[BMW //MPOWER]

Originally Posted by SydneyM3Pom

Still doesn't work... I was looking at bringing my Boxster over when I moved here. Owned it for a little over two years (from new), and by the time they'd stung me for taxes (about 100% of its value on the UK market) it was breakeven vs selling and buying another here...

I actually couldn't afford to buy one, so the sale of my two year old Boxster funded the purchase of my five year old Saab 93 'vert... (possibly the worst can I have ever owned!).

Its taken me four years to save up enough money to get back to having nice cars.

Again, i said from the US where prices are significantly lower, UK prices aren't much cheaper than ours. However that said you must not have got much of an expat package to relocate here as most of the guys i work with who moved here from the UK got the company to pay all the expenses to bring their cars over, so after keeping them for another year, they actually made a bit back on them.

[JamieA]

Originally Posted by BMW //MPOWER

JamieA, don't get me started on the lack of indexation in Australian taxes, Howard f*cked us over really well in the 80's when he removed indexation. It's the worst bit of policy EVER. As they are effectively increasing the tax take every year (to leave us as one of the most over taxed countries in the world) with inflation and leaving everyone with less & less every year, only to hand back a little via a tax cut here or there to look like a hero.
Nearly every other developed coutry in the world has tax rates that are indexed, it's a bloody disgrace that we don't.

I totally agree, lack of indexation is cruel and underhanded. Which is exactly why when Nicola Roxton is crying on the telly about it, you are asking yourself the question that if lack of indexation is so bad for the medicare levy a "tax trap" to use their parlance, then why is this not a problem with all other taxes and levies that are now under their control.

Their passion for bracket creep is selective it seems, so it appears to really be a ruse to spin their anti-success strategies.

What really peeves me is the language they are using around these issues invokes the old us vs them attitude of the workers and the business people. That is so old, and so not true these days. It is not helpful to be fanning the flames of resentment towards successful people - Australia has enough of the tall poppy syndrome without government ministers adding to it and using these concepts to sell policies.

I never fail to be shocked that Australians begrudge success... where do all these jobs for the so called "working families" (as opposed to the indolent families) come from? From people who are prepared to take risks with their own and investor's capital, and who work hard, and who should rightfully expect a return commensurate with the level of risk they are engaging in. Risk vs Return is a standard business tool, but not it seems when looking at the success of individuals.

People with control of capital who take risks to create wealth create jobs and thus contribute to taxation revenue through tax on company profits, GST from their sales operations, and PAYG tax from employees.

So why make things worse, and make people think that they would be better off doing business somewhere else, and make people feel ashamed about their success in life.

[BMW //MPOWER]

I got this from www.autospies.com, but it was just so funny i had to repost it here.
http://www.autospies.com/news/Lexus-...urgring-29810/

The much lauded Lexus LF-A, won the SP8 class of the Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy race at Nurburgring. The Lexus LF-A finished 2 laps ahead of the Chevrolet Corvette which was entered by Kissling Motorsport and 8 laps ahead of the Aston Martin Vantage that finished third.

Now, Check this out for the actual race restults. (notably won by 2 z4's).
http://www.ts-vln.com/valuation/2008-4-place.html

What they failed to mention is that it lost to a group of BMW 120d's, a honda civic, ford fiesta and about every other car under the sun. Looks like Lexus have a real stinker of a supercar (or should i say not-so-supercar) on their hands.

[astra]

I am just happy something embarassed a corvette

[VGR00]

That's just soooo funny. Talk about putting a spin on the results. That Lexus PR guy should be in politics.

[BMW //MPOWER]

Originally Posted by astra

I am just happy something embarassed a corvette

Lol, the corvette wasn't embarassed, it broke down, as did the aston martin, as the LF-A was the only car actually to finish the race in that category. Either way the LF-A got beat by a 120d, now i'm sorry but i don't care how many mod's you put on a 120d there should be no way in hell it can still beat a LF-A.

Originally Posted by vgr02

That's just soooo funny. Talk about putting a spin on the results. That Lexus PR guy should be in politics.

I think they might be, probably working on Hilary Clintons campaign, talk about denial.

[astra]

Originally Posted by BMW //MPOWER

Lol, the corvette wasn't embarassed, it broke down, as did the aston martin, as the LF-A was the only car actually to finish the race in that category. Either way the LF-A got beat by a 120d, now i'm sorry but i don't care how many mod's you put on a 120d there should be no way in hell it can still beat a LF-A.


I think they might be, probably working on Hilary Clintons campaign, talk about denial.

I would be embarassed if I had a Vette and it broke down

[JamieA]

+1

[JamieA]

I am off for two weeks to lounge at a beach house in Port Douglas and trek the Daintree. So won't be posting for a while, see you all soon.

[1q2w3e4r]

Have fun! That sounds awesome, take heaps of pictures and report back

[OzStriker]

[VGR00]

Picture tells a thousand words ^^^^

That's fun teritory!!!

[Chris.G]

Originally Posted by vgr02

Picture tells a thousand words ^^^^

That's fun teritory!!!

That would be more than just fun in an M3, it would most likely be............ORGASMIC!!!!!

[WOPALX]

Originally Posted by OzStriker

You need to remove the limiter

[1q2w3e4r]

Hope that's on a race track!

[GeriFix]

^ Hey, It's a wide, brown land!

My only issue is, is wasn't the owner driving. My colleague at work let another colleague (who is an idiot) drive his E92 M3 during the first week of ownership. The result was a severely curbed rear passenger side wheel.

Thank god my GF has only an automatic license.

[JamieA]

Originally Posted by Chris.G

That would be more than just fun in an M3, it would most likely be............ORGASMIC!!!!!

+1

[OzStriker]

It is indeed a wide brown land

My GF was driving!

She is the only person other than my Mum and Dad who drive it and I am really proud of her, she drives very smoothly, using all the road, I felt very safe!

Knowing she has spent a couple of days flying around Mt Panorama in a C63 helps too!!

[amberzombie]

Originally Posted by GeriFix

^ Hey, It's a wide, brown land!

My only issue is, is wasn't the owner driving. My colleague at work let another colleague (who is an idiot) drive his E92 M3 during the first week of ownership. The result was a severely curbed rear passenger side wheel.

Thank god my GF has only an automatic license.

at that speed i'd have wide brown-stained underpants!

[astra]

Originally Posted by GeriFix

^ Hey, It's a wide, brown land!

My only issue is, is wasn't the owner driving. My colleague at work let another colleague (who is an idiot) drive his E92 M3 during the first week of ownership. The result was a severely curbed rear passenger side wheel.

Thank god my GF has only an automatic license.

Unless she is only on red P's, she is legally allowed to drive a manual, weather or not she sat her test in an auto

[WOPALX]

Originally Posted by astra

Unless she is only on red P's, she is legally allowed to drive a manual, weather or not she sat her test in an auto

Yeah but if she ain't smart enough to know that then she ain't smart enough to drive the M3 .

[GeriFix]

Originally Posted by astra

Unless she is only on red P's, she is legally allowed to drive a manual, weather or not she sat her test in an auto

She's been driving for 20 years and hasn't learned how to use a clutch pedal in that time .... it isn't a matter of legality, more of aptitude.