KhunTao

I saw a message pop up on my Facebook time line that said that sync 3 is now available on the Everest ...

I have not yet had the time to check at my local dealership ... Anyone with more information?

Hmmmm ... I don't think Ford can delay introducing sync 3 on the Everest much further ....

Even the cheaper Focus comes with sync 3 as standard now ...

In the Australian press, a two-wheel drive 3.2L Everest has been announced for arrival in September 2016 ...

Also, this new model will be equipped (at least in Australia) with sync 3 infotainment system, replacing the current outdated sync 2 system ...

Looks like the 4x2 3.2L model will be positioned at a 10% discount compared to the equivalent 4x4 model ... Should be lighter too, less friction lost in the transmission, therefore better fuel economy ...

I have not seen anything about this development in the Thai press. Does anyone know more ?

There is a new brand of 125cc scooters on the market, basically a replica of lambretta ... Designed in the uk, manufactured in China .... 95,000 baht.

Looks great, my only concern is that the engine is a very basic Chinese unit, with a carburetor ... No fuel injection ...

Does anyone have experience with this bike ?

We'd very much like to go to the Moto GP at the Buriram circuit (20-23 March), however there are no hotel rooms to be had anymore in, or around, Buriram city. The closest available rooms are in Surin !

Does anyone have rooms for rent privately during this period, or know of anyone that has 2 rooms avalable ? We are two guys, 2 rooms and 2 motorbikes .... Please send me a private message .... Thanks a lot in advance .....

I bought a plymouth fury 1967 with the 351 cubic inch "small block" V8 (see picture) ....

It's being restored right now and should be ready in about 2 months' time. Are there other classic car owners and/or enthusiasts that would like to get together perhaps once a month to showcase our classic cars, have a beer and socialize ?

Harry

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

I had a sym cello for a year or so, bought it at mityon Pattaya ... Price was 39,990 baht on a promotion deal ... I recently got rid of the bike as it was of absolutely dismal quality ... All the chromed parts started rusting away within weeks. It's a great looking bike, however it deteriorates very very fast ... Also I found that mityon does not carry any spare parts ... Not even the basics, like filters, tyres etc ... My advise: run a mile !!!!

I bought tiles at boonthavorn on sukhumvit two years ago, however lost their invoice/receipt. I went back to ask for a copy and was told that I needed to go to the police to report the loss if this invoice/receipt ????

This seems strange, it's merely a piece of paper that I lost, not my passport or driving license. I consider this to be a matter of customer service, not a police matter.

Anybody else had the same experience at boonthavorn or elsewhere ? Anybody understands their rationale ?

Hi,

I would like to visit the import & supercar show at the Impact Challenger hall 8 this weekend, however cannot find the opning times posted anywhere on the net. Does anyone know ?

http://www.bkkevent.com/super-car-import-car-show/

Thanks !

Actually, I do know them ... I bought a bike from Kunka Corporation earlier this year (payment in cash) and more than 6 months later I am still chasing them for the tabien rot ..... (bike book). I would advise you to proceed with caution ....

The name of the Thailand representative of Westfield is Julien, he is based in Pattaya and races a Westfield around Bira. His tel. number is 087-0222087.

I am looking for a 2nd hand Spyder Can-Am with Thai registration. New price in the US is US$14,995.00, in Thailand an unbelievable Bt.1,5m (around US$44,100.00). Preferably in black, automatic.

Any ideas where I could find a 2nd hand one ?

I have not heard anything for months in respect of this project, nor have I read anything in the newspapers. That seems odd given the relevance of his project for the Jomtien/Pattaya region.

What´s the latest, good or bad ? Construction or no construction ?

I used this guy, he specializes in modern/minimalist/contemporary:

http://nathanrhodesdesign.com/

Highly recommended.

It has been quiet recently re. the amazingly luxurious Ocean 1 "project". Anybody knows the latest ?

1) Is Siam Best Enterprises Co. still selling and taking deposits from "investors" ?

2) Are there any claims for restitution of payments made ?

3) What is the latest "construction start date" delusion from Siam Best Enterprises Co. ?

Thanks !

This guy does high end designer furniture in the Jomtien/Pattaya area:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31198216@N02/

Highly recommmended.

I went into their sales office the other day, to see what tune they are signing right now. During the course of my conversation with the German sales rep, start date of construction changed from "end of November" to "certainly this year" to "perhaps at the end of January". That´s all within 15 minutes ....

At the time of my conversation, approx. 23% of surface had been sold according to the sales rep, of which 16% in foreign units, 7% in Thai units.

It looks like the sales team will use this "high season" to try and milk the market one last time ... I don´t see how they can keep credibility issues at bay for much longer.

I expect the Baht to nosedive against the USD, from its current level of 34-35 against the USD to around 50 by year-end 2009.

Reasons are; (1) the diference between USD inflation (running at around 2-3% p.a.) and Baht inflation (running at around 15-17% p.a.), (2) negative real interest rates in Baht (i.e. inflation rate exceeds interest rate, basically implying that borrowers of Baht receive a subsidy ....), (3) the general flight from emerging markets currencies in the context of the current financial crisis, and finally (4) country specific considerations, eg. the political crisis in Thailand where a military coup appears to be the only viable way out of the stalemate.

It looks to me that the Baht has defied gravity for some time, and gravity will catch up during the remainder of 2008 and 2009. If you can, (i) convert as much Baht as you can into convertible currency at these still attractive FX rates resp. (ii) leverage as much as you can in Baht.

These turbulent times are when serious money is being made ... One man´s misfortune is another man´s lunch.

Has there been any new development in respect of La Royale, eg.

a). any further transfers over and above the 15 reported earlier ?,

. any new sales resulting in further cash for Wise Power to complete some more units?,

c). any bank financing secured by Wise Power neccessary to fully complete the project, including the morose state of the low rise units in front of and behind the tower ?

It will be walking time for a lot more people ....

Some will turn the other cheek, others may possibly seek ways of addressing the situation. I hear there is significant Russian investment. Some investors may perhaps suffer from a serious sense of humor failure.

The structure whereby the money paid to Wise Power by means of actual transfers (approx. 15 units so far at 60% of original purchase price each) is used by Wise Power to successfully complete remaining units is risky in my opinion, for three reasons:

1) The financing bank may possibly take these funds first in order to reduce its project loan to Wise Power (we don´t know ...),

2) Wise Power could use these fungible funds for other general treasury purposes (we don´t know ....), and

3) This structure could create a situation whereby the purchasers of the units will play a waiting game, i.e. wait for other buyers to accept transfers first in order to reduce construction completion risk. In an extreme case, where everyone is waiting for eachother to make a move first, this leads to stalemate.

As stated by the previous poster, Wise Land and its financing bank will have to communicate effectively with the buyers in order to raise confidence levels (very similar to the nature of the current international asset pricing crisis, i.e. caused by lack of confidence rather than underlying economics).

Yes, indeed Preecha instead of Teacha and Ban Amphur instead of Bang Saray ... I mixed them up ! Thanks for the tip on Moom Arroy ....

Relaxing foreign ownership restrictions on condos and land/houses, in limited and specific areas (such as BKK, Pattaya/Jomtien, Phuket, Samui perhaps) is something that may actually happen at some point in time. We have seen a 100% foreign ownership quota in the Pattaya/Jomtien area in the past, i.e. there is a precedent.

Remember when the Transfer Tax was reduced from 3,00% to 0,01% and the Specific Business Tax was reduced from 3,30% to 0,11% earlier this year ? It was done suddenly and without any warning whatsoever.

Again, if foreign ownership restrictions are indeed relaxed for such limited areas in Thailand, it will come suddenly and probably without much advance warning.

This is not something I would bank on, but one idea is to buy up older Thai quota condos that (on average) trade at a 20-30% discount (sometimes as much as 50%), fix them up, and hope to sell them as foreign quota units once rules are relaxed ... Interesting but not bankable in my opinion, as betting on a possible relaxation of foreign ownership rules would be very much like betting at the casino right now ...

I am a BIG seafood lover, one of the best experiences that Pattaya/Jomtien has to offer.

Best ones that I found are actually in Bang Saray, about a 7 minutes drive down Sukhumvit (direction Sattahip). They are a notch above what you find in Najomtien ...

The most popular one there is called "Teacha" (the only English word on their elaborate sign ...). There is a smaller but even better one about 100m down the same road (also on the right), however it does not have an English language sign ... Teacha is a good place to start though and work your way from there ...

Any other "hidden" gems with fantastic seafood ?

I was told that construction has now started, about a week ago .....

Is there any evidence on the ground of that ? I am not in Jomtien right now, and would much appreciate an updated picture evidencing the construction work ....