Gas Prices And Truck Dominance In Thailand

[DocHolliday2006]

My transportation of choice is the bicycle, with trains and tuk tuks as backup, so I don't really pay attention to gas prices.

But I see an almost unbelievable amount of trucks and SUVs on the roads and very few cars. It's like the situation in the US in the 1990s, before gas prices started to force people to economize.

I'm wondering how the Thais afford to pay for all the gas those trucks and SUVs guzzle. Is gas cheaper here? Does government subsidized fuel prices? Something else?

[katabeachbum]

a modern commonrail diesel pickup/suv uses same amount of fuel as a tiny Yaris gas/petrol car, but diesel is 15-20% cheaper

a very few pu/suv are sold in TH with gasoline/petrol engine, but 99,xx% of them runs LPG or CNG, even less expensive

In the US people are still running gasguzzling gasoline/petrol engines. In the rest of the world including Thailand, diesel and alternative fuels are taking over

[FarangBuddha]

a modern commonrail diesel pickup/suv uses same amount of fuel as a tiny Yaris gas/petrol car, but diesel is 15-20% cheaper

a very few pu/suv are sold in TH with gasoline/petrol engine, but 99,xx% of them runs LPG or CNG, even less expensive

In the US people are still running gasguzzling gasoline/petrol engines. In the rest of the world including Thailand, diesel and alternative fuels are taking over

So true...that "advanced" country the USA is now only discovering that you can run cars on CNG-V...and they are so surprised that no one has thought of this before. People are so surprised when I tell them that in the "backward" country where I live, Thailand, they have been running cars on natural gas for years.

Diesel and petrol is about 10% or so more than pump prices in the States...but still much cheaper than the heavily taxed transport fuels in Europe. Still don't know how the Thai afford to drive so much...probably eat fish sauce over rice for days in order to have the money for some gas to drive the car around and gain the face

[wandrinstar]

I find it surprising there are no,or very few Diesel Engined Vans/Trucks similar to the old Escort 1800 Vans and /P100 Ford Pik Ups. and Vauxhall Astra.Also those Fiats. Quite why one needs a 180 H.P. 3 litre Engine to go Shopping seems a bit silly to me.Plus they are so big for Ladies to park.A little Van is more than adequate.But their isnt any, is there.?.

[seriouseats]

I find it surprising there are no,or very few Diesel Engined Vans/Trucks similar to the old Escort 1800 Vans and /P100 Ford Pik Ups. and Vauxhall Astra.Also those Fiats. Quite why one needs a 180 H.P. 3 litre Engine to go Shopping seems a bit silly to me.Plus they are so big for Ladies to park.A little Van is more than adequate.But their isnt any, is there.?.

they need those 180hp to run the AC for 8 hours a day while they sit in tesco's parking lot taking all the spots close to the door

[transam]

I find it surprising there are no,or very few Diesel Engined Vans/Trucks similar to the old Escort 1800 Vans and /P100 Ford Pik Ups. and Vauxhall Astra.Also those Fiats. Quite why one needs a 180 H.P. 3 litre Engine to go Shopping seems a bit silly to me.Plus they are so big for Ladies to park.A little Van is more than adequate.But their isnt any, is there.?.

Then you must ask why do people buy big motored luxury cars. Plus in LOS a top of the range 4x4 Vigo to Thais is a pretty big status symbol, and my weeee wifey loves '' parking '' it up in town. When she goes for a nail job on her PCX they say '' WHERE is your 4x4 ''.

This is NOT UK or USA.

[wandrinstar]

I find it surprising there are no,or very few Diesel Engined Vans/Trucks similar to the old Escort 1800 Vans and /P100 Ford Pik Ups. and Vauxhall Astra.Also those Fiats. Quite why one needs a 180 H.P. 3 litre Engine to go Shopping seems a bit silly to me.Plus they are so big for Ladies to park.A little Van is more than adequate.But their isnt any, is there.?.

they need those 180hp to run the AC for 8 hours a day while they sit in tesco's parking lot taking all the spots close to the door

Many a True Word,,....but then my Wife says a Fortuna Driver need the Ext

ra space to get his Head in it. My Major disslike is they allways bang the Car next to them when they get out., or Drop Down in a Thais case.

[Kwasaki]

What truck or suv does 17 to 1 ltr.

[MoonRiverOasis]

What truck or suv does 17 to 1 ltr.

A 2.5L 5MT Isuzu/Chev single or extra cab 2WD will get pretty close to this, if not heavily loaded and driven at sedate/legal speeds.

[Kwasaki]

What truck or suv does 17 to 1 ltr.

A 2.5L 5MT Isuzu/Chev single or extra cab 2WD will get pretty close to this, if not heavily loaded and driven at sedate/legal speeds.

That's interesting, how does CNG work out in comparison then, is it worked out to the ltr of gas or on volume, if you get my drift.

[MoonRiverOasis]

What truck or suv does 17 to 1 ltr.

A 2.5L 5MT Isuzu/Chev single or extra cab 2WD will get pretty close to this, if not heavily loaded and driven at sedate/legal speeds.

That's interesting, how does CNG work out in comparison then, is it worked out to the ltr of gas or on volume, if you get my drift.

A 2.5L 5MT TD Isuzu/Chev costs ~1.80-2.00 Baht/KM to run unloaded & driven conservatively, by comparison the 2.4L 5MT 2-door Triton CNG costs ~0.60Baht/KM to run if unloaded, and up to about 0.85 Baht/KM to run when heavily loaded.

[wandrinstar]

Who passes the Conversion work to satisfy insurance Companies..?. Those Gas Tanks are very space consuming.In CUVs they take most of the Golf Bag room .Low Milage Folk should consider the Conversion costs before Gassing Themself.:jap:

[MoonRiverOasis]

Who passes the Conversion work to satisfy insurance Companies..?. Those Gas Tanks are very space consuming.In CUVs they take most of the Golf Bag room .Low Milage Folk should consider the Conversion costs before Gassing Themself.:jap:

The Triton CNG is not a conversion - it's factory fitted.

[wandrinstar]

Who passes the Conversion work to satisfy insurance Companies..?. Those Gas Tanks are very space consuming.In CUVs they take most of the Golf Bag room .Low Milage Folk should consider the Conversion costs before Gassing Themself.:jap:

The Triton CNG is not a conversion - it's factory fitted.

Rather Evasive,so is the Tata, and V8 Fords and Chevy in Ozz.....All the Taxis must be subject to Insurance Requirements .You cant just let anybody fit them can you ?..They must be iffy if some Kid in Nops Shed bolts em on.Ive also seen a Newish Car where a Rat had nibbled away at the Plastic Tube,Not even Copper or Steel.So there must be some Cowboys about.

[transam]

Who passes the Conversion work to satisfy insurance Companies..?. Those Gas Tanks are very space consuming.In CUVs they take most of the Golf Bag room .Low Milage Folk should consider the Conversion costs before Gassing Themself.:jap:

The Triton CNG is not a conversion - it's factory fitted.

Rather Evasive,so is the Tata, and V8 Fords and Chevy in Ozz.....All the Taxis must be subject to Insurance Requirements .You cant just let anybody fit them can you ?..They must be iffy if some Kid in Nops Shed bolts em on.Ive also seen a Newish Car where a Rat had nibbled away at the Plastic Tube,Not even Copper or Steel.So there must be some Cowboys about.

Plastic ''variant'' fuel lines have been used for many years from tank to engine bay from factory.

[wandrinstar]

Who passes the Conversion work to satisfy insurance Companies..?. Those Gas Tanks are very space consuming.In CUVs they take most of the Golf Bag room .Low Milage Folk should consider the Conversion costs before Gassing Themself.:jap:

The Triton CNG is not a conversion - it's factory fitted.

Rather Evasive,so is the Tata, and V8 Fords and Chevy in Ozz.....All the Taxis must be subject to Insurance Requirements .You cant just let anybody fit them can you ?..They must be iffy if some Kid in Nops Shed bolts em on.Ive also seen a Newish Car where a Rat had nibbled away at the Plastic Tube,Not even Copper or Steel.So there must be some Cowboys about.

Plastic ''variant'' fuel lines have been used for many years from tank to engine bay from factory.

That should make the Rats Happy,and inspire confidence amongst Commuters. This Gasless Guy left his Car in Longstay at C,M. Airport... Old Roland was high for Days no Doubt.

[thunder30101]

Yes fuel here except gasoline is subsidized, most thais (not westerners) that have these cars-trucks dont drive them all that much they sit in the driveway nice clean and shiny most of the time. There is also the tax situation on trucks where many of them are considered farm vehicles with a much lower tax, so why not buy a truck that with subsidized fuel that costs about the same as a gas powered mini car to own and drive (and you can haul the whole village in them). It also comes down to face, status or what I like to call the grand illusion.

[katabeachbum]

Yes fuel here except gasoline is subsidized, most thais (not westerners) that have these cars-trucks dont drive them all that much they sit in the driveway nice clean and shiny most of the time. There is also the tax situation on trucks where many of them are considered farm vehicles with a much lower tax, so why not buy a truck that with subsidized fuel that costs about the same as a gas powered mini car to own and drive (and you can haul the whole village in them). It also comes down to face, status or what I like to call the grand illusion.

most pickups have higher annual tax than the approx 700 baht for a Yaris/Jazz/March/Vios/City.

Sales volume for small cars are picking up, and popularity for pickups is slowing down, but pickups are still great value for money (purchasing and running) and is essential for countryside transportation

[thunder30101]

I thought that ext cab trucks were really cheap tax because of farm classification ? Most trucks up ne are ext cabs. not 4 doors or suv's.

[MoonRiverOasis]

I thought that ext cab trucks were really cheap tax because of farm classification ? Most trucks up ne are ext cabs. not 4 doors or suv's.

Road tax is calculated based on seating capacity, kerb weight and engine size - there's a distinction on vehicles for hire (taxi's, limo' tour vans etc), but no disctinction between private or business use.

Excise tax is tricker, but is based on vehicle type, fuel type, and engine capacity/HP. Again, no distinction between personal and business use if registered to a person's name, if registered to a company name, several additional taxes apply.

[katabeachbum]

I thought that ext cab trucks were really cheap tax because of farm classification ? Most trucks up ne are ext cabs. not 4 doors or suv's.

4 doors or suv max 3200cc are 6800 baht and 2 doors 2500cc are an approx third.

small cars still less tax tho

[Kwasaki]

That's interesting, how does CNG work out in comparison then, is it worked out to the ltr of gas or on volume, if you get my drift.

A 2.5L 5MT TD Isuzu/Chev costs ~1.80-2.00 Baht/KM to run unloaded & driven conservatively, by comparison the 2.4L 5MT 2-door Triton CNG costs ~0.60Baht/KM to run if unloaded, and up to about 0.85 Baht/KM to run when heavily loaded.

Thanks ' M ' this brings to mind what happen in England when everybody was switching to diesel cars as my company did, just to see the diesel go to the same level as petrol and now I believe it's more. Putting aside the tax concessions for companies it's private users when I wonder CNG will be on the increase.

I guess one day we will all be in cars like Fred Flintstone. :lol:

[phutoie2]

Yes fuel here except gasoline is subsidized, most thais (not westerners) that have these cars-trucks dont drive them all that much they sit in the driveway nice clean and shiny most of the time. There is also the tax situation on trucks where many of them are considered farm vehicles with a much lower tax, so why not buy a truck that with subsidized fuel that costs about the same as a gas powered mini car to own and drive (and you can haul the whole village in them). It also comes down to face, status or what I like to call the grand illusion.

most pickups have higher annual tax than the approx 700 baht for a Yaris/Jazz/March/Vios/City.

Sales volume for small cars are picking up, and popularity for pickups is slowing down, but pickups are still great value for money (purchasing and running) and is essential for countryside transportation

Plus I doubt you could squeeze 21 bods (my own record) in a Yaris/Jazz/March et al

[Haooo]

Why not pick-up?

Larger interior space than a compact car, cheaper to run and maintain than car, equal or less purchase price than a compact car, engine life and reliability is better than car, you can load 8 people on the back, acceleration and speed not worse than a compact car.

Thais don't care safety, handling, emission, engine technology too much.

And it's already been a culture.