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2 + 2 Jaguar
Ferarri 275GTS
Corvette Sting Ray
Alfa Romeo Spider
911 Porsche
DB6 Aston Martin
427 Cobra
MB230SL
Sports Illustrated
We were crossing from celebrating Christmas at my brother's to our place at a ski & mountaining resort for a ten-day-holiday. As a consequence, the car was heavily loaded, it even holding one of my daughter's pair of snow skis inside the cabin. We were cruising on a two-lane highway at about 75 miles per hour.
We were in the left lane of the two lanes, speeding in order to taking over other car that was in front of us on the right lane. Then our front left tyre burst out. We collided laterally against the left highway security rail and got rejected spinning round towards the (empty) right lane; I tried to regain the car control by counter steering, but eventually the car hit, this time with its right side, the right rail. Next we hit frontally the left rail and then—again after making a spin or two (who knows?)—did it frontally against the right rail to eventually coming to a stop.
(I have mentally passed the film of the accident to myself quite a few times last night; I can nonetheless be wrong, given the circumstances.)
Nobody was injured. My family and I are safe at home now. Not even a neck pain nor a muscle contracture.
All airbags came out in turn: laterals first, frontals last. (I could see the road after the lateral collisions until the first frontal one happened.) The car is now a mere ruin but for the rear end. Yet all four doors and trunk can be opened as usual. It must be said that the car did not roll over its roof.
Hoping next year be at least as fortunate as this one :surprise: ,
Regards,
Jose
-moo
Do you know what happened with the tire? Did you hit something or was it just a defective tire? If you get any further info on the tire that blew out please share with us.
Happy New Year!!
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Could there have been some sharp debris in the road?
In any event, have a happy 2008!
What will become of the vehicle?
No doubt you will celebrate your family and life this New Year!!
TagMan
http://www.worldcarfans.com/9071219.004/apple-to-revamp-bmws-idrive-with-ipod-li- ke-interface
:confuse:
http://www.worldcarfans.com/9071226.003/$2-million-supercar-chooses-suppliers
Thank you so much for your empathy!
Sure it was a frightening experience. Everything happened within a flash. Yet the worst was when we were going frontally towards the right wall, seeing everything approaching fast, and thinking that the security rail would just enter deep within the car forcing it to jump over or smashing us whithin the cabin.
The outcome of the Gendarmerie—the accident was in France—was that the tire rolled over some debris on the road. Although I feel I remember I had seen some piece of black something on the pavement an instant before the accident, I cannot honestly say whether this was real or I have dreamed of it.
I still do not know which will be the car future. The car is very badly damaged, though the mechanic who is going to trail it on his truck to Spain said that the chassis was apparently unbent. The car was fully paid. It was finishing its 4th. year. Thus, I believe the assurance company will eventually give me its current 'venal' value money. But if the company will is to repair the car, I think I will negotiate to have the money instead. I will then buy other car with no accident in its record. Pity, because I really liked this car; in addition, it has bravely behaved at its end. I will let you know about my decision. Any insight will be meanwhile greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Jose
I think I would probably want to get something new as well. Most cars that have been involved in more than minor scrapes post repair never feel quite "right" again. There's also the chance that, though very unlikely, if it were to be involved in some kind of serious accident again, it wouldn't perform as well.
Regards,
Jose
My friend right now has been in a coma for more than a month after a drunken driver smashed full speed into his Ford Taurus while he was going to make a left turn. His prognosis is not good at all since he has severe head injuries and may never recover from his coma. Miraculously his wife and son were in the car and they walked out without major injuries.
During that night I was fuming because we were late for my son's school Christmas concert since almost all the roads leading to my son's school were closed ( I was unaware that the reason most those roads were closed was was due to my friend's accident) . This accident happened while my friend was driving his family to the same Christmas concert since his son attends the same school as my son.
What you wrote is very bad news indeed but at the same time your news is miraculously good. I am glad to hear that everyone was ok.
Take care.
I feel deep sorry for your friend and family. You may well imagine it: every time some sad thinking about the car lost or whatever pops out in mi mind, it is followed by other of joy because of our not being in hospital, or worst. Too bad this is regrettably not the case of your friend.
Regards,
Jose
You may want to look into the Questions about Auto Insurance and Accidents discussion in terms of whether to fight having the car repaired instead of totalled. That's a discussion over on the Smart Shopper board and there are several very knowledgeable members hanging out there.
Do keep us posted.
And again, it's so good to know that everyone is okay. :surprise:
And would also like to know that what type of tire brand is the best i personally like michelin. and whats the best ride safety tire size for the x5 18in 19in 20in on normal road condition.
thanks.
Happy New Year to you and your family, and to everyone in this forum.
Jose
Sure I will do! I thank you for your gladness.
Jose
Thank you for your kind feelings. Good questions those you ask, in particular for me at the present time.
When I bought my car back on 2004, run flat tires were optional for Bimmers in Europe. I choose the radial classic ones with a spare tire because I was not confident about RFT, which was a relatively new technology at the moment. Also, I had read commentaries on the less comfortable ride it delivered as compared to the classic tires.
Now I wonder what the outcome of my accident would have been if had I had RFT on my car. May be it could have avoided the first impact on the lateral left wall, which was the origin of the spinning. If not, would it be possible to regain car control afterwards?
Considering that the tire that blew was the front left one, if RFT can help in retaining car control at 75 miles per hour close to the left safety rail as I was, I would gladly give up ride comfort by now.
Regards,
Jose
Regards,
Jose
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/208534/citroen_ccrosser.html
http://www.testdriven.co.uk/news.cfm/citroen-c-crosser-4x4-suv
Regards,
Jose
The Getaway
LeMans
The Bullitt.
It was as if whenever Hollywood wanted to make a movie about Bikes/Cars they just picked up a phone and called up Steve. He must have also been quite selective in his car movies since all of them were good or excellent. I am sure if Steve McQueen was still alive he would have never acted in Cannonball Run 1 and 2. :lemon:
I hate my Run Flats due to their high expenses. But you raise a very good point about their potential safety.
If the date above is correct then Citroen will be the first auto firm in the world to have a hyrbid diesel available for sale. I wonder what the mileage would be for this SUV ?
Regards,
Jose
thank you for the replys.
And thanks for the Citroen link, as you know I am a fan. I must say I am disappointed to see them put out an SUV. I understand the market forces pushing the decision but it is hardly in keeping with their image.
It is sooo annoying that BMW still has the cojones to stick you with a $475 charge for metallic paint.
I agree that the 135i Coupe is $10,000 over-priced.
I am so totally not interested!
Yeah, the 135i is definately packing a nasty price tag, especially when equipped with a hefty load of options and accessories. Is it worth it? I don't know. Some reviews say this is the best BMW ever made. I find it tempting. I will probably place a deposit just to have the opportunity to buy some time to decide.
The reviews so far are just so good, they are hard to ignore.
Hope you are doing well. I'll finally be back next mid-week. D-man called this a vacation... but two weeks with wife's relatives is hardly that, if you know what I mean. Let's just say I'm being a good sport.
Anyway, have a great New Year!
TagMan
Howard, I am not a smoker, so I am not having these days big cigars but tasteful Nespressos
David, you may have a look to this collection of C6 images to forget and forgive the Citroen SUV:
http://images.google.es/images?q=citroen+C6&ndsp=20&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en&client=f- - irefox-a&channel=s&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=NNL&start=0&sa=N
Regards,
Jose
Jolted by Jose's close encounter. TG he was driving a BMW! One of the important reasons I drive 'em. People can talk about "interiors" and "style" but what it all comes down to is how well the vehicle responds when pressed to the limits in an emergency. That's why folks like me continue to "renew their subscriptions."
Anyhow, I have to press the 545i into service along its most familiar route: to Tampa International Airport to pick up the wife and her gargantuan horde of gifts. I decided to stay home rather than participate in the "holiday vacation." The greatest gift of all: 13 days of blissful peace and quiet with no compromises,
A very happy, healthy and safe New Year to you and the Luxury Lounge family!
I notice some unfamiliar names:all for the good!
PS: There is a slight chill in the air down here-must be down to 74 degrees. Thought I saw a gator wearing a Tampa Bay Bucs sweatshirt down by the ol' swamp. Nah! It must be the rumcake.
Hahaha... I know where you are coming from, believe me. Some real weirdos over on that side....
http://www.smsmallbiz.com/Writing_Off_Your_Car_Expenses.html
and some others as well. But I'm still confused about the tax write-off and hope you guys can help me out. For convenience, let's assume all 3 vehicles cost $80,000. The figures that I listed below are based on the article mentioned above for 2007.
1. If I choose the MB S550, it'll be considered as "passenger vehicle". And they said the depreciation allowance is as follows and I can write off 90% of these figures:
· Year 1: $2,960
· Year 2: $4,800
· Year 3: $2,850
· Year 4: $1,775
· Thereafter: $1,775
Does that apply to "buy" only? I thought if I lease the vehicle, I can write off 90% of the full lease amount, let's say $1500/mox90%. If so, then it seems it'll make much more sense to lease instead.
2. What about if I choose the GL or the RR, since its GVWR is over 6000lbs and is considered as "SUV", I can write off 90% of these:
· Year 1: 20.00%
· Year 2: 32.00%
· Year 3: 19.20%
· Year 4: 11.52%
· Year 5: 11.52%
· Year 6: 5.76%
plus $25,000 for the first year? How about that $112,000 deduction for the first year (I assume it'd be $80,000 in my case)? I'm very confused about this part.
3. It seems getting the GL and RR will help me to write off more. However, I go back to the same question. If I lease the car, I assume I can write off 90% of the lease amount, then it really doesn't matter what type of car I get. Am I missing something here?
Any comments would be appreciated. Thank you very much.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
As I had said over a year ago anybody who spends six digit dollar amounts on a first generation hybrid Lexus LS will end up looking like a buffoon in the near future when their car is compared to a significantly cheaper and far more technologically advanced plug-in lithium ion 2010 Prius.
Hybrids are smashing the status quo and creating a new democratic order in which the elites with fat wallets will no longer get the exclusive right of driving the latest and the best of drivetrains. The diesel hybrid Citroen SUV will be out far before the MB Blutec hybrid. A lithium ion plug in Prius will be availabe before a lithium ion plug in Lexus. Kind of bizarre when you think that the average Joe or Jane will have the most advanced drivetrains in the auto industry while the affluent will have to wait awhile for such drivetrains in luxury models. :surprise:
Porsche’s success is built on a close relationship between the management and the workforce, and Wiedeking believes that shareholder culture would destroy this.
“With [Germany’s] social-market economy we have created an outstanding system and we shouldn’t give it up,” he said. “It has served us well for decades and can further do so. Consensus strengthens our industries. If we regularly listened to investors, we would become too short-term orientated. That doesn’t work in Europe.
“The Porsche philosophy is that first comes the client, then come the workers, then the suppliers and finally the shareholders. When the first three are happy then so are the stockholders,” he added.
Porsche boss roars to top of motor industry
uilding profitable cars will make any shareholder happy.
Porsche's wonderful and delightful close relationships with their workers and suppliers during the early 90s had almost bankrupted their firm. VW's lack of shareholder culture these past few decades has created a firm that is falling behind many other auto makers.
Porsche's current success is mainly due to being a sports auto marque at the right place during the right time. Premium priced sporty cars whether they are Porsches or not are booming in terms of sales worldwide. In otherwords their success is mainly due to their customers and not their workers or suppliers.
Whenever an upcoming global recession happens then we will find out how Porsche's sucess is due to their workers and suppliers.
Good shareholder relationships are critical for any auto firm ( a privately or publicly listed firm) and Wiederking should know that. The most important reason why any shareholder owned firm exists is because of the shareholders themselves.
But he's not alone, don't all of the German auto industry execs have disdain for quarterly reporting?
True. Most German execs pigeon hole shareholders as an attention deficient group that impedes their firm's progress. That IMO is not true at all. What Wiederking has to realize is that workers, suppliers and customers are dependent on investors' confidence (shareholders and lenders) for the future funding of Pamaera, their new VW adventures, hybrid projects.......
Wiederking and Germans in general mix up shareholder friendliness with what Ford, GM and Chrysler were doing these past few decades. Massaging earnings to satisfy quarter end expectations and a focus on accounting instead of engineering is shareholder destruction not friendliness.
I also look forward to the next round of debates - what will they be? Japan vs Europe? Hybrid vs Diesel? Lexus vs BMW? '07 Patriots vs '72 Dolphins?
I have enjoyed the past 10 days at my second home but I'm heading back to NE tomorrow and I'm sure the weather will be 60 degrees cooler, at least I'll have the Quattro to handle the icy roads.
Best wishes to all.
Generally. my view is that by placing clients / customers first... the shareholders should ultimately benefit. So, I agree with Wiederking.
TagMan
I won't touch that one but will debate the 85 Bears vs Pats. I'm not buying this "best team ever" hype with the Pats. There are too many great teams that I think could have taken them. Besides, they have to finish up. :P
Now Brady is a different story. If they win, he's the legend and will end up on that plateau with Montana. As Brady goes, so go the Patriots.
Happy New Year to all!
BTW, enjoy the Bowl games!! Happy New Year to all!
Two more days... and it's home sweet home! TG!
TagMan