Buying a new car in Hua Hin

Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:37 am

I'll be a buying a new car, probably in HH. Top of the list is a Honda Civic or Mazda 3. Toyota Camry also possible. Does anyone have advice on buying locally, warranty, after sales service etc from HH dealerships?

Post by **Cowtown Comedy** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:21 am

IMO, consider a small truck instead of a car. THe roads on average are complete crap here, and during flood season its nice to have more clearance. I have a 4x4, but quite honestly I dont need it. My next purchase will be a small 2 wheel drive truck. Sorry I cant answer your questiono on warranties ect. in HH. I've always found more value in second hand autos.

Post by **ste860** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:53 pm

i bought a yaris recently ,from the toyota dealer the service was very good,no problem using other garages anywhere else up north if it needed a service under the warranty ,cant fault them at all.only down side is the wait until the red plates are removed fed up paying the police for driving after the allowed time,

Post by **Big Boy** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:57 pm

ste860 wrote:

only down side is the wait until the red plates are removed fed up paying the police for driving after the allowed time

Can you please explain what the restrictions are for driving with a red plate?

Post by **PJG** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:20 pm

BB
Not sure what the official restrictions are but it seems to cost u B200 every time you are pulled by the MIB in Bangkok.

Post by **moja** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:31 pm

who drove for nearly three months on red plates and never got stopped once, I think it is just the luck of the draw when it comes to the MIB.

Post by **Francois** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:34 pm

PJG wrote:every time you are pulled by the MIB in Bangkok.

Gniiii ??? Men In Black ???

Post by **Winkie** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 2:33 pm

For red plate, I think the offical ruels are:-

No driving before 8am
No driving after 6pm
All journeys should be entereed in teh little blu book that SHOULD come along with the red plates.

ALL Garages are famous for keeping the red plates on cars for too long. I've bought 3 new cars in Thailand (not all at the same time!!!), and not from the same dealer or brand. In each case the same, actaully they also ask if you'd like to keep for a long time (saves them registration costs, I guess, and many like you to think there car is new, even if more than a year old!).

If you push, you can normally get your real plates in 2-3 weeks (at least that's what I achieved 2 out of 3 times. Probably Thai people could push for a faster turnaround.

Careful if you have an accident, I think technically you are NOT covered outside of the permitted hours.

Post by **Big Boy** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 2:49 pm

Thanks - didn't realise any of that

Post by **norm** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:00 pm

Whoops.........Drove around for three months with red plates and never knew there were any restrictions on them. Never got stopped.

Shows you how much I am out after dark.

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:14 pm

For red plate, I think the offical ruels are:-
No driving before 8am
No driving after 6pm

Aren't those restrictions just for outside the province you bought the car from.
Ie: If in the same province you can drive it 24 hours on red plates.

Or have I got that wrong ?

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:17 pm

I'll be a buying a new car, probably in HH. Top of the list is a Honda Civic or Mazda 3

We've got an 18 month old Mazda 3 for sale if you're interested, it never gets used and only done 9k miles.

SJ

Post by **clive** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:02 pm

Strange one this red plate comedy. All of the self drive rental companies here have the same problem, new cars all delivered with red plates, yet when the police stop the cars and see the rental companies name on the sticker on the windscreen they let the car and driver drive away? Maybe they just have diferent rules but then again maybe the rental companies wont pay the poli,, no no that can't be.

Post by **crazy88** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 8:37 pm

SJ wrote

"
Aren't those restrictions just for outside the province you bought the car from.
Ie: If in the same province you can drive it 24 hours on red plates."

Correct I believe .

Try carrying 200 bt in 25 satang coins with you to pay .Always demand the name rank and number of all officers present and inform them that your lawyer and their boss will be receiving a report about their corrupt activities .Accuse them of being racist in a loud voice whilst waving your arms around .

Let me know if it gets you anywhere .

I just keep driving slowly and wave back .Can backfire .See earlier post .

Crazy 88

Post by **ste860** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:36 pm

i had to travel to khon khen a few times with mine,because i had red plates the police loved it cost my thai girl 400b once but same check other way cost me only 200b its like a red rag to a bull as soon as they see your red plates,yes its the hour restrictions they always say,never have any trouble now they are off,so if you buy try to get the plates asap