Fun car for 400K

[JohnnyJazz]

Nissan March works for me at 400 and change. Someone else mentioned Suzuki Swift and that would also work. Both easy to drive, great gas mileage, and best of all very easy to park.

My wife has one. Nice city car, completely agree with you regarding great gas mileage and very easy to park but definitively not my idea of "fun".

I bought a 2 year old Ford Fiesta in like new condition for 400k. Still had one year of factory warranty coverage. Great for BKK, easy to park and they are all automatic which is necessary with the gridlock. There are plenty in that price range and it's a nice, fun car in the city but does well on the motorways as well.

What's "fun" about a Fiesta?

Agree with that too, especially with automatic gear.

Edited January 6, 2016 by JohnnyJazz

[mike324]

My wife has an elderly Suzuki Caribian (Samurai in the USA). Great little car, easy to park in tight places, 4x4 when going into rough country. Such can be had for about 150-200k baht. Spend another 100+k at one of the many specialty shops to make it into a real outdoor tiger then watch the dudes drooling as you roll down Sukumwit.

Suzuki Carribean is a great fun offroading car.

If the OP wants a fun car with some power, perhaps a oldie like a ford escort or any retro japanese make - do an engine swap, upgrade brakes, new spray etc. It can be done for around 300k

[JohnnyJazz]

My wife has an elderly Suzuki Caribian (Samurai in the USA). Great little car, easy to park in tight places, 4x4 when going into rough country. Such can be had for about 150-200k baht. Spend another 100+k at one of the many specialty shops to make it into a real outdoor tiger then watch the dudes drooling as you roll down Sukumwit.

Suzuki Carribean is a great fun offroading car.

If the OP wants a fun car with some power, perhaps a oldie like a ford escort or any retro japanese make - do an engine swap, upgrade brakes, new spray etc. It can be done for around 300k

Interesting. Can it be done in Bangkok ? 300K includes the car or is it only for the upgrade job ?

[JaseTheBass]

You could buy a new suzuki swift for 400k. Its kind of like the poor-man's mini cooper... in a way. I would love to get one but the wife needs a SUV for the family first.

Spot on and the cheapest has a proper gearbox which is much more fun the cvt.

[JaseTheBass]

I bought a 2 year old Ford Fiesta in like new condition for 400k. Still had one year of factory warranty coverage. Great for BKK, easy to park and they are all automatic which is necessary with the gridlock. There are plenty in that price range and it's a nice, fun car in the city but does well on the motorways as well.

What's "fun" about a Fiesta?

You've obviously never driven one. Cracking little cars with a great reputation for being a fun drive.

[ardokano]

How Fun is it? any fun in my opinion can be with "fun" spell time with mechanic

But anyway.

http://www.bahtsold.com/view/subaru-impreza-wrx-236453

this is alot fun at speed road, and ofcouse can "fun" with mechanic

Cheers

and good luck

I guess the most fun will have the wallet of the mechanic.

for fun need PAY . even new car.

may impreza 2004 change engine after 4 k km from NEW

ofcouse i up hp.

but my friend have same this is car and use for sutoday fun. not hard

and car still life

anyway a say

" can be with "fun" spell time with mechanic"

And in Thailand i do not know for 400k car for fun with out BIG risk for fun wallet of mechanik.

if you show me , i go and buy its tomorrow

[ardokano]

You've obviously never driven one. Cracking little cars with a great reputation for being a fun drive.

I drive, and guess YES Fiesta ST can give some fun. but near 7 sek its fun? and after 120 its really NOT fun car.

but maybe different fun we talk

But caan it be for 400k in Thailand?

Edited January 6, 2016 by ardokano

[ardokano]

Suzuki Swift ,Mitsubishi Mirage, Vigos & Izuzu pick ups. Honda Jazz

guys what kind fun you mean?

[JaseTheBass]

Ok. Buy a 70s rwd saloon and bung a modern 200bhp motor in it. Upgrade the suspension, get some bucket seats and a new paint job and you're good to go. You'll also have a large chunk of change left over.

[ftpjtm]

Nissan March works for me at 400 and change. Someone else mentioned Suzuki Swift and that would also work. Both easy to drive, great gas mileage, and best of all very easy to park.

My wife has one. Nice city car, completely agree with you regarding great gas mileage and very easy to park but definitively not my idea of "fun".

I bought a 2 year old Ford Fiesta in like new condition for 400k. Still had one year of factory warranty coverage. Great for BKK, easy to park and they are all automatic which is necessary with the gridlock. There are plenty in that price range and it's a nice, fun car in the city but does well on the motorways as well.

What's "fun" about a Fiesta?

Agree with that too, especially with automatic gear.

What's fun about a Fiesta? Well compared to a Miata (MX-5), Subaru WRX, Golf GTI, or a Mini it's not the most thrilling ride in town. But those are all imported as are all proper sports cars. And only the locally produced cars are reasonably priced. The above mentioned cars sell for 2M - 3M+, vs the Fiesta which can be had for around 650K new. So the only way you're ever going to find the others at 400K is when they are well beyond their prime of life, to put it mildly.

New Fiestas are comparable in price to the Vios, Almera, etc. But in my mind they are a bit more stylish and have a more sporting, European attitude than their Japanese counterparts. It's really a well built, agile, decent handling little car, and the 1.6L has respectable performance. And because most Thai's are more comfortable buying a Toyota or Nissan, the Fiestas drop in value faster, making them a decent value when 2 - 3 years old, when they are still reliable.

RE automatic transmissions, I love a nice manual, and in the US I would buy a sports car with a manual over an automatic any day. But if you are driving in Bangkok, all I can say is; "what's fun about driving a manual in gird lock?"

Before buying my Fiesta, I looked at some used Audi's, VW's, and Volvos in your price range, and they were all an unhappy ending ready to happen. Botched repairs on all corners, re-wiring which looked like it was done by the local land line installation crew, makeshift parts galore, etc. I'm here to enjoy life, not deal with an old POS held together with duct tape. The Fiesta was a welcome relief and a surprisingly good value IMO.

Edited January 8, 2016 by ftpjtm

[In the jungle]

Honda Civic plus B16 DOHC engine swap.

Ideally the 160 bhp VTEC engine.

I know the engine is an easy swap into an EG Civic but you would need to do your homework on later Civics.

It's a beast of an engine with excellent reliability and fairly easy to find in BKK for a reasonable price.

[mike324]

My wife has an elderly Suzuki Caribian (Samurai in the USA). Great little car, easy to park in tight places, 4x4 when going into rough country. Such can be had for about 150-200k baht. Spend another 100+k at one of the many specialty shops to make it into a real outdoor tiger then watch the dudes drooling as you roll down Sukumwit.

Suzuki Carribean is a great fun offroading car.

If the OP wants a fun car with some power, perhaps a oldie like a ford escort or any retro japanese make - do an engine swap, upgrade brakes, new spray etc. It can be done for around 300k

Interesting. Can it be done in Bangkok ? 300K includes the car or is it only for the upgrade job ?

It really depends on the type of car your want first, retro japanese cars can be had for under 100k.

200-300k for a complete swap job and parts (get in touch with the member MURF he can help you out, check out his ford escort)

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/591088-classic-car-ford-escort-mk1-sr20det/

If you don't really like or have a passion for retro cars, its better to go the other route - get a Jazz / Yaris / Civic / fiesta and mod it, it would be more reliable and a better driving experience. When you sell it, you won't lose much money.

[ClareQuilty]

1.) for 400K you do not get a car AND a bike.

I paid 30,000 for my old Peugeot 405, and I've a lovely old Honda Nova with 5-speed clutch I bought for 3,500. So, bike and car = 33,500. (to be be fair the car was about 40 fully fixed up, so lets say 43,500 for one fun bike and one fun car)

Edited January 12, 2016 by ClareQuilty

[JeffreyO]

What is the going rate of a MKI MR2 in Thailand? Those are super light weight, tons of fun, great on the track, lots of modifications available if you feel you want to up your game.