I have an older Honda Accord that needs some TLC, and I have now again been let down badly by the Honda dealer on Sukhumvit Road just north of Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.

 

Can anyone recommend an alternative dealer in or "nearbyish" Pattaya that has a professional attitude and solid knowledge? Especially with car electrics. I believe I heard that there are two more dealerships around here, but not sure about that, or about the quality of suchlike. Worst case I will take the car to Bangkok, but prefer not, due to the logistical implications.

 

My old dealer mentioned above seems to have weak management that permeates all parts of the company, with a very lax attitude to customer service and professional work standards. Most staff seems to be buried in their phones instead of solving customers' problems. Once I even had to complain to Honda HQ in Ayutthaya, and they intervened swiftly and fixed the problem. But I cannot go running to them every time.

 

Thanks for any suggestions!

I use the Honda garage opposite Ambassador Hotel on Sukomvit. i find them good. I would take your car to them. They speak a little English but if you go to the showroom there are people who speak English. The tallest of the men speaks excellent English and he will translate any technical problems to the staff for you..

33 minutes ago, pontious said:

I use the Honda garage opposite Ambassador Hotel on Sukomvit.

Don't go there.

33 minutes ago, Orinoco said:

Don't go there.

And why not.?

Posted this on a fairly recent thread about getting TLC for the older Honda in Pattaya.

 

It is on the Chaiyapornvidhi Road, east of Sukumvit, south side, about 480 m from Sukhumvit and about 750 m from the railroad crossing. He's up the alley on the right (opposite the hot-sheet motel) but the sign is a dead giveaway. The owner is a time-served Honda-trained mechanic.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/ZkYbzcjV9PyyeWDv5

 

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

Posted this on a fairly recent thread about getting TLC for the older Honda in Pattaya.

 

It is on the Chaiyapornvidhi Road, east of Sukumvit, south side, about 480 m from Sukhumvit and about 750 m from the railroad crossing. He's up the alley on the right (opposite the hot-sheet motel) but the sign is a dead giveaway. The owner is a time-served Honda-trained mechanic.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/ZkYbzcjV9PyyeWDv5

 

That's worth a  try. I used an ex-honda mechanic at an independent garage too for my previous civic. Could fix everything - air cond units, pull out engines, etc. Reasonable prices too. Avoid dealers if the car is out of warranty. 

 

3 hours ago, pontious said:

And why not.?

when I lived in pattaya.

had two bad experiences there.

Never went back for a third one, used the Honda center in north pattaya, was fine after that. 

 

 

2 hours ago, DavisH said:

That's worth a  try. I used an ex-honda mechanic at an independent garage too for my previous civic. Could fix everything - air cond units, pull out engines, etc. Reasonable prices too. Avoid dealers if the car is out of warranty. 

 

We used him maybe 6 years ago to replace the rattly front-end on Mrs NL's CR-V before we offloaded it. I recall about 3 hours work and maybe 3800 baht. The Google maps imagery is 2019 and we don't live down there anymore so YMMV.

5 hours ago, pontious said:

And why not.?

same Owner/Management

Thanks for replies, it seems that this is a controversial issue, with both good and bad experiences. I have also had both good and bad at the dealer on the north side of Sukhumvit, so hard to say for sure. Perhaps my best bet is to take it to the Honda owned garage in BKK, that is my wife's proposal. Or try my luck at an independent, which could also go both ways.

 

Alas, woe is me!

30 minutes ago, MeaMaximaCulpa said:

Thanks for replies, it seems that this is a controversial issue, with both good and bad experiences. I have also had both good and bad at the dealer on the north side of Sukhumvit, so hard to say for sure. Perhaps my best bet is to take it to the Honda owned garage in BKK, that is my wife's proposal. Or try my luck at an independent, which could also go both ways.

 

Alas, woe is me!

If it is an old car I would take it to the mechanic suggested by NL -before you drive to BKK. See what he says.

The car is around 14 years old, the 3.0V6 Accord with only 132,000 km on the clock. I got it with a 250,000 rebate as well, since it was the last unit before model change, full house spec, and I just love the car and especially the engine. That's why I want to keep it, and keep it in good shape for perhaps 3-5 years more. I have already done quite a few things both mechanical and electrical plus a respray, but there is some more to do. Plus of course regular servicing and unplanned breakdowns that will probably start to happen.

 

I will go to both places mentioned and see how I feel, with the wife for translation if necessary. Then give the chosen one a fairly simple job as a test.

 

So again, thanks to all for your input!

3 hours ago, MeaMaximaCulpa said:

The car is around 14 years old, the 3.0V6 Accord with only 132,000 km on the clock. I got it with a 250,000 rebate as well, since it was the last unit before model change, full house spec, and I just love the car and especially the engine. That's why I want to keep it, and keep it in good shape for perhaps 3-5 years more. I have already done quite a few things both mechanical and electrical plus a respray, but there is some more to do. Plus of course regular servicing and unplanned breakdowns that will probably start to happen.

 

I will go to both places mentioned and see how I feel, with the wife for translation if necessary. Then give the chosen one a fairly simple job as a test.

 

So again, thanks to all for your input!

That's a decent motor and worth keeping. Sold my 2.0 civic 2004 model a couple of years ago and bought a diesel crv. The civic was a good car, never had major problems, and my wife preferred to drive that than the swift she has now. 

@NanLaew Update to an almost five year old thraed, amazing how time flies...

I went to your recommended repair shop (Honda Piya) alone, and since I do not speak Thai, had to abort. Went again with my wife, and we were not impressed. So left it for a while and used Honda across from Ambassador Hotel. I don't want to risk being sued for defamation, so suffice to say, we felt compelled to try the local guy (Honda Piya) once again. And suddenly things changed! He has since helped me a lot, with big and small things. A new seatbelt and driver's side window lift cluster official Honda couldn't get me for the love of God. He found both, the seatbelt was new, the switch second hand. He has also repaired clutch, catalytic converter, transmission oil leak, fixed several small, niggly things and arranged to retrim seats and console, put new roof lining and will also arrange for respraying of some panels, saving me the hazzle of hunting around for sub-suppliers. When a car approaches 20 years old, parts are getting hard to impossible to find, but this guy will track down either privately owned parts (I almost wrote private parts, but that is for another day 🙂) or find good second hand parts.

So if at first you don't succeed, try and try again. Car is now 19 years old and in great shape, 160,000 km service coming up, drives well and looks almost new inside and out. I have a few smaller things still to do, and hope I can keep using it for a few more years. It will be sad to see it go, so when the time comes I will try to find it a new home with a young enthusiast who will see the usage and upgrade value, if not the financial resale value of such a car.

So thanks a lot for that recommendation!