The big turn
It is the moment that every car owner always hiccups against: the big service. A hefty drain on your wallet, and the never-to-be-answered question of whether everything the garage has repaired and replaced really needed to be repaired or replaced. The first 10.000 kilometers with our car were over and since we bought it at 30.000 km, the counter showed 40.000 and for the Vigo that means a major service.
In the Netherlands that meant calling the garage to arrange a date. That was usually only possible after a week or three. When I had delivered the car and cycled home through rain and darkness on the loan bike, the brakes and the light of which did not work (yes, this was really still in the Netherlands), the anxious waiting began. At about 3 o'clock the phone rang. "He's ready." “Was there anything special?” “No, only the rear tires had little tread, and the wiper blades had to be replaced, but that is always the case. And of course the brake pads. But otherwise only the standard work.” Thanks to the fact that we drove such a cheap Matizje, we only had to pay € 500.
So now we had to find out how that works here in Thailand. Fortunately, there is a Toyota dealer along the highway to Lampang, just outside our village. Calling for an appointment didn't seem like a good idea to us, because we really still need hands and feet for conversations. So we stopped by on our way home to set a date. At the entrance to the garage area is a man who welcomes us and leads us with wide arm gestures to one of the parking bays. Another employee comes out of the building and opens my door. With the maintenance booklet and the mileage card hanging on the steering wheel, I make it clear that we are due for a service.
The man says we have to wait a while, goes inside, and comes back with all kinds of measuring equipment with which he checks everything. We wonder whether he really understands what we want and whether something will be done about the engine. When we are invited to go inside, we conclude that there indeed does not seem to be any maintenance. The, by the way, very nice man sticks a few more stickers on my chair and then comes after us.
Our data is recorded inside. I try to make it clear that I would like to at least check the tire pressure before we leave. Our car has since been driven away by another employee. We don't know where.
Then a printer starts rattling. The very nice man tears the output loose and puts it in front of us. There are a number of lines below each other, with a number of amounts behind them. Unfortunately in Thai, so we understand the amounts, but not the rules. Fortunately, the very nice man speaks a little English, and so we slowly begin to understand that a complete overhaul is indeed being given, not in three weeks, but right now. The printout contains all the work that will be carried out, with the corresponding price. If we agree, we sign the quotation and we do not have to wait anxiously to see how big the attack will be.
We would like to go home, because it will take an hour or 2. If we had known that we were immediately on the (big) turn, we would have asked the neighbor to drive with us. We ask the very nice man if it is possible to take us home and that is possible. Whether we just want to take a seat in the lounge. That's what we want and even now doubts set in after a while. Did he understand us?
We think that we will then just walk to the roofing shop down the road, but that will not happen. The very nice man tells us to wait. A few minutes later, he sprints out and drives up with a car. We are neatly brought home. On the way he asks where we are from, whether we have bought a house and, after we have said that we rent a house, how much rent we pay. We wouldn't dare ask such a question in the Netherlands, but here it is simply asked. We don't have a problem with it. We actually find it very disarming that something that everyone (also in the Netherlands) wonders is simply being asked out loud here. He may know.
Three hours later the phone rings and the very nice man announces that our car is ready and that he is coming to pick us up. I pay the agreed price, which is about a quarter of what we paid for the Matiz, and walk over to the car, which is also spic and span from being washed. Then I see what the stickers were for: the very nice man used them to mark the position of the chair and the position of the backrest. He slides the chair back into “my” position. I get in, the waving man at the driveway motions for me to stop at the gate. He scans the nearly empty highway, then beckons me to drive onto it, makes a turn to indicate that I must steer or I'll end up across the road. Then I accelerate on the way home. What a wonderful service they know in this country.
A positive story and nice to read that you appreciate the service in Thailand so much. In my opinion, the comparison with the Netherlands is not entirely objective. I myself take my car to a one-man garage in my old village. If I call today I can get in tomorrow. He usually does not charge for minor repairs. He does not do other larger repairs with the original parts, but he always orders something just as good but cheaper on the internet. Everything in consultation so that I can choose what I want, he mentions the prices in advance. That's why I'm always happy with the bill. The car is also cleaned, the man is super nice and very knowledgeable. And I can just speak to him in my own language 😉 So you can also enjoy a wonderful service in our frog country.....
Thank you. The blog readers would almost be scared of the many unpleasant experiences they read here, so I like to stick to the positive things.
And my village garage wasn't that bad, but without exaggerating a little bit, such a blog becomes much less fun 😉
I have similar experiences with my Toyota dealer. Very fast and correct.
I also have a flat tire with my moped every so often.
There is a repair workshop about every 500 meters (on Samui).
Go, moped on the stand. Tape out, tape in. Ready while you wait.
They don't stick anymore. In addition, the valve is almost always out when you are there
drove on for a while. Come to the Netherlands for that.
I like to believe Peter that his "little man" is okay and that this happens more often in NL.
But if I have to choose, I'll go for Thailand anyway 🙂
Tip lo
I also had many flat tires
There are minus two types of inner tubes, I found out later
Yes and not all friendly shops have them in stock
Only 1 was made in Thailand and costs a bit more expensive than the Chinese
But a lot better quality rubber
Furthermore, the ring at the bottom of the valve is often also mounted
Having this always removed has much less punctures
Gr Peter
It has often been pointed out to me that there are better types of inner tubes.
But the nails and shards of glass on the road don't care 🙂
But thanks anyway for the tip.
Nissan March first turn 10.000 km at the dealer in the city center. Driving in without an appointment, will be helped right away. Takes a while, all papers due to return when you return. warranty also neatly filled in, bill 1120 thb. Called three days later to make sure everything was okay with the car.
Yes, go somewhere else…..
Last month I brought my car in for a major service, 160.000 km. I drive a 4X4. liter turbo diesel with automatic transmission, an Isuzu MU. Maintenance takes half a day. engine oil, brake oil, gearbox oil, all drive belts and air filter are replaced. To make the wait more pleasant, there is free coffee from an espresso machine (3 types), free fruit juices, free popcorn, and free cookies.
If you come before 9 am there is a free breakfast (toast sandwich 2 pieces) or you can take a seat at tables that all have wall sockets for a laptop or Android. Of course there is free high-speed WiFi. or you can go to the quiet room where you can take a seat in designer relaxing chairs made in Norway. or You can go to the panoramic room from where you can follow the work in the garage. Or you can go to the cinema room to catch a movie if you don't find what you're looking for on one of the eight 8-inch wide screen televisions. a play area for the little ones is also provided. There is of course also a company food court with 56 seats that customers have access to, a dish there costs 300 baht,
You can follow along on electronic signs. what phase of maintenance your car is in. You will of course be called when your car is ready. of course it is not only thoroughly cleaned inside and outside, but the engine is also cleaned. The garage has 4 floors, of which 1 floor is the national training center. This garage has a repair capacity of 300 vehicles including trucks and buses. And how much was the bill... 12 342.78 Thai Baht
In Thailand you as a customer are really pampered and they offer you a service that you simply cannot imagine in Flanders or the Netherlands.
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Very good story ... just add to whom and where?
Tripetch,Isuzu importer in Thailand
https://goo.gl/kWuK98
Oh yes, the extras here outside my story can also be found at Toyota in Uttaradit. Can totally agree with that
pst Henry, wake up because we are here, did you dream about your new car?? then we will now take our old Toyota to the local one-man business.
my car is now 12 years old and has 165 km on the clock
I have been taking my Isuzu MU-7 to the local dealer in Warin Chamrap for years and have not missed a single service since new, I am a good mechanic myself, I may say I have my own workshop with all the tools you can think of, but for the price here I can not do it myself, I paid 10 years ago in the Netherlands for my Mercedes 320 E diesel always over 800 euros per turn, here I have never exceeded 6000 baht. I always stay with it and it surprises me every time they take off all wheel bearings clean and re-grease something that is completely unnecessary with the current lubricants, but that's how it says in the maintenance book, says the workshop chief, if something needs to be replaced the price is first said and asked if it is good or if it is replaced even for the wipers. My wife's Honda also goes to the dealer and the same good service, they can learn something from that in the Netherlands.
Very recognizable. Experienced it myself in Uttaradit at the Toyota dealer. The Yaris made some grinding noises when idling. According to my brother-in-law, it was the VDT (gearbox). He is a car mechanic so the whole family followed him. I think (unfortunately also a technician) that was not right because the sound came from the left of the engine (bonnet open) and the VDT is on the right.
I thought a dynamo or a bearing somewhere.
So I went with my girlfriend to the dealer in Uttaradit (35 km from my home). We entered the grounds at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Repetition of moves. Security in uniform (with cap of course) directed us to a parking lot. Two dearest ladies who heard the complaint. My girlfriend served as an interpreter in this one. I had my doubts about this because what I explained in ten words took my girlfriend about ten minutes.
We were ushered in. Meanwhile, the car was driven in for a first check.
We were told what the problems were. (Water pump). The costs were shown and we were advised to do some more things that were found. (brother did all maintenance).
Brake pads front and rear, A pipe piece of the exhaust was a bit thin. Oil filter, clean and refill aircon, interior filter, air filter, spark plugs, and some other small things. Erm, unfortunately they couldn't help us right away, but if we could wait a couple of hours. The car could start in half an hour.
We decided to wait. Home and back were also just under two hours and then again. We were ushered into the waiting room. Where large monitors showed which car was where and how long it would take to finish.
We were treated to coffee, tea and soft drinks, along with sandwiches and cookies. There were four computers with VERY fast internet that could be used. So I went through all the emails from about four weeks here on the spot.
Because I asked when you would start on the car, I would also like to see the underside to see the car. After half an hour, I was approached by sir your car is on the bridge when like can have a look now and discuss with the mechanic on issues.
Just checked under the car myself whether reported matters were correct and whether I saw something extra myself (fortunately not) I returned to the waiting area.
Exactly two hours later (we could follow on screen) the car was ready in the workshop. Unfortunately we could not take it with us immediately, because although it was almost 5 o'clock and the workshop staff were already leaving the company, they were cleaning up our car. (no not washing and rinsing) but cleaning both inside and out. Never seen the real color of the front seat, but afterwards.
Cost just under 9000 bath.
Only costs to install a water pump in the Netherlands. the term customer is king certainly applies here. For me at the time as the first experience in a dealer garage in Thailand, a relief. In the evening at home my darling agreed with the brother that the Toyota only went to the dealer for maintenance.
Oh she told me later that the costs at brother were much higher and that brother did not serve coffee and tea. Oh and she also thought that I was very friendly towards the reception or reception ladies.
Same positive experiences in the Toyota garage in Chumphon. Fantastic service is provided. I'm not going to describe it all here because it just corresponds to what I could read above. Only had one problem after a service: forgot to tighten the borns of the battery connection. A small forgetfulness that can happen to the best and so I'm not going to complain about it.
Also a bodywork repair: bumper was carried out perfectly without any problem and the costs were ZERO THB. Completely arranged directly with the garage by my All In insurance, also from Toyota. I am always positively shocked by the price of a maintenance service because they are very low and they are always communicated in advance.
We drive a Ford Ranger pick up. The story fits exactly with our experiences. Correct service. Once the battery had to be replaced, but it gave up the ghost after six months. We got a new one without much discussion.
I bought my MU7 second hand from a second hand dealer, it was almost 3 years old and had 2700km on the odometer, it had been a Tripetch executive car. So it still had to receive its first free 5000 km maintenance. Then and now I followed the maintenance schedule at Tripetcg. After a few months, a warning light kept coming on, but they could not repair it and could not find the cause. However, they decided to replace the entire electrical cabling under warranty, because most likely there was there was a false contact somewhere
When my car was 8 years old and the odometer showed 75 km, the engine warning light remained on. Upon inspection it turned out that my engine was full of soot, the oil cooler, among other things, was completely clogged. People also did not really understand how this was possible. The only solution is a complete overhaul of the engine, costing 000 Baht. It took some time to swallow and I turned a bit pale. but there was no point in whining so I agreed. Repair would take a week.
And the next day, in the morning, I received a phone call from Tripetch, who had consulted the car's maintenance schedule and also checked my reputation as a customer, always cheerful and friendly. That is why the management had decided to give me a new engine free of charge as a commercial gesture. And it was indeed a new engine, because a few weeks later I received a bundle of documents with which I had to take to the transport office to adjust my Blue Tabian Rod. Later I learned from an acquaintance who knew some people at management level that my good reputation as a customer had played a major role in the decision to give me a new engine.
I cannot imagine that a non-Japanese brand in the Netherlands or Belgium would have made the same commercial gesture for an 8-year-old second-hand car with 75000 km on the odometer.
Dear people, you forget that the hourly wage in Thailand is a fraction of that in Europe and that you receive a pension that a working Thai can only dream of. If you had to earn your living in Thailand, you would talk very differently. Wonder if you could drive a car then.
Eh the hourly wage at my Volvo dealer in the Netherlands is 62,84 excluding 21% VAT.
Not too bad. A Swiss acquaintance pays 328 Euro per hour in wages in a garage for his Mercedes in Zurich (Switzerland).
Hmm Okay the wages are lower but the parts are also 30% of what it is here in the Netherlands. And that's not just VAT. because that will add up.
No idea what you actually want to say. Is there something wrong with the conclusion that the service here is good and the costs are low?
Indeed, if the hourly wage in TH goes up (and it won't be long now, the worker in TH also sees what is for sale in the world on the internet and wants this and rightly so of course) the service will also decrease. Not only at the garage, but everywhere where there are still whole "herds" of staff walking around, this will decrease in the future. Take a good look around you and you will see that automation is slowly starting in all sectors in TH too.
Indeed, for major and minor car maintenance, Thailand is the best of the best. If it is good, it can and should be said. I pay less than 3.000 baht for an annual inspection at my Honda garage in Udon Thani, and they spend about 3 hours working on it with all their might. The car is spotless afterwards, everything is perfectly explained to my wife what they have done. Meanwhile, I had coffee in the lounge (customer room) and the service is literally AF. In addition, they also arrange the annual insurance all-in for my Honda City 2015, amounting to 17.500 bath.
Nice positive story Francois. We often forget the many pleasures, because of small irritations, which are then passed on in a magnified way. Mostly shortcomings that could have come to a solution without irritation with some empathy and friendliness.
nice story, I was in Thailand with my Thai wife for 6 weeks, mid-March to part of May, borrowed a car from my Thai wife's son izusu 3ltr turbo 65000 on the odometer, 10 years old so it could also be 165000 km, you never know.
strange noise from the engine what could that be to the garage do you have an appointment no we don't have one please sit down and we'll take a look.in a real isuzu garage near ban bueng road no. 331.
and yes problems pressure group clutch and rear brake linings ok but also a major overhaul can be done no problem.
3 and a half hours later everything ready 17000 thb further and everything renewed or € 453.- extremely good help old parts returned neatly done, if you set up correctly or neatly you will also be helped in such a way is my experience and has always been the case after + /- 10 x Thailand September 2017 permanent settlement in Thailand and also a new house and here too the good agreements with the contractor, it's all possible, I'm a technician myself, maybe it makes a difference that your setup is the most important thing, I think.
greetings peter