chris2004

I've seen a few Aygos on the street but the Toyota price list does not include it. I am thinking of buying an entry level car and this would be another option compared to the Brio or March. But is it available here?

I've just bought a 55in LG LED TV and i must say the pictures are MUCH better than my old plasma TV and in HD or blu-ray they are stunning. I know they cost quite a bit more than a plasma or LCD (I paid 50,000 baht) but if you are replacing a TV i would say go for the best now. Over the life of the TV it doesn't amount to much extra per day.

Thanks Chris where did you buy from and what city?

Sorry for the late reply. I bought from Num Chai in Pattaya. Power Buy have the same TV now though for 46,000 baht. I am still blown away by the TV. Well worth paying the extra, especially for the bigger screen.

I am 58 and hope to live for many years yet (my father died at 89). I intend to care for myself as long as possible. When the time comes i can not, or it gets too painful, a tank of nitrogen is your best friend.

Is it worth all the fuss just to get a small annual increase. If inflation averages 2-3% a year then you would get an extra 2-3 GBP on your pension, enough to buy one beer !!! OK over 10-20 years that would mount up but by that time you will be 80+ years old. You would be lucky to be still alive and even if you are too old to be buying beers (or anything else).

Have had, in Thailand, a C180, 320i, and an X3 2.0d.

The C180, bought new, was a nice car, but expensive when something broke (although dirt cheap compared to what it would have cost in the UK).

The 320i, bought a year old, generally had nothing go wrong, obviously as most things were covered in the free servicing. Recently sold though as it was coming to the end of the free servicing, AND we're heading back to the UK later this year, so we've dropped down to two cars. One thing I would say is it never felt as fast as I'd expected...

The X3, bought new, is my favourite of the 3 European cars we've had here. It's faster than the 320i was (which suggests the 320d would be faster than the 320i too), and so far nothings gone wrong other than having to replace a couple of tyres, and that was from apparently driving over a nail somewhere.

However, if anyone asks me what car to get in Thailand, especially if they're carrying passengers and going upcountry, it's the Fortuner... You can almost buy 3 of them for the cost of one X3, and it's got 7 seats, with plenty of rear legroom (although the 3rd row is strictly kids), even if the driver's got his seat all the way back. Toyota dealers are everywhere, so servicing's not a problem anywhere.

Am even thinking of bringing my Fortuner to the UK in the return, although the difference in price of used cars between the two countries will probably rule that out as just too wasteful of money.

Interesting post and valuable advice

But why do people always seem to slag off Fortuna's...or is it their drivers?

Although I've never driven or sat in one I think I they look alright for what they are.

RAZZ

I can understand a Fortuner if you live up country but they are crazy for a small town like Pattaya. Why do you need a tank like that for the town. The drivers are usually mad and take up most of the road, a real menace.

Just out of interest is this only third party accidents? If i injured myself on the bike could i claim upto 50k through my compulsory insurance.

The Kia Picanto K1 is a nice car.

The Japanese economy might be stagnating but it has stagnated at a much higher level than most other economies. The average Jap is still much better off than the average european. And have you seen the yen exchange rate recently. Going abroad much be really cheap for them.

Sold today thanks

Yamaha Fino Classic. Only 6 months old 2250 kms virtually a new bike.

Available with 2 years theft insurance. One farang owner with green book.

Parked under cover at my cono near Jomtien Pattaya

Only 32,000 baht.

Ring Chris 0871341032

When i bought my new Nouvo Elegance i kept accurate fuel consumption records for the first 2000 kms and it gave a consistent 105 miles per gallon around Pattaya, which is a lot of stop and go. When i did a few runs upto Chon Buri it gave over 140 miles per gallon.

Why dont you just download them from somewhere like pirate bay ,transfer to a hard drive and plug into your tv ,all the latest bbc progs even the 5 year old stuff on entertainment.?

I tried Pirtate Bay and got loads of virus warning.

I tried BBC iPlayer and everything I tried is only available in the UK (silly really because back in the UK, you can watch everthinbg on the TV)

BBC iplayer is easy to watch in Thailand using a proxy. It's even better than live TV as you can choose from any programme over the past week or more.

My condo needed to raise more money for maintenance. As i understand it to increase the normal common fee at least 50% of ALL the co-owners need to agree at an AGM. As we never get that many attend this was not possible. But it seems we can charge an additional fee using only 50% of co-owners ATTENDING an EGM. This is the route we took to get an additional 5million baht of funding. Our standard common fee is fairly low at 20 baht per sq m per month.

I've had 2 Nouvos for over 3 years and never had a problem with the tyres. OK yes if you try and brake while driving over sand then you will skid but it's best to avoid that by riding in line with the road conditions.

Why don't you view the BBCi player over the internet. You can see all the BBC programmes you want for free.

I've just bought a 55in LG LED TV and i must say the pictures are MUCH better than my old plasma TV and in HD or blu-ray they are stunning. I know they cost quite a bit more than a plasma or LCD (I paid 50,000 baht) but if you are replacing a TV i would say go for the best now. Over the life of the TV it doesn't amount to much extra per day.

My girlfriend has had braces from a dentist in Pattaya. She needed quite a lot of oral surgery plus the braces over 2-2.5 years totalled about $1,000.

I'm sorry but who uses a credit card for a small item like a meal. You are just asking for trouble and/or a scam. Use cash. I would never use my credit card in Thailand except for an emergency.

Nope. Yellow housebook or certificate of residence. Some accept workpermit. None accept DL

How about a copy of the 90 day report? As the Immi. are full aware of where one is staying at, this should be Ok. However it's not. Must have to do with money changing hands.

90 day report is you stating where you stay

certificate of residence is you providing documents as proof of where you live

silly comment on "money changing hands" as they are both free

I get charged 200 baht for my residence certificate.

I think some stores have after NEW YEAR sales. I've just bought an LG TV at the Num Chai store in Pattaya which was advertised as being on sale with a sizeable reduction.

I recently bought a LG 55LW5700 (which is a great TV by the way) but it only comes with a thai manual. Anyone know where to get an English manual. I tried the normal web searches but no luck.

Why tint at all, are you a film star ? If the sun is too bright during the day they have invented a great solution, it's called sun glasses.

I have previously bought a motorbike with 50% down and 0% interest over 6 months. But if you go for the low deposit over 24 months then the interest rates are about 2% PER MONTH. I guess many thais buy bikes this way as they can not find the full cash up front. It would be crazy for any farang to buy this way though.

I had my HD box installed yesterday and had the same problem no sound on 121 but OK on all the others strange. I found the answer though if you had the audio setting on PCM not Dolby then you get the sound back on 121.

The picture is obviously good on the HD channels but i think the other pictures are not as good as my old box.

I have some friends who have a live-in Thai girlfriend. My understanding is that is customary to provide an allowance, pocket money or a stipend to one's live-in Thai girlfriend.

My friends, who all live in Pattaya, give their GF any where from 1K per week to 10k per month, plus they provide all food, drinks, entertainment and medical care. They occassionally take her for short trips to Koh Sami, her village and other places. She basically takes care of him, cleans the condo daily, cooks and shops, if required, and of course, keeps him happy in bed. She uses her stipend for makeup, clothes and gifts to her parents. Most of the GFs don't work outside of the home, but some do.

I'd love to have a live-in Thai GF. What are other guys doing for their live-in Thai girlfriends?

Your friends are all NUTS do they do this with a girlfriend in their own country?

In my own country i wouldn't get a 25 year old to stay with me a 58 year old. I pay mine 10,000 baht a month plus her food, trips etc.