Hello,

I'm looking to pick up a second-hand car in Chiang Rai. But before handing over any money, I'd like to have a mechanic give the vehicle an inspection just to make sure there are no hidden problems.

Does anyone know any good and honest mechanics in Chiang Rai?

Also, what's the going rate for an inspection and how long does something like this typically take?

Thanks

ask in one of the local farang bars if anyone knows of a mechanic who is here retired. Im sure there are a few

guys doing all their own repairs and will know what to look for .

As for Thai garages , its hit and miss I think everywhere , explaining what you want will be the hardest and as for honest , good luck I hope you find one .

Curious about the place just outside Chiang Rai on the way to Chiang Mai, I imagine they would also be able to detect any water damage from flooding? I should have a Thai speaking person with me to help with the language barrier (we're both coming from Chiang Mai).

Thanks

If your coming from Chang Mai , why not buy a car from there and drive up . There are far more 2nd hand cars and garages available there. What sort of car and price are you looking for ?

I have found an honest English speaking Thai mechanic that is very good. Not only did Narlung assist me in finding the right car to trade down from a large Toyota 4X4 truck to a more sensible car for diving around CR's tight streets he was very helpful in many ways beyond the norm.

Narlung does LPG conversions as well as all mechanical repairs and I have no problem referring him to anyone on this board. Narlung's shop with a lift that I find important for any good mechanic to have is just off the main Hwy 118 just south of the new bus station. Narlungs phones are 0817837673 0r 0819306033. Tell him Steve sent you. Good luck to you in this important hunt as there are many rolling wrecks out there for sale. Caveat emptor

Thanks for the great info.

I contacted Narlung by telephone and he will have a look at the car. He gave me some good advice over the phone as well. I'll let the forum know how it all goes. Seems like a good guy.

Thanks for the great info.

I contacted Narlung by telephone and he will have a look at the car. He gave me some good advice over the phone as well. I'll let the forum know how it all goes. Seems like a good guy.

Good to hear that you have contacted Narlung and that you will let the board know how your experience worked out. I'm sure there are a few guys out there that would like to know in clear English what is being done to their vehicle and the variables of each action. As anyone our age knows one repair sometimes affects something else in auto mechanics. Narlung is a mature guy and seems to work effortlessly with tools which is always good indicator of competence. That and his prices to do things are darn right reasonable, enough so that I sometimes stop by after a shopping trip from the wholesale fruit market just north of his shop and share a few things with him. No one does that unless they are truly thankful for a tradesman's help both in competency as well as cost.

Well, my foray into a second-hand vehicle purchase has been what I *think* is a success. Time will tell with greater certainty though.

I stopped by Narlung's place, and he has a car lift in his driveway (don't see that very often). He gave the vehicle an inspection, and we took it for a test drive, and he said it was in very good condition. Though he said the price I agreed to pay was slightly high -- but I didn't mind paying a little more when dealing with honest sellers and a vehicle in good condition with all papers and blue book in good order.

After all was said and done -- Narlung maybe spent 45 minutes with me and the car, I tried to give him a little something for his troubles and he didn't want to take it. Of course, I insisted.

Anyway, for anyone interested, he also has a white Honda Accord with 400,000 km in his shop that he might be looking to sell for about 110k baht. Worth a look if you're in the market though.

Thanks again for the tips and info.

I have found an honest English speaking Thai mechanic that is very good. Not only did Narlung assist me in finding the right car to trade down from a large Toyota 4X4 truck to a more sensible car for diving around CR's tight streets he was very helpful in many ways beyond the norm.

Narlung does LPG conversions as well as all mechanical repairs and I have no problem referring him to anyone on this board. Narlung's shop with a lift that I find important for any good mechanic to have is just off the main Hwy 118 just south of the new bus station. Narlungs phones are 0817837673 0r 0819306033. Tell him Steve sent you. Good luck to you in this important hunt as there are many rolling wrecks out there for sale. Caveat emptor

so is his shop the large garage looking place just past the new bus station on same side of hwy or is it more of a one man operation down a sideroad but NOT on main highway?... would appreciate bit more detailed directions if possible...thank you...

I have found an honest English speaking Thai mechanic that is very good. Not only did Narlung assist me in finding the right car to trade down from a large Toyota 4X4 truck to a more sensible car for diving around CR's tight streets he was very helpful in many ways beyond the norm.

Narlung does LPG conversions as well as all mechanical repairs and I have no problem referring him to anyone on this board. Narlung's shop with a lift that I find important for any good mechanic to have is just off the main Hwy 118 just south of the new bus station. Narlungs phones are 0817837673 0r 0819306033. Tell him Steve sent you. Good luck to you in this important hunt as there are many rolling wrecks out there for sale. Caveat emptor

so is his shop the large garage looking place just past the new bus station on same side of hwy or is it more of a one man operation down a sideroad but NOT on main highway?... would appreciate bit more detailed directions if possible...thank you...

I called him from just past the bus station as I also thought it was the big shop off the highway, but then he gave me instructions to his home down the soi off the main highway (before the bus station) with the lift in the driveway. I just assumed that he wasn't working out of the main shop that day and instead working from home. So I didn't actually visit the big shop. Maybe someone could confirm that he works out of both for clarification?

I have found an honest English speaking Thai mechanic that is very good. Not only did Narlung assist me in finding the right car to trade down from a large Toyota 4X4 truck to a more sensible car for diving around CR's tight streets he was very helpful in many ways beyond the norm.

Narlung does LPG conversions as well as all mechanical repairs and I have no problem referring him to anyone on this board. Narlung's shop with a lift that I find important for any good mechanic to have is just off the main Hwy 118 just south of the new bus station. Narlungs phones are 0817837673 0r 0819306033. Tell him Steve sent you. Good luck to you in this important hunt as there are many rolling wrecks out there for sale. Caveat emptor

so is his shop the large garage looking place just past the new bus station on same side of hwy or is it more of a one man operation down a sideroad but NOT on main highway?... would appreciate bit more detailed directions if possible...thank you...

I called him from just past the bus station as I also thought it was the big shop off the highway, but then he gave me instructions to his home down the soi off the main highway (before the bus station) with the lift in the driveway. I just assumed that he wasn't working out of the main shop that day and instead working from home. So I didn't actually visit the big shop. Maybe someone could confirm that he works out of both for clarification?

You are welcome dbrisinda - Narlung works out of his personal small shop with the lift as I explained earlier when I gave both of his phone numbers 0817837673 0r 0819306033. The exact directions are :

From the Hwy 1020 stop lights head south on Hwy 118 exactly 1.8km which is just past a Wat on your left to the next corner soi where there is a small market with a bunch of signs ,coin operated laundry machines etc. Turn left at that soi ,the one just past the Wat entrance and go just under 300 meters to his shop which is on the right behind a hedge with a prominent LPG sign on the gate.