rooster59 Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 Benz VIP taxi plans on the rocks - too expensive and bad for drivers Image: Daily News Daily News reported that a leading company's expansion plans for a VIP taxi service using Mercedes Benz cars has been put on hold. Nakorn Chai Air's All Thai Taxi arm was gung-ho a while back with plans to flood the streets with luxury taxis. But the plans came with a price. Chairwoman Khreuawan Wongrakmit said that passengers have not been willing to pay the increased charges of using Benz VIP taxis over regular cabs. Business has been poor - people don't want to ride in a Benz, they'd rather own one themselves. In addition the service - that has 20 cars at present - has not gained the right to park and pick up passengers at Bangkok's two main airports, Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang. This has meant drivers' "downtime" with no passengers has limited their earning potential. For now the company has abandoned its previously stated expansion plans, reported Daily News. But the Thai media reported that All Thai Taxi are gritting their teeth and persevering with the service for now. They plan to introduce other makes of cars to the service in the future - not Mercedes Benz. They denied they were going bust. Source: Daily News -- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-05-27 Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shady86 Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 For a short medium distance ride, I wont pay twice for Benz. The latest Corolla is just as comfortable and more spacious than a C class at the back. Nobody looks up to you in Benz taxi nowdays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercman24 Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 sure that is not a BENZ i had a few and they did not look like that lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brigand Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 Only the S class Benz holds any allure really and they won't be using them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeycu Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 37 minutes ago, mercman24 said: sure that is not a BENZ i had a few and they did not look like that lol Its the cheap Thai model, 4 doors 4 wheels usually and the wrong emblem on the bonnet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxYakov Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 So I guess a Ferrari taxi is out of the question then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevc Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 Pass their place near Mo Chit a lot and theres always lots of ALL Thai Taxis parked up in the compound, a taxi friend also told me you don't earn as much s well.Sent from my SM-T900 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legend49 Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 1 hour ago, mercman24 said: sure that is not a BENZ i had a few and they did not look like that lol Oh what a feeling, Toyota! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TVGerry Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 A crappy Thailand taxi driver driving around in a Mercedes Benz is still a crappy taxi driver. I'll stick to Grab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connda Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 5 hours ago, rooster59 said: Chairwoman Khreuawan Wongrakmit said that passengers have not been willing to pay the increased charges of using Benz VIP taxis over regular cabs. No doubt they are trying to appeal to all those rich, 'desirable', foreigners that we are constantly told about. Hummm, so where are they? They aren't knocking down the doors to climb in an upscale Benz taxi, that's for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thingamabob Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 Never going to work here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkok Barry Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 6 hours ago, rooster59 said: In addition the service - that has 20 cars at present - has not gained the right to park and pick up passengers at Bangkok's two main airports, Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang. Shouldn't they have sorted that out BEFORE starting the service? No wonder the business has failed with such idiots in charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canopy Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 6 hours ago, Brigand said: Only the S class Benz holds any allure really and they won't be using them. Exactly. Apparently they thought the badge alone would be a deal sealer. The smooth ride, spaciousness, comfort, and quiet of a stretched S class would be welcome when stuck in traffic and worth a higher fare. But a tiny C class? Not worth more than a corolla which are decent enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGW Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 You can "book" a "limo" while waiting for your baggage to arrive in arrivals area, they have long had the option of MB - at additional cost, doubt many took up that "offer" either! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainman34014 Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 'Not good for the drivers' ? I would have said Thai drivers are not good for the cars ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terek Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 how can C class Mercedes to be considered something luxury?? its compact premium car, I don't think it can be used for taxis.... E class minimum . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djayz Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 If you're constantly stuck in traffic congestion, as is often the case here, who cares if you're sitting in a Toyota or a Merc?! Sort out the traffic problems first and then maybe people might be willing to pay more to be driven (operative word here) around in a Benz. Until then, no thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacessit Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 I am wondering if the geniuses who came up with this idea realise maintenance costs on a Benz are 2-3 times that of a Toyota, Honda etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overherebc Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 4 hours ago, canopy said: Exactly. Apparently they thought the badge alone would be a deal sealer. The smooth ride, spaciousness, comfort, and quiet of a stretched S class would be welcome when stuck in traffic and worth a higher fare. But a tiny C class? Not worth more than a corolla which are decent enough. Stupid prices for what is now, and really has been, just a car. Spent 9 years based in Germany and 99% of taxis were mercs. The main reason being they had a reputation for being reliable and could easily cover two hundred or three hundred thousand kilometres with a good chance of no major mechanical problems. As far as I'm concerned Japanes cars are now much better and although still a rIdiculous price here are better value than an MB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrTuner Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 MB E-Class in Germany is the usual taxi. Just sayin'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emptypockets Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 From swampy to lower Suk airport link change at Phaya Thai job done. Quicker and easier. Used to use the "limo camry" service from swampy, 1200 baht and stuck in traffic. No thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrTuner Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 1 hour ago, Terek said: how can C class Mercedes to be considered something luxury?? its compact premium car, I don't think it can be used for taxis.... E class minimum . The luxury class in MB line is quite clear, the Sonderklasse, S. And you obviously want something like S600 to pass the bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emptypockets Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 3 minutes ago, DrTuner said: The luxury class in MB line is quite clear, the Sonderklasse, S. And you obviously want something like S600 to pass the bar. If the S600 can get me from swampy to lower Suk in less than forty minutes.... Sign me up. Otherwise it's just a slow taxi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fex Bluse Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 19 hours ago, rooster59 said: Chairwoman Khreuawan Wongrakmit said that passengers have not been willing to pay the increased charges of using Benz VIP taxis over regular cabs. I could have saved them the trouble and told them that. Wow, who did the study on this and figured it would work -- in country where even the rich have a poverty mentality and try to haggle and save every Baht they can. People in Chinese derivative countries like Thailand spend money as frugally as possible and make exceptions only where the perceived value is undeniable and/or where they are able to gain big FACE. Driving a Benz is not the same as using one for a taxi service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fex Bluse Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 10 hours ago, djayz said: If you're constantly stuck in traffic congestion, as is often the case here, who cares if you're sitting in a Toyota or a Merc?! Sort out the traffic problems first and then maybe people might be willing to pay more to be driven (operative word here) around in a Benz. Until then, no thank you. This is a great point and what many Thai fail to understand about the country. Thais try to create these isolated luxury experiences in a country that is largely the opposite of luxurious. Poor value examples - Sat in a luxury car being driven on horrific roads, often stuck in traffic, driven by drivers just off the farm who drive the cars like they drive their motorcys. Step outside onto unstable pavements that move when you walk, strewn with rotting rubbish and cockroaches and rats. Poor value. Luxury Bangkok mall which never carries the latest products and carries what it does at prices far more expensive than the latest products in developed countries. Ask the sales staff any question other than "what price?" and "what colors?" and you are met with the frustrating results of the Thai education system. Poor value. Build luxury home anywhere in the country but in immediate vicinity locals are burning rubbish, playing loud music (up in Issan, for example), electricity service is sometimes inconsistent, sewage smells often permeate the area, the workmanship is usually poor requiring too-frequent fixes by workers that are no more skilled than the average (which is low). Poor value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adammike Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 Years ago Thai airways had a limo service using Mercedes-Benz sedans,small white jobs, used to cost 1500 baht to Pattaya from the old don muang airport, I loved them and thought they were the height of luxury.now I take the bus to Jomtiem, a train then metro then bus when I get back to the Netherlands.I do miss those days of disposable income and a libido. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denim Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 They should get a fleet of premium tuk tuks for backpackers who want to go ethnic and be one with the locals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assurancetourix Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 19 hours ago, MaxYakov said: So I guess a Ferrari taxi is out of the question then? With a Maserati Quattroporte it's possible https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maserati_Quattroporte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canopy Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 The Porsche taxi concept was tried in Bangkok a few years back: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebell Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 Come to Pattaya, the Mafia here can afford all manner of luxury cars as no meters are allowed here thanks to the other mafia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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