Looking to buy super cheap second car

[Saan]

Where should I go to buy a cheap car just to run around Chiang Mai? Have tried the various sites and plenty out there just not in CM. Are there any big car yards that specialise in the lower end of the market? Any advice gratefully received.

[mamborobert]

Not sure of your price range (or auto/man or engine size etc) as most of the yards I know do not sell cars under the 200k Baht mark but the CM FB Buy Sell Swap page has a vehicles fairly frequently with a broad price/make range so might be worth a look.

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/305872182829627/

 

also FB pages like

https://www.facebook.com/chiangmaicar2you/

 

Edited March 21, 2017 by mamborobert

[worgeordie]

On Baht  & Sold ,they have 2 Mitsubishi lancers 20K and 68K,

a VW passat 85K,Suzuki Caribbean 95K,all asking prices,

regards Worgeordie

[Saan]

4 hours ago, worgeordie said:

On Baht  & Sold ,they have 2 Mitsubishi lancers 20K and 68K,

a VW passat 85K,Suzuki Caribbean 95K,all asking prices,

regards Worgeordie

Thank you. I tried to contact the Lancer owner but I think he has already left Thailand. The other vehicles are good buys but not close to CM.

[Saan]

I found a site, Kaidee, which had hundreds of cars for sale in Chiang Mai. I thought there were many good deals on the site and bought a car that I am happy with. The site is in Thai but it was easy enough to work your way through. When ringing a seller a little Thai assistance might then be needed.

[idman]

And you are willing to buy a second hand car off a Thai used car lot??? Excuse me, but are you mental?? Thai people are among the worst for taking care of their cars, forget about dealership maintenance most just find the cheapest shop. Since having a car gives huge face too many Thais purchase a car with little or resources to properly maintain it. In the case of these lower end dealers with lower price cars you are taking a huge chance. What do you think your chances are of seeing actual service records, are you qualified enough to determine if the car was severly damaged and only had cover upwork done? You safest bet is to purchase from a Farang who has all the records or buy from places like ExPat Motors here in Chiang Mai or from a Toyota Sure dealer.

Sent from my SM-T805 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[canthai55]

It is not rocket science to determine if a car has done the mileage as per the odometer, and is in sound mechanical condition. But you need knowledge - which few have and so many are forced to buy new and face the consequences - limited choice, high prices, depreciation, and having the identical car to many thousands of others. Scaremongering is just a cover for limited to nonexistent  knowledge about cars.

[CMKiwi]

The missus acted as a guarentor for a friend a few years back so he could get a car.....big mistake.

 

It ended up he lost his job and couldn't afford to pay the car off.  So the missus gave him his deposit back and took over payments. 

 

That might have been ok if she had spoke to me first. Sight unseen and the car need a lot of work. All the wheel bearings needed replacement, battery was stuffed (Later found that the was an electrical leak draining the battery).

 

The A/C was great after it was regassed and was probably the only good thing going for the car. Tyres were all cheap and cracking big time. In the wet weather it was like driving with you feet in a kiddies pool.  The seal around the windscreen wasn't done properly when they last replaced the screen.

 

It leaked around the door frame and the footwells filled with water.  The whole car smelt damp most of the time.

 

Luckily the missus managed to flick it off as where is once we fix bearings and tyres. Oh and the stereo worked  on radio only...Sometimes. 

 

If buying second hand you need to conduct a through inspection....the missus (ex) friend was an idiot who had no idea on what he was buying. It was a proverbial bucket of <deleted>. 

 

As has been mentioned, generally falangs take better care of their motor vehicles. Others have never heard of preventative maintenance let alone an oil change.

 

As the saying goes...buyer beware.

Edited April 3, 2017 by CMKiwi

[billd766]

1 hour ago, idman said:

And you are willing to buy a second hand car off a Thai used car lot??? Excuse me, but are you mental?? Thai people are among the worst for taking care of their cars, forget about dealership maintenance most just find the cheapest shop. Since having a car gives huge face too many Thais purchase a car with little or resources to properly maintain it. In the case of these lower end dealers with lower price cars you are taking a huge chance. What do you think your chances are of seeing actual service records, are you qualified enough to determine if the car was severly damaged and only had cover upwork done? You safest bet is to purchase from a Farang who has all the records or buy from places like ExPat Motors here in Chiang Mai or from a Toyota Sure dealer.

Sent from my SM-T805 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

 

Have you missed the title of the thread?

 

"Looking to buy super cheap second car" and the OPs post?

 

quote " Where should I go to buy a cheap car just to run around Chiang Mai?"

 

He only wants something cheap and cheerful and not something that he can drive all over Thailand. How much will he have to pay for a farang owned car with all the records or from Expat Motors or the Toyota Sure dealer? I think it will be more than he wants to pay for sure.

[4MyEgo]

2 hours ago, canthai55 said:

It is not rocket science to determine if a car has done the mileage as per the odometer, and is in sound mechanical condition. But you need knowledge - which few have and so many are forced to buy new and face the consequences - limited choice, high prices, depreciation, and having the identical car to many thousands of others. Scaremongering is just a cover for limited to nonexistent  knowledge about cars.

Tell that to someone who buys a second hand car that has had the speedometer wound back, or was in a serious accident and has a bent chaise etc etc

 

I suppose its all about affordability and choice, in my country of birth we had consumer protection laws, doubt they have anything like that here, that's one reason I opted for a new purchase, that and seeing an xpat having to replace a motor on a vehicle he purchased from a used car dealer, just after the 3 month warranty ran out.

 

At least with new, you get 100,000 km's or 3 years warranty, whichever comes 1st, and you know nothing shonky about the car, well that's my opinion anyway.  

Edited April 3, 2017 by 4MyEgo

[canthai55]

31 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Tell that to someone who buys a second hand car that has had the speedometer wound back, or was in a serious accident and has a bent chaise etc etc

 

3 hours ago, canthai55 said:

 But you need knowledge - which few have and so many are forced to buy new and face the consequences

Chassis taken a hit - up on the hoist and all is revealed. Speedo wound back - other signs will point to that, least of all being the numbers are not in a straight line if old style cable driver model.

Anyone who buys a car as you described ... well, goes without saying

[4MyEgo]

5 hours ago, canthai55 said:

But you need knowledge - which few have and so many are forced to buy new and face the consequences - limited choice, high prices, depreciation, and having the identical car to many thousands of others.

New:

 

Limited choice ?

High prices ? Much cheaper than in Oz

Depreciation, comes with the enjoyment of driving a new car, but as I see new cars tend to hold there values quite well considering

Identical car to many thousands of others, well at least parts won't be too hard to track down.

 

I have no complaint in driving a new car, like I said, wouldn't expose myself to a 2nd hand car here in Thailand, pretty hard to back track and consumer rights would be just about non existent I would imagine, for what its worth I was also a mechanic back in my younger years and would know what to look for in a 2nd hand car, but Thailand being Thailand, a new car with warranty makes me sleep better at night, and as soon as the 100,000 km's is up it will be time a an upgrade, that or give the car to the Mrs, but I doubt the latter as she prefers to be chauffeur driven...lol

 

 

[sharktooth]

3 hours ago, canthai55 said:

 

Chassis taken a hit - up on the hoist and all is revealed. Speedo wound back - other signs will point to that, least of all being the numbers are not in a straight line if old style cable driver model.

Anyone who buys a car as you described ... well, goes without saying

 

Honestly, these days... which common or garden punter is going to know what to look for after they get some old motor up on the ramps?

[canthai55]

47 minutes ago, sharktooth said:

 

Honestly, these days... which common or garden punter is going to know what to look for after they get some old motor up on the ramps?

Don't have the knowledge - find someone who has. It's a car - not the space shuttle.

[Konini]

Partly off topic here, but a few years ago Thais were buying new cars or utes because they were getting a big rebate from the government.  The balance I presume was on HP.

 

Now, I could be wrong, but my thinking is that a lot of people who really couldn't afford to buy a new vehicle did and a couple of years down the track are unable to make repayments and would be pretty keen to rid themselves of this money trap, therefore leaving nice bargains to be picked up.

 

Am I correct in this assumption?  If I am, where would be the best place to look for such a bargain?

[simoh1490]

I have a 1997 Lancer auto for sale if interested, much of it has been replaced renewed.

[leonardjones625]

I have a 92 Toyota Corona with a super solid engine. Some of the stuff like the windows need fixing but that's simple to get. I don't use it much because I hate traffic, but definitely nice to not worry about dying on a scooter...

 

But on the plus side, it's only 50k baht. Everything is super cheap to fix as well.

 

PM me if anyone is interested

[cyberfarang]

On 03/04/2017 at 1:06 PM, billd766 said:

 

Have you missed the title of the thread?

 

"Looking to buy super cheap second car" and the OPs post?

 

quote " Where should I go to buy a cheap car just to run around Chiang Mai?"

 

He only wants something cheap and cheerful and not something that he can drive all over Thailand. How much will he have to pay for a farang owned car with all the records or from Expat Motors or the Toyota Sure dealer? I think it will be more than he wants to pay for sure.

It makes no difference where the OP wants to use a car, there is no such thing in Chiang Mai as a super cheap car in reasonable running condition. Any second hand car under 200000 baht will either require a complete restoration job or only fit for the scrapyard. There are also other factors involved. Many of the older cars where designed to use 95 petrol which is slowly being phased out and also spare parts maybe unavailable.

 

The OP would be better off buying a motorbike if budget is a problem.

[canthai55]

6 minutes ago, cyberfarang said:

Any second hand car under 200000 baht will either require a complete restoration job or only fit for the scrapyard.

Nonsense. Our NV, purchased 5 years ago for 150,000, has needed tires, a battery, and this year I installed a new radiator and all new hoses (10 years of running straight water and I did not like the look of the coolant) It never overheated, just preventive maintenance. Of course, it was in good shape when I bought it, of this I made sure. Besides that - Nada. And it has been on LPG since new, so that argument holds no water either. You just do not know cars it sounds like to me.

[Saan]

On 03/04/2017 at 11:03 AM, idman said:

And you are willing to buy a second hand car off a Thai used car lot??? Excuse me, but are you mental?? Thai people are among the worst for taking care of their cars, forget about dealership maintenance most just find the cheapest shop. Since having a car gives huge face too many Thais purchase a car with little or resources to properly maintain it. In the case of these lower end dealers with lower price cars you are taking a huge chance. What do you think your chances are of seeing actual service records, are you qualified enough to determine if the car was severly damaged and only had cover upwork done? You safest bet is to purchase from a Farang who has all the records or buy from places like ExPat Motors here in Chiang Mai or from a Toyota Sure dealer.

Sent from my SM-T805 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Yep, I'm mad. I also bought a car I'm very happy with.

If you can't guage a car's quality, and it is relatively simple, then buy a new one or find some one to guide you.

Despite what some may say many Thais care for their cars and keep them in excellent condition.

[canthai55]

28 minutes ago, Saan said:

Despite what some may say many Thais care for their cars and keep them in excellent condition.

This has been my experience also. To most people a car is a serious investment, and they take care of it as best they can. Of course, lack of a motoring heritage counts against them, but many are learning quickly, and the younger generation who grew up with cars have this down pat. Would much rather have a local mechanic work on my car - I know a few good ones - that get bent over like in the west, where the going rate for shops now is $120 per hour.

[metisdead]

Troll posts have been removed. 

[ilostmypassword]

On 4/14/2017 at 4:07 PM, Konini said:

Partly off topic here, but a few years ago Thais were buying new cars or utes because they were getting a big rebate from the government.  The balance I presume was on HP.

 

Now, I could be wrong, but my thinking is that a lot of people who really couldn't afford to buy a new vehicle did and a couple of years down the track are unable to make repayments and would be pretty keen to rid themselves of this money trap, therefore leaving nice bargains to be picked up.

 

Am I correct in this assumption?  If I am, where would be the best place to look for such a bargain?

The great unloading happened about a hear after purchases of the cars. Since that rebate happened many years ago, the effects of it on pricing are by now pretty subdued.

[TheFishman1]

Go to the car auction it's about 10 minutes from Airport Plaza

[1FinickyOne]

One of the reasons that you don't see flea markets and garage sales here is that if an item has good value left in it, it will go to a family member, either as a gift or inexpensive purchase. If it is a piece of junk and nobody wants it, then it will be sold outside of the family...

 

Would you be better off renting? Or hiring a taxi? If not that often. 

 

I have seen friends more often than not have to invest lots into poorly represented used cars... 

[balo]

I would do the same thing , if you only want a car for short rides, you can get one in ok condition for 50k . Anything to avoid riding motorbikes if you ask me.     

 

[sendintheclowns]

On 4/15/2017 at 5:55 PM, Saan said:

Yep, I'm mad. I also bought a car I'm very happy with.

If you can't guage a car's quality, and it is relatively simple, then buy a new one or find some one to guide you.

Despite what some may say many Thais care for their cars and keep them in excellent condition.

I'm barking mad, too. Bought a spotless july 2014 Escape from a bangkok dealer. 510,000 THB. Still under warrantly, as only 50,000 km. Cost me 2,000 thb to have Ford do a service.

I am selling my 2005 Escape, one farang owner, 251,000km,  lpg. asking 170,000 thb.

buyers tips:

- If you check the service and insurance records of the cheap car you want to buy, you CAN buy a good deal.

- iflpg, the owners book must show a 5 year lpg registration (and the colour, btw) ; 

- insist on a service by the manufacturers's service centre.

as someone said, it's not exactly rocket science, is it?

[sendintheclowns]

which reminds me, is there a specific sub-forum for LPG car owners? tks. 

[HiAdam]

Thaivisa has cars also at this link >   https://classifieds.thaivisa.com/category/15/Cars-Pickups-for-SALE

[Spaniel]

Remember the old saying "Buy cheap, buy twice"!        Save your money then buy something new like a Honda Jazz or similar for around B500,000.