Thai PM's secretary general defends plan to buy four luxurious cars

[webfact]

PM's secretary general defends plan to buy four luxurious cars
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- PM's Secretary General Gen Wilas Aroonsri Thursday defended the project to buy four luxurious cars for Bt78 million, saying the project is necessary.

Wilas said the project was initiated by the Yingluck government for about Bt80 million to Bt90 million and the current government saw that the project was necessary to provide security for state guests.

He said the PM's Secretariat has reduced the project's cost to Bt78 million. He said three S600 Guard sedans would be purchased with a Volkswagen car for use in receiving state guests.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/PMs-secretary-general-defends-plan-to-buy-four-lux-30272316.html


-- The Nation 2015-11-05

[canopus1969]

Well if it was initiated by the Yingluck government then it has to be ok

[shirtless]

A total necessity , why trade down when the taxpayer is spring for it ,

[billd766]

They are actually armoured limousines as used by many governments for heads of state, VVIP persons etc

S600 Guard sedans

The S-class Guard will be built at Mercedes-Benz's Sindelfingen facility and is said to start at around $270,000. Mercedes-Benz will accept orders for the S600 Guard shortly.

Read more: http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/mercedes-benz-debuts-armored-s600-guard#ixzz3qbHn7c3G

http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/mercedes-benz-debuts-armored-s600-guard

Latest S-class Guard offers protection from rifle rounds and grenades

A few days ago, Mercedes-Benz debuted the S600 Guard, an armored version of the long-wheelbase sedan that went on sale in soft-skinned form exactly one year ago. The new S-class Guard will offer VR9 level of protection, which corresponds to the CEN B7 standard; that means it'll be able to defeat 7.62x51mm and 5.56x45mm rifle rounds fired from a variety of angles. The new W222-generation S600 Guard sedan will also offer underbody protection against several common types of grenades and mines. In addition to the armor, the S-class will also have Michelin PAX runflat tires, an integrated automatic fire-suppression system, and optional light and siren systems. Every vehicle will essentially be made to order, so there won't be a base version of the car, per se, as everything has to be specified. The S600 Guard will join armored versions of the E-class, ML-class and G-class in Mercedes-Benz's Guard lineup.

Read more: http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/mercedes-benz-debuts-armored-s600-guard#ixzz3qbH8HeBe

[CantSpell]

Definitely needed....

Can't be seen going to inspect the future submarines in a Camry, can we?

[EnglishJohn]

I can only imagine the fevered rants on this thread if it wasn't initiated by Pheu-Thai.

The silence compared to other threads like this is deafening. LMAO.

[TheCruncher]

Will the Volkswagen come with or without bogus software?

[worgeordie]

They should make them use Standard herald's like they do in India,

that would stop them thinking that they are superior to the common

folk.

regards Worgeordie

[Thian]

Will the Volkswagen come with or without bogus software?

Guess it'll be a T5 transporter which is a hi-so minivan for Thai. In Europe only constructionworkers drive those

Transporters are nice vans though.

Why don't they go for a Maybach? Never seen those in Thailand and they are another level of a Benz.

[Wilsonandson]

They could save all that money and just pick up the V.I.P in a tank instead.

[Thai at Heart]

Funny this. There is a company in Thailand that will bullet proof just about anything they want. They are also distributors for range rover and supplied a protected one for abhisit. Why the need for mercs?

[Kasset Tak]

At least they did not go for something like the Cadillac One limousines that the US president use, they are estimated at $1,500,000 each. So these Mercedes S600 are more in the middle if you compare Cadillac One and the more modest Fiat 500 for $20,000 that the Pope used when he landed in US...

[phoenixdoglover]

The preparations continue.

[Alration]

Why don't they go for a Maybach? Never seen those in Thailand and they are another level of a Benz.

Because they were never produced as armoured vehicles, and the brand no longer exists. There is a glorified Merc S Class called the Mercedes-Maybach but it's no longer a Maybach.

[WhizBang]

It's for state guests. not Thakky. So can you please rudder back

Well, hopefully Thaksin will become a guest of the state, sometime soon.

[Alration]

Funny this. There is a company in Thailand that will bullet proof just about anything they want. They are also distributors for range rover and supplied a protected one for abhisit. Why the need for mercs?

So what do you suggest dignitaries slum around in if not Mercs? Range Rovers, perhaps? Top of the range RRs aren't cheap even before the cost of armouring is considered.

Edited November 5, 2015 by Alration

[Thai at Heart]

Funny this. There is a company in Thailand that will bullet proof just about anything they want. They are also distributors for range rover and supplied a protected one for abhisit. Why the need for mercs?

So what do you suggest dignitaries slum around in if not Mercs? Range Rovers, perhaps? Top of the range RRs aren't cheap.

Still going to be less than importing a limited edition Mercedes with full modifications.

Not sure which dignitaries are at risk of being attacked in Bangkok anyway and if they are they normally bring their own protection.

It's an army junta and they reckon they can't protect visiting dignitaries. Not a very good sign of confidence in their security is it.

Edited November 5, 2015 by Thai at Heart

[Alration]

Funny this. There is a company in Thailand that will bullet proof just about anything they want. They are also distributors for range rover and supplied a protected one for abhisit. Why the need for mercs?

So what do you suggest dignitaries slum around in if not Mercs? Range Rovers, perhaps? Top of the range RRs aren't cheap.

Still going to be less than importing a limited edition Mercedes with full modifications.

Why, don't Range Rovers have to be imported anymore? Do you think that the locally produced cars meet the required standards that the armoured Mercs do?

[Thai at Heart]

Funny this. There is a company in Thailand that will bullet proof just about anything they want. They are also distributors for range rover and supplied a protected one for abhisit. Why the need for mercs?

So what do you suggest dignitaries slum around in if not Mercs? Range Rovers, perhaps? Top of the range RRs aren't cheap.

Still going to be less than importing a limited edition Mercedes with full modifications.

Why, don't Range Rovers have to be imported anymore? Do you think that the locally produced cars meet the required standards that the armoured Mercs do?

A standard range rover modified in Thailand is going to be much less.

[Prbkk]

Funny this. There is a company in Thailand that will bullet proof just about anything they want. They are also distributors for range rover and supplied a protected one for abhisit. Why the need for mercs?

Except if you are a journalist wanting to wear a vest...that's jail time.

[Alration]

Funny this. There is a company in Thailand that will bullet proof just about anything they want. They are also distributors for range rover and supplied a protected one for abhisit. Why the need for mercs?

So what do you suggest dignitaries slum around in if not Mercs? Range Rovers, perhaps? Top of the range RRs aren't cheap.

Still going to be less than importing a limited edition Mercedes with full modifications.

Not sure which dignitaries are at risk of being attacked in Bangkok anyway and if they are they normally bring their own protection.

It's an army junta and they reckon they can't protect visiting dignitaries. Not a very good sign of confidence in their security is it.

Go and compare the prices of an S600 and the Range Rover Autobiography.

"It's an army junta and they reckon they can't protect visiting dignitaries. Not a very good sign of confidence in their security is it."

Weird way of looking at it, do you think that the US, UK and European countries that use armoured vehicles, i.e. all of them, have no confidence in their security services too or are you just having a misguided Thai bash?

[Thai at Heart]

Funny this. There is a company in Thailand that will bullet proof just about anything they want. They are also distributors for range rover and supplied a protected one for abhisit. Why the need for mercs?

So what do you suggest dignitaries slum around in if not Mercs? Range Rovers, perhaps? Top of the range RRs aren't cheap.

Still going to be less than importing a limited edition Mercedes with full modifications.

Not sure which dignitaries are at risk of being attacked in Bangkok anyway and if they are they normally bring their own protection.

It's an army junta and they reckon they can't protect visiting dignitaries. Not a very good sign of confidence in their security is it.

Go and compare the prices of an S600 and the Range Rover Autobiography.

"It's an army junta and they reckon they can't protect visiting dignitaries. Not a very good sign of confidence in their security is it."

Weird way of looking at it, do you think that the US, UK and European countries that use armoured vehicles, i.e. all of them, have no confidence in their security services too or are you just having a misguided Thai bash?

I did. It's 160k GBP for the top Mercedes-Benz model. Then mods then 300% duty. Ouch

What does a range rover go for.

Point is, it's an unnecessary extravagance at the moment.

[Tywais]

Car and Driver

[bbz404]

Will the Volkswagen come with or without bogus software?

Guess it'll be a T5 transporter which is a hi-so minivan for Thai. In Europe only constructionworkers drive those

Transporters are nice vans though.

Why don't they go for a Maybach? Never seen those in Thailand and they are another level of a Benz.

Actually, the VW Transporter has become much too expensive for construction companies/workers. It is also a Hi-So vehicle in Germany with the Multivan or California lines being very popular with corporate middle class executives. They are ridiculously priced compared to their competitors from Mercedes or Ford. However, they retain value like crazy. A T4 Multivan of at least 10 years of age can run you far more than 10,000 Euros in Germany..

[ldiablo]

What they should do is find the approximately 200 exotic cars that went missing from the warehouse (never heard anything else about that one) sell them and them they will have plenty of baht to buy these new vehicles.

[chainarong]

When you stand back and analyze the Junta there isn't much difference between them and the Thaksin Government , the only difference is the section 44 and I am sure Thaksin would have loved that one , if you had a graph you'd find that both lines would be the same , from the Junta leader bleating that the press isn't giving him a fair go to luxury cars to populist handouts to the farmers to some pie in the sky dreams , just the same, different name......

[bangrak]

Will the Volkswagen come with or without bogus software?

Guess it'll be a T5 transporter which is a hi-so minivan for Thai. In Europe only constructionworkers drive those

Transporters are nice vans though.

Why don't they go for a Maybach? Never seen those in Thailand and they are another level of a Benz.

I have seen a few on special occasions. Was it in cream or bordeaux colour?. The new Maybach is a 'super-de-luxe' S-class now, but without the distinctive coachwork and two-tones paintjob. Maybe because it was deemed too dangerous to drive around with all that plebs, as in a world with more and more $ billionaires, ...there are hundreds of millions of new deprived have-not's possibly slightly irritated by the disgusting view of all that, of course honestly generated..., wealth.

Edited November 5, 2015 by bangrak

[bangrak]

When you stand back and analyze the Junta there isn't much difference between them and the Thaksin Government , the only difference is the section 44 and I am sure Thaksin would have loved that one , if you had a graph you'd find that both lines would be the same , from the Junta leader bleating that the press isn't giving him a fair go to luxury cars to populist handouts to the farmers to some pie in the sky dreams , just the same, different name......

Who would have expected such an exaggeration from you!?

[bangrak]

Funny this. There is a company in Thailand that will bullet proof just about anything they want. They are also distributors for range rover and supplied a protected one for abhisit. Why the need for mercs?

When you'd be mega-rich and/or powerfull, and want/need to protect your skin with an armoured car, would you rather go for a Thai after-job or the German official version...? When it's as remote from you as it is from me, just think about getting an 'original-Thai-copy' or the real software package in your computer...

[Dogbreath]

Thepprasit Rd. Pattaya 5PM today. Traffic halted or diverted in each direction. Screaming sirens everywhere. The first vehicle is a RTP Camry doing at least 120kph followed by more Camrys and and MC cops then a half dozen big Mercs all hauling ass with those followed by a fleet of RTP Camrys. Cops at the corner of every soi holding up the poor Thai commuters so Chief Assistant Deputy to the Fifth Keeper of the Hounds isn't late for cocktails and happy hour.

No different in the States. Where I used to live, once or twice a year the President or Vice President would come to play golf at one of the area's toney enclaves, stopping traffic and inconveniencing us peasants no end. All so the self-importatnt bastards could play golf and sniff the <deleted> of famous golfers.

It is said that rank hath its privilege, but in Thailand it becomes a circus more often than not. Just another way for the HI-Sos to rub the peasants nose in it some more.

No matter where you go on earth, the upper crust is going to stick it to you as hard and often as they can.

One of the reasons I love living in the country as far away from them as I can.