Dakhar

10 minutes ago, JayBird said:

I'm not entirely sure you can find a good bmw or mercedes with a proper engine. As in the top HP for that model. I think most on the street are the weakest engine with the least add-one.

 

I suspect people buy for badge, not for power.

 

I could not find, for example, a Z8 or a Z4 with 3.5 hardtop.

 

You might want to consider a non import. I think the Subaru BRZ is here.

 

 

I have a BMW e36 that has all the parts of an M3 on it, including the engine, I also have a Mercedes CLK 55 conversion as well. There are shops in Thailand that their core business is converting BMW in M or Mercedes into AMG.

It isn't too hard to find such conversions 

https://www.one2car.com/en/for-sale/mercedes-benz-e55-amg-bangkok-metropolitan-kanchanaphisek/4052328

I have:

25 year old BMW  E36 (M3 Conversion)

13 year old Mercedes CLK 55 (conversion)

10+ year old Toyota 4x4 (4 door)

New Toyota Fortuner

The BMW is cheaper to maintain over the Mercedes, Mercedes parts are far more expensive than the BMW. Further more, Thais do not give a flying fig about parking etiquette.   I park far away from the shopping center entrance to avoid door dings, but it does not make a difference, I still get door dings.

Of all the cars the Toyota 4x4 has been the cheapest car to own.  I have had it for around 6 years, and all I have ever done, is buy a new battery and change the oil.   It isn't a garage queen, more built for the mountains, lifted a little, with protective bars. and over sized bumpers .

I love to drive, and love "drivers" cars.....   but due to constant battle I have in trying to keep the BMW and Mercedes in good condition....   

my advice, get a Toyota as any "nice" car you buy will be a chore to maintain. 

Willing to help out mongrel dogs, but not his fellow man 

Classy

Oh WoW you are soooo right....   

So So So sorry

https://quepasa.restaurant/

Best western food I've found thus far

2 hours ago, crazygreg44 said:

I would suggest you rather watch how Thais practise the road laws and "do as the Romans do when in Rome". as it is the survival code on these roads.

 

The matter on how their road laws are enforced should not be questioned by you

Do as the Roman's do, like the good doctor 

Run over the fella for good measure 

18 minutes ago, CMBob said:

This comment relates to CM Immigration only. You might want to distinguish between the original TM30 and updating (when you re-enter the country to the same address as reported on a prior TM30).   For some/most/all (it keeps changing) things, you need to have the original TM30 filed for an address and, frankly, CM Immigration doesn't care who does it (technically the owner/landlord/possessor is liable under the law to have it filed) and will hit you (or whoever shows up for Immigration service) for the 1,600 baht if it isn't filed.  With respect to updating (and presuming you're re-entering the country to the same address), typically the possessor (you) is the one who does that and, again, it's whoever shows up needing some service from CM Immigration who gets tabbed with the fine (i.e., you don't get any service unless it's paid).  I should note that some condominium offices do take care of this for their falang residents.

With respect to the time for updating, multiple CM Immigration officers have said that updating within a week or so is fine (i.e., you don't have to be a slave to the 24-hour law).  I've updated several times 3-5 days after re-entering without a problem or comment from them.

I've had to show my air line ticket stub to prove I had been in Thailand for less than 24 hrs. According to the ticket stub, I had been in Thailand for about 22 hrs, the IO said I was "lucky.“

Ive had other IO say that I should not care about the rule because I'm married to a Thai. 

"records recorded" 

That doesn't compute. 

High ranking mafia member drives a taxi for extra cash

 dotard in action 

STD

Good luck keeping that short secret 

7 hours ago, Dakhar said:

Cream rises to the top. 

 

 

6 hours ago, connda said:

Source? 

There are many examples of dropouts that went on to earn millions, if not billions.

http://www.mytopbusinessideas.com/school-drop-out-billionaires-successful-entrepreneurs/

Also Elon Musk, born in S. Africa, a place not necessarily known as a juggernaut for academia 

https://www.biography.com/people/elon-musk-2083715

Quote

 

Early Life

Son of a Canadian mother and a South African father, Elon Reeve Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa. He spent his early childhood with his brother Kimbal and sister Tosca in South Africa, and at 10, the introverted Elon developed an interest in computers. During this time, his parents divorced. He taught himself how to program, and when he was 12 he made his first software sale—of a game he created called Blastar. At age 17, in 1989, he moved to Canada to attend Queen’s University and avoid mandatory service in the South African military, but he left in 1992 to study business and physics at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated with an undergraduate degree in economics and stayed for a second bachelor’s degree in physics.

Quote

 

Cream rises to the top. 

All I can say is, those twoes aren't curling, can't be all that rewarding 

Most semi educated Chinese speak English

17 minutes ago, dundas said:

Sane advice! 

Amen

39 minutes ago, meatboy said:

last week I saw the ALL KITTED OUT fast food vans,fish and chips,pizza and burgers,big layout but as there are moobans springing up everywhere,farang-thai NOW THERE'S A THOUGHT.

those seem to be a new trend, and possibly a good niche venture. 

I had this happen to me, except it was my wife (now my ex) that thought it was time for an upgrade, all while our youngest was still in diapers. 

I pretty much lost everything, my dignity and my two sons.  

Ultimately, my X wifes boyfriend dumped her, my sons lost their dad, she sleeps alone at night and scrapes together 30k a month. Basically her life is as bitter as her heart. 

Karma eventually, finds us all

Barrier of entry is rather low, which is why this area is saturated. 

Understand that as a "boyfriend" anything she makes through this endeavor you have no legal access to the money.  (which statistically, the rate of which start ups fail, this would not be a problem)

I have donated to such an endeavor,  and with my experience 100K BHT will not go far, as MOQ demands from manufactures will be high. Further more, there will be other costs such as getting Thai FDA approval, packaging design fees, packaging fees if outsourced.   Also, cosmetics do have a shelf life (creams and such)  What I have seen is that they have a color change over time.  My wife has been lucky as her suppliers have allowed her to return the older inventory and have it replaced free of charge (minus shipping fees etc).

Your girlfriend will also need to register the company, and there are fees for that as well.

Good luck

1 hour ago, BarnicaleBob said:

If you have been living in Thailand and are a current resident here under a marriage or retirement visa, you can get divorced at your local amphur.  You will need your American marriage certificate, a notarized translation of it and you passports and other ID.  You should also write up an agreement as to who gets what in the settlement and have it notarized and bring that with you as well. 

Do as BarnicalBob suggests.  Going back to the states will give her the power to take every dime you have.

14 hours ago, Nord X said:

Barely skilled never mind highly skilled. :-)

With today's technology, companies can be ran with a smart phone.  

4 hours ago, wvavin said:

Fortuner is an expensive car? My foot! It is just a soup-up pick up chassis with more sheet metals covering it. It is for those who cannot afford the real German SUVs but trying to show off by having a larger body sized car. Enough of this?

1) It is for those who cannot afford the real German SUVs

 So I have a pragmatic vehicle that fits within my means

2) trying to show off by having a larger body sized car

"Larger body size" is considered a "thing?"   I didn't know that.  We have a large family, and we needed the space, and I wasn't attracted to a van, so we got something we could afford.

9 minutes ago, Dustdevil said:

Pathetic choice of vehicles in Thailand. Thais view Fortuners as status symbols. In the U.S. they're one choice among dozens and dozens of SUVS and no more prestigious than a Camry. Of course, Thais and Malaysians also think you've arrived if you drive one of those, or a Honda Accord.

I have a Fortuner, serves its purpose well.  

Interesting times indeed.