JensenZ

No, if you read my previous posts you'd know I've been riding motorcycles in Pattaya for 16 years, so "being frightened" was not a consideration in chosing not to own a car. Did you work your way up from a skateboard? Maybe you used to own a motorcycle with training wheels. You can buy them with 2 wheels on the back or the front.

(Do you not realise this news was plastered on media outlets around the world the moment the court decision was made? It's one of the biggest topics on the news this week. We don't really have to wait for phone calls from Australia to confirm it.) I'm disappointed that he cannot play. It's a big deal the top seed is out of the competition.

LOL. Did you read the whole thread?

So you didn't actually buy a car and were too cheap to buy a motorcycle, but now that you found a Thai partner with a car, you're happy. Good for you! Do you have any idea how insane your last comment is? You think it's fun to terrorize cyclists on the road with your car? I can't express here how uncool that is. I respect anyone getting out on a bicycle for exercise, and give them wide birth. I have an old friend with a very f****ked up shoulder due to some idiot in a car knocking him off his bicycle... could it have been you?

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear... it's very ignorant to insult someone you don't know. After 16 years in Pattaya, I've seen all the sights. There is nothing to visit that I would find interesting and if there was something I needed to visit, I wouldn't need to buy a car to get there. I don't need to go places just to pretend I have a life. I'm quiet guy who now enjoys peace and quiet. My activities are gym and exercise and trying to keep healthy. In 1996-7 I bought a car in the USA, and traveled through 38 states - 25,000 miles over 6 months. I've lived in 6 different countries. I've done what I need to do. Had all my adventures. I don't get excited to go places now. For me it's more exciting to stay at home and watch a good movie or documentary. If traveling is what you need to do, then great, but don't think that someone who doesn't follow your lead is short-sighted. The only thing which is short-sighted is your comment.

In Australia they have what they call "anti-hoon laws". They confiscate their cars. There would be a lot of young Thai drivers walking if they had the same laws here LOL

I use my "really safe" motorcycle everyday, but I would not ride my motorcycle to the airport or Bangkok. In fact, I use motorcycles in maximum of 10km radius to my home. Do you take your own car to the airport when you leave Thailand? But your point was about hiring dangerous drivers for transport, and that we should own a car to avoid this. It is avoidable. Even if you don't have one safe driver to call, you could have 2 or 3 that you consider safe. If you want to buy a car, buy a car, but there's no need to make excuses for your decision. I get it, some people need/want cars. I have no problem with that.

Yet I cannot think of any fun or exciting possiblities I'm missing out on for not having one. Could you name a few so I can reflect on what I'm missing out on? I would not consider driving a car as a fun activity, but for transport. I know young Thais drive for fun, and this is one of the problems and what makes the roads so deadly in the country.

Yes, I agree. There are good reason to own a car. This was never in doubt, but then again, it's not so likely a family would settle in the middle of a city.

Maybe your view of a "city" in Thailand needs to be adjusted. I live in the city of Pattaya. My balcony overlooks a park. The next door neighbour's backyard is vitually a botanical garden, and I have sea views. All I hear are birds chirping most of the day... and guess what? I'm less than 1km from Walking Street. Quiet suburban areas are easy to find in Pattaya, and I'm sure also in the outskirts of Bangkok away for the central concrete canyons. I have no need to go anywhere except to shop.

Having riden motorcycles for 25 years in Australia and NZ, and another 20 years in SE Asia, I would say it is safer here. It might be hard for people like you with blinders on who only view statistics to understand this. First point, I have always ridden auto scooters here, whereas in Australia I had gears and clutch. The difference in safety is like night and day. Second point, knowing how traffic and other motorcyclists behave in Pattaya (and of course other areas) means I'm always on the alert. I always expect Thais to jump red lights, ride up one way streets, cut in front of me, pass me on the right when I indicate to turn right, possibly rear end me at stop lights, etc etc etc. I ride in a semi-nervous state at all times and watch my rear view mirrors nearly as much as looking ahead. Having had some bad accidents in the past (all in Australia), I know what it feels like to hit the tarmac and try my best to avoid it. By contrast, in Australia, I go into a chilled out state of awareness where I might not see a danger heading my way. Living in Pattaya, with all the congestion, my speed is also much lower than it would be in Australia.

Yes! I only use a car for long trips which I plan and book... the same guy. I don't use cars very often. I can't remember the last time I got into a vehicle with 4 wheels.

My wife's hairdresser recommended I buy a car so her hair won't get messed up on a motorcycle LOL.

Perhaps if the reflexes and eyesight diminish too far you'll consider letting someone else drive. Old drivers with bad eyesight are an extreme risk to others on the road, and most of all motorcyclists. It was an old driver who didn't see me that wiped me out on a motorcycle in my early 20s. You might feel safe, but think about the rest of us.

I'm certain it is for many. It's a status symbol. In every country it always has been and always will be... and that goes double for Thailand. If you have a Thai partner there would be more pressure to buy a nice car, and a car nicer than her friends and neighbour's cars.

That's a lot of vehicles you find necessary to own. 2 big bikes and a scooter. A man of excesses. I'm glad my life doesn't require so much transportation.

You're breathing the same air inside your air conditioned car. Where do you think the air comes from? You don't need air conditioning on a motorcycle as it's provided free of charge - open air, however, you most definitely need it in a car, to cool it down when you get into your parked furnace (if you parked in the sun), and because you'll be a long while getting to where you are going if you're in heavy traffic. Also, parking is a headache in a city.

This is easily solved as you would expect to know your driver and his driver habits. I have a driver that maintains his car to perfection and is the safest driver I know. Sometimes I have to ask him to speed up if I'm getting late for a flight.

I think you do need a reason to own a car. It's a personal choice taking into consideration many factors: 1. Where you live? 2. Do you have a family? 3. Do you have a business which requires transport? 4. Do you have enough money to buy one, run it and maintain it? Obviously there are more reasons, but those would top the list.

You were talking about statistics, and explained that the statistics will distort the odds for experienced, riders. You can drown trying to cross a river with an average depth of 2 feet, right? There's no doubt that the risk of a serious accident is much higher on a motorcycle, but right now you're talking to a person who has ridden motorcycles in Pattaya for 16 years and another 5 years in other SE Asian countries where people are just as crazy, so I defenitely don't need any reminder of what other people are doing on the roads. I don't like to get into debates about how experience helps as I don't want to tempt Mr Murphy, so bragging about riding skills has always been taboo for me on this forum. Hopefully Mr Murphy doesn't take this post as a subtle way of bragging LOL. Death is not my greatest fear, but serious incapacitating injuries.

"Lies, damned lies, and statistics". Statistically most riders here are young, inexperienced and crazy, and seemingly not fearful of death, which distorts the odds for a careful and experienced rider.

I have lived in Pattaya for 16 years and I have never owned a car and have never missed not having one. Personally I hate looking after cars, so unless they are necessary, I don't want one. I have made the sacrifice in safety to get around on motorcycles. I understand that people who don't want to take the risk of riding motorcycles, may want to own a car. If I didn't own a motorcycle, it would be very inconvenient to have to rely on public transport. I like to get places fast, and that's hard in a car if you live in Pattaya. I don't like the idea of spending hours in traffic jams. Bear in mind this depends on your location. When I look for somewhere to stay, the location is chosen so I don't need a car.

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Bingo! Preservation of capital is the main reason for buying gold. It's not an investment, but insurance.