Best country for shite?

[Station]

Hi all!

I'm going to France next month for a bit, and then heading off to Thailand for two months in May, and wondering what the shite content is like over there. I know it has a lot of Chinese/Malaysian/Japanese stuff, but a bit excited by the prospect of seeing stuff that I haven't seen on the road for a couple of decades.

[Negative Creep]

When I was in Bangkok I was amazed how little shite there was compared to what I was expecting.

[scruff]

Loads in France, especially out in the sticks - you'll enjoy it. Where are you going?

[ChinaTom]

As Krujoe has proved, you need to get out in to the Thai provinces to see the really good stuff; but even wondering up the side streets on the outskirts of the outer suburbs will net you a few jems.

 

I am planning to spend a bit of time in Burma later this year - I wonder what's hiding there?

[Negative Creep]

Plenty in NZ as well, but we already know that

[ashmicro]

My own experience of rural Normandie revealed some absolute weapons-grade shite still in daily use, the vast majority of it French. When we were in Alencon for a few days last year, Renner 14s as dailies were not an uncommon sight. Had we not been in our own car I'd have bought the beautiful Citroen LNA we saw for 300 Eurocoins. Seriously aged 2CVs are much in evidence, as well as non-rat/scene mark 2 Goofs. The Pug 305 is still popular, and we also saw a surprising amount of 80's and early 90s Austin Rover stuff, particularly the R8 Rover 200/400 and R6 Metro in diesel form (which is a French engine).

 

Paris is a bit weird sometimes.We were staying in the George V, and outside was parked a Bentley Conti GT, totally gleaming. Behind it was an utterly fucked 205 van, full of wag and grot.

[mnde]

From my experience,

 

 

Warsaw - disappointing. Not much apart from a few Fiat 126s and a Visa

Tallinn - not much shite in evidence

Tunisia - brilliant, crammed full of old French rammle. Cars of choice: Peugeot 504, 404 pickup

SW Turkey - epic amounts of French and Italian shite - more than one MK4 Cortina too. Cars of choice: TofaÅŸ DoÄŸan/Åžahin (=Fiat 131), Renault 9/11 and 12.

Kos - a great mix of old stuff in daily use.

 

I've been disappointed with France. It may be just luck, but it's only when you're out in the countryside or inbetween towns that stuff starts appearing.

 

Mark.

[KruJoe]

Thanks for the name-check CT, the next Thai update is well overdue - coming soon. I'm sure I've seen you in that thread Station(?)

 

I know it has a lot of Chinese/Malaysian/Japanese stuff

Actually surprisingly little Chinese or Malaysian, that is just starting to creep in over the last couple years. Jap stuff YES, and a lot of locally assembled Jap names. And some European surprises.

 

... but a bit excited by the prospect of seeing stuff that I haven't seen on the road for a couple of decades...

You won't be disappointed with that, it is everywhere, though much diluted in Bangkok. As CT said, the real gems are upcountry.

[eddyramrod]

I think wherever you go you'll find something interesting; you just have to remember the three golden rules. 1: get out of the cities and into the country, and drive slowly... 2: in the cities, cruise the back streets, even slower than you were in the countryside... 3: HAVE A CAMERA WITH YOU!

 

I did that today and found a Farina Magnette, in the heart of Paphos. I've been here two years and had never spotted it before... and I couldn't stop to get a snap because there was a taxi up my backside, taking the same rat-run I was. But I know where it was and I can go back!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Thailand is a funny country for shite. In the big city almost every taxi is a booted Corolla - fair few Mercs about of various ages, a few BMW's including the odd 2002 (invariably in nice condition), very few Fords/GM. In the sticks you see the odd shitter - I saw not one but three seventies Datsun 280C saloons in the space of five minutes. A few 240 Volvos as well.

In Bangkok, there are some brilliant workshops by the side of the road repairing all kinds of crap.

 

The UK still has a rich seam of shite however.

[Station]

France is cancelled. It was Montpellier (which I thought was by Paris, and not south of France), I was doing contract stuff out there, but no longer needed. Quite looking forward to that as well! F*ck this line of work.

Still going to Thailand though. Have two months there so will keep eyes open for stuff, it's currently the 'wet' season I think. Instead of hiring a car, we're getting two bikes (£1.50 per day) and buying a car (which will be sold before leaving).