Car dream may be nightmare | Bangkok Post: business

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Blessings in disguise?

Car dream may be nightmare

Published: 2 Jan 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Business

Some 1.3 million new cars from the first-time car buyer scheme will be roving the streets in 2013.

People queue up at an excise office in Chachoengsao province on Dec 17 to exercise the right to a rebate under the first-time car buyer programme. The queue of eager car buyers reportedly began as early as 5am. SONTANAPORN INCHAN

Motorists buying the cars will receive a tax rebate of up to 100,000 baht, and the scheme, one of several populist policies of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, is projected to cost the government 90 billion baht.

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banmebkk
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Discussion 9 : 14 Jan 2013 at 18.459
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traffic congestion and being stuck in traffic will cost more than 100,000 baht. First jobbers don't need cars.
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flooding
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Discussion 8 : 06 Jan 2013 at 02.198
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We wish and bless that everybody sells more cars. As it is the only thing making the economy growing. Without the first time buyer scheme car sales is going to shrink. The Thai Economy in 2013 is going for a slow growth. Lower domestic car sales will occur because first time buyer scheme is over. And all other industries shrinking. It would be incredible if Thailand even gets 3% growth next year. Dont worry about traffic. Worry about Thailand slow growth economy. Even United States Economy will grow faster than Thailand Next Year. The wage increase has already killed our industry. Bless the traffic and high car sales growth.
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golf
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Discussion 7 : 05 Jan 2013 at 22.247
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Don't worry about more traffic. Most of this first-time car buyers won't be able to use the purchased cars anyhow because they won't be able to pay for both - the installments and the gasoline. Also car sales will drop drastically this year compensating last year high sales.
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jaydee
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Discussion 6 : 03 Jan 2013 at 23.386
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In my opinion this scheme would have been fantastic if it only applied to eco-cars, NGV
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Ian
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Discussion 5 : 02 Jan 2013 at 10.235
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#1. Why stop at taxis? Thailand is full of vehicles that would never meet the safety standards of a western society.
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geoffo
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Discussion 4 : 02 Jan 2013 at 10.034
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Normally D1 and I stand on opposite sides but on this subject I 100% agree . Taxi's are like a virus, first one parks in your building then 5 , then 25. They park in condos, in office car parks, supermarket car parks, everywhere there is space there are taxis except on the road mid morning.
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drsmith
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Discussion 3 : 02 Jan 2013 at 09.543
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Populist vote getting policies continue even if they gridlock the entire country and run it into the ground. The end result of all these new cars is more traffic gridlock, more accidents as first time car owners have no experience driving, more air pollution, increased commute times which means parents will be away from their children and families more each day, and increased personal debt just to drive to work 6 days per week. Where will all these new cars park as parking in Bangkok is already impossible? Please point out where the benefits are? Bangkok will be so gridlocked many from outside the city will stop going.
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phetpeter
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Discussion 2 : 02 Jan 2013 at 09.432
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Six months to a year in will all these Thai's be able or willing to keep up the repayemnts? Consider that most have committed to a 5 year repayment scheme...and of course, insurance, road tax and maintence payments...And then consider how they used to get about, it won't be long till worries and then wondering if they will get to the tax repayment time before the car has to go!What seemed like money for nothing, is suddenly gone in interest rates!
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ggh
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Discussion 1 : 02 Jan 2013 at 03.531
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Suggest the government remove 1.2 million taxis from the roads that cannot meet minimum safety standards. This should balance the situation nicely.
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