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  • m4d_cowm4d_cow Member Posts: 1,491
    Hyundai is blowing away Acura! Who would've thought?

    Actually I dont think it looks bad, OW. It looks kinda cool and aimed for younger ones :shades:
  • laurasdadalaurasdada Member Posts: 5,208
    Truly sorry that your startup wasn't as successful as you had hoped, OW. I am trying to live the wonderful attitudes and outlooks that you and Tag (and all the other folks) posses. I know that I am not alone in having life challenges, I just hope I can meet them with the same grace as it sounds that y'all have.

    Mabye your next venture could be as an Elder Care Consultant? As you note, you're learning a lot... "Circle W Consultants: We will help you efficiently navigate around the intricacies (and bureaucracy) of the Elder Care Health System, allowing you more time to spend time with the ones you love!" (Circle W. Navigate. Get it? Too clever, Tag should hire me...).

    I wonder if Zaino might be able to help with medical conditions? :shades:

    '21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)

  • tagmantagman Member Posts: 8,441
    I wonder if Zaino might be able to help with medical conditions?

    So... your challenge is not about the economy, and from the sound of that statement, it's about your health? If so, that is a far more serious challenge.

    LD, if there is anything that I can do, let me know. I will pray for you without a doubt.

    TM
  • ljflxljflx Member Posts: 4,690
    I haven't seen anything on the new S-class that's coming but over the weekend a friend of mine said he had and that it had these drooping lines and curves. I hope it's not like the style above and I certainly hope this isn't a new trend.

    Tag - re Wall Street - agree on Ford. Microsoft - I gave up a long time ago trying to figure the attitude toward them out. Take the cash out of the market cap and that company is a very low multiple. I actually now like Bing over Google too. I'm seeing the type of earnings I think will drive the rally bigger in Q4 and I'm also seeing what I expected with no uptick in energy demand at all. I think 2010 offers some chance of a small uptick in energy demand. So I continue to expect a decline to the 40's in oil. Distillates are now at a 25 year high so diesel and home heating oil should be cheap. We're going to need a heck of a cold winter to get distillates moving.
  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    I think its not an improvement by any means.

    image

    Regards,
    OW
  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    I love it! But the irony is that my fil worked his whole life saving money that he can never enjoy. Makes me want to go for the Ferrari and throw caution to the wind!

    Seriously, you've got to live with the ride you were given in life for all it's worth. Think about your family and have fun everyday. Nothing can hurt you then!

    Regards,
    OW
  • laurasdadalaurasdada Member Posts: 5,208
    Sorry, I'm healthy! And newly svelte!

    My Zaino comment was more a satirical musing regarding OW's unfortunate family dealings with Alzheimer's. Not a funny topic, of course and apologies if I offended. But, I tend to react to things with "humor." Never an intent to offend...

    My life has just taken an unexpected turn, a temporary one I hope. But, if not, a different life will go on.

    '21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)

  • tagmantagman Member Posts: 8,441
    I'm healthy! And newly svelte!

    That's awesome! Phew... What a relief to learn that.

    So... with that under your belt (health and smaller waisteline, smaller belt, I might add), you have no excuses... even if the EW decides to leave you for a younger guy with a bigger... car... :surprise: :D

    TM
  • tagmantagman Member Posts: 8,441
    I agree with you.

    And, it does nothing to excite.

    TM
  • ctlctl Member Posts: 129
    Nomally just a reader... but cannot help but point out that you hit him right on the head this time...


    I'm healthy! And newly svelte!

    That's awesome! Phew... What a relief to learn that.

    So... with that under your belt (health and smaller waisteline, smaller belt, I might add), you have no excuses... even if the EW decides to leave you for a younger guy with a bigger... car...
  • lexusguylexusguy Member Posts: 6,419
    One of the most positive overall first drives I can remember reading for some time. The only issue I would have with it is the 3.2L engine. 0-60 in 6.5 seconds is not good enough, not in a car that can reach $55K loaded up. Audi needs to figure out what to do with the 3.0T engine below the A6. They have the engine to go head to head with BMW's twin turbo, but they are asking too much money by making it an S only engine at this point.

    In a related note, on Monday's Fifth Gear Jason Plato said the TT-RS is even better than the Cayman. Audi is on a roll!

    Edmunds A5 Sportback First Drive

    Fifth Gear TT-RS test
  • tagmantagman Member Posts: 8,441
    Good video. The Audi TT-RS seems to be a very, very good sports car! But better than the Porsche Cayman S? Maybe, maybe not. I'd like to see them both together on the track... Certainly the Cayman is the better looker.

    TM
  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    That's the Spirit, Dada!

    Regards,
    OW
  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    Following a failed takeover of Volkswagen, Porsche has fired CEO Wendelin Wiedeking and CFO Holger Härter. Wiedeking orchestrated the failed takeover of VW, leaving Porsche with a debt of $12 billion and a cash shortfall somewhere in the neighborhood of $3.5 billion.

    Rumors of Wiedeking’s dismissal have been circling the internet rumor mill for several days now, but Porsche made the announcement official on Thursday. Wiedeking took over as Porsche CEO in 1993, taking the company from the brink of bankruptcy to one of the most profitable marques in the world. However, Wiedeking’s failed acquisition of much larger VW has left Porsche, once again, in a dire financial situation.

    Härter, Porsche’s CFO, has also been released by the German automaker, according to The New York Times. While Wiedeking setup the business takeover of VW, Härter handled all of the finances behind the deal.

    The departures of Wiedeking and Härter will likely pave the way for an integration of the two automakers, making Porsche the 10th brand under the VW umbrella.

    Wiedeking, already Germany’s highest paid executive at €77.4 million, will receive a €50 severance package from Porsche. However, Wiedeking has already set aside €25 million of that figure for charitable organizations.


    Regards,
    OW
  • reality2reality2 Member Posts: 303
    Well, the Fat Lady has sung as the old adage goes. Wiedeking should have plenty of leisure time now to spend riding around his farm on his Porsche tractor and serving up sausages at his inn. Someone should have reminded him that not even he can take on the likes of Piech and win. Piech is now firmly in control of VW, Audi, Porsche, and the rest of the Holy Roman Empire. Oops, I meant the Volkswagen Automotive Group. Charlemagne would be proud.
  • rockshocka1rockshocka1 Member Posts: 310
    Qatar with a stake. Strange times IMO.
  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    Perhaps they will take control of GM and Chrysler as well....

    Just when you think you are the strongest, someone always comes along to out power you. Oh, how the mighty have fallen!

    Regards,
    OW
  • deweydewey Member Posts: 5,251
    I laughed when you talked about people getting upset with you for driving too slow.

    This is a life and death situation.

    I have to balance the risks of getting killed in a road rage incident versus getting maximum fuel mileage.

    Whether a person drives a Chevy Cavalier or a Bugatti Veyron it appears that those who are in the driver's seats think of themselves as Steve McQueen in a production shoot for Bullitt.

    For God's sakes what's the rush.? I mean these people are driving as if the whole world is going to be altered within the next few minutes. It amazes me that just about a week ago I myself was one of those types of people who got their andrenalin kicks in highspeed situations. Now I get my andrenalin kicks in being the turtle in that childhood story called The Tortoise and the Hare.

    My perspective of cars has been so altered that now I have no interest whatsoever in BMWs, Audis or Porsches. My next luxury car if I ever want to buy another luxury car again will either be a Mercedes Benz (assuming they keep up with qualtiy improvements) or a Lexus. I want a car that de-emphasizes the sport aspect.

    I have no desire whatsover being Steve McQueen. I dont even look like him.
  • deweydewey Member Posts: 5,251
    Now we are all geniuses.

    All those wonderful stock picks. It's hard not to pick a wrong stock when almost every stock has gone up especially the ones that are the worst stocks possible to own in the long run (stocks with hefty balance sheet liabilities and awful cash flows (many of them negative).

    In my particular case my clients are 45 percent richer than we were a few months ago. But despite them being richer I am still the very same klutz who bought quite a few free falling anchors last year and made my clients poorer as a result. Oh well as long as my clients praise me I am not going to stop them since it's equally hard to stop them from insulting me when those stock markets go down. ;)

    Expect the worst. Hope for the best.

    That quote always works for me. At least so far.
  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    With an all-new BMW 5-Series on the way and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class already in dealer showrooms, Infiniti has announced that it will be previewing its all-new 2010 M at next month’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Monterey, California.

    Although the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance will be playing host to the first public viewings of the Bentley Grand and Jaguar XJ, the 2010 Infiniti M won’t technically be at the show. Instead, Infiniti will preview its new flagship sedan via “virtual video mapping.” A full-size clay model of the 2010 M will be on hand, with a projector shining the final design of the car onto the clay model.

    “The car will look like it is actually there. It will be full-size, and, if you didn’t know it was a virtual mapping, you would think it was the real thing from a distance,” Kyle Bazemore, head of Infiniti’s communication told Edmunds. “It gives consumers a preview of the vehicle in advance of its December debut, before any actual vehicles have been built.”

    The actually 2010 Infiniti M will likely debut at December’s Los Angeles Auto Show.


    Infinity also started 0% financing and low cost lease deals for the summer.

    $379/month for a G37 Journey Sedan with Premium Pkg. Not bad!

    Regards,
    OW
  • deweydewey Member Posts: 5,251
    LD and OW,

    both your situations are very different and I wish both of you the very best.

    Despite this being a consumer product forum whose focus is on "things" it is very hard to overlook one truth that prevails and which affects all of us.

    "The most important things are not things."

    I read a book by John Bogle (The founder of Vanguard Group) and in this book called "Enough" he wrote about an interesting discussion he overheard between two very famous authors whom were visiting one of the homes of the wealthiest hedge fund manager in the world.

    Kurt Vonnegut: "You do realize that this host of ours makes more money in a week than we made in all our lives?"

    Joseph Heller: Yes but I have something that this wealthy fellow can never have?

    Kurt Vonnegut: "And what's that?"

    Joseph Heller: "Enough!"
  • deweydewey Member Posts: 5,251
    Oh c'mon that TT-RS test is one of the most biased tests I ever encountered in my whole life.

    I mean did you notice whose Austrian Schillings are used to fund this test with an ad?

    Bruno, the most notorious Germanic Austrian on this planet. Is it any wonder that Audi would be praised with such a sponsor. :P
  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    Thanks for your kind words and very true wisdom. That is the reason I don't sweat it...being with my family is enough.

    Regards,
    OW

    P.S. And great friends that live on this forum money can't buy! :shades:

    Regards,
    OW
  • ljflxljflx Member Posts: 4,690
    What I find with the S-class is you need to see it in person. I nitially didn't like the current style but the more I saw it in person the better I liked it and I'm now a big fan of the current styling. My LS lease ends November 2010. I love the car and am conntemplating buying out the lease. But a new gen S-class would be tempting as would an old model very cheap deal. It's too many months away to think about now. Not sure when the next gen LS is due but if it's in 2010 it'll probably sway me.
  • ljflxljflx Member Posts: 4,690
    If you've got health and family you've got the most important things on earth. Money never has and never will buy happiness, just material things. What is sad is how many folks pursue money and take health and family for granted in doing so. I've always balanced business and family well and always put business on the back seat to important family matters even at the risk of losing a job back in the days when I was an employee instead of being an owner.
  • tagmantagman Member Posts: 8,441
    If you've got health and family you've got the most important things on earth.

    Amen.

    Hey Len, Hope you and others bought Ford and nVidia the other day when I recommended them. Ford went up 9.4% in one day today, and nVidia went up 5.95% today. Both well above the market average. Even GE was up 2.75% today and Microsoft up 3.07%.

    BTW. I guess you are going to be closer than me on the year-end market prediction. I predicted 9,000 +/-, and we are already there at the end of July. CircleW predicted 9500, and you predicted 10,000. I hope it's more like 10,500-11,000! Of course, something could always happen and bring it all way down, but I don't think that's going to happen.

    TM
  • lexusguylexusguy Member Posts: 6,419
    Not sure when the next gen LS is due but if it's in 2010 it'll probably sway me.

    A mid-cycle refresh is likely for 2010, but going by past LS history, it wont amount to much. Figure on a few slight styling tweaks. The most radical update I would expect for 2010 would be a switch to the new mouse style controller system, but that seems very unlikely as it would mean re-engineering the center console midway through the cycle. Lexus has never been big on making those kinds of changes.
  • deweydewey Member Posts: 5,251
    Sounds like the Lexus HS is just for you.

    For me it is the Prius since the key joy I get from that car is developing and changing my driving styles to maximize fuel consumption. With a Lexus HS the mileage will be slightly better than my far larger 26 year old MB 300D which in my opinion is not that impressive.

    The Lexus HS is a compromise which I cant live with. At least the hybrid Highlander and hybrid RX have about the same mileage which means luxury does come at the price of foregoing the key benefit of owning a hybrid: Low Fuel Consuption
  • deweydewey Member Posts: 5,251
    The BMW diesels have so far had a very poor reception even with relatively lower diesel prices.

    link title

    BMW is throwing away cash just to move these cars from their lots. In fact I would not buy any BMW even if I was offered one at a 80 percent discount and I am not kidding anyone when I say that. The following here is the reason why to me a BMW is only worth 20 cents to the dollar :

    When I went to a BMW Pre-owned sales manager to get a quote on my car he started acting shocked about certain things: One run flat tire was worn but not yet flat, the windshield that I had replace did not have a BMW logo on it, there was loose interior moulding in my car( a recurring issue).

    Despite the fact that that loose moulding is covered by warranty and despite the fact that I had almost 3 other new tires on my car and the worn tire would be replaced by the dealership at low wholesale prices and last but not least despite the fact that my car was never ever in an accident the sales manager showed great hesitation about my car and never even called me back to give me a quote.

    As it turned out things did not turn out too badly since I sold my car privately at a hefty premium over a trade in offer from Toyota. I sold it at a price that was far higher than my expecations.

    From day one when I picked up my new BMW 335i I encountered disappointments. The sales rep was too busy selling another car to greet me and show me my new car. As soon as I picked up my car my daughter asked me why battery wires were dangling with her legs on the rear seat. And that was just the beginnig of the monthly dealerships visits I made (32 months of ownership and 32 times sent to to the dealership due to problems)
  • rockshocka1rockshocka1 Member Posts: 310
    Semi-obscure reference follows:

    They call your ex 335i Mr. Glass. Did it make you wonder if there was a David Dunn bimmer out there somewhere?
  • ljflxljflx Member Posts: 4,690
    Tag,

    I hate auto stocks but I did buy TM and F back around the time you asked which one I thought was a better buy. I thought they were both great buys. I'll probably stay long on F. The dollar worries me about TM (Toyota not Tagman, though I'd stay long on you anytime if you were a stock).
  • deweydewey Member Posts: 5,251
    David Dunn Bimmer?

    Yes my 99 BMW 323i . No sport package, No nothing in terms of options. Just a very simple cloth seated car that caused minimal problems.

    Despite my luck my future days of searching for a David Dunn Bimmer are over.

    People get Post Traumatic Stress Disorders from wars and natural disasters but I got mine from owning a BMW. I still get cold sweat whenever I see my wife's BMW or any BMW. Toyota is providing me good therapy towards my recovery.

    Also that movie called "Unbreakable" was not what I would call a David Dunn of movies. More of a "Jimmy Olsen" kind of movie if you know what I mean.
  • bmlexusbmlexus Member Posts: 755
    I am beginning to like this car, but I know the price will probably be horrible like all Porsches.

    Today I saw a video of it and for some reason I kept thinking the rear end looks like an insect bug. what do you guys think?

    link title
  • bmlexusbmlexus Member Posts: 755
    Whenever I get serious that I want a bmw, Then I see your message.

    I know not everyone faces the problems you had in your bmw, but you never know. I don't think I can buy a car and be worried everyday that whats going to happen tomorrow, whats going to happen if I go for a long drive, what if the car stops in the middle of nowhere :blush:
  • tayl0rdtayl0rd Member Posts: 1,926
    ... More of a "Jimmy Olsen" kind of movie if you know what I mean.

    I don't. Who's Jimmy Olsen? :confuse:
  • rockshocka1rockshocka1 Member Posts: 310
    More of a "Jimmy Olsen" kind of movie if you know what I mean.

    Certainly, only referenced it because your 335i, so obviously on one side of side of the spectrum reminded me of Mr. Glass looking for his opposite. ;)

    Anyway, hope your Prius continues to be Dunn-like, minus aversion to water of course.

    BTW, what happened to white? If I remember, you got blue? It's not my favorite car to look at, but looks best in white to my eyes.
  • cyclone4cyclone4 Member Posts: 2,302
    Unfortunately, I did not buy Ford. My decision not to buy it was probably psychological since my son-in-law got laid off by Ford almost a year ago. However, I have been buying other stocks that are doing very well. My most recent purchases (past week or two) have been CF (bought at about $69) and CX (bought at $8.5).
  • cyclone4cyclone4 Member Posts: 2,302
    I will very much also echo this statement about health and family being most important.

    OW, at least you tried on this venture. If you had not, it would have been bugging you for quite a while. You are a very confident and sensible person and success in the business world is certain to find you.

    LD, your situation is obviously of a more serious nature, but this too will pass. Maybe, if the Red Sox get back on track (they will) it will make you feel better :) .
  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    Very wise words and I will stay focused to this guidance. Balance but family first, forever.

    Why would you switch to the S from the LS?

    Regards,
    OW
  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    The CEO did mention they were going to focus on excitement and more nimble products...one can only hope.

    Regards,
    OW
  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    Thanks...working on my next moves now. Never give up...and keep smiling! :D

    Regards,
    OW
  • ljflxljflx Member Posts: 4,690
    Love both cars but If the new S is there it would be very tempting vs a stale LS.
  • m4d_cowm4d_cow Member Posts: 1,491
    I agree with ljflx, the S is actually pretty good looking once you see it in real life, except for the odd taillights, the color coded bars on them make them look cheap IMO.
  • tagmantagman Member Posts: 8,441
    Len,
    I think I mentioned to you about Apple's upcoming new product... well, here is the scoop... at least what is known so far... link title

    I'll keep you posted as I hear more. It might affect the timing and scope of some of your decisions regarding Apple stock... especially if the final product starts to look like its going to be a big hit.

    TM
  • lexusguylexusguy Member Posts: 6,419
    especially if the final product starts to look like its going to be a big hit.

    We'll see. Netbooks seem to be doing pretty well, but those "origami" mini-PCs were a massive disaster. "Tween" devices can be tough to sell. By the way, in the latest update for the Pre's WebOS, syncing with iTunes is unbroken. I love when companies stick it to Apple. Go Palm!
  • tagmantagman Member Posts: 8,441
    Haha...yep, loaded the update late last night.

    Looks like a game of ping pong between Apple and Palm... Wonder if it will end up in court?

    TM
  • deweydewey Member Posts: 5,251
    Why blue and not white?

    I tried ordering white but none were availabe in all of Ontario until six weeks. I was going to patiently wait six weeks until I saw a 2010 white Prius on a street and that made me change my mind. It looked too clinical. Almost like a medical probe device on wheels.

    Never ever owned a blue car before and I think many luxury cars look atrocious in blue. At first I was hesitant about a blue Prius but now the colour kind of grew on me and I love it.

    No regrets.
  • deweydewey Member Posts: 5,251
    Jimmy Olsen remember him? The guy who worked with Lois Lane and Clark Kent.

    image
  • deweydewey Member Posts: 5,251
    Whenever I get serious that I want a bmw, Then I see your message.

    When I praised BMW cars you still did not buy a BMW.
    When I praised BMW cars many former forum members were BMW haters. Now I am the only BMW hater in this whole forum.

    I guess that is why I am not in sales.
  • tagmantagman Member Posts: 8,441
    ... I saw a 2010 white Prius on a street and that made me change my mind. It looked too clinical. Almost like a medical probe device on wheels.... At first I was hesitant about a blue Prius but now the colour kind of grew on me and I love it.

    Dewey's Blue prius...
    image

    VS. White "Medical Probe Device on Wheels"...
    image

    VS. Ooops!... It's blue alright... but it's that pesky Honda Insight, trying to steal the limelight! :surprise:
    image

    ;)
    TM
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