Used Car Dealer Recommendations?

by **Jello** » February 15, 2010, 7:40 pm

Could you recommend any used car dealers in Udon that are "Falang friendly" (speak English)?

by **docta** » February 15, 2010, 9:24 pm

Jello,
The last place you want to buy a car is from a used car dealer, they're all Falang "friendly". :lol:

.
1.) Look in the classifieds for a Farang selling his vehical, you'll most certainly have a decent chance at getting a fair shake.
2.) Buy new if you can, but don't buy from a used car dealer, they're super tricky around here, and pro's at dressin' out a junkers.
You've been warned!!!

by **BobHelm** » February 15, 2010, 9:51 pm

You might want to consider buying new - over 4 to 7 years if necessary.
As docta says (maybe a little harshly

) it is certainly 'buyer beware' buying second hand.

by **Philrjones** » February 16, 2010, 6:13 am

Hi,

I've bought a couple of cars from a place before and can recommend them. Not sure what they're called, but it's on the road out to Nong Kai. Heading from Tesco towards NK, it's on the right hand side about 1km from Tesco - a big yellow front. You can turnaround a couple of hundred meters after you pass it then head back. They generally have someone that can speak English, although I must admit I normally take the wife.

Good range of cars, pickups and they service cars as well. Terrific service - took my last car there (Mazda BT50) for a service - no booking in, just rock up. They sit you down in their air-conditioned service wait area, bang the car up on the hoist, 5 blokes are all over it and finished in 30 mins or less. Cost was only a few hundred baht for a general service, filter & oil change, check everything. I was so happy with them, I bought our next car there - Honda Jazz, nearly new (less than 12 months old) and 12,000 km, still under warranty. Terrific. Even let me trade in the BT50 for it.

Cheers
Phil

by **docta** » February 16, 2010, 11:57 am

Suppose there are exceptions to every rule. Being a stupid newbie, at the time, we bought a car at one of those dealers lined up where Phil is recommending, they also had nice AC offices and smiles all around, but we still got a royal screwing.
The Volvo we purchased had had the Odometer turned every way but loose, showed only 130,000K. Car was beautiful to look at, but what could not be seen was pure junk. We darn near had to replaced everything within the next year, including the steering rack. A steering rack on a Volvo? How many hundreds of thousand K's on a Volvo before a steering rack to falls apart? About a year and a half after the purchase, the trans fell out.
We were lucky to trade it in for a new pickup, but lost a few hundred thousand in the process.
Guess ol buddy Phil lucked out, and good for him, but I wouldn't trust a used car lot here at all.

by **eagle** » February 16, 2010, 11:13 pm

docta wrote:Suppose there are exceptions to every rule. Being a stupid newbie, at the time, we bought a car at one of those dealers lined up where Phil is recommending, they also had nice AC offices and smiles all around, but we still got a royal screwing.
The Volvo we purchased had had the Odometer turned every way but loose, showed only 130,000K. Car was beautiful to look at, but what could not be seen was pure junk. We darn near had to replaced everything within the next year, including the steering rack. A steering rack on a Volvo? How many hundreds of thousand K's on a Volvo before a steering rack to falls apart? About a year and a half after the purchase, the trans fell out.
We were lucky to trade it in for a new pickup, but lost a few hundred thousand in the process.
Guess ol buddy Phil lucked out, and good for him, but I wouldn't trust a used car lot here at all.

The average for Volvo is between 80 000 and 100 000 km. You should prepare to change it every 5th year. This is from Volvo, so it should be correct info. Transmission, if manual, does not work if driver uses maximum torque and big gears with low speed. Usual problem when driver is lazy or does not know anything about cars. I have seen gearbox failures in less than 30 000 km, because of maximum torque and low speed -gearbox does not get enough oil because of low speed. In reality gears are dry.

So second hand dealer sells what he gets and does not always know previous owners driving habits or brand related problems. Steering rack i.e. is second most reported problem in Volvo. You need an expert with you or know the brand well before buying.

by **docta** » February 17, 2010, 4:48 am

Eagle, that's an eye opener, I thought before buying the used Volvo they were an exceptionally well made car.
A surprise, both then, and now after reading your post.

by **UdonExpat** » February 17, 2010, 9:22 am

I'll recommend Somphot Car Center on Hwy 2 about 1km north of the ring road, on the way to Nong Khai. Just prior to PTT Express. My brother-in-law owns it.

The English there is marginal. I personally know of 5 sales to farang, all of whom are satisfied with the purchase price and in one case, after sale repair. They sell pickups and small cars. Many of the vehicles they sell are purchased at auction, so they don't know the history of most of the cars. It is wise to check very carefully for collision damage, indications of odometer rollback, and any other signs of abuse.

I bought a 7 year old car there that the odometer had obviously been turned back (very low km's), but the car was in good condition for a high km vehicle. It also had collision damage that had been well repaired and did not affect the structural integrity of the car. As with any used car it needed a some reconditioning.

Maintenance on cars is very inexpensive here if you buy Toyota or Honda models that are not imports. The parts on imports are more expensive. Labor is usually very little. The car I bought was a Honda import so the parts are a bit more expensive than those manufactured in Thailand, mostly because of taxes. I have spent about 65,000 baht on reconditioning and repairs in the 3 years I have used it. (tires, alarm system, brakes and one caliper, new radiator, valve job (burned a valve when the radiator went), new front shocks and stabilizer links and bushings, as well as regular oil, fluid, and filter changes.) Repairs were done at the Honda dealership using genuine Honda parts, rather than after market parts that are often used at repair shops.

You can purchase a used car and keep it maintained for significantly less than a new car, and use it for many years.

by **Jello** » February 23, 2010, 10:47 am

Thank you for your recommendations and advice.

I've been a bit surprised by the prices being asked for used cars here. Some as much as 50% more than what you would pay for the same model/year in the U.S.!

by **hangsaboot** » March 24, 2010, 2:33 am

Philrjones wrote:Hi,

I've bought a couple of cars from a place before and can recommend them. Not sure what they're called, but it's on the road out to Nong Kai. Heading from Tesco towards NK, it's on the right hand side about 1km from Tesco - a big yellow front. You can turnaround a couple of hundred meters after you pass it then head back. They generally have someone that can speak English, although I must admit I normally take the wife.

Good range of cars, pickups and they service cars as well. Terrific service - took my last car there (Mazda BT50) for a service - no booking in, just rock up. They sit you down in their air-conditioned service wait area, bang the car up on the hoist, 5 blokes are all over it and finished in 30 mins or less. Cost was only a few hundred baht for a general service, filter & oil change, check everything. I was so happy with them, I bought our next car there - Honda Jazz, nearly new (less than 12 months old) and 12,000 km, still under warranty. Terrific. Even let me trade in the BT50 for it.

it,s called LNS AUTO ,, tel 042 325 604-6,
the staff speak reasonably good english .
and many farangs buy their cars here ..
it has a ISO , certification {international standards organization ]

Cheers
Phil

by **Texpat** » March 24, 2010, 4:27 am

Jello wrote:I've been a bit surprised by the prices being asked for used cars here. Some as much as 50% more than what you would pay for the same model/year in the U.S.!

Yep, you'll find the extras lacking too. They'll have one or two you can buy and drive away. Anything else, you might have to wait weeks or months for.

Customer Service? It's a crap shoot -- even if you're plonkling down 800,000 baht.

by **Jello** » March 24, 2010, 8:44 am

Thanks for all the recommendations and advice.
After looking at many overpriced used cars, I bought from a private seller (Falang). He had all the maintained receipts from day one. I still paid more than what it would be worth in the U.S., but after looking around I have to say it was a fair price. (Supply and demand!)

by **Glyn** » March 24, 2010, 6:26 pm

My advice (I know it's too late for OP) is stay away from 2nd hand European, we know they are no better than Honda or Toyota (despite toyota's recent short falls), yet their origanl new price is way inflated with import tax, this will stay with car through the 2nd hand market, plus as Docta experienced, parts are not ready available and very expensive to repair.

A good way of buying a car is price up loads in the category that suits you, then knock 50k off the best price you find, and look for a private deal (preferably with a falang) with the price you've just calculated. One previous owner is best, otherwise I'd steer clear.

by **EssexGaz** » March 24, 2010, 10:42 pm

I might have a car that is suitable for you, been looking at upgrading to a bigger car

Its a 1 year old nissan tiida with 20,000km. had from new and has ABS and dual airbags

PM me for more details if you are interested

by **usedcars** » June 16, 2011, 1:04 am

There is a dealer I have good experience with that dealer in Used Toyota Corolla buying so I suggest you try that and their prices are negotiable. mawarinternational.com

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