convertables

[albacor24]

I want to buy a convertable car in Thailand,my wifes birthday is coming up and I was looking into the mini cabreo,it cost $ 2 400 000.00 Baht.Much to expensive.

Does anybody know where I can look for a convetable car new or second hand between $800 000 and 1 200 000.00 Baht.

Thanks !

[LivinLOS]

one2car.com thaicar.com etc.. You could get in a MX5 for that kind of money.. There was a MR2 listed recently but at a bit above that.

Tho personally I wouldnt want a convertible here.. Too much sun (Thai women unlikely to want it), too much exhaust fumes, too much dust and crud from the roads, no AC use..

Sounds good until you actually go to use one..

[albacor24]

Thanks for the advice will check it out

[ATMwalking]

I agree with lil. I've played with the idea of getting a convertible, but it is only pratical for a few months of the year and only at some times and locations. Plus for safety, I like having the full roof structure over my head. Lots of accidents. Lots of stuff flies off trucks ahead of you or could drop from above.

[K2]

No TG worth her sort would want a convertable .... you know how obsessed they are with staying a light skinned as possible and the amount of time/money they spend on acheiving this goal!

Convertable here as already pointed out is of little practicle use - when it rains get drenched in minuites and humidity here (upwards of 90%) makes a/c a very necessary luxury.

Then you have factor of your open convertable being temptation to much for petty pilfering wherever you park it and as you says its for your G/F shw would end up with unwelcome attention everytime she had to stop from Thai uys on motorcycles - all round bad idea IMO.

[Robaht]

Out of curiosity, you guys who are saying it is such a bad idea to have a convertable, have you ever owned a convertable? They are fun as hell to drive and if it is hot, you just turn the old A/C to max and pump the air at your face -- sure all the negatives are true: theft, debris, unwanted attention but driving around with the sky open and 360 degree visibility, the wind, the sunglasses, the hot thai girl at your side....

Buy the convertable and a box of sunscreen and enjoy life!!!

Cheers, Robaht

[ATMwalking]

Originally Posted by Robaht

Out of curiosity, you guys who are saying it is such a bad idea to have a convertable, have you ever owned a convertable?

I just went on a yacht cruise yesterday. 40 million baht boat easy.

You'd think the girls would be lounging around in their bikini's all oiled up looking sexy in the sun. Maybe unduing thier back straps so they don't get tan lines. Hoping for a peak. Coming out of the water all glistening with thier hair slicked back. Nope, they were hiding in the shade staying covered and staying on board cause they can't swim.

A lot of western fantasies don't translate to Thailand.

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by Robaht

Out of curiosity, you guys who are saying it is such a bad idea to have a convertable, have you ever owned a convertable? They are fun as hell to drive and if it is hot, you just turn the old A/C to max and pump the air at your face -- sure all the negatives are true: theft, debris, unwanted attention but driving around with the sky open and 360 degree visibility, the wind, the sunglasses, the hot thai girl at your side....

Buy the convertable and a box of sunscreen and enjoy life!!!

Cheers, Robaht

Had a couple.. best one being a Beach buggy in my late teens (Manta Ray GP.. ****ing great fun) but the fact is that was in a climate that was cold but being young and dumb I could bear that drawback and it was fine / just right in summer..

However Thailands climate just doesnt really do it and unless your talking a Merc SL power hood or one of these boot folding hardtops the car is always a compromise with the roof up..

[albacor24]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the advice,and you all make some good points which I hadn't thought about.

But what's the difference between driving a converatble and driving a motor bike?

True my Wife doesn't like to stay out in the sun for too long,but it would be fun to cruise around in a convertable.

I think I would be really enjoyable.

[Robaht]

When I used to live in Atlanta I had a little Mazda Miata (is it MX5 outside the States?) and I loved it. All my Australian friends said I had a "hair dresser" car, but it was fun. Agreed that the weather was more "convertable" weather, but I still think Phuket weather is fine for having one. So it gets hot, it rains...big deal, keep the top up on those days when it is unbearable. Flipping the roof up was easy, it was a soft top, and could do it just sitting at a stoplight, not even getting out of the car. Wouldn't ever keep anything of value inside the car, but one of those steering wheel locks and a flashing alarm light was enough deterrent to getting it stolen.

Maybe you should try to rent a convertable for a few weeks and see if you like it.

cheers, Robaht

[albacor24]

Originally Posted by Robaht

When I used to live in Atlanta I had a little Mazda Miata (is it MX5 outside the States?) and I loved it. All my Australian friends said I had a "hair dresser" car, but it was fun. Agreed that the weather was more "convertable" weather, but I still think Phuket weather is fine for having one. So it gets hot, it rains...big deal, keep the top up on those days when it is unbearable. Flipping the roof up was easy, it was a soft top, and could do it just sitting at a stoplight, not even getting out of the car. Wouldn't ever keep anything of value inside the car, but one of those steering wheel locks and a flashing alarm light was enough deterrent to getting it stolen.

Maybe you should try to rent a convertable for a few weeks and see if you like it.

cheers, Robaht

I don't think they rent any convertables in Phuket.but it would be a great idea to rent one for a few months before I buy one.

Does anybody know where I can rent a convertable car in Phuket?

Thanks!

[Denver]

When I get back I am going to get one of those bikes with a home-made rusty rebar welded sidecar jobbies with a plastic beach chair in it.

Best of both worlds! Drive the bike when you want with great cornering or sit on the beach chair with a bag of noodles and eat your lunch on the way to Patong! Need someone to drive the bike for option two and perhaps a small hand held fan and an umbrella for the rainy season...........but what the hell?

Sorted.

[Robaht]

Originally Posted by Denver

When I get back I am going to get one of those bikes with a home-made rusty rebar welded sidecar jobbies with a plastic beach chair in it.

Best of both worlds! Drive the bike when you want with great cornering or sit on the beach chair with a bag of noodles and eat your lunch on the way to Patong! Need someone to drive the bike for option two and perhaps a small hand held fan and an umbrella for the rainy season...........but what the hell?

Sorted.

Or you could make a redneck convertable. All you need is an old car and a chain saw to cut off the roof. Be careful though, sometimes the sparks start the upholstery on fire. Get a tarp in case of rain, or an old boat cover. Very classy.

[visa2003]

Originally Posted by Robaht

Or you could make a redneck convertable. All you need is an old car and a chain saw to cut off the roof. Be careful though, sometimes the sparks start the upholstery on fire. Get a tarp in case of rain, or an old boat cover. Very classy.

Or, as I have actually seen, the damned thing folds up in the middle, and starts to scrape on the ground!!!!!

[dbcooper99]

I am a big convertible fan too, but I would never own one here. The roads just have so much dirt and dust that you would be constantly cleaning out the inside. I took my wrangler to costa rica last year and because of space limitations and security reasons I ended up taking the hard top and leaving the soft top at home. Once I got there I took the hard top off to enjoy the sun for a few months. I felt pretty sorry for the poor thing because I couldn't spend the time to keep it clean and just decided to say fu@k it after the first couple weeks. I enjoyed the sun too much too put the doors and top back on though. I ended up having it professionally cleaned once I got home. The dust was everywhere. Inside all the A/C vents, speaker grills, and every nook and cranny you could think of. I'm sure it took the bloke all day long with a box of cotton swabs to make it shine again. With the dirt on the roads around here I'm sure a convertible would end up the same way. Then you'll either spend a day every week cleaning it, paying someone else to do it, or just quit putting the top down. Just my .02
db

[albacor24]

Originally Posted by dbcooper99

I am a big convertible fan too, but I would never own one here. The roads just have so much dirt and dust that you would be constantly cleaning out the inside. I took my wrangler to costa rica last year and because of space limitations and security reasons I ended up taking the hard top and leaving the soft top at home. Once I got there I took the hard top off to enjoy the sun for a few months. I felt pretty sorry for the poor thing because I couldn't spend the time to keep it clean and just decided to say fu@k it after the first couple weeks. I enjoyed the sun too much too put the doors and top back on though. I ended up having it professionally cleaned once I got home. The dust was everywhere. Inside all the A/C vents, speaker grills, and every nook and cranny you could think of. I'm sure it took the bloke all day long with a box of cotton swabs to make it shine again. With the dirt on the roads around here I'm sure a convertible would end up the same way. Then you'll either spend a day every week cleaning it, paying someone else to do it, or just quit putting the top down. Just my .02
db

Thanks for the advise,you make a good point.A convertable will tough to clean,I would live to rent one for a couple of months,but can't seam to find any of them for rent.

[ATMwalking]

Get a practical car.

The roads suck. Accidents happen. Some guy on a motorbike bangs off your car. Lots of stuff happens and it isn't worth getting bothered over. Your car will be in the shop getting repairs. Just assume that. You want those repairs to be done quick.

I can get new parts on my car in 72 hours max. I know one guy that had a Chevy and he had to wait 6 weeks for parts. Not insurance covered rental car so it really sucked for him.

If you're buying a new car, I'd say stick with Honda or Toyota. For a truck go with Izuzzu or Toyota. Real safe bets. And if stuff happens, you don't care so much...just get it fixed.

Phuket is upcountry. A benz or Beamer is just going to get trashed. I really don't know what the Ferrari dealership is doing here. Too soon.

[Denver]

.....Sorted!

[S1MON]

MX5 in the gazette here: a bit more than you want to pay at 1.5, but it is a 2005 model.

Phuket Gazette - online English newspaper for Phuket, Thailand, with daily news, classified ads, yellow pages, business listings, upcoming events, event calendar, phuket events

i love convertables, even in scotland, small break in the clouds and the roof comes off, car just feels so much different.