Hmm, alright, I just discovered that building a Locost, or any other type of kitcar is out of the question for me.

All newly-registered cars that are not officially manufactured (meaning by a recognized manufacturer in an approved factory, etc., etc., etc...) is taxed an 80% duty over its appraised value. Then that total amount is taxed an excise tax of 35%.. THEN there's a 10% interior tax over the subtotal, followed by a 7% VAT. In essence, the total taxes amount to a little over 213% over the appraised value of the vehicle, which, since a kitcar is a non-standard car, is entirely up to the local officials.. they can make up pretty much whatever number they feel like, and I'd have to pay 200+ per cent taxes over that amount.

I'm bummed. Even if I could "build my own sportscar for 250 quid", it would probably get valued at 10,000 quid, just because they can, which mean I'd have to pay over 20k in taxes just to get it on the road...

This sucks.

Oh well.. on a positive note, I'm probably going to look for a nice aircooled VW, and throw some cash at it to make it nice and shiny.

Erm.............. move???

MOz

We're bummed for you too.

Move to the UK. We can put anything on the road!

David

It looks like they realy realy don't want you to build youre own car.

PHUKET


Looks like a really nice place to live




[Edited on 30-4-07 by mangogrooveworkshop]

I did a quick Google.

I expect you've seen this:
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t62421.html

I be surprised if you could do nothing at all.

What about registering yourself as a manufacturer?

And if still desperate:
Maybe my impression of Thailand wrong.... but can't you just bribe whoever signs the relevent bits of paper?


Cheers,
James

Or get another government

ATB

Simon

quote:

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Originally posted by Simon
Or get another government

ATB

Simon

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stupid laws make no sense... I've seen Land Rovers with Isuzu engines, BMW's with Toyota engines, ridiculously modified off-road vehicles and minibuses... I *know* you can get away with pretty much everything... as long as the vehicle is registered in the country.

Oh well, beetles can be fun too...

Gonna find a nice clean one to drive around for a while, then modify it to make the wife and baby happy..

After that, I'll probably look around for an older Suzuki Samurai. Think I'll join the 'ridiculously modified' club with that one..

TVR V8's fit nicely into SWB Land Rover Defenders.........

Food for thought!

MOz

AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGHHHHHH!!!!

Thats a positive shout to being bummed.

What about you find the local government 'valuer' and see what price he puts on a Seven. Might not be too bad.

Then the 200% doesn't look too bad.

If there's a guy running round in a Caterham there, I can't believe he's had it valued at £30,000!

Good luck,
James

I'd like to say move to the UK, but I see your located in Koh Samui, what I'd regard to be one hell of a nice place. I'll swap countries with you if you want . . .

What about importing a finished one? Would the same rules apply?

You could then take it apart and add/change things?

Bet there's a loophole that doesn't allow it though....

would the same rule apply for a build it yourself Caterham or Westfield - you can always lie when you've finished it and say you bought it from the Manufacturers Factory???

Steve

Worx - I saw a signature footer like that once!

Yeah, same restrictions apply. Apparently, it's a bit of protectionism to guard the local market from being swamped with cheap cars from Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, etc.

It applies to all vehicles built outside the country, as well as vehicles built in Thailand by non-approved companies.

So even a factory-built Westfield or Caterham would be taxed that badly. I can't even afford a factory-built car, so imagine what the 200% tax would do..

Hmmm... I should check out one of the Ferrari dealerships in Bangkok for shits 'n giggles, see hwat those costs with all the ridiculous taxing..

McLannahan - Don't believe you!!!

quote:

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Originally posted by McLannahan
Worx - I saw a signature footer like that once!

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Another tack to consider - which will require some rigorous reading of the regulations.

Take one used MX-5 assuming they cost sane money. Or maybe some other rwd donor.

Do some radical conversion work (which you imply is common and legal) which involves taking off all the panels and replacing with a steel structure covered in aluminium with maybe some GRP bits for good measure...

Since it's "just" a modified MX-5 it's already registered and the tax already paid. There is even a book with full plans based on the MX-5 as a donor.

As Iank says, use a road legal car as your donor and stamp its chassis number on your Locost chassis. That's what I would do if I was in your situation, and I don't think I'd bother reading any regulations.

BTW law is changing quickly here in Spain as well, they are trying to prevent the chinese to sell cars here and so law is getting really hairy

Just had a U2U asking which book has the MX5 as donor.

Here's a copy of my post to another thead a while back, the links still seem to work

---------
For an MX5 Donor look here, this is the website of the US book
http://www.cheapsportscar.net/

You can get it from Amazon uk which is a help
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0760322872/qid=1151608364/sr=8-3/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i3_xgl/202-5376100-4243042

If you read the posts here by "Keith Tanner" (the author) it will give you some good ideas. This link should find them automagically.
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/misc.php?action=search&srchuname=Keith%20Tanner&searchsubmit=a&srchfid=all&srchfrom=0