buying a tuk tuk .

Post by **hangsaboot** » December 3, 2009, 9:59 pm

considering the low standards of driving in udon ,
i consider a motor bike , or scooter , too dangerous .
i am seriously thinking of buying a customised tuk tuk ,
for local journeys ..
i would appreciate , valued opinions ...

Post by **jorg** » December 3, 2009, 11:04 pm

Why you think a tuk tuk is safer than a motor bike or scooter?

And on the topic of tuk tuk's. Why they always (or at least often) drive right in the middle of where the cars and the bikes drive and so blocking the way for both of them?

Post by **Texpat** » December 3, 2009, 11:51 pm

silly, attention-seeking eccentric -- without the common sense.

Daft.

Well, you asked.

Post by **Lee Rhodes** » December 3, 2009, 11:58 pm

Texpat wrote:silly, attention-seeking eccentric -- without the common sense. Daft. Well, you asked.

Agreed dude. Seen a few of these saddos around town with their samlors. One old guy with his flowing pony-tail blowing in the breeze.

Jeeze, I feel sorry for these people. Check out of the psychiatric ward and catch a flight to Thailand. =D> =D> =D>

Post by **eagle** » December 4, 2009, 1:19 am

Silly maybe, but much better than scooter, if small family with some friends joins the ride. Of course not so good as real pick up. This is the blue one in family. Other one is red -so we like those- of course most of the family are thai. Experience is not so exiting as skydiving is, but does not need a plane.

Tried both and skydiving is much faster. $\:D/$

Honestly speaking -I think that tuktuk is good for local trips and gives more tranporting flexibility than scooter. Still I will buy also scooter or motorbike for trips to be made alone without big shopping bags. Pick up is for Nong Khai etc. trips. Of course I can spend only month per year before retirement in Thailand, but it has confirmed me to use tuktuk already.

I feel that having 2-3 days food and family on scooter is more than silly -it is crazy.

Remember that this is only my honest opinion and this website maybe does not officially share my opinion.

Post by **virginprune** » December 4, 2009, 8:56 am

Go for it mate...cheap and easy to run and maintain. The only saddo's here are the ones that think people should conform to their ideas of "supposed cool"

Post by **kakariki** » December 4, 2009, 9:43 am

Hi All
I just bought one from the factory here in udon no problems, my family uses it for family shopping and going to church and taking grandson to school.
I've taken it out a few times and get a few looks including prospective customers.

Post by **rufus** » December 4, 2009, 5:30 pm

Personally I think it is a great idea.

Post by **andylambert** » December 4, 2009, 5:32 pm

Hi All,

How much is a basic new Tuk Tuk in Udon?

Post by **eagle** » December 5, 2009, 1:32 am

andylambert wrote:Hi All,

How much is a basic new Tuk Tuk in Udon?

Around 50000 to 60000 thb. I base this to price I paid two and three years ago. It depends if you like electric starter etc. I had bad luck and battery was dead after six months, but it can be also family problem. Never mind, it did not make me to go bankrupt.

Post by **BKKSTAN** » December 5, 2009, 2:32 am

I know several guys in NK that have TukTuks!They take their family around town in them!One guy bought a used one by asking the drivers at Tesco if anyone had one for sale.Paid 11,000 baht for it and over a year period,or so,spend 5-6,000 baht fixing it up.They all have motorbikes and bicycles also,just don't own cars as the expense of a car is not warranted unless you travel alot.They take buses,trains and planes or long distance trips,once in a great while,rent a car.
When talking to them,I see how much money they save versus the expenses involved with the car and its constant depreciation!Many expats are under the impression that the cars don't depreciate as fast here!Wrong!!!It is very difficult to sell a used car here!The prices asked by dealers are not an indication of what your car is worth................!!

Post by **KHONDAHM** » December 5, 2009, 7:06 am

I have been telling my wife for years that I want a samlor. She thinks I'm bonkers and refuses to be seen with me if I get one.

I've just always liked them; and since I officially retired from riding scooters and hyper-bikes, it is an agreeable compromise. I know it sounds weird, but it is a dream of mine to own a samlor. It would sort of complete the whole moving to Thailand experience for me, ya know? From the hard streets, to boardrooms, to rice paddies. Man...who'd have thunkeddeded...

They have them for sale in Sawan Dang (@45 min east of Udon) for @50k new. I look forward to riding it for trips to the store and when I just want to go solo for a ride down the back roads amongst the rice paddies when the mist rises in the early morning.

Beautiful ride that just cannot

be appreciated sitting behind the wheel of an SUV!

Post by **hangsaboot** » December 7, 2009, 10:18 pm

andylambert wrote:Hi All,

How much is a basic new Tuk Tuk in Udon?

there were a customised tuk tuks on display ,from the main dealer in udon ,
inside the central shopping complex, recently ..
the top of the range ,very smartly customised .with 150 cc , engine
and with upholstered seating. 65.000 bht. ...
basic . around 55K..
three wheels on my wagon {fkc dee bike,, death wish } $\:D/$

Post by **LoongLee** » December 7, 2009, 11:09 pm

Khondahm, Go for it man!,,,,,,,, don't dawdle,,,,, live the dream,,,,,, I don't know that any of us are going to get to take this ride twice,,,,,,,,,,,,, when the music starts,,, get up and dance !!! =D> =D> =D>
Cheers, LL

Post by **KHONDAHM** » December 8, 2009, 12:39 am

LoongLee wrote:Khondahm, Go for it man!,,,,,,,, don't dawdle,,,,, live the dream,,,,,, I don't know that any of us are going to get to take this ride twice,,,,,,,,,,,,, when the music starts,,, get up and dance !!! =D> =D> =D>
Cheers, LL

LOL!

Yep, I have been eyeballing them for years when we visit the village house for long enough. Now that we've decided to go ahead and remain near Udon, I think the time is right. The first thing I am going to do when we pass through Sawan on the way to the village house early next year is stop, hit the ATM, grab one, and drive it right off the showroom floor then all the way to the village! Beeping and waving the whole way with my old man hat on. $\:D/$

I'll park it at the village house until we start building the house near Udon, then use it for "supervision" trips out to the site.

Yes, sir! Ya only go around once. Make it a good one!

Cheers!

Post by **maaka** » December 8, 2009, 8:56 am

having been a biker for 40yrs, and the former girlfriends papa is a tuk tuk driver, I checked it out..chinese made, so life span abit dubious, chain drive v the shaft drive , chain drive always easier to repair, replace or what have you. prefer the kick start v the electric start, so when battery goes flat can still kick it into life hopefully..it seems some of the tuk tuk guys get some real mileage out of them, and can be a good little work horse, if maintained regulatly, even if they are if abit slow..handy for throwing things in the back, including the inlaws, might even make a dollar here and there, or lease it out when not in use.

me I would rather make a trike myself, but thats just because I have made bikes before, but go for it dude if thats your dream, and you have the money..I wouldnt give a dam what others think..heck I would have one of those V8 powered canoes you see in BKK if I lived near the Mekong..who says us farang have got to keep up with the Jones when living in thailand, only the ruddy Jones...live alittle man, do all the things you ever wanted to do in life.

Post by **thrilled** » December 8, 2009, 10:23 am

I do believe the ones with the small motor you see around udon,probably do go quite A ways on A gallon of gas.And you could probably make A few baht here and there.If the price isn't to expensive it might be the way to go.

Post by **red67** » December 8, 2009, 10:54 am

thrilled wrote:I do believe the ones with the small motor you see around udon,probably do go quite A ways on A gallon of gas.And you could probably make A few baht here and there.If the price isn't to expensive it might be the way to go.

yeh you might make the odd baht leasing it out,or even enjoy driving it around the village or nipping the shops ,but i wouldn,t try picking up fares in town,don,t think you would last very long

Post by **keith555** » December 8, 2009, 4:39 pm

Also when driving in one most cars and pickups keep out of the way of them because they know they dont have any insurance. You also never get stopped by the police when driving one,you dont need any insurance no tax,you dont even need a licence. If you buy one just fill it with gasoline and of you go!!

Post by **Texpat** » December 8, 2009, 6:23 pm

keith555 wrote:You also never get stopped by the police when driving one,you dont need any insurance no tax,you dont even need a licence. If you buy one just fill it with gasoline and of you go!!

Really?

Where did you hear this?
Did your source also tell you that leasing it out wouldn't constitute a "business" or work and therefore wouldn't require a WP?

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