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Playing in the Sandbox Group Build Sept 1, 2024 - Jn 1, 2025

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17 hours ago, Martinnfb said:

I like the idea of simplicity and function over trinkets and glamor. 

3794214a9b3f425737573b51817635bd5219061d

Wait...  didn't this thread start over your glamorous:

20181017_133417.jpg

 

:popo:

Heh.....

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You are absolutely right Wumm,  GM for instance, it should be dead, stolen by its own executive team. But this is USA and basic economical principals are pushed aside by the chosen few.

Here is the list of heavy hitters of US economy. Explains a lot.

2007 rank Company Revenues (in millions)
1. Wal-Mart Stores $351,139.0
2. Exxon Mobil 347,254.0
3. General Motors 207,349.0
4. Chevron 200,567.0
5. ConocoPhillips 172,451.0
6. General Electric 168,307.0
7. Ford Motor 160,126.0
8. Citigroup 146,777.0
9. Bank of America Corp. 117,017.0
10. American International Group 113,194.0
11. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. 99,973.0
12. Berkshire Hathaway 98,539.0
13. Verizon Communications 93,221.0
14. Hewlett-Packard 91,658.0
15. Intl. Business Machines 91,424.0
16. Valero Energy 91,051.0
17. Home Depot 90,837.0
18. McKesson 88,050.0
19. Cardinal Health 81,895.1
20. Morgan Stanley 76,688.0
21. United Health Group 71,542.0
22. Merrill Lynch 70,591.0
23. Altria Group 70,324.0
24. Goldman Sachs Group 69,353.0
25. Procter & Gamble 68,222.0
26. Kroger $66,111.2
27. AT&T Inc. 63,055.0
28. Boeing 61,530.0
29. AmerisourceBergen 61,203.1
30. Marathon Oil 60,643.0
31. State Farm Insurance 60,528.0
32. Costco Wholesale 60,151.2
33. Target 59,490.0
34. Dell 57,095.0
35. Wellpoint 56,953.0
36. Johnson & Johnson 53,324.0
37. MetLife 53,275.0
38. Sears Holdings 53,012.0
39. Pfizer 52,415.0
40. Dow Chemical 49,124.0
41. Wells Fargo 47,979.0
42. United Technologies 47,829.0
43. United Parcel Service 47,547.0
44. Walgreen 47,409.0
45. Lowe's 46,927.0
46. Wachovia Corp. 46,810.0
47. Lehman Brothers Holdings 46,709.0
48. Time Warner 44,788.0
49. Microsoft 44,282.0
50. Freddie Mac 44,002.0
Source: Fortune 500, © 2007 Time, Inc. All rights reserved. For more detailed information, visit Fortune on the Web, www.fortune.com/ .
 
 
 
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Back in the '80's, we used to have tariffs over 50% on imported vehicles. Under the Button plan, Manufacturers were 'encouraged' to model share some of the more popular models, which amounted in most cases to simple badge engineering. 

Ford; even though already in partnership with Mazda with the 323/Laser and Bravo/Courier pickup combinations, paired with Nissan to turn the Patrol into the Ford Maverick... The Falcon pickup (Ranchero) then became the Nissan Ute. Holden (our local GM branch) initially paired with Nissan, but eventually co-operated with Toyota to release GM variants of the Corolla and Camry. Because Holden were exporting locally made (Buick) V6 and V8 engines, this gave them tax credits that allowed Toyota to keep importing Hilux and LandCruisers. 

The plan was to keep Australian Factories manufacturing more of the cars that were selling here, mainly large sedans. It worked for a couple of decades, but consumer tastes changed and large sedans stopped selling at the end of last decade. Ford and Holden were being given millions in Government subsidies, but even this wasn't enough to keep Auto manufacturing going in what is a very small local market. Ford left first, and then Holden and Toyota in 2017. So in the end, protectionism didn't work for us here. But then again we're down here at the a*** end of the World.

My Wife bought a Holden Cruze new in 2016. It was the smallest locally-built car available. It wouldn't have been my choice, but it was important to her to buy Australian and I supported her in the decision.

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Just got back from driving to Wisconsin to visit my sister and her family in our 2009 Honda Fit. We did a total of 2700km of driving, mostly at 120km/h except for an hour in Ontario at 130 which was the pace of traffic. We Ontarians love to speed...

With the four of us, a roof box and 2 bikes on the rear rack we managed 6.6l/100km or 35.64 mpg according to Martin's chart. 

IMG-20190721-WA0000-L.jpg

Can't complain about that. Although I may want a slightly bigger car next time we do a road trip. 

Carl

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8 hours ago, harv said:

Pearl white. I love this car ! Everyone at the dealership loved it when the got the wheels on..harv

Hey buddy...  I'm sure you're old enough to remember the commercial:

 

Gaz

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1 hour ago, ScottsGT said:

So this past Saturday my 24 yo son bought this after totaling out his Malibu. 

2017 with 15K on the clock.  My first time sitting in a non-premium package car.  

CwIHew.jpg

Nice ride.....................

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  • 4 weeks later...
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On 8/12/2019 at 4:01 PM, ScottsGT said:

So this past Saturday my 24 yo son bought this after totaling out his Malibu. 

2017 with 15K on the clock.  My first time sitting in a non-premium package car.  

CwIHew.jpg

That's a nice ride.  My GT is a base model too.  Only thing I really miss is the cool dealy to change the interior lighting.  I would love to get my hands on some of the Recaro seats they put in the Boss 302.

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