Used vehicles sales

[PeteC]

It's a buyers market, and this article explains why.

Buyer's market

Lending restrictions and a sluggish economy are denting sales of used cars as a glut of vehicles flood the market and prices plummet.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/mo ... ers-market (Photos)

More vehicles with fewer signs of wear entering the used car market is not always good news for sellers, although buyers certainly appreciate it.

Just as automakers are encountering a tough time selling new cars in Thailand, used car dealers are also struggling to increase sales.

The second-hand car market turned sluggish in the first half of 2024. Though the situation is expected to improve in the latter half, used car sales are likely to face a downturn again in 2025, according to industry leaders.......

[PeteC]

People's feeling about used cars can differ to the extreme. I grew up with a very good friend whose father bought only used cars between when he came back from WWII until his death around 1986. He commuted in them to/from work at 100 + miles per day. They were all great vehicles, and my friend and I learned how to drive in them, and "borrowed" one from time to time for a country road joy ride pre-license days when we were 15. All Chrysler products with a push button automatic transmission believe it or not.

Nothing wrong with a used car if you do all the checks needed, or have an expert do them for you.

[PeteC]

He was a CPA, which when you think about it says a lot about cost vs value per his education and career practices. Face saving type societies such as here wouldn't be too keen with the concept unless they had no choice. There are a few though I'm sure who don't gives a rat's arse about what others think.

[Dannie Boy]

My father changed his cars quite regularly - I don’t recall him keeping one for more than 3 years, but he always brought second hand simply due to the fact that he couldn’t afford to buy new!!

My buying started with a 1961 Beetle followed by a number of different makes and models until in 1992 I got my first new (Company) car - a Rover 418 diesel. At the time I thought it was a very nice car, although looking back, the engine was very agricultural - a real rattler first thing fired up.

I’ve since been very fortunate to have either new Company cars, or since retiring bought new myself.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[STEVE G]

^I never had a new vehicle until the first pickup I bought in Thailand.
My brother spent his whole career working for a large commercial car auction company and always got me good deals on used cars in the UK.

[buksida]

Used cars have always been a bit of a bum deal in Thailand because prices are so high that it makes more sense to buy new for the extra 20% or so. I'd never had a new one until coming here, and now we're on our second.

[Gregjam]

Not only are second hand prices high in Thailand but unless you know the service history of a used car it is very risky. So many cars were bought when there was easy credit and a cash back scheme and subsequently repossessed and not maintained properly due to money issues that buying used is fraught with risk. Like Buksida I never had a new car until coming here and am now on my fourth. For most foreigners the service charges at main dealers are not that extortionate compared to the frightening rates at a main dealer in Europe.
It is worth noting that I do not use Hua Hin based main dealers for servicing as I have had a few issues and use Nissan in Pranburi or used Toyota in Cha Am (the one over the railway near the bypass). Like most things going north or south a little saves money.

[Dan86]

On a bit of a side note to this, I was in an electrtical reapir shop down in Hua Hin getting something done. A Farang guy (speaking Thai though) came in to drop of a heads up display off some bike. The guy was repairing my thing while we waited so my wife was chatting to him, apparently it was to reset/rollback the ODO, and was quite a common service and can also be done on some car models 'easy'. It was a digital type heads up looked like the low end ish types you see on Waves and Clicks.
Don't have any more context on this but did make me think twice in future on second hand vehcles here!

[VincentD]

When I was looking at cars in Bangkok circa 1989-90, I was stunned at the high price of secondhand cars. I guess in part because not many people could afford them at the time. I eventually got a new Mitsubishi Champ, and in 1994 got a new Ford Escort at the motor show. It was the last time I ever got something new, depreciation was quite startling. And was particularly rapid for most European brands.
So I started looking for high end Euro brands that the hisos tend to change after about 5 years, this is where you can get good cars cheap and with less mileage and service history. However, these days the cars are just too high tech and come with extremely expensive spare parts costs.
I now look for things with cars where consumables like bulbs can be replaced, not changing the whole front headlight led unit at 200 times the cost..