Taxi drivers in Bangkok, are they worth discussing?

[candels]

I'm not sure they're worth discussing, but from my experience in Bangkok these last couple of weeks, the foremost thing Thailand could do to improve my experience regards the taxi drivers.

Although they have "meter" on them now, they still attempt to get a fixed price. I speak Thai, and the price they give me is often double, and sometimes around 5 times what the meter fare would be.

Saturday I was literally NOT ABLE to get a taxi to use meter to take me 20 minutes away to Chatuchak market. Not on my soi, and not on the main road I walked to. One picked me up (he came back after offering me a double-sized rate earlier) and told me a price 150% what the meter would be. I said Ok, but as soon as I was in the car, he started arguing to use the expressway, which would cost another 50baht. I was friendly about it and said he had already quoted me a fixed price. If he wanted to use the expressway, I would do so if he wanted to go by meter.

I actually had to get out of the cab in the middle of the road, and walk to the BTS.

I see Thais have this problem as well, as I see them not coming to an agreement with taxi drivers on the street.

I don't see any problem with drivers trying to get a fixed price, but when you actually can't even get a meter taxi or a fair price, it seems like it might be something worth talking about.

What do you guys think of taxis?

[CharlieH]

Discussed to death in the Bangkok forum. A quick search will tell you all you need to know. (over 80 results)

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905876-thai-police-get-tough-on-taxis-refusing-fares-in-bangkok-thousands-fined-in-ten-day-crackdown/?hl=taxis

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