Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Looks like CHEVROLET is going to release the new retro CAMARO soon, I hope that the s.s package is available with the ls3 motor,. And for the dodge camp the retro challenger is out with the HEMI it's a real tuff looking ride.

These cars should bring excitement back to the world of muscle cars.

Who cares about vacuum cleaners...........

MOLE

mole wrote:

At last we agree .

Hi H.S. You really like muscle cars dont you. Dont you wish you had kept yours.

MOLE

mole wrote:

Yes, all of them

Mole:

I thought I read that Chrysler is discontinuing the Dodge Charger and the Chrysler Pacifica.  Both of which have lost money for the vehicle maker.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

I haven not read this.  I could understand a loss on the Pacifica.  I am confused since the Challenger is not due until spring 2008.

It had been reported that Chrysler would build only 5,000 Challenger's for the 2008 model year, but more than 6,000 have already been ordered.  Many have been sold for as much as $20,000 over sticker.

HARDSELL wrote:

My friend:

What does it say about the Charger?

Carmine D.

Wonder how their SUV that gets 35 MPH is going?.....Yes I know there is no such thing....but there should be before they offer another 18 mph car. Makes you wonder if there is ANYONE who gets what's really going on in the US, in American Corporations!!!! Maybe the CEO's need to pay themselves even more money to actually LEAD a company...

CarmineD wrote:

????????.  Guess I can't read.

I was trying to stay with the original topic.

<BR> CarmineD wrote: <BR>This generation of the Charger is a limited edition vehicle. It is a design concept that is paired with the SRT8 line of vehicles that have already been released. I would compare this to Shelby or Rouch versions of Ford's Mustangs.

Yes these are very limited in terms of production,Chrysler has already sold out,and the camaro is on a buy first then build basis.These cars are becoming collector items off the showroom floor.I personally own an SLP/S.S ls1 camaro,loaded with all the slp options.No it's not for sale yet.The roush/saleen mustangs are beautiful,just try and buy a shelby mustang[they are going for over 100 grand.

H.S. have you seen the blue devil corvette yet. OVER 650h.p. what a car.

MOLE

mole wrote:

I actually have not paid attention to this vette.

I never was a vette fan until about 3 years ago.  They probably offer more performance / $ ratio than anything currently available.

Lucky1 wrote:

Lucky,

My SUV will do 35 Miles Per Hour (MPH) quite easily.   Now If I were to try to get that many Miles Per Gallon (MPG) it would be a difficult task, but if the hill were tall enough I could coast for a bit and achieve it.

Mole and HS.

I know my father has been turning in his grave becaue he was a die hard bow tie man, but I have always loved the Mopar muscle.  I'd take the Challenger anytime.  I like the yellow "Vanishing Point" color.  I figure if I get Daddy's still going again I can make enough hooch to power it as a flex-fule.    I am a little concerned about the life expectancy of Chrysler LLC. , at the rate they are hemorraging money they might not be around to honor my warranty.  I don't think they can even beg Lee to come back and save them a second or thirtieth time, so they had better find them a cash cow soon.

Carmine,

You did read it correctly Chrysler is dropping the Magnum (wagon) which was called the Magnum Charger for a while,  as well as the Pacifica. They have or are just introducing a new mid size "crossover" to replace Pacifica.    The Pacifica, though a nicely engineered car never found it's place in the market.  Motor Trend magazine called it "The answer to a question no one asked."  On the Jeep side of Chrysler (my loves) are dropping that God-awful Commander.  Which to quote Motor Trend again "It looks like the box the Grand Cherokee came in."  In the next redesign the Grand is supposed to get third row seating and the Commander will go to that great junk yard in the sky.   They are also going to drop some of those bastardized SUVs, namely the Patriot and Compass thus to stay the dillution of the Jeep gene pool.  I believe I heard Dodge will still market these crossovers, but at least it won't be under the Jeep badge.

Now to stay on the subject of vacuums.  I carry my vacuums in the back of my Chrysler made Jeep SUV, except mine is a Diamler-Chrysler model.

Just wrote:

Just:

Sounds reasonable.  I went to the latest Consumer Reports, April, 2008, the Annual Auto edition.  It says on page 50 that Chrysler will discontinue the Pacifica in 2008.   On page 51 for the Dodge Challenger it says that it is based on th Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger twins and retro-styled like the original Challenger and the Dodge Charger is still in production and recommended by CR.  CR also says that the Challenger will compete with the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, reviving the muscle car era of the 60's and 70's.

Thanks for the clarification.

Carmine D.

Hi Carmine,JUST, H.S.

Is the auto indutry in trouble because of poor quality products,out sourceing,the work force,lack of interest,foreign competiton,And the government involvement.

As mister apolonex says , IT makes you really wonder who's running the ship, and what are they thinking......

MOLE

mole wrote:

Mole,

The trouble of the auto industry could also be poor management, lack of planning, and pure arrogance.  Now that The General is getting a taste of humility they are coming out with some outstanding cars i.e. Malibu, Cadillac CTS (Motor Trends Car of the Year).  Quality is coming up, but is it too late?

On the Chrysler side of town, Daimler poorly managed Chrysler.  They went for the quick pay off, big engine 'Out Hemi the Bastards" mentality, and once the fuel crisis started to be felt they lost their foothold.  --AGAIN.  Daimler also dilluted the brand by offering the same vehicle under each badge, thus leaving nothing unique about visiting a Jeep dealership over a Chrysler lot.  The Mini-van generation is aging now, and the SUV is too gas hungry for the current market.  Though it doesn't look like the oil situation will ever improve with China sucking up almost as much as the U.S. now; alternative fuels are needed and hybrid technologh is only a stop-gap measure. 

Now on to Poor Ford, what was said about GM can be tripple-doubled with them.  ARROGANCE!!!  Henry II almost single handedly began the "Japaneese Invasion" of the 70's.  When then President of Ford, Lee A. Iaococca, made a deal with Honda Motors to use their drive train in the Pinto, Henry II vetoed the plan and said "There will never be  Jap engine under the hood of a Ford Motor Company Car."  With the deal broken, Honda immediately flooded the U.S. Market with the Civic and the rest is history. 

When emission and saftey standards are set, the Germans, the Japaneese, and now the Koreans run home and try to figure out how to meet the standards in most cost effective and efficient manner.  The now little three G.M., Ford and Chrysler goes home crying and hires their lawyers to try to figure out how to stall the regulations.  We are again seeing this with the CAFE. 

American's can build a good quality, reliable car.  They are doing it right now in the Toyota, Huyndai, Honda plants.  These aren't outsorced workers, these are American Unionized workers producing a quality vehicle under good managements.  This in my opinion, and i have a lot of them is how the Big three hopes to survive, get rid of the good ole boy attitude, and look at quality, and reliability first--profits will come later.

Just wrote:

Just, Mole:

I have to agree. 

Went to COSTCO today to get the nitro checked in my Explorer's Michelin tires.  Went in to look at the vauums.  Dysons on the way out.  The DC14 Exclusive stock was shipped out.  Not sure where.  Possibly back to dyson for credit due to non-sales?  Haven't been able to confirm with a manager. 

The DC18 is still left with the 3 extra tools on sale for $399 [buried on a shelf].  This is $100 below MSRP and $70 below the COSTCO regular price.  Clearance.  Wal*Mart has the same model fro $499 put giving a $100 Giftcard with purchase.  Left for sale: BISSELL HEALTHY HOME.  HOOVER Elite Rewind [End cap].  HOOVER WT-2 [End cap].   IRobot Rhombas.  Entire line.  Eureka Smart Vac bagged.  Lux Pronto stick vac..

COSTCO customers average $70K plus per year.  The highest for the price club, warehouse type discounters.  

BTW, I prefer the nitro to the air in my tires.  Better ride.  Less maintenance.  COSTCO does it free because I purchased the tires there.  Some dealers are making the switch over to nitro from air but charge for the nitro if you are not a customer.  Anywhere from $25 to $75 for 4 tires of nitro.

Carmine D.

mole wrote:

To expand on Just's comments abit:  GM has the issue with the 8 brand overlap.  It's racking up billions in losses despite a 3 year restructuring, is faced with a recessionary US economy, and reported a drop in Feb 2008 sales and is still not ready to predict when it will return to profitability.  And suffers from an age-old production problem of having multiple divisions that compete against each other both for customer sales and marketing budget.

For example: GM has 4 mass market mid size sedans: The Chevy Malibu [topseller]; Buick LaCrosse; Pontiac G6; And Saturn Aura.  In 2007 the Aura was named car of the year at the North American Car Show in Detroit.  Now with the Malibu in full swing, Saturn dealers are struggling to to move the Aura. In some parts of the country dealers are offering rebates and zero financing.  Pontiac could run into the same problem later this year when it introe's the new rear wheel drive G8 [probably Pontiac's most important launch since 2004].

Chevy and Cadillac get the bulk of the marketing dollars.  If others show favor, they get some.

GM has cut $9 BILLION in fixed yearly costs since 2005.  Shed a 1/3 of its high paid unionized employees, closed several plants and improved its cars quality, performance and handling.

But GM can't rev up sales in all 8 brands until it slims down product lines.  Look at its crossovers [lighter and fuel efficient SUV's].  In 2007 GM intro'ed the Saturn Outlook; the GMC Arcadia [which is identical] and the Buick Enclave.  The Arcadia and Enclave were hits, the Outlook sales were lackluster. Customers chose the Arcadia over the Outlook although the GMC model is $2000 more.  Now Chevy will intro the Traverse [a nearly identical crossover to the Outlook] in October which will further crimp Outlook sales.  And most GM dealers nationwide carry all 3 brands Buick, Pontiac and GMC.

Carmine D. 

CarmineD wrote:

Carmine,  thanks again for nore useless info from the dumbest SOB to ever post.

If your brain was transplanted to a hummingbird he would suck a horses ass for a morning glory.

This will get me kicked off for sure.  It is worth it to get to say what I think about this $#%*.

Just, I agree completely with what you said, especially about alternative fuels.  I look at the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car" as an example.  Electric car technology has been around for over 100 years, nearly as long as the automobile itself.  You CANNOT tell me that in all of this time, the technology couldn't have been perfected to be more practical and allow for a greater range.  It has nothing to do with lack of resources and everything to do with greed as far as I'm concerned...if electric cars became widely available and everyone bought one, the oil company execs would not be able to line their pockets from the profits over $3+/gallon gas prices.  Let's not forget about the folks over in the Middle East, either, they are the root of this problem. 

While I like the concept of hybrids, it seems like that technology is being suppressed as well.  The mileage some of these hybrid SUVs (such as the Toyota Highlander and Chevy Tahoe) get is unimpressive and less than some gas-only compacts.  AGAIN, you can't tell me that the best a vehicle can do on mostly electric power is 20 miles to the gallon.  I guess it will take a widespread disaster, such as the world's oil supply running out altogether, to finally get the auto companies to get off their asses and start implementing all of the so-called "research" they've done in the past.  Seems like all we hear about is R&D and "concepts" that (oddly enough) never make it to market.

Speaking of SUVs, what in the world were they thinking with the so-called "crossovers", ugly is an understatement.  A car-based SUV is one thing, I prefer truck-based vehicles myself ('04 Dodge 1500) but I understand why some would want them...fuel economy, better handling/ride, and such.  At the same time, though, it doesn't need to look like a giant shoe.

-MH

Looking closer I see further proof that Carmin can turn any thread into a Dyson thread and blame someone else for doing so (just as he did on the Oreck thread over a month ago).  No such luck here, the proof is in the post.  And such posts are getting VERY, VERY old.  But, now that it has been started...

Is this a huge loss on Dyson's part?  Absolutely not, I'd say not even a small loss.  If ANYONE will be negatively affected, it will be Costco; not exactly something I would go bragging about.  They dropped the only decent brand of cleaner they had, and all they have left now is cheap $#%* which is EXACTLY what those damn Eurekas and Hoovers are.  Nothing more.  Tired old outdated grainy plastic reworked in a million different ways but still managing to look like the same old $#%* from 10 years ago.  I have to hand it to them, it takes quite an effort to stay that behind in the times.  But money has to be made somehow; the only way here is for people to buy and replace them annually, if not with greater frequency.  Disposable vacuums for a disposable society.  How touching.  I have a feeling though that the decision will most likely *not* be permanent and they will soon realize the error of their ways...I'd love to see what Carmin says when that happens.

As for me?  I'll stick with my DYSON which I know will last a good 15-20 years under regular use if not longer, thank you very much.

-MH

Motorhead wrote:

Recent facts contradict you die hard dyson fan.   Read on:

"Warehouse club operator COSTCO Wholesale Corp reported on Wednesday that its second quarter profits rose 31 percent from a year ago period.

Net income grew to $327.9 million or 74 cents a share from $249.5 million and 54 cents a share.

Sales rose 12.3 percent to $16.62 BILLION up from $14.8 BILLION.

COSTCO operates 4 stores in Las Vegas."  1200 plus nationwide.

It's one of the only retailers to post higher profits and earnings so far this year. If not the only.

If there is any retail sales venue where high priced dysons could possibly sell, it's COSTCO stores.  Why?  The yearly income of the COSTCO members is the highest of all the warehouse, price club, retail discounters at $70,000 plus per year.  If dyson can't survive at COSTCO, it won't in other big box stores with clientele who make much less a year.  Since most retailers follow the leader, you should be able to figure out what will happen as the months unfold. 

Your die hard worship of dyson and jaydee is notable.  But it doesn't alter the facts.  The verdict is in.  Dyson is out.  

Carmine D.

HARDSELL wrote:

HS, my friend:

I thought my post on the GM enigma and its overlap among the 8 divisions was very profound.   And for sure you would agree too.  You let me down.  In fact, you can draw some similarities between GM and the dyson line.  Dyson has so many different models that are the same, they compete against each other for retailers' sales.  No doubt the reason in part many will be culling dysons from inventory and/or dropping completely [following COSTCO's lead].

Carmine D.

HARDSELL wrote:

I'm told this honor already goes to Tom Gashole. 

Carmine D.

HARDSELL wrote:

Not to worry my good friend.  Abbysguide Forum is not allowed to discriminate against the mentally challenged. [Read you].

Carmine D.

Motorhead wrote:

Before COSTCO adds dysons back, other big box retailers will drop dysons.  Let's see what you say when that happens!   Look at HOME DEPOT and LOWE's.  Don't forget TARGET stores which are clearing out the model you like least: The DC07.  And too the DC14.  I don't believe Target ever took on the DC15 after dyson dropped the price by $100.  

BTW, Tom my name is spelled "Carmine."  Oh, sorry Motorhead,  didn't mean to call you Tom Gasko.  But he spells my name that way too. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Why did a brilliant person like you compare Dyson to GM?  Hoover fits the pattern better.

We all know that Hoover just kept introducing new models like GM.  It didn't work.  I wonder who will buy GM when they go the way of Hoover.

CarmineD wrote:

All that I see going out the door at COSTCO is televisions and groceries.  I have never seen a vacuum sold there nor have I ever seen anyone act as if they were shopping for one.

I could be wrong because to get that kind of revenue and profit they must be selling a lot of  Dysons.

Carmine, didn't you once tell us that BB was dropping Dyson.  What happened genius?

HARDSELL wrote:

Due time my man.  Seeing is believing.  Or in BEST BUY"s case, not seeing [dysons] is believing.  BEST BUY management has a decision to make.  It wants to keep one high price vacuum line: Will it be ELectrolux or dyson?  Can't be both.  Which one will it be?  Ummm? 

Didn't you tell me once that you wanted to buy an Electrolux for a friend/family member with a BEST BUY Giftcard?  

Carmine D

HARDSELL wrote:

H.S. I will agree with you on this one.Just way too much at one time for the consumer to follow.Is it just a numbers game?.I would think that brand loyalty pulls a lot of weight in the auto world. But to make the customer spend the money the product has to be what they are looking for and not be dissapointed with it.

B.T.W the PONTIAC  GTO, the new one is not exactly setting the world on fire. The New  platform from the aussies is not the platform for a car of this nature.

MOLE

I have a brilliant idea.  Why doesn't the domestic car companies give away a vacuum with each car purchase?  This way they could move two pieces of junk with each sale.

Buy a Chevy--get a Hoover Z.

Buy a Buick--get a Windtunnel

Buy a Saturn--get a DC7

Buy a Sable--get and Eurekalux

Brilliant, Brilliant I tell you

mole wrote:

Mole:

The year ahead will be the worse for new car sales in over 20 years.  You can't buy a new car if you can't get credit, can't pay the high gas costs [$4 by summer], high food costs, and are in arrears on mortgage/rent and credit card payments.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
The year ahead??? Outside of the $4 gas It's been that way for me for the LAST 4 YEARS ...!!! LOL

Lucky1 wrote:

After you see what's to come, you'll think these last 4 years were the good old days!  I don't envy the next President.  He/she will be a one termer. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Hi Carmin, kidding 

I believe you are correct, And money will be worthless also

mole

mole wrote:

We knew all along.  The truth always comes to light.  Interesting the way the facts and circumstances come to light.  Like thieves, in time, liars get caught.  

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

You already set the time frame a year or so back  and missed it.  I predict BB to go out of business in the next 1000 years.

I am certainly glad I did not get the Electrolux.  Got the Bissell HH which was returned.  Spent the card on useful electronics instead.

HARDSELL wrote:

Hey my man:

I underlined the relevant part of your post.  Prima facie evidence for BEST BUY's culling and dropping high end vacuums from their inventories.  BEST BUY did this in the Spring of 2006 with the Electrolux line.  Then brought it back later in the year.  New vacuum vacuum sales were booming then.  On the contrary now, high price vacuums are not selling.  BB could abandon both high price vacuum lines from their stores [dyson and Electrolux] and/or Web Sites.  Or a combination of both.  Keep the mover in the store and the laggard on the Web.  My sense is that the BEST BUY stores will keep one full line [Electrolux] and one or two of the laggard brand for customer sales.  Electrolux in the store, dyson on the Web Site.  Time will tell.

Dyson needed BEST BUY in 2005 and 2006 to buy up and sell all the DC07 All Floors that Wal*Mart kicked back [after dyson and Wal*Mart parted ways the first time over the bruhaha with the All Carpets price].  Sales of dysons were decent then.  No more.  BEST BUY and Circuit City are in a fight for survival.  And they know it won't be vacuums that save them.  It's electronics.  You can vouch for that.

Carmine D.

HARDSELL wrote:

A post script:  On Wickes Furniture.  A brand new store opened here in North Las Vegas less than one year ago.  Huge.  Supposed to be an anchor store to draw.  In the same mall as the BEST BUY store which opened in August 2007.  Wickes nationwide is going out of business including this new store in NLV.  Over $75 MILLION in unsold inventory.  No doubt a casualty of the sub-prime slime which peaked in August 2006. 

I never thought that the sub-prime slime had enough strong wind to carry it through to August 2006.  I thought the bubble would burst months earlier.  But it moved by its own momentum well into 2007 [June] before bursting and petering out.  Probably due to government intervention.  Sure up election campaigning.  Have to put on a  face and do and say whatever is necessary to help the incumbents in power stay in office.  Even the seasoned democrats and the learned people in the know missed the coming doom.  My timing was a tad bit off, I'll grant you.  But I was right on with the underlying facts and circumstances.   

Like a smart man once said: "You don't know who's swimming naked until the tide goes out.  Then all are exposed."  You can't always predict with exact precision when it will be.  The key is to make sure you are properly covered when it does. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

BB and a lot of other stores could do a lot things.  Make enough predictions and you should get at least 1 right.  Regarding your underlined prediction:  At different times you said that Electrolux and Bissell would replace Dyson in BB.  You gave deadlines that I do not intend to search for.  They are past and Dyson is still there. Those who followed you will probably recall.  .

According to guru Carmine each new model Hoover introduced in the past 3 years would be the demise of Dyson.  Bad predictions.  Has anyone found brand new in box Dysons that sell for $50 like the Hoover Z?

Yes, the dyson DC11 cann.  All I wanted for $50, new in the boxes.  I posted when BEST BUY had them on weekly clearance aisle marking them down more each week until they sold.  I turned them down.  They're collectibles now.  I think thay actually gave some away.

Don't forget the Electrolux line which BEST BUY offered to me for 20 percent on the dollar in the spring of 2006.  Only to bring them back in the winter at full price and still. Why? The CR reviews [I think I mentioned that to you several times.  You keep forgetting.]

BISSELL HEALTHY HOME, HOOVER WT 2, and Elite Rewind are the bagless brand uprights still at COSTCO now.  Not dysons.  With a bag, Eureka Smart Vac.  Did I mention that BISSELL HH ties and/or beats all the dysons, save the $550 DC17 Absolute Animal [according to CR]?  Wonder if that had an impact on the COSTCO decision to scrup dysons?  What do you think?

This is old stuff HS, my man.  You and your dysons are going down.  You can't stop it.  

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

If your foresight is so good why didn't you buy the Electrolux?  They still do not rate so good by owners.

Dyson would never be great in COSTCO.  They do not sell hi end if you ever noticed.  A wise shopper can avoid COSTO and get better bargains.

You know my sentiments about CR ratings so I will not bore the others explaining.  Did I mention that the HH did not perform as well as the DC07 in my home?  I think that COSTCO shoppers are looking for bargains and will continue to buy the entry level stuff that they sell and that they can afford.

I hear an echo as you continue to fall.  I have stopped it so far.

I didn't take BEST BUY up on the offer in spring 2006 because we were in the midst of a move across country.  [This is now the 6th time I told you].  Maybe we can make it 10?

Dyson and COSTCO agreed to 3 Exclusive models in 5 years: DC07, 14, and 15.  The 15 was the worse and didn't last a season at COSTCO for $519.  Didn't sell.  Dumped in early 2006.  The DC07 was a much better seller and subsequently replaced by the DC14 Exclusive for $469.  It was not as good a seller.  The reason that the DC18 with the 3 extra tools is now on clearance for $399 at COSTCO stores.  

The BISSELL HEALTHY HOME [still at COSTCO] beat out all the dysons in the CR ratings save the DC17 for $550.  All the HOOVER WT's bagged and bagless beat out the dysons [COSTCO has the WT-2] save the DC17.  The only HOOVER dyson beats is the HOOVER Elite Rewind [also at COSTCO for $89].  But this $89 HOOVER beats all the dysons in the Pet Hair removal category.  And it ties the DC17 [best rated dyson] in the Pet Hair Removal with a Very Good.  AND unlike the dysons [even the DC17], the HOOVER Elite for $89 has a cordwinder, headlight, and a turbo tool on board.  Do you think these are features that vacuum buyers who shop at the big box retailers like ?  Probably.  No doubt the reason that other retailers sell the model too.  And HOME DEPOT has an exclusive Elite called the HOOVER Legacy Elite for $90.   That's what's selling my man.  Things are tight.  People don't have alot of money to blow on high price mediocre bagless vacuums.  That's what dysons are.

COSTCO shoppers, averaging $70,000 plus per year, are savvy.  They aren't fooled by higher prices. 

Did I mention that COSTCO stores sell Consumer Reports magazines.  At 30 percent off the newsstand price.  Do you think COSTCO management actual reads the magazine too?  From the vacuums still standing, I'd say most definitely.

Carmine D.

HARDSELL wrote:

Well, you're right there my man.  BEST BUY stock price took a drubbing this past week.  Down over $10 a share in one week.  From $49 plus to $39.  Whew!  Hold your breadth.  Hang on to your hat.  It's stock price is down over 25 percent for the year.  Investors are not going to be happy.  That's a big hit my main man.  Expect drastic changes to come from BEST BUY.  JUST suggested that car dealers can give away new vacuums with their car sales to jump start car sales.  Maybe BEST BUY stores can give away new automobiles with the purchase of its high price vacuums? 

Wal*Mart sales for February 2008 were looking good.  Exceeded analysts expectations.  Led and elevated the retail sales for the rest of the retailers who report monthly sales [recall these are the ones doing okay since the ones doing poorly have stopped reporting monthly].  WM stock price is hanging tough at $49.  Up for the year.  And it RAISED it's quarterly dividend 25 percent giving investors back $3 BILLION dollars of profits.  Go figure.  Wasn't there a poster on one of the now defunct vacuum Forums who said Wal*Mart was the retail stock to buy?  I'm almost positive I read that by him.  

Carmine D.

mole wrote:

Hello Mole:

You're exactly right about the worthless dollars.  The risk that the Fed faces monetarily by cutting the Fed funds rate, on which all other US intererst rates are gauged, is lessening the value of US dollars here and abroad.  Fueling inflation.  But, 2008 is an election year.  Despite the Fed's supposed independence, the Fed Chief is a politician first and an economist second.   

Last week the European Central Bankers convened and decided not to cut the ECB rate below 4 percent.  This goes contrary to Ben Bernanke's actions in the USA to cut rates.  Bernanke on one side of the pond is fighting the recession by fueling inflation.  The European Bankers are fighting inflation and ignoring the recession.  No doubt the reason that the Euro hit an all time high against the dollar last week:  $1.59 US to the Euro. 

There will be another rate cut in the next week by the Fed to bring the Fed Funds rate below 3 percent and another Administration stimulus package next year for Americans.  In addition to the one this year.  Both are inflationary.   It's going to get very interesting in the months and years ahead.

Carmine D.

I cant get excited by phony "retro" cars and dont understand why anyone who likes REAL vintage Camaros or Challengers would be doing back flips over a cheaply made over priced plastic imitation with blocky goofy looking styling that loosely apes the originals.

I dont give a damn how fast it is,if its ugly who cares! besides who needs 400hp to drive 15 miles an hour on the freeway?!,as it is we have all the idiots with their jap cars that think they are speed racer who run around killing people,so the cops have cracked down on all that crap...now if you even do a burn out its a thousand dollar ticket in some areas!

I'm sick off all these blocky plastic pseudo retro cars, Its just another sign to me of how creatively bankrupt our current soceity is...we arent producing any future classics,(cars,movies,etc) so we destroy the past with these poorly conceived knock offs.

The only people who buy these things are tattooed idiots with nose rings who put 68" western pioneer wagon wheels on their rides. About all I can say is that people today have very poor taste and will buy anything.there is seemingly nothing  lowbrow enough!.

Rap music,reality shows,Paris Hilton,hog rings,baggy pants and tatoos,plastic mustangs and gay priuses...thats our legacy! Aint life grand?.

When Chrysler came out with its 1957 Forward look cars,there was truly cause for excitement!, here  were futuristic dream cars that the working man could own.

Fenders darted forward,fins soared,rooflines were lowered,torsion aire handling and shifting gears was done by push button! Life was exciting and new,people wondered at the future!

These cars were refreshing,daring and NEW!,they were the product of a better time.they werent tired poorly translated designs from the past.they were NEW!

I am simply amazed at the level of talent and creativity we had in the past....NOW we get fed mangled up tidbits of the past that insult the originals.

The best of today cant compete with the average of the past.

JimRockford wrote:

Well I'm off to the Tattoo/Piercing palor just as soon as I finish vacuuming out the retro with my Dyson.

Now if this wasn't a troll post, I've never seen one.

Can't find much to argue about with most of that rant!

As long as our companies are run by a type of "Financial Aristocracy" and/or "Industrial Family Dynasties" we will never have the drive to create better products for the masses. Economic policy of our Gov't is shaped by the highest corporate campaign donors not what's good for the country. And as I've said before Creative people in corporations are driven out. They are dangerous to status quo thinking. Also type "A" personalities do not take being called wrong very well, especially if it's the truth!

Somewhere in our corporate history "bean counters" became the voice over innovators.

Most people tend to associate with like minds so it stands to reason if creative people are shunned it leaves only non-creative people to run our companies.

J.R. makes an excellent point about what this society has become. I can unserstand where he's coming from. Some of us have been around long enough to remember the good ol days,but must ask yourself this question were they really that good? New technology does have some real benefits for the human race.

Is it better to work hard or work smart?

MOLE

B.T.W. MY 4TH GENERATION CAMARO IS THE FASTEST, BEST HANDLEING,RATTLEFREE , CAMARO EVER.I also have 69 Z/28.

MOLE

mole wrote:

Hey Mole,

Have to say that you and J.R. make excellent points.  I owned many of those collectable MOPARS before they were valuable.  I do not know if those were better days or if I was just younger and more care free.  I am sure my parents felt then as I do now.

As much as I like the older muscle cars I do not miss the maintenance required to keep them in top running order.  A lot of the fantacies back then are reality today whether J.R. thinks so, or not.

Remember when the Hemi's and 427 Vettes were the ones to beat.  The new Vette will dust them.  Even a die hard MOPAR nut has to admit this.

I think I could enjoy a little time reminiscing with Carmine about the old days.  I know he could give me some very interesting stories.  Some may even be true.

Best wishes to all.

HARDSELL wrote:

Thay are all true my dear man.  I always tell you:  Truth is stranger than fiction.

Carmine D.

You know H.S. when Carmine said he had NITRO in his tires,I thought at first it was NITROMETHANE,Thank GOD it was nitrogen.

All i could think of was poor Carmine getting the explorer up to speed and heat up the tires and blow himself into orbit. B.T.W Carmine do you like convertibles[not the HOOVER one]...............

MOLE

mole wrote:

That's funny.

mole wrote:

Owned a 59 Ford hard top convertible.  Loved it.

Carmine D.

JimRockford wrote:
Ask yourself this question.Is this what happened to us when we were not looking,or being DISTRACTED by AMERICAN IDOL????????

mole wrote:

What is there to idolize about the A I winners?  Worst group of losers I ever heard.  I bought XM so I do no thave to listen to today's wannabe singers.

What pi$$e$ me is that they all want to be called country.  Maybe it should be spelled $#%*ry.

mole wrote:
Geez!  Why can't we have it all?

Venson

HI Venson, Are you saying that instant gratification and living in a pipe dream got us into this mess.The days of easy credit are gone, Maybe we should have listened to your aunt Tilly..........

MOLE

HARDSELL wrote: Hi H.S. are you saying that we are being conditioned to accept mediocrity??

MOLE

mole wrote:
I refuse to accept it.

mole wrote:
Hiya MOLE,

Maybe yes, mabe no.  We all seem ot be looking for Jesus (metaphorically speaking) in one form or another to, if not save, at least  distract us from a nightmare we have yet to wake up from.  So far salvation is all about easy fixes, namely having things --  the ultimate car, the super-duper vacuum cleaner, the perfect home.  Not bad but moreso sad if they're all you got.

We're bombarded daily with "musts" that most of us will never gain or achieve by every advertisement  that turns up.  Thus all we seem to have learned is to want but not how to be satisfied.

What I loved about my Aunt Lucy, is that, even though she believed it was a good thing to buy a good shoe or coat, brand names never meant as much to her as her sense of personal honor.  The lady ran a pretty tidy ship in the small row house she and her husband owned in Philadelpia..  It was important that the bricks be tuckpointed  that the trim never looked in need of touching up and  the marble steps be kept clean but most important to her was that the family within that house was kept on a solid footing.  There was no product on store shelves to handle that.  It took a sense of what was right to accomplish the job.

She never preached to get a point across but most often would get you to see things her way by relating some similar experience she'd been through or seen the result of.  She was not about putting on airs or putting herself above others but she staunchly believed in doing the best she could -- in all things.  It was enough for her to merely feel she was living in a way life should be lived. 

She never allowed me to delude myself that anything worth having could be gained without sacrifice or sweat.  When my expalnation to my actions was, "I don't know," her reply was, "Yes, you do know.  You did what you wanted."  When I opted to back off in the face of challenge and excuse my lack of action as being due to the issue being to much, good old Aunt Lucy never failed to tell me, "You can do anything you want to do.  You just have to want to."

Admittedly, I'm crazy about all sorts of stuff -- cars, clothes and gadgets.  Yet whenever I get hype-overload, this remarkable lady who made cake from scratch completely by hand with a wooden spoon though she had a perfectly good electric mixer in the cupboard, who actually preferred a broom to her vacuum cleaner always comes to mind.  Whether by way of technology or plain old elbow grease, she taught me that there are many ways to accomplish the same thing and I am thankful for that. My only sadness is that I still have a long way to go to match her exzample.  Anyway . . .

Happy holidays to you and everyone here and, even though this is certainly not the best of times we've lived in, although it may be difficult to gain ground may we at least hold our own without having to back up.

Yours truly,

Venson

Hi Venson:

Lovely story about Aunt Lucy!  I bet she had you out there every morning with a bucket and brush cleaning the marble steps.  With the smell of the soft pretzels from the street vendors in the air!

Like you said [thanks to Aunt Lucy] happiness doesn't come from having the best of what's to be had, it comes from making the best of what we have.

Merry Christmas my friend.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Carmine, do you have any idea what the retractable is worth now,easy 50's. seen them in black and blue at  shows,people swarm all over them. These cars create more intrest than a lambo .

mole

Hi MOLE:

Mine was blue and white with chrome trim.  No idea.  But I supect in the current times, off as much as 40 percent from their recent highs IF you can even find a willing buyer.

Carmine D.