Motoring in Pattaya
Discussion
I'm going to be living in Pattaya for 10 months at least, possibly 16. I'll be commuting 45km per day, currently in a van shared with colleagues but I'm already thinking about sorting my own transport.
Are there any big 'gotchas' with renting a car here? What about buying a shed?
I'll be gaining a Thai driving license as soon as my work permit arrives and I'm currently on monthly Visas.
Also depending on the replies to the above (!) I'd be keen to hear from anybody who has or knows of an honest solid car for sale at the bottom end of the market (<150,000 Baht), ideally in the South East.
Are there any big 'gotchas' with renting a car here? What about buying a shed?
I'll be gaining a Thai driving license as soon as my work permit arrives and I'm currently on monthly Visas.
Also depending on the replies to the above (!) I'd be keen to hear from anybody who has or knows of an honest solid car for sale at the bottom end of the market (<150,000 Baht), ideally in the South East.
I can't ride. I only have 5 months experience on a 125 (CBT), and to be frank it wasn't entirely successful! I meant to say bikes are out of the question on the opening post...
I want to keep the costs down so either way I'm going to end up with a crap car- the question is do I rent a crap new car or buy a crap old car! I notice that at the bottom end of the market everything is 1.5 or 1.6 and fitted with a 4-speed auto, nothing to stir the soul. I've been taking cheap cars in the UK for granted...
I take it the transfer of ownership / tax / insurance procedure isn't utterly bewildering for a non-Thai speaking farang then? I'm pending visa and work permit at the moment though I do have a residential address now.
I want to keep the costs down so either way I'm going to end up with a crap car- the question is do I rent a crap new car or buy a crap old car! I notice that at the bottom end of the market everything is 1.5 or 1.6 and fitted with a 4-speed auto, nothing to stir the soul. I've been taking cheap cars in the UK for granted...
I take it the transfer of ownership / tax / insurance procedure isn't utterly bewildering for a non-Thai speaking farang then? I'm pending visa and work permit at the moment though I do have a residential address now.
From what I've read on the subject, it doesn't sound too arduous here in Thailand- I stand to be corrected though. Using a nominated 3rd party to do it on your behalf is apparently common. I think the main difficulty will be the language thing. There are lots of British expats here and a number of the cars I've shortlisted are with English/English speaking owners.
The cars are expensive. I think I should stick to Japanese metal as that's what everybody else here seems to have, and at the moment I'm seeing Toyotas and Mazdas at 130k which'd be worth little more than 500 quid in blighty. It hurts a bit to put that kind of cash into such an old undesirable car but it looks like I won't rent anything for much less than 17k per month so the money does stack up.
The cars are expensive. I think I should stick to Japanese metal as that's what everybody else here seems to have, and at the moment I'm seeing Toyotas and Mazdas at 130k which'd be worth little more than 500 quid in blighty. It hurts a bit to put that kind of cash into such an old undesirable car but it looks like I won't rent anything for much less than 17k per month so the money does stack up.
XJSJohn said:
be aware that many "British expats" are the modern version of '80s costa del crime types in pattaya
Noted, thanks!XJSJohn said:
pork911 said:
far better to rent (as always 
)
this statement does apply to most things in Thailand )
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