new car or rent

[magnum]

We come out to Hua hin for 5 to 6 months each year,we have a scooter but are considering buying a new small car for use in this period each year, the car will be unused for the rest of the time,iWe would like to know cost of top insurance maintenance etc,to work out if it would be more economical to rent .

[dtaai-maai]

16-18k should cover full insurance.

If you have the cash, buy.

[SunandFun]

Hi Magnum,
What part of the year will you most likely be in Hua Hin? We are considering the same thing. I looked at some Honda City, Automatic and A/C for about 669,000 Baht with leather. Have looked at trying to rent it while we were gone, but not an easy thing to do. Rentals are going for 800 Baht per day off season and more during high season. Better to keep a vehicle running all the time and not let it sit. So we are thinking of buying, but we will only be here part time, maximum six months. If you have seen used car prices, cars do not depreciate. You can keep it for 4 years, maintain it well and sell it for the same thing that you it new for. (OK maybe a few thousand baht less, but not much.) I have heard insurance is around 20,000 to 25,000 Baht per year for top of the line. We come in December to take possession of our Condo. Our plans are to spend the off season in Hua Hin, April to September each year, with short trips back to India. Something to consider anyway. Send me your thoughts and PM if you would like to keep it private.

[Nereus]

Insurance should be the least of your concerns. As mentioned above, it is not good to leave a car sitting around unused, even a new one. The battery will be the first item to give up, the tyres can and will deteriorate, the air con will very likely lose the gas charge, depending where you store it the rats and other vermin will make a home out of it, the fuel will become "stale" particularly if you use any "gasahol" types, which is becoming the only type that you can buy, and lead to problems with fuel system. A new car will depreciate, regardless of how well it is looked after. You may also find that your insurance may not cover it if left unattended for long periods of time.

For me, you would be better off with a reasonable "old banger", 5 or 6 years old. Just take out 3rd class insurance, throw away the battery each time you leave, and be prepared to spend a bit on the other things rather than a big outlay on a new car. Or, alternatively, sell it before you leave and buy another similar next time that you are here. There is at least one honest car dealer in town that would probably come to some arrangement with you to sell you a car and then buy it back at a small loss to you when you are ready to leave.

[heartofmidlothian]

Good idea to buy a car if you can afford it - too many motorbike accidents! You can buy a small car for around 400 000 (Honda Brio or Nissan March) drive it for 5 years and sell it for about 250 000. Insurance will be under 20 000 for these models and just service it and change tyres. Buying 2nd hand here can sting you, if you are unlucky!
A friend of mine visits from Jan to mid April - he rented a 4 year old City off another friend of mine for 10 000 baht per month. He was delighted with it and has booked it for next year. Pretty sure that same car is available the rest of the year though, if anyone is interested.
For those that do not have a Thai driving license, you must get an International license from your home country.

[capt]

Hi, will be arriving in Hua Hin next week for a month, and would like to hire small car for the month , does,nt have to be new. Any help or contacts with this please.

[Lev]

Hi, will be arriving in Hua Hin next week for a month, and would like to hire small car for the month , does,nt have to be new. Any help or contacts with this please.

http://www.huahinmedia.com/huahincarrental.php

[SunandFun]

Hi, will be arriving in Hua Hin next week for a month, and would like to hire small car for the month , does,nt have to be new. Any help or contacts with this please.

Hi CAPT, I highly recommend the website Lev has noted. (Forum Sponsor) I have used them and was extremely pleased with their service and the car. A very nice Toyota Vios. Have a great month in HH.

[capt]

Many thanks, Lev,Sunandfun and Mr plum for you advice and help.