chris2004

The Pound has been VERY constant since about April 2010, only a baht or so movement 47-48. I think it will increase over the summer, with the Olympics, to 51-52 but then drop down again. The underlying problems with the UK economy are not going to go away. It would help if interest rates came up but that won't be for a year or two.

Just a quick word on fuel consumption. When i got my new 135 cc Elegance a few months ago i kept a detailed record of it's fuel consumption over the 1st 2000 kms. Around town in Pattaya, obviously stop/start driving, i got 105 mpg (37k/l). On a few long trips to Chon Buri i got 150 mpg (over 50 k/l). I thought this was a great result. Hard to think the new Elegance will beat it. I've seen the new one in the dealer and i thought the metal on the instrument panel looked a bit cheap and nasty.

I used to have a Krungthai bank account in Thailand and thought that the charges they were making for money coming from the UK had gone up considerably. Their web site quotes a charge of 0.25% with a min 200 and max 500 baht fee. But when i transferred @ 50,000 baht i was being charged about the full 500 baht, nearly 1%.

I queried in the bank but their answer was very vague suggesting that there was a charge when the money came into Bangkok and another charge when it went to my local branch.

Anyway i changed banks to Kasikorn and this month their charge for a similar transfer was again nearly 500 baht. Does anyone know what the actual fee structure is for incoming foreign exchange? is there a set scale? I suppose i could reduce these charges if i made larger transfers less frequently.

You should do the same as Lawrence Oates and say " I am just going outside and i may be gone a long time" and never come back.

What about Ian Hutchinson coming back after injury. 5 wins in 2010 !! These guys are gods.

I was going to get away from Songkhran in Pattaya with a week in Hat Yai, but i won't be going now. Not that i'm so bothered about the bombers but it would be a very boring week.

Why does it have to be 37 in. Plenty of 40 in models which are almost the same size.

You are usually sold the third party compulsary insurance when you get the bike (a few hundred baht). Usually as well they offer a 1 or 2 year theft insurance for @ 4,000 baht (which i think is worth doing). If you want more comprehensive insurance you need to take out a policy through a broker @ 7,000 baht p.a.

I think part of the reason is that is it hard for many thais to come up with the cash (or finance) for a new car so they have to buy second hand. This keeps the second hand values at an unrealistic level. For anyone who can raise the cash it would be crazy to buy second hand. I've seen cars 6-7 years old with 100,000 kms sold for 60% of the cost of a new one. In the UK it would be hard to give them away.

• There really are a lot of dick heads out there who think they can make stupid offers. Part of the process of selling i suppose just ignore the obvious wanke_rs.
  

If MRO's figures are correct you can get the new base model on the road with insurance for 291,000 baht, a pretty tempting deal. Maybe time for a new car.

I never ride in Pattaya after dark. 9pm at night - 50% of the riders/drivers on the road are drunk.

I am looking to buy a base Brio (400k baht) when they start production again. Has anyone managed to buy a base Brio yet, i heard maybe they were not yet in production.

Why didn't you try to wothdraw another small amount 100 baht or so it might have released the 1000 as well.

I have never bought a Mercedes or a grey import but if i was spending nearly 4 million baht on a car i would want an official dealer. You would have to be made to take a risk just to save a few percent of the cost.

MONEY

Most thai motorcycle helmets are next to useless anyway, a piece of thin plastic, often not fastened on. You are almost better wearing none.

I have tried many times to get car finance but was turned down. They want you to have a work permit or a thai person to guarantee the loan.

I don't think it's fair to take a thai girl out of Thailand. As someone said they love their country, their food and music. They love to chat with their friends and of course their number one priority FAMILY. It must be hell for them to go to another country, have no friends, can not speak the language well, no TV, and maybe a cold climate (like Scotland). I think it's just asking for trouble to take them abroad.

What about the younger age limit. We all see schoolgirls about 12/13 riding on bikes, with no helmets and 2 passengers.

I heard that Mitsubhusi was releasing an entry level car in Thailand around March 2012. I've not heard anymore details. Does anyone know of the release date, prices etc ?

A friend of my girlfriend has just got pregnant from a farang she was seeing. The bastard just did a runner when he found out. She had an abortion but the prick didn't even help her with the costs or support her till she could start work again. If you wouldn't take care of the child at least help the girl till she is able to work again.

The Ford dealership is south of Pattaya on Sukhumvit Road, on the left, about a mile down from Theppasit Road, opposite Macro.

I hate Songhran but i think it's great that people can do it here. That is one of the things i love about Thailand we DON'T have overpaid/overstaffed governments telling us what we can or can't do. What we need is LESS leglislation not more. If you don't like it stay in doors or go away for the week.

It's not just Russians. I find it disgusting that other farangs sit in bars (and restaurants) topless. I don't want to look at their fat tattooed bodies while i'm trying to eat/drink.