ronburgundy

Beez Neez > all other beers. I used to do a home brew back in the uni days, when I actually had spare time. My favourite bit was when I first read how much sugar you're supposed to put in each bottle as you bottle it and after advising the correct amount, it cautioned "putting too much sugar in can lead to exploding bottles". Sounds like a dare if you ask me! Shades of the Beer Baron...

My Fuel Used seems to be fairly accurate too, my gauge on the other hand is not (G6ET). I also think (believe it or not, I read the manual!) the Range is based on your 'average economy' so driving hard for example when you're already in Range 80km territory shouldn't make a huge difference as it won't hugely impact the average economy, only the instant. Could be wrong of course, it's been known to happen on occasion! From what I can tell based on my car though, while the Range is based on average economy (ie from the Trip Computer), I suspect it uses the fuel gauge to estimate how many litres are left (as opposed to subtracting Fuel Used from 68 litres) and then works out range based on average economy. That can be the only explanation, unless they somehow installed a 52 litre tank in my car! Am taking it in soon for 3000 klm service so touch wood should get fixed.

Is booked in for the 3000 klm service next Saturday so will let you know what turns up. It is a June build actually, so you may be on to something. Also noticed that the Outside temperature display seems to be out, usually shows about 5c under what should be.

Can depend on the age of the car - if it's >4 years old (eg: BA) they'll often charge an extra 2-3% over their standard rate

My ringtone was Firewind's version of Maniac (yes, the old 'disco' song). Currently it is No Use For A Name's Turning Japanese. Got some old school 'Tallica on now, Disposable Heroes. Chances of me being very productive for the rest of the arvo?! Not so much!

Mind you for each step forward I take two backwards; The Neverending Story theme song!

You mean I'm not really a freak? Phew! I think I'm starting to redeem myself now; Tool - Aenema. Such a good album. I'd argue their best.

I'm with a mob called Creditline, we refer a lot of our clients to them. I can't remember the exact rate I ended up getting at the time I physically locked in and signed but when I first asked for the quote the rate was the same as the ANZ variable rate (I'm with ANZ for my home loan). I've got a lease calculator and I could work backwards and find out the exact rate but meh... it's Friday and I can't be ar$ed. Just a standard novated lease, no deposit or anything.

My taste in music has been described by friends (and wife) as anything from 'eclectic' to 'random' to 'just plain wrong'. The last few songs (on my computer at work, have all my music on it): Jamiroquai - Canned Heat Foo Fighters - Have It All Pantera - Cowboys From Hell Blink 182 - Josie RATM - Killing In The Name Of Britney - Womanizer Machine Head - Aesthetics Of Hate Roy Orbison - You Got It Beach Boys - Surfin' USA Milli Vanilli - Blame It On The Rain I know I should be embarrassed, but for some reason I'm not...!

Looks great Dean - I'm looking (eventually) at doing little more to mine than a tune and maybe injectors, good to hear that throwing a handful of dollars at these things can make such a difference!

G6ET was enough to make me turn my back on a Calais V - and I'm a lifelong Expensive Daewoo man.

The Aussie dollar since June (about 7 months ago) has devalued against the US dollar by 35%. 2% rise is probably not the end of the world! If it backfires and it scares even more people away from buying a car... then you might do a lot better than $50k! I wouldn't hold my breath though.

I bought my FG (new obviously) a month ago, and it actually had to go from Adelaide to Melbourne (it had to be pre-August build stock). Ordinarily a day off isn't a problem but I just couldn't get a day off this particular week, otherwise I would have been on the redeye to Adelaide to drive it home in time for dinner! If you can get a weekend day to yourself I'd be doing the same.

I've told my wife she's singlehandedly trying to revive the economy with her spending at the moment! We owe no debt (mortgage aside) as I pay my credit card out monthly, but she's giving it a fair old hiding I tells ya.

On the plus side, we might be running around with multiples of millions of dollars in our hip pockets. Thanks, Dr Mugabe!

WA is not necessarily the best indicator; of all of Oz they experienced the biggest boom led by resources - there is/was a bunch of cashed up minors going around with more money than they knew what to do with. So of course when there's a slowdown, they feel it that much more because everything was so artificially overinflated to begin with. That's why places like Toorak, Brighton etc are falling so much, because when things were going well they were just so in-demand the prices literally couldn't rise fast enough. Now they're all rushing to sell their weekenders at Portsea just to keep the bank man at bay! Yes it is indeed perfectly fine to have only one person's name on title (and thus mortgage) provided that the bank does think that one person can service the loan. For example, me on my salary, the bank said I have capacity of about twice what I thought I had! Add in my wife's (smaller salary), which then means you'd have to factor in her three dependent kids, and it actually means our joint borrowing capacity is reduced. You two being on dual income with no kids (DINKs) the bank shouldn't have an issue lending you something in the range you're looking at. Just, as everyone else has said, don't over-extend. Sounds like you know what you want and aren't going to be easily swayed by a bank wanting to lend you extra, so that's good.

If you're worried about 'wiggle room' if rates go up, fix your rate, or try and get a product that will allow you to at least fix a portion of your loan. I'm looking to fix half mine soon I think - I'd fix all of it but by doing so really what I'm saying is that I'm better able to predict interest rate futures than ANZ's panel of gurus. Not a gamble I'm willing to take!

Did I hear someone say Ansett?

That sh*t hurts - the mint burns your throught something chronic! Back on topic though, makes me glad I've been here in this job for so long. Adding up my annual leave, long service leave, and the severance pay they'd have to pay me if I was made redundant, they'd have to pay me about 9 months' salary! So I think my job is pretty safe given how expensive it would be for them to get rid of me. Still, there are many (I've had to advise some clients of late on this very matter) who aren't quite so fortunate. One client, small business, wanted to sack 2 people just before Xmas. We confirmed for him that it was necessary otherwise his business wouldn't survive, but said that of course if he wanted to wait until after Xmas then so be it. His response: "It's never a good time to make someone redundant". In the words of the poet James Hetfield, sad but true.

Mate I'm happily married too, doesn't mean I'm an economist or a genius! Was just making an observation that, in the context of this thread, made me chuckle to myself and almost choke on my Colgate. Agree on all counts re Costello though - Swan is more of a 'goose' than a swan!

Sunrise was on TV this morning as it usually is while I get ready - as I went to brush my teeth, they said "after the break, is the economy BUGGERED as some people are saying". Of course I laughed. Then to sum up the story, world reknowned economist Larry Emdur went with "So in short, the economy is Buggered, but with only one exclamation mark, not two". That's some real deep stuff there from Larry! I think he was spending too much time hanging around with the Price is Right models (who can blame him?!) and they brought him down to their mental level!

fantastic

I did hear this morning expect another 1% rate drop in the next month or so. Looks like, for those with a mortgage (and aren't on a fixed rate!), mods are becoming more affordable by the day! It's quite funny though - I think I find a lot of these 'predictions' self-perpetuating. For example, when someone predicts/warns 'motorists to expect petrol prices to hit $1.60 next week' and then guess what - they do! I know that's all a bit conspiracy theory, but there's just so many of these predictions about doom and gloom and to the 'uneducated' (so to speak), it scares the pants out of them and thus the prediction is fulfilled; they start building a shelter in their basement and stockpiling canned goods and non-perishables.

A mate of mine has a boxer called Lester. Actually he's a cross (half boxer half lab), so he's called him Lester (Ellis) who is half a boxer. Weird bloke. Can be a bit sooky, doesn't mind a bit of a drool around the place too actually! Otherwise he's great, loves a bit of exercise of course.

Two things: 1. How can you last that long??!! 2. If you keep waiting because "it's only going to get cheaper"... yes it probably will (EVENTUALLY!) but by the time it does, a new model will be on the way with probably more power etc. Suddenly you'll then want the new one, and so the cycle continues. My advice: Just take the plunge and start enjoying your new toy already!