Am I ruining my car in Phuket?

[backstairs]

I have a lovely car bought new after a year or renting. It has been faithful. I service it every 6 months. New battery and tyres after 4 years.

Then I moved from a big villa with big car space to a small apartment with tight parking space.

I have scraped by bumpers 3 times. A tile has fallen from the roof and left bullet-like marks on the bonnet. A motorcycle cut me on the inside and left a 10 cm scratch/dent on pax door. And today I scraped the bumper/fender again, revealing white lines of plastic on my black car. Last week I backed into a pole in the dark. Not good. But the plastic popped out without a mark Most of these mishaps take place when I am near stationery.

Fortunately, my long suffering dealer grabs the touch-up paint when he sees me coming for another service.

I must sound like an idiot driver but I do drive safely around Phuket and treasure my car. My questions is two fold to you fine fellows.

a. How much minor damage am I doing to my car, and

b. How much will these scrapes and dents affect sell price next year? Thanx

Edited September 23, 2015 by backstairs

[2fishin2]

These troll post are getting annoying.

[JHolmesJr]

These troll post are getting annoying.

How can you tell?

[Shot]

Each centimeter of scratch will devalue a new car by 30000 baht, but that number doubles for each year the car is old. Multiple that number by each year old the car is, and also subtract an additional 15% off your original cost of the car.

For instance, if your car is 3 years old with 500 centimeter of scratches and the original cost was 1M Baht the car would have depreciated to around 614000 Baht based on age alone. Subtract 600000 for the total length and age of scratches and you have a 14000 Baht car. If you have smoked in the car, you own money.

Hope that helps.

Edited September 23, 2015 by Shot

[petermik]

Each centimeter of scratch will devalue a new car by 30000 baht, but that number doubles for each year the car is old. Multiple that number by each year old the car is, and also subtract an additional 15% off your original cost of the car.

For instance, if your car is 3 years old with 500 centimeter of scratches and the original cost was 1M Baht the car would have depreciated to around 614000 Baht based on age alone. Subtract 600000 for the total length and age of scratches and you have a 14000 Baht car. If you have smoked in the car, you own money.

Hope that helps.

Plus there is an extra 10% of devaluation due to its proximity to the sea..........sea air contains more salt than the countryside

[backstairs]

Thank you for your deeply depressing news. I see why other cars look total wrecks or like brand new.

[backstairs]

Dear Nonsensical, would it be then wise to go to a car repair place and get things sanded and repainted?

[NamKangMan]

Dear Nonsensical, would it be then wise to go to a car repair place and get things sanded and repainted?

No. They will cause even more damage.

Edited September 23, 2015 by NamKangMan

[starkey_rich]

Why not use your insurance as Thai's do .They get every little ding and scratch fixed at the paint shop

[BuaBS]

You're not ruining your car in Phuket , it gets ruined all over Thailand. People here have absolutely no respect for other peoples property. The mai pen rai - attitude rules here. You park your car in a public place and it will be damaged.

This is not Thai bashing . Park your car in a heavy tourist area ( like Pattaya) , and watch from a distance how foreigners touch your car , they care even less , in a couple of days or weeks , they'll be back on the plane home , while you sit there with scratches and dents on your news car.

Car body repair is cheap but they can do more damage than the minor scratch you want to have fixed.

[curtklay]

You're not ruining your car in Phuket , it gets ruined all over Thailand. People here have absolutely no respect for other peoples property. The mai pen rai - attitude rules here. You park your car in a public place and it will be damaged.

My beloved car has been bashed 3 times. Twice in parking lots while I wasn't even in it (of course, no notes left). And once, rear ended at a red light by a drunk.

[backstairs]

Did you get it restored to its former glory Curt? I must say Mr Shots details that my THB1.2M car could be worth now about THB14K has quite spoilt my evening. On top of Japan's rugby demise. And I dont even have a SIngle Malt in the place.

[curtklay]

I did get it restored each time at a competent body shop recommended by my Honda dealer.

After all, that's what insurance is for.

And I will admit that while I was expecting a nightmare, they did an excellent job including paint matching.

I think Mr. Shots estimates may have a little humor attached. At least I hope so.

[Briggsy]

You need to move out of Phuket.

For a more genuine and satisfying Thai seaside experience, I think you will find Samut Songkhram would suit you.

[bazza40]

Yes, it will affect your selling price; however, why worry? You get the best value for money out of a car by driving it into the ground.

As long as the scrapes don't affect the driveability of the car, I'd leave them be. You are then announcing to the world you own a car, the car doesn't own you. Plus the scrapes could encourage other drivers to give you a wider berth.

[mike324]

Cosmetic scratches don't really effect value if the buyer can't tell that its been fix. Most buyers don't get insurance reports here compare to western countries. I wouldn't worry about the value dropping, would worry more that you can't sell it at the price you want.

[MockingJay]

I'd advise your to buy a car if you don't like to rent one, or rent one if you don't like to buy.

Think this is a proper reply to such a trollicky O.P.

[huahinjoe]

One of the solution is to choose premium insurance packages, I'm pretty sure most of them will cover the minor damages even if the scratches made by unknown reasons or even theft. The downside is it has to be made by the owner, so anyone who want to rent a car in future, maybe a good idea checking on that make sure they have full cover for these kind of things...

[thailanddogerator]

One question ? Is it a Japanese car ? So why even wondering ? Just trash it within few years and you will get rid of al your problems

<3

[vogie]

Each centimeter of scratch will devalue a new car by 30000 baht, but that number doubles for each year the car is old. Multiple that number by each year old the car is, and also subtract an additional 15% off your original cost of the car.

For instance, if your car is 3 years old with 500 centimeter of scratches and the original cost was 1M Baht the car would have depreciated to around 614000 Baht based on age alone. Subtract 600000 for the total length and age of scratches and you have a 14000 Baht car. If you have smoked in the car, you own money.

Hope that helps.

Does that scale work with motorbikes too?

[2fishin2]

Minor scratches and reporting to insurance....555

[nattydread]

buy an old banger then no worries about a few scratches

[Flying Clog]

You lot have WAAAAYYYYYY too much time on your hands...

[tajtom]

Each centimeter of scratch will devalue a new car by 30000 baht, but that number doubles for each year the car is old. Multiple that number by each year old the car is, and also subtract an additional 15% off your original cost of the car.

For instance, if your car is 3 years old with 500 centimeter of scratches and the original cost was 1M Baht the car would have depreciated to around 614000 Baht based on age alone. Subtract 600000 for the total length and age of scratches and you have a 14000 Baht car. If you have smoked in the car, you own money.

Hope that helps.

LOL... What planet are your from mate... Hey your good for a laugh but clown

[Terrific Thailand]

Hi I think it is great you look after your car which in return provides safe, reliable, enjoyable driving.

There are numerous problems to keep a car in good condition in Phuket:

1. Driving standard is low, so easy to have an accident.

2. Many uninsured motorbikes.

3. Thais do not generally maintain their owned items.

4. Resale value is mainly based in age and kms not condition, you most likely need a foreign buyer to appreciate that and pay more.

5. Road quality is low therefore easy to slip into a ditch/pothole during or after rain.

6. Drunks on the road.

7. Tourists who don't care and are often drunk.

Try checking with your insurance company to see if you can get the work completed without a huge excess or increase in premium.

It is good to maintain a car, look at Singapore their cars are mainly very clean and well maintained. The above comments about a cm scratch devaluing a car is not accurate so ignore it.

Edited September 24, 2015 by Terrific Thailand

[dotpoom]

". How much minor damage am I doing to my car," Haven't you just told us in your OP?. ......."A bad workman blames his tools"......or, ....you could put it another way..."A bad driver blames his island".

[Peterocket]

Does crashing my car ruin it?

[CharlieH]

Post removed

7) You will respect fellow members and post in a civil manner. No personal attacks, hateful or insulting towards other members, (flaming) Stalking of members on either the forum or via PM will not be allowed.

[pest]

As a previous post said Buy an old banger

I did after 6 years of watching my new car be destroyed

since owning the banger I never worry were its parked or what ever the elements do to it

[149er]

try changing the world, if fails, try this .... it called "1st class insurance", even Thailand has it.