Andy Wing

I taught for 3-4 years at places including King’s College Bang-Na, which I quite enjoyed, I worked at another Bangkok school on some questionable outside contracts, and a few other fly by night operations. I was always racking my brains though trying to find an angle to get out of it. I'm Glad that’s all behind me, but you never know when you may end up in the classroom again.

I was burnt out in Thailand so I sold up and tried to seek my fortune over there. Things didn’t work out because I’m something of an uneducated idiot, and ended up working 10 hours a day for $100HK (500 Baht) an hour in a teaching sweatshop to get enough wedge to come back to Thailand. HK is a great place if you’re making the money, but a nightmare if you’re skint.

Basically we act the same way as a property broker does - but for cars. I don’t want to give too much away though. The most important thing is we check for dodgy paperwork, and ensure that any vehicles have not been wrapped around a lamp post at some time in the past. The beauty of this business is that I only have to work 2-3 days per week, which suits me fine.

I came back from HK just over a year ago with about 50,000 Baht. Now I’ve got 2 reasonable cars - one for me, and one for the missus (so she’ll leave me alone), a nice (rented) apartment with all the mod cons. My daughter goes to a decent bilingual school, and we’ve a few bob in the bank for a couple of beers. So I guess I’m doing OK.

The people we deal with are usually fresh off the boat on the Expat package. They don’t know how much to pay, what makes and models of car to go for, or any of the registration procedures. So we make everything nice, and easy for them - a service which they are happy to pay for. Another angle is that ex-pats can’t communicate with your average Thai used car dealer, and also they don’t trust them (however the ones I know have some decent motors). We only deal in used cars, if people want a new vehicle, they just go to a main dealer and pay the list price on the car.

Errr... no but, I’ve seen a few that have.

I’ve done quite a bit of business with the international school crowd, Bangkok Pattana and ISB to name a few. I’ve sold a few motors to the odd ESL teacher, but not that often. I get quite a few emails from ESL teachers who only have a budget of 50-100,000 Baht, but it’s not worth the hassle as it would ultimately be a car they’d be unhappy with, and it would reflect badly on us so in the long run - it’s bad for business.

All the time. I usually have a chuckle, but I could be back there one day.

All the Thais I deal with are making money because I’m selling their cars to people they don’t have access to so no problems. We only sell to “farangs” so there’s no hard feelings, or feelings of competition. My secretary deals with all the Thai side of things which makes life a lot easier.

Jow khong poo ying kon diow, chai rot by Bhaot took wan atit yang diow.(One lady owner, only used the car to go to church on Sundays.)

I always push the Japanese cars because they go forever, and I never have any complaints. For around 300,000 Baht I’d recommend a 98/99 Toyota Soluna, auto gearbox, 1.5L. It's a boring car but will go forever if you maintain it, and will be easy to sell, and hold it’s value even after 2-3 years. You could also get a decent pick-up truck, but they're no fun to drive in Bangkok.

I view teaching as being on a par with claiming the dole in the UK - it’s a bastard if you have to go back to it, but it’s always there.

Any excuse to get out for a few beers.