be down to a roof rack.

12 hours ago, Neeranam said:

These cars in my opinion are dangerous on the country roads, they speed which is dangerous.

That's a strange statement, these pickups don't speed, it's the drivers as with any car. And I find it even stranger that you consider pickups are only used for groceries. you need to get out more.

I'd agree that the average farang in Thailand doesn't need a pick-up, unless farming or in another business involving hauling a lot of goods, but Thais like the low cost, the 4-wheel drive when going to/from the village, and the ability to help friends/family out when they need to move stuff.  I think for young Thai guys in particular, it's mostly machismo and low cost.

9 minutes ago, JTXR said:

I'd agree that the average farang in Thailand doesn't need a pick-up, unless farming or in another business involving hauling a lot of goods, but Thais like the low cost, the 4-wheel drive when going to/from the village, and the ability to help friends/family out when they need to move stuff.  I think for young Thai guys in particular, it's mostly machismo and low cost.

Yes, I am above average. Mrs NL mentions it frequently as well.

 

Yes, but I doubt that Thai drivers are unique in appreciating practicality while wanting to save money.

 

Yes, you can't do real machismo in a Jazz or a Swift regardless of the body wrap, after-market rims and big ol' resonator exhaust.

4 hours ago, brokenbone said:

if i ever buy a car, its going to be a pickup,

i think they are comparatively good value here,

and its the only option if moving,

and as an extra plus i can also load the bike on it

I moved a few years ago, using a small hatch back car. You often do you move?

1 hour ago, sirineou said:

I used to have a Chevy Colorado, sold it when I went back to the US to work and spend less time in Thailand. Big mistake! Got tired of renting every time we came back and bought a small car to have while in Thailand,

  Now I am about to fully retire , be in Thailand full time and I am looking to buy a more substantial vehicle.

From my research it looks like it will endup being a pickup truck.

   Why?

Because of what you get for what you pay. Value, and Utility.

Price range will be between 800K bht -1.5 mil bht

All the Utility vehicles in the 800k bht price range come with an inadequate size engine for their weight  except for the pickup trucks.

All the MPVs (Sienta,mobilio etc) and small SUVs (MG zx etc) come with a 1.5L about 108 hp engine .  Engine too small for their weight. In the US I have a small toyota with a 1.5L 108 hp engine that weight 500 lb less than the Sienta, and it is underpowered. I can only imagine what the Toyota Sienta that weight 500 lb more will be like empty, load it up with people and stuff and....

 About 800k gets you a four door pickup truck, diesel engine about 130 hp , but more important plenty of torque , plenty of Utility, height , Solid. 

Or go for 1.3-1.5 mil baht and get an Everest or a Pajero  

So That's where I am. Get a weak MPV for about 800k, Get a Pickup truck for about 800K or go for broke and get a proper SUV for 1,3-1.5 mil bht.

 

I like the Toyota Sienta but 1,5 L 108 hp for a 2668 lbs  car? ......

 

 

 

My  2.0 l Mazda CX3 wasjust over 1 million. The lower range were 800k+.

Mazda CX5, is bigger and only 1.2 mill.

9 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

I moved a few years ago, using a small hatch back car. You often do you move?

 

How often do you ride your bike?

13 hours ago, Neeranam said:

I live up country and a normal car is good enough for me. Mazda CX3.

 

I understand if it's a financial thing, they are cheap.

 

Why do you drive one?

 

Do you live in the city? 

How do you get 20 people in a Cx3.

Many Trucks more expensive that cars.

Use it carrying wood product.

Live in a village.

 

 

Why would anyone have any concern what other people drive? This is why there is a large selection of vehicles available.


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Just now, Sealbash said:

Why would anyone have any concern what other people drive? This is why there is a large selection of vehicles available.
 

Pickup's are more unstable than a regular car - thus a degree of concern is understanding if it increases your risk of an accident... Just one idea of why some people may be concerned.

 

But for the most part, you are right, it doesn't really matter what everyone else drives unless they are all in 3 tonne trucks while I'm in a Yaris.

 

 

IF I was a farmer, up country and needed to carry bulk materials in my only means of transport a truck would prove useful... Otherwise a truck is purchased on price and fashion - just like any other vehicle. 

Safety and visibility are my two main factors. I have a double cab and its the best of both worlds (Edit: I had a sportrider before and the difference in comfort is tenfold). Its anonymous, no western stickers and a couple of scratches tend to keep any chancers away as well.

 

Others I know who have had stickers highlighting them as farang have had bikes deliberately dumped in front of the which is why I have a dash cam fitted. I am out in rural areas of the island quite a lot and for me a pickup is far more sensible than a car for what I am doing.

I would ask this question the other way around. Why don´t you want a pick up truck?

For me there are not enough disadvantages compared to a "normal" car for not having a pick up.

16 minutes ago, Psimbo said:

Safety and visibility are my two main factors. I have a double cab and its the best of both worlds (Edit: I had a sportrider before and the difference in comfort is tenfold). Its anonymous, no western stickers and a couple of scratches tend to keep any chancers away as well.

 

Others I know who have had stickers highlighting them as farang have had bikes deliberately dumped in front of the which is why I have a dash cam fitted. I am out in rural areas of the island quite a lot and for me a pickup is far more sensible than a car for what I am doing.

 

Why is pickup (say a Ford Ranger or Toyota Hilux) more visible and safer than say regular sedan say a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord?

 

I'm thinking both are equally as visible unless painted in luminescent paint. 

I'm thinking the Sedans offer greater safety, i.e. more air-bags, better designed crumple zones, better road handling, better brakes, less chance of rollover etc... 

 

 

That said: I'd rather be in a Ford Ranger than Ford fiesta in a head on accident - but if we are comparing 'size for size' (or a regular pick up to a regular sedan) then I'd choose the sedan. 

 

10 minutes ago, pikao said:

I would ask this question the other way around. Why don´t you want a pick up truck?

For me there are not enough disadvantages compared to a "normal" car for not having a pick up.

 

Interesting - how about the comparison to a regular SUV (i.e. Honda CRV etc)... how often do you take something in your Pickup that wouldn't fit in an SUV?... I think that could be the difference when some find a Pickup more convenient.