New Bumper For Old Car: How Much?

[ClareQuilty]

I'm considering replacing the plastic front 'bumper' on my ancient KE70 Toyota Corolla (yes, a few did have 'modern' plastic bumpers, I think just on the final year or two the car was sold in Thailand, early 1980s), and possibly getting a few other minor touch-ups done. Basically my front bumper was partially destroyed in an accident, but the fender was only slightly bent, and the headlight was barely effected at all. I also have a hole in the left side of the back bumper where it bends around to the lower part of the rear quarter panel from an unrelated mishap.

I'm wondering if any of our members have had a bumper on an older car replaced or rebuilt in Thailand, and how much something like that might cost. I don't know if they would have to find an extant bumper in a junkyard (perhaps difficult on a 30 year old car), or if they could sort of mold something 'new' in a rough approximation of the original.

I'm looking to spend very little, but the car - which looked pretty tolerable just a couple of years ago - does look pretty unpresentable at the faculty nowadays next to all the Thai ajarns brand new Altises and Civics.

Edited September 24, 2012 by ClareQuilty

[funcat]

...on the funny side...you got options...you can even add a spoiler...

[mogandave]

Take it to one of the shops that do a lot of insurance work, they are generally pretty good at repairing them and generally pretty reasonable.

Might be a good time to consider biting the bullet and re-spraying the whole car.

[BSJ]

Is that a genuine FoMoCo accessory?

[ClareQuilty]

Take it to one of the shops that do a lot of insurance work, they are generally pretty good at repairing them and generally pretty reasonable.

Might be a good time to consider biting the bullet and re-spraying the whole car.

I was thinking of trying to find a smaller type shop, as those bigger very professional-type shops might turn up their nose or overcharge. I'm looking for the cheapest option.

About re-spraying, I think that's prohibitively expensive, no? I heard like 20-30,000, if I remember rightly. The value of this car is negligible.

[funcat]

The photo of your car would help,sometimes the plastic can be repaired,I've seen it done here....or,you should search junk yards,but if it's a plastic bumper,you may not find the same color ...

Edited September 27, 2012 by funcat

[chiang mai]

I've just got done replacing most parts of a 1997 Lancer and all told it cost me THB 120k but that inlcuded engine, trans and paint (15K). Lesser replacement parts included steering, shocks, brakes, rubber, entire aircon, exhaust, injectors, coil +++ - other work included cleaning and restoration of the interior (seat covers the only thing remaining to be done). I only paid 40k for the car at the outset and the resale value is around 180K which means I can break even, it's such a great car now however that I'm going to keep it and drive it.

The point of the above: getting work done of cars here is cheap as chips and there's loads of places around involved in the repair and restoration work. There's a place in Chiang Mai that I though was just a radio and air con repair place but they're also into interior renovations and they do fabulous work, getting to know one person there has led to lots of leads for other places, mostly small two man shops that are tucked away out of sight. Another excellent approach is to start to get to know a junk yard and they'll tell you who in town can do what and where, they're just a wealth of info if you can tap in to it,

BTW getting a car painted is not expensive, my paint job cost me 15k but for that they painted the entire car, door jams, engine compartment, trunck and they also repaired any deep scratches, undercarriage rust, undercoated it (!) and generally fixed a host of small things not paint related, the quality of work was very high indeed.

Edited September 27, 2012 by chiang mai

[bdw]

Maybe better off dumping the car and just get a motorbike, but if you can't afford 20-30k for a paint job you can't afford a new bike either.

I'm not sure I would feel like continuing in the current career path if the Thai people in the same job have better cars, LMAO

[mogandave]

Take it to one of the shops that do a lot of insurance work, they are generally pretty good at repairing them and generally pretty reasonable.

Might be a good time to consider biting the bullet and re-spraying the whole car.

I was thinking of trying to find a smaller type shop, as those bigger very professional-type shops might turn up their nose or overcharge. I'm looking for the cheapest option.

About re-spraying, I think that's prohibitively expensive, no? I heard like 20-30,000, if I remember rightly. The value of this car is negligible.

The cheapest thing to do is nothing. Shops with a lot of work are often cheaper than going to one that has to make a week's payroll off of one or two jobs.

[ClareQuilty]

Maybe better off dumping the car and just get a motorbike, but if you can't afford 20-30k for a paint job you can't afford a new bike either.

I'm not sure I would feel like continuing in the current career path if the Thai people in the same job have better cars, LMAO

I have several motorbikes, all very old and cheap. The car is for when it rains, or for going to the next town. The bikes only cost a few thousand to buy and virtually nothing to keep running, the car is a little more difficult proposition, though so far I've been pretty lucky.

As for the Thais having better cars - that is nearly universal among teachers at Unis in Thailand. Thai teachers make more than foreigners (though they claim they make less), and of course they have access to credit, unlike us. Typically the foreigner teachers are schlepping around on motorbikes while the Thais are riding Civics and Altises.

[culicine]

Maybe better off dumping the car and just get a motorbike, but if you can't afford 20-30k for a paint job you can't afford a new bike either.

I'm not sure I would feel like continuing in the current career path if the Thai people in the same job have better cars, LMAO

I have several motorbikes, all very old and cheap. The car is for when it rains, or for going to the next town. The bikes only cost a few thousand to buy and virtually nothing to keep running, the car is a little more difficult proposition, though so far I've been pretty lucky.

As for the Thais having better cars - that is nearly universal among teachers at Unis in Thailand. Thai teachers make more than foreigners (though they claim they make less), and of course they have access to credit, unlike us. Typically the foreigner teachers are schlepping around on motorbikes while the Thais are riding Civics and Altises.

Certainly, long term Thai government lecturers, as civil servants, get a nice salary and benefits as they progress up the scale. My wife more than tripled her salary as a civil servant, compared to my 5K increase over the same time frame as a teacher. If you can teach kids in a private school, you can splash out on a civic:) Glad I had a car, after the major downpour tonite in my area.

[ClareQuilty]

Certainly, long term Thai government lecturers, as civil servants, get a nice salary and benefits as they progress up the scale. My wife more than tripled her salary as a civil servant, compared to my 5K increase over the same time frame as a teacher. If you can teach kids in a private school, you can splash out on a civic:) Glad I had a car, after the major downpour tonite in my area.

Yes, precisely - Thais get decent contracts with respect, benefits, raises, rights, etc. Not so farang.

As for extra teaching - not my thing. I'm no workaholic.

But even this old decrepit car is as you say a great thing in the rain. Mine does have an annoying problem in that if driven in the rain the water splashes up into the floorboards, soaking the carpet - must be a hole, no one can find it. I just let it dry out in the sun the next day or two though.

[KeithP]

Sorry to hijack your post, I am currently looking for something like yours... A Toyota Corolla KE70. Anything consider.....preferably not a rust bucket. Anyone know of any around for sale?

[ClareQuilty]

Sorry to hijack your post, I am currently looking for something like yours... A Toyota Corolla KE70. Anything consider.....preferably not a rust bucket. Anyone know of any around for sale?

I see really rough ones once in a blue moon for about 35,000, but nice ones are pricey. Guy around here was selling one for 70,000 with low kilometers (now gone). I'll keep my eyes open though.

Usually the only 35,000-60,000 baht cars I see in running condition are either Mitsubishi Lancers, or Ford Festivas both circa early 1990s.

[KeithP]

Thanks.... Will be even better if they are 2 doors! Just mainly after older cars and is rear wheel drive.

Edited November 18, 2012 by KeithP

[cbuddha]

Sorry to hijack your post, I am currently looking for something like yours... A Toyota Corolla KE70. Anything consider.....preferably not a rust bucket. Anyone know of any around for sale?

Got a friend selling a red KE-30 in fair condition in Sarakham (I'm friends with ClareQuilty, which I must admit is a rather strange/effeminate user name). Actually, there's a bunch of old cars for sale along the roads here recently (Mazda 323s, Mitsu Champs, Corollas, Sunnies). Where are you located?

[culicine]

Bit of old school motoring right here:)

not cheap but...bet it sounds great!

http://www.one2car.com/TOYOTA_COROLLA/A27550024

[KeithP]

Got a friend selling a red KE-30 in fair condition in Sarakham (I'm friends with ClareQuilty, which I must admit is a rather strange/effeminate user name). Actually, there's a bunch of old cars for sale along the roads here recently (Mazda 323s, Mitsu Champs, Corollas, Sunnies). Where are you located?

I'm in Lampang. By the way, for car without Blue Book is best to avoid? What the worst can happen if you brought/own a car without the blue book? The original registered owner can come and take it away from you anytime?

[KeithP]

Bit of old school motoring right here:)

not cheap but...bet it sounds great!

http://www.one2car.com/TOYOTA_COROLLA/A27550024

Deja vu! I have the same one in NZ! Mine is a genuine TE71 GT Levin model with factory 2TGEU engine, half roll cage and bucket seat too! But is so rusty that I just have it sitting there ...slowly rusting away.... And yes, the link you send me ain't cheap at all! But is the car is nicely done!

[cbuddha]

I'm in Lampang. By the way, for car without Blue Book is best to avoid? What the worst can happen if you brought/own a car without the blue book? The original registered owner can come and take it away from you anytime?

Oh, we're way down here in Isan, so it would probably make more sense to look for something closer to you... Sounds like classic car restoration is easier and cheaper up in Chiang Mai, anyway.

I would imagine the worst thing is if you were found to be at fault for a serious accident in that car. Since it isn't properly registered, you wouldn't be covered by 3rd party or mandatory insurance.

[tinfoilhat]

Sorry to hijack your post, I am currently looking for something like yours... A Toyota Corolla KE70. Anything consider.....preferably not a rust bucket. Anyone know of any around for sale?

Got a friend selling a red KE-30 in fair condition in Sarakham (I'm friends with ClareQuilty, which I must admit is a rather strange/effeminate user name). Actually, there's a bunch of old cars for sale along the roads here recently (Mazda 323s, Mitsu Champs, Corollas, Sunnies). Where are you located?

off topic, hardly effeminate, clare quilty is a playwright/pornographer in the nabukov's "lolita"

Clair is the female spelling

[cbuddha]

off topic, hardly effeminate, clare quilty is a playwright/pornographer in the nabukov's "lolita"

Clair is the female spelling

You're right, effeminate is the wrong word... Now I have to avoid a smackdown from Pedobear.