aging one

You said LadPrao, my worst nightmare. I hate the traffic there. I park at Wat Don Muang and go straight down Wipawaee Rangsit on the 10 or 29 air bus. Get off at Mochit Sky Train. In general its about an hour from the Wat to anywhere on the sky train route.

Made it to Siam in 44 minutes last Saturday afternoon, and had to kill time.

I developed claustrophobia, about 15 years ago while they were building the tollway and the skytrain at the same time. It could take up to 4 hours to get from AUA back home to Don Muang.

__________________
Too long in Exile, too long not singing my song.
Too long like a rolling stone, Too long in exile
Too long in Exile, baby you just arent my friend.
Too long in Exile my friend, Baby you can never go home again.

Sanuk Canuk

Actually AO you turn off just before Lad Prao....there is a bridge that takes you over to the Carpark. As long as it is not rush hour it is not too bad but I would do the Bus thing too if I had to go downtown. I do Vipavadi on my motorbike all the time and I don't mind the traffic as much as the POS cops. I get done somewhere between Don Muenng and the Ratchayothin turn off about once every 2 weeks. Last time they wouldn't even take a bribe so I had to go to the police station and pay the fine. Pisses me off how they do it, they set up on the other side of the buss stop so everybike that pulls out to pass a buss gets done for not being in the left lane. BS!

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aging one

One reason I stopped riding my bike, it was costing me at least 500 baht a month in bribes. 7 years in the car and have been stopped one time.

Thanks for the tip I very well may try it.

__________________
Too long in Exile, too long not singing my song.
Too long like a rolling stone, Too long in exile
Too long in Exile, baby you just arent my friend.
Too long in Exile my friend, Baby you can never go home again.

Henry Chinaski

Thanks for the feedback.... So today I ruled out one thing: a new car. I couldn't fucking believe the prices. A new Honda Accord, for example, is B1.5m whereas in the States maybe more like B800k. I was told the difference was that the Thai government taxes new autos heavily here. Anybody know what this about??? I'll tell you one thing, I'll be a rotting sore on a street dog's ass before I give this government -- fuck that, any government -- B700k just to have a ride that smells expensive for a year.

You can buy a lot of scotch and waters for 700k...

On the upside, I visited a used dealership today that would finance me without a co-signer provided I was putting more than half down.

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If you think that I've gone crazy, try picking a flower from the garden of your neighbor

aging one

cars have really gone up in the States mate. The one here is loaded save a smaller engine, which now is good.
Check this out.


The 2008 Honda Accord is available in sedan (MSRP $20,995 - $30,895, Invoice price $19,092 - $28,038) and coupe (MSRP $22,495 - $28,795, Invoice price $20,448 - $26,141) versions. This sedan version is available in base LX, LX-P, EX, EX-L, EX V-6, EX-L W/ NAVIGATION, and EX-L V6 with Navigation trim levels; while the coupe version comes in base LX-S, EX, EX-L, EX-L with Navigation, EX-L V-6, and EX-L V-6 W/ NAVIGATION trim levels. Available engine choices are a 177-horsepower, 2.4-liter I4 engine; a 190-horsepower, 2.4-liter I4 engine; and a 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 engine. Both five-speed manual or automatic transmission are available, plus a front-wheel drive system.

Plus your sales tax, licensing and the such.


It is expensive here, but its not like it used to be. American car prices have gone up dramtically.

__________________
Too long in Exile, too long not singing my song.
Too long like a rolling stone, Too long in exile
Too long in Exile, baby you just arent my friend.
Too long in Exile my friend, Baby you can never go home again.

Welshman

It's a double whammy with the tax on new cars to start coupled with very low depreciation.

I know that in the UK you could buy a damned good motor for around 100,000 baht.

On the complete reverse, back in the UK now with the increase in fuel costs, increased (yet again) duty on cars, especially older ones, some people are finding it impossible to sell or even give cars away.

Particularly hard hit are the owners of the so-called 'Chelsea tractors' (SUVs) where dealers are simply refusing to take them in px against another purchase. As a result, they're virtually worthless. Their owners are stuck with them and face a hammering when new road fund duty comes into force shortly.

Hamster

Buy a truck. Much cheaper.

Regarding financing. I took a loan through TISCO. I put 25% up front. At the time my girlfriend (now wife) wasn't working, had no verifiable job history, was in school, and yet somehow was able to guarantee my loan. The loan agent indicated that as long as I put the 25% up front they wouldn't check finances of the guarantor. Funny 'ol world.

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aging one

"Reminds me of the west. How do you think the sub prime shit started?

__________________
Too long in Exile, too long not singing my song.
Too long like a rolling stone, Too long in exile
Too long in Exile, baby you just arent my friend.
Too long in Exile my friend, Baby you can never go home again.

LeedsLeedsLeeds

There are some great deals on pick-up trucks down here, I just bought one for 55,000 baht. There are also very decent Toyota pick-up trucks in the 200,000 - 300,000 baht range, nice, economical, old-skool pick-ups from the pre-three litre days. Toyotas are just hideous these days.

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Hamster

My guess is that the 25% was the number they figured they needed in order to still make a profit if they had to repossess and sell back to a dealer.

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likewise

Very happy with my Honda civic here

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aging one

97 toyota, 240,000 K, runs perfect. The key. Maintain them. Change the oil every 5,000 K, and be nice to it.

__________________
Too long in Exile, too long not singing my song.
Too long like a rolling stone, Too long in exile
Too long in Exile, baby you just arent my friend.
Too long in Exile my friend, Baby you can never go home again.

samsara

the 200-300% tax sure has a way of weeding out potential middle class buyers lol.

heres some good news: this years benz c is like 300k cheaper cause the engine is built here!! wahoo!

columbia

Prices are falling like a comet on the heavy stuff back home because of the fuel prices.

2002 BMW 745

• 62,000 miles
• Automatic
• Silver
• Petrol

4 Doors, Automatic, Saloon, Petrol, 62,000 miles, SILVER. ABS, Adjustable steering column/wheel, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels, Central locking, Computer, Driver airbag, Electric mirrors, Electric






9 photos Technical Data
Play video
1999 V Reg MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS S280 4dr Auto **1 OWNR/62K**LTHR A/C CRUISE ALLOYS (trade)

Blackburn Motor Village

• 62,161 miles
• Automatic
• Silver
• Petrol

4 Doors, Automatic, Saloon, Petrol, 62,161 miles, Metallic SILVER, 1 Owner. ABS, Alloy wheels, Anti theft system, Climate Control, Colour coding - Body, Colour coding - Interior, Computer, Cruise control,




If you can afford to run the bloody things they're a lot of motor for the equivalent of just over 550000 and 315000 baht respectively.

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It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no Interior Minister of Thailand's son.