buying a tuk tuk .

panick wrote:
P.S. Buy a cheap second hand car here? ... Get out of holiday mode and start living here .... There's no CHEAP 2nd hand cars here!

Unless you are a falang that wants to sell But you won't find any at the car dealers!!

my old papa called it a tuk tuk, but the above site refers to it as a sky lab..3 wheel motorbike / trike...whatever, lets not bring them ruddy noisy smoking tuk tuk's as seen on the above site, which they have in Chiangmai, the pollution ruined Chiangmai's inner city..stick to the sky lab chaps, they are more fun...

hey maybe we could have a sky lab gang, and shove it up the nose of them rich naysayers..if there was a smilie with the finger, it would be here..

The Chinese sit up high versions(Sky Lab) are noisy too you know, the only silent ones have pedals.....and i doub't a few people owning or driving a proper Tuk Tuk in Udon would have an adverse affect on pollution what so ever....

I thought the Tuk Tuk's in Chiangmai were now LPG or CNG, pollution ???

The modern day ones are...(in bangers too), well ever since i recall so more environmentally friendly(note the gas tank under the rear)...a little noisy yes(Noise Pollution) but that is just one of the many 'sounds' of Thailand......that stick in your mind forever....and is used as a symbol of Thailand/Bkk, so don't knock em.... ......brooom brooooom...hey mister you want lady,,,massage..?

Stantheman wrote:A true Samlor does not have any type of motor, it is a 3 wheeled pedal power bike. You can go to the following site to see short history, pictures etc of Samlors and Tuk Tuks
http://www.frangipani.com/huahin/samlor.htm

When I hear "samlor" the traditional pedal one comes to my mind from 40-some years ago. There were no motorized samlors or tuk-tuks in Udon back then. Did we really get around town on those contraptions for 5 baht (25 cents)? Been meaning to get a ride in one again to relive old memories. Wonder if I can talk the samlor guy to get in the back while I do the driving again? Samlor race, anyone?

Yeah, riding in the tuk-tuks in BKK is a trip. Still enjoy it.

I would put money on that some of the ones trundling around Udon today are the very same ones back then Polehawk.....several new tyres and a saddle later mind you.

polehawk wrote:

Stantheman wrote:A true Samlor does not have any type of motor, it is a 3 wheeled pedal power bike. You can go to the following site to see short history, pictures etc of Samlors and Tuk Tuks
http://www.frangipani.com/huahin/samlor.htm

When I hear "samlor" the traditional pedal one comes to my mind from 40-some years ago. There were no motorized samlors or tuk-tuks in Udon back then. Did we really get around town on those contraptions for 5 baht (25 cents)? Been meaning to get a ride in one again to relive old memories. Wonder if I can talk the samlor guy to get in the back while I do the driving again? Samlor race, anyone?

Yeah, riding in the tuk-tuks in BKK is a trip. Still enjoy it.

Samlor literally means 3-wheel:
sam (pronounce saam) = three
lor (pronounced law) = wheel
So, samlor can be used for both the pedal and motorized variety and be equally correct. However, in day-to-day vernacular the pedal variety is referred to as bicycle, not a samlor.

The pedal variety is actually a "rickshaw" because it is human-powered.

Maybe nowadays but back then everyone called them samlors. And I learned the English translation a long time ago but thanks anyway, Khun Khondahm.

Yeah, Beermonkey. A few of those old samlor drivers do look familiar. Mention my name to them but don't tell them where I am. I can remember putting one in a klong a long time ago. 100 baht went a lot further back in those days.

Buying a tuk-tuk to get around town? Yeah, why not? The farangs that I see on them seem to be enjoying themselves.

polehawk wrote:Maybe nowadays but back then everyone called them samlors. And I learned the English translation a long time ago but thanks anyway, Khun Khondahm.

I agree with you 100% - just clarifying for anyone reading the thread who might not be as familiar.

The pedal variety is actually a "rickshaw" because it is human-powered.

I thought that was the name of the bloke what invented it first and who had a desire to run around a hot Asian city pulling people that where higher up the ladder to and from functions or shopping trips for a small amount of coinage in return ...or was it Lick Shaw....

lots of negative tuktuk comments?
my tuktuk would tear your pickup truck or car a new @$$h0le! until you can hit 100kmph on the open road. For town use, this will blow your doors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdX2z_vvwy8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHLckBcsrUo

And remember, in my country or your country, its the common laborers that drive pick up trucks, the wealthy own Mercedes, BMWs, and Volvos...ect

Tuk Tuks are a great way to slow down yourself ,to make the adjustment to retired life and a more relaxed pace and lifestyle.We don't have motorbikes because I worry about the problems they can present to the family as far as possible injuries are concerned,But I would have a tuk tuk if I didn't have a car and bicycles hogging up the space.

For me,it is all about lifestyle,more than wealth!But if I was wealthy enough to afford luxurious autos and a large home,I would also buy a tuk tuk.Image to me is a waste of time in relation to wealth and could create other problems for a falang in Thailand!