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[wonder6281 0]

Don't like bikes so we'll disagree there, I go everywhere in the truck or walk mostly.

 

Waiting for the "you don't need a car or truck in Pattaya" brigade to chirp up. Nah, bring all your fucking shopping back on the bike, pissing down with rain. Great driving along Sukhumvit like that.

 

Trucks and cars do cost money but they virtually last forever and save you in so many other areas of life as well as improving your quality of life no end.

 

I agree, I much prefer the car especially for getting out to do the shopping etc. The bike has its purpose but they scare the shit out of me. While my girl is happy to use the bike (because thats all she has) I much prefer to travel safer with a good seat and 4 doors for protection.

[jacko 8,775]

As for the condos, I disagree if you are willing to put some work into it.

While I have a grasp of the 'keeping active' idea, not sure you have got a grip of 'retiring' in LOS!

 

Don't like bikes so we'll disagree there, I go everywhere in the truck or walk mostly.

Nowhere to walk to from my place.... and the soi dogs make that a hazzard.

A trip to the 7-11 aint' worth maneuvering the truck.

There are a couple of places I visit in Pattaya, but the frustration of sitting in traffic and finding parking gets to me, but the TGF loves to drive the truck around and has been known to 'get the beer'.

Edited December 13, 2009 by jacko

[torrenova 644]

While I have a grasp of the 'keeping active' idea, not sure you have got a grip of 'retiring' in LOS!

 

 

Nowhere to walk to from my place.... and the soi dogs make that a hazzard.

A trip to the 7-11 aint' worth maneuvering the truck.

There are a couple of places I visit in Pattaya, but the frustration of sitting in traffic and finding parking gets to me, but the TGF loves to drive the truck around and has been known to 'get the beer'.

 

Don't think I would ever completely "retire". Either working because of necessity or not, I love the challenge of business and sometimes, a little work !

 

I've a list of things, business wise, to do but have not yet gotten around to because of doing other things, having a family or just not been motivated enough to deal with them. I'm now motivated again but I'll be up country or in Singapore and Europe for some of the next year (back and forth) so they'll have to wait. Then there is my building project to finish off and some partnership deals to discuss. Guess I'll be glad to lose motivation again and get a rest !!! Life used to be so easy when I lived in Pattaya 100%

[wonder6281 0]

Nowhere to walk to from my place.... and the soi dogs make that a hazzard.

A trip to the 7-11 aint' worth maneuvering the truck.

There are a couple of places I visit in Pattaya, but the frustration of sitting in traffic and finding parking gets to me, but the TGF loves to drive the truck around and has been known to 'get the beer'.

 

When I stayed at my TG house, I would take the stroll from the house to 7/11 to get a few beers. Much easier, besides I like a walk. As far as outside of the estate the bike has its advantages especially when I'm riding pillion. Going into Pattaya is much quicker on the bike, but I am always looking out for her and my safety. In a car I am prepared to deal with the traffic just for the safety aspect. And while I agree parking can be a problem, at least I can put my head back if I have too much to drink before heading home. The secret is to have a couple of cold ones while navigating the traffic.

 

And I love the fact that she is prepared to do the beer run sometimes. They are such good girls.

[jacko 8,775]

And I love the fact that she is prepared to do the beer run sometimes. They are such good girls.

Agreed, me and a mate get picked up and brought home after a night out sometimes too!

[Emil 0]

Waiting for the "you don't need a car or truck in Pattaya" brigade to chirp up. Nah, bring all your fucking shopping back on the bike, pissing down with rain. Great driving along Sukhumvit like that.

 

Trucks and cars do cost money but they virtually last forever and save you in so many other areas of life as well as improving your quality of life no end.

 

Well if you insist. I've lived in Pattaya for 5 years and don't own a car or bike. Never had to bring things back from the store when its pissing down rain. The key is don't go shopping when its raining (most of the time the rain only lasts for about a half hour) and also to find a place close to a market and the baht bus route. Also stores like Carrefour will deliver your stuff to your place if you buy "X" baht of items. Because I don't own transportation I feel that I am improving my quality of life as I do alot more walking than when I lived in America and drove everywhere. I do like to eat so this help me keep my weight somewhat reasonable. The cost of owning a vehicle is not even a consideration in my decision to owning a vehicle, its the way people drive in Pattaya and the congestion which is only getting worse. If I lived up country I would definitely buy.

[jacko 8,775]

Well if you insist. I've lived in Pattaya for 5 years and don't own a car or bike. Never had to bring things back from the store when its pissing down rain. The key is don't go shopping when its raining (most of the time the rain only lasts for about a half hour) and also to find a place close to a market and the baht bus route. Also stores like Carrefour will deliver your stuff to your place if you buy "X" baht of items. Because I don't own transportation I feel that I am improving my quality of life as I do alot more walking than when I lived in America and drove everywhere. I do like to eat so this help me keep my weight somewhat reasonable. The cost of owning a vehicle is not even a consideration in my decision to owning a vehicle, its the way people drive in Pattaya and the congestion which is only getting worse. If I lived up country I would definitely buy.

BS...... one thing about tropical rain is it can be sudden and very localised. I have most certainly been surprised by a downpour on Sukhumvit a few times. Nor would I like to have no supplies at home because it has been cloudy in the mornings for 3-4 days. Carrefour do deliver but you have to get there to order the stuff.

 

Most people who settle move out of central Pattaya and personal transport becomes obligatory.

My quality of life is improved by being able to get out!

[Emil 0]

BS...... one thing about tropical rain is it can be sudden and very localised. I have most certainly been surprised by a downpour on Sukhumvit a few times. Nor would I like to have no supplies at home because it has been cloudy in the mornings for 3-4 days. Carrefour do deliver but you have to get there to order the stuff.

 

Most people who settle move out of central Pattaya and personal transport becomes obligatory.

My quality of life is improved by being able to get out!

 

I just guess that I must be lucky then as in 5 years I've been caught out in the rain maybe a half dozen times and I'm out alot. Like you said it tropical rain and when I've have been rained on no big deal as its not cold, better than spending the 19th of April on Beach Rd. If for some strange reason that it did rain for 4 straight days and I ran out of supplies I would call a cab, however Foodland is only about 100 meters away. At first the hauling of water was a pain but I quickly discovered a water service that delivers bottled water right to the location I desire inside my place.

 

I'm happy that your quality of life improved when you moved but I'm quite happy with mine and I like being not too far out so that its easy to walk to many different eating place nearby or hop on a baht bus if we want to hit Walking St or go to a movie. Last week during the early afternoon traffic was so bad along both Pattayaklang and also Pattaya Tai that it was quicker to walk and its only going to get worse.

[torrenova 644]

I lived in Pattaya for some years before I bought a vehicle. Initially I lived right in town, in a hotel and really had no use for a car but neither did I have a kitchen to cook. When I moved to the condo I still didn't have a car (View Talay 2) but I did have a kitchen, a small one admittedly, and though I'd never drink and drive, I did start to get worn down either by the struggle to get shopping or being restricted to what they had at Foodmart. Carrefour will only deliver non perishables so you are still stuck with baht bus struggles, hiring them privately or going without.

 

Over time, you realise that there is far more to living in Pattaya than the next beer and the limitations of the baht bus routes. Your quality of life is restricted because you cannot go where you want, when you want and be free to come back when you want. Once I bought a vehicle the sense of freedom was overwhelming and I could not imagine why I had resisted for so long.

 

Perhaps for some it is a large outlay. In relative terms it is, as you can buy a perfectly reasonable studio condo for little more than the price of a new truck or car. Past Sukhumvit you can pick up a 2 bed house for the same money. Imagine that, a house you own instantly for the price of a car. In the Lazarus condominium or other less desirable places you can buy much more for the price of a car.

 

Is retiring to Pattaya and not being able to afford a vehicle better than not retiring to Pattaya ? probably yes. But once the immediate euphoria of moving to Thailand has subsided, having a vehicle can save you money, though undeniably there is still probably a net cost to most people. However, if you actually cost in everything and I include hiring baht buses to do your shopping and for everyday travelling etc. then the cost is less than Bt10,000 over 5 years, including depreciation. It is very easy to "recoup" that cost by removing yourself from the bar for 1 day a week. And then the whole of Thailand is open to you, though more usefully the immediate area, which is then yours to explore.

 

So when you build in all the costs versus the benefits, you can almost get rid of the financial implications of buying a vehicle. I didn't think so before I bought one nor did I need to have it so reduced but the simple fact is that having a vehicle is necessary to have an increased quality of life. And therein lies the crux, would you deliberately deny yourself quality of life by avoiding a vehicle purchase or if planning for retirement, would you want to be so constrained or plan for the cost of funding the initial purchase ?

 

Walking or getting the bus should be a choice, not the only option.

[jacko 8,775]

Emil has a point that if you are content in a condo around Soi Buakhao or 3rd Rd, and life consists of going into Pattaya, a vehicle is as much use as an elephant.

But I came to realise that the more time I spent in the hustle and bustle of the town, the more it frustrated me.

I also felt very constrained living in a small place.

So I moved over to the darkside... it was apparent that without my own transport there, I was very much tied to the house. The idea of calling and using motorcycle taxis did not appeal.

I tried a motorcycle for a while, but you can't carry much, and get trapped in bad weather, and yes caught in sudden thunderstorms that can be dangerous and cause streets to flood and be impassable, and one day you will get hurt on that thing. A truck came next......!

Trips to the north, trips to the south, and shopping for bigger items, and even going with her to 'the village' and bringing back sacks of rice.

Since, I have moved further out of town, with space around me, gardens and swinging coconut trees to see.

The odd trip into town for a night out is still possible, and is enjoyed not hum-drum.

Yes, the truck is as much use as a chocolate fireguard into Pattaya beyond Carrefour, but I can whiz to Tesco, Macro or BigC quite quickly. Just have to avoid town for Songkran and Christmas/New Year.

Edited December 22, 2009 by jacko

[Emil 0]

When I first decided to live in Pattaya I did consider buying a house as you get more for you baht than a condo. The 2 things that put me off was that you had to go the company route becasue a falang can't own in his name and the security issue. Maybe I worry to much but I wasn't going to take those risks.

 

It took me a couple years to find a condo that I liked because it wasn't until recently that one had many options in the centeral Pattaya area to purchase. Its 170 sq meters and we don't have any children so its adequate space. I'm lazy so I don't have to maintain the pool (cost is buried in the association fees) and a nice little fitness center for a workout. Only 55 units so the pool area is never crowded, most of the time empty. Granted I can't shag the TGF in the pool or lay naked in the backyard if I owned a house, but those days are past when I hit 60.

 

Like I said earlier I tend to worry about things and one of the other things that I was concerned about with owning and driving a car in Pattaya is me being involved in an accident. I've always considered myself a safe and courtious driver and have never been involved in an accident during my 48 years of driving. If I were driving in Pattaya I would be stopping for those entering a crosswalk, pedestrian walking through an intersection or not being aware of some motorbike driver passing me on the shoulder and getting involved in an accident. I wouldn't want the thought of seeing someone lying on the pavement seriously injured or dead. I actually enjoy driving and when I'm home I think nothing of driving down to Las Vegas/Laughlin area which is about 600 miles and nine hours away.

Edited December 22, 2009 by Emil

[torrenova 644]

Some good points from Jacko and Emil there.

 

As Jacko alludes to, the house past Sukhumvit (or indeed off the baht bus route), the vehicle and the lifestyle are all connected. Every day you have options. Where to go, when to go, all down to you.

 

Emil's idea approaches the situation from a different angle. Worry about driving and having an accident, worrying about a house in company name, worrying about the security of a house. Seems too much worry in there for me. If I worried that much I'd be fucking worried !

 

I guess their respective choices suit them but I'd just ask Emil what he thought about the fact that because he didn't have a vehicle, he couldn't explore further than he could walk or get a bus to or from. I didn't but certainly do now see how limiting that is.

[Emil 0]

Emil's idea approaches the situation from a different angle. Worry about driving and having an accident, worrying about a house in company name, worrying about the security of a house. Seems too much worry in there for me. If I worried that much I'd be fucking worried !

 

I guess their respective choices suit them but I'd just ask Emil what he thought about the fact that because he didn't have a vehicle, he couldn't explore further than he could walk or get a bus to or from. I didn't but certainly do now see how limiting that is.

 

I don't spend much time worrying, I just look at the potential risk and make my decision that will limit my risk. So far its worked for me, I've spent at least 4 months a year in LOS since 2001 and the last 5 years around 9 months a year and to date haven't had any problems what so ever.

 

I enjoy Pattaya and if I did want to explore more of LOS I would travel by air, bus, hire a driver with car or even rent a vehicle as from what I hear driving outside of Pattaya and Bangkok is not as hectic.

[jacko 8,775]

I enjoy Pattaya and if I did want to explore more of LOS I would travel by air, bus, hire a driver with car or even rent a vehicle as from what I hear driving outside of Pattaya and Bangkok is not as hectic.

Along with a few other towns, yes, driving in the rural areas is easy.

Quite a good network of roads.