Cost of a car in Bangkok?

[OneMoreFarang]

I know this is a little like how long is a piece of string, so let's add some details.

 

I live in the middle of Bangkok and most of the time I ride my own motorcycle. Sometimes I use a taxi to go to places which are outside of the city. And sometimes I use a taxi because I want to transport something heavy.

 

Most of the time taxis do the job, but sometimes they are annoying. Maybe they are the annoying taxi-no-meter, maybe there are just very few taxis, etc. And the situation is the same with Bolt. Yesterday about 9:30 Bolt showed sometimes 30min waiting time or no cars available at all.

For this reason, I consider buying a car.

 

I have a license in Thailand, and I drove hundred thousand kilometers in cars in Europe. In Thailand I never owned a car.

If I buy a car, it should just do the job, like a boring taxi. I don't want to buy any fancy expensive car. The main points are that the car should be reliable and not expensive to run. With expensive to run I mean no high insurance cost, no high maintenance cost, etc.

A new car would be nice and there would be low maintenance cost. But cars lose a lot of value in the first years. So, a used car is maybe a better option. But I really don't want the hassle to have defects which have to be repaired. Normal maintenance like new brake pads or something like that is fine. But please no bigger problems which cost a lot of money.

 

About how much money would I have to pay to buy a 2nd hand car in good condition, maybe low milage?

And what are the monthly cost for maintenance, insurance, etc.

Does it make any sense to buy a car if I would use it only maybe once a week?

What is your experience?

 

I live in a condominium; I don't want an EV.

 

[KhunLA]

Since just the 2 of you, I think, and primary use might be shopping, maybe a smaller pick up.

 

Something less than 10 yrs old, and less than 100k kms.  Should be in the <200k baht range, if lucky.

 

Insurance should be less than 10k a year, and hopefully no mechanical issues for 5 ish years.

 

Breakdown before petrol & maintenance

... 3,334 price per month (200k/60 months)

... 834 insurance per month (10k / 12)

 

Looking at 4,000 baht a month, at least, just for owning it for 5 year,  and don't expect much of a resale price on 15 yr old truck, 5 yrs down the road.

 

Hefty price tag for simply driving something a couple times a week, if that.

[OneMoreFarang]

22 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Since just the 2 of you, I think, and primary use might be shopping, maybe a smaller pick up.

 

Something less than 10 yrs old, and less than 100k kms.  Should be in the <200k baht range, if lucky.

 

Insurance should be less than 10k a year, and hopefully no mechanical issues for 5 ish years.

 

Breakdown before petrol & maintenance

... 3,334 price per month (200k/60 months)

... 834 insurance per month (10k / 12)

 

Looking at 4,000 baht a month, at least, just for owning it for 5 year,  and don't expect much of a resale price on 15 yr old truck, 5 yrs down the road.

 

Hefty price tag for simply driving something a couple times a week, if that.

 

Thanks!

I don't plan to transport anything big for which I would need a pickup. An "ordinary car" is probably better suitable. 90% use for one or two people only.

[KhunLA]

10 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

Thanks!

I don't plan to transport anything big for which I would need a pickup. An "ordinary car" is probably better suitable. 90% use for one or two people only.

Take a peek on FB Marketplace, see what going prices are for something around 10 yrs old and <100k kms.   Should be fairly trouble free for 5 years, hopefully.

[The Fugitive]

My Thai family, friends and neighbours are still driving cars they bought a decade ago. Honda City and Toyota Vios circa. 2002 silver colour. 4 doors, very comfortable, large boot, economical to run and any local garage can fix them very cheaply. Thai neice got a complete respray for 10,000 baht. There are so many still on the road that spares shouldn't be a problem for many years. A lady schoolteacher friend is a cautious type and considers the 'Por Ror Bor' 700 baht per annum compulsory motor insurance inadequate thus takes out a higher level of cover on her Vios.