Miata Adventures

Kraig Johanssen asked:


Convertibles are in this summer. For those who have retractable top automobiles, this is the season to have fun with those automobiles. But for those who do not have yet the automobile, here is a direct to some of the bests in the market.

Some cars, however, are tough to buy because they are on limited production. Examples of these are the new Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky.

But wait! Some of those can be rented for a road trip. So could still have the chance to drive those convertibles.

The Solstice (base price $22,115) and Sky ($25,325) are both almost identical underneath. Because it comes with a longer list of standard equipment, the Sky is a bit more expensive. Base versions are sprint by a 177-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and have an option of a five-speed manual or automatic.

Both have a performance variant: the Solstice GXP ($27,115) and Sky Reddish Line ($29,025). These variants are sprint by a 260-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder.

Both cars have fuel economy that ranges from 20 to 22 mpg city to 26 to 31 on the highway.

In The Meantime, the Mazda MX-5 Miata hardtop is among the newest with a starting price of $24,945 (freight included), on the market. It has a metal top that retracts into the trunk. This feature turns this small two-seater coupe into a convertible.

With quality Mazda Miata parts, the Miata was first introduced with in 1989 in its ragtop version and revived the little two-seat roadster type. Last year, it was totally facelifted. And for this year, Mazda releases its first hardtop version.

Aside from the fun that tough top gives during summer, when it is closed, the car is totally protected from the weather and most road noise. It also makes the car more safe.

Nonetheless, the Miata still comes with a ragtop in four trim levels. These include the base five-speed manual transmission model with a $21,030 starting price.

It is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine at 166 horsepower (163 with the optional six-speed automatic gearbox). Its fuel economy ranges from 22 to 25 miles per gallon in the city and 30 on the highway.

A soft top is standard with the Sky, Solstice and Miata.

Honda also has something to bid, the S2000. It is similar to the size of the Solstice and the Sky. This two-seat roadster costs higher than the Miata and even the high-powered versions of the Sky and Solstice.

With a generally aspirated 237-horsepower and a 2.2-liter inline four-cylinder engine, the S2000 costs $34,845 and can sprint either with a six-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Because of its price, this car is not a hot seller. But Honda fanatics can still have this.

The BMW Mini Cooper convertible is also one of the suggested summer cars. It is available in two versions, namely: the base model ($22,600) and the turbocharged S version ($26,050). The ragtop version of the contemporary Mini, it has four seats but a tight one at the back. Standard with a five-speed manual gearbox and a six-speed manual transmission, the Cooper’s base engine is a 115-horsepower four-cylinder. The automobile is also available with a six-speed automatic. From the performance and manual models, fuel efficiency ranges from 23 city/32 highway to 27/35.

Ford offers the Mustang convertible in three versions for 2007: the base V-6 model ($24,820), the V-8 GT (starting at $31,265) and the Shelby Cobra GT 500 ($46,500), which is supercharged and high-performing. Its EPA ratings range from 15 to 19 city and 21 to 28 highway.

The Volkswagen New Beetle convertible, the ragtop version of the contemporary Beetle, is another suggested automobile. With a beginning price of $22,880, it comes with a 150-horsepower, 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine. It is available with either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic with EPA ratings of 22 city/30 highway for both transmissions.

Other automobiles that would make your summer fun are the all-new four-passenger VW Eos, Chrysler PT Cruiser and 2007 midsize Sebring, 2007 Pontiac G6, BMW Z4 two-seat roadster and 3-series convertible for 2007, line ups of Mercedes-Benz and Audi, and the Jaguar XK and XKR.

Whatever automobile you pick, make certain you will accomplish the summer fun driving with the help of the car’s performance capacity.



Casino Fun Collectibles

Miata Edoga asked:


There is a lot of dire news at the moment. Not only are we still fighting two awful wars, but the economic world as we have know it for the last seventy years is collapsing from under our feet. The inventory market just took its biggest one day dive since the fantastic depression, and the fantastic bailout plan is hitting obstacles at every turn (I won’t get into that here, but for my take on that, please visit our blog at http://www.abundancebound.blogspot.com). So, given all this negative news, how are we supposed to do all the positive things essential to move our financial security, and hence our artistic careers, forward?

 

The reply is our focus. Consider this for a minute: what are you spending your time thinking about and focussing on? Chances are you will find it all too easy to spend every second of every day thinking about the surroundings, and the economy, and the Presidential race, and what your next audition will be, and where your rent is going to come from, and how will you find the money for your children’s tuition, and so on, and so on…

 

Apart From it isn’t healthy. Yes, there is a lot to be concerned about in the world nowadays, but what you need to inquire yourself is, how do you feel when you’ve spent an hour (or two or three) worrying about it all? Do you feel up-defeat, and eager, and ready to get out there? Or do you feel miserable, and inactive, and wanting to curl up in front of evil soap operas (if there are any other kind) for remainder of the day? Conversely, how do you feel when you’ve just worked out, and have finished a fantastic book, are are doing really well in class? Ready to take on the world, is the reply. 

 

So what has changed? The world is the same, all that is different is what section of it we are focussing on, and that is the reply: what has changed is our focus and, from that, our mental state.

 

Now, I am not saying to avoid the outside world: we are section of society, and have an obligation (in my opinion) to be a considerate part of that. Notwithstanding, we don’t have to spend all day every day thinking about what is going improper with the world. The Law of Attraction teaches us that we get more of what we think about. So, if we are dwelling on poverty and distress, do we really expect to have bliss and wealth coming into our lives? 

 

The trick to this is what motivational expert Brian Tracy calls The Law of Substitution. He says that the conscious mind can only really grasp one conception at a time, so that, when a negative emotion or notion enters your mind, you can replace it instantly with something positive. Do this consistently, and you are well on the way to achieving a usually positive outlook on life. So, next time you begin to feel down about yourself, or your career, attempt saying “That conception is trying to trick me and make me sad…” and then focussing on what you want your career to look like. When finances are getting you down, look instead at what opportunities exist in this current climate, and recall what Warren Buffet says – “Be stunned when others are greedy, and greedy when others are terrified”. Why is he a good example? When everyone else is panicking and pulling out of the markets, he just bought a $6 billion part of Goldman-Sachs… speak about focussing on the upside, even if it is 5 to 10 years in the making.

 

All this is to say pick your focus, don’t just happen upon it. Consciously lead your attention onto things that support and benefit you the majority of the time, and watch as your the world around you aligns with your new thoughts…

 

 

 

 



Coffee Drinkers Hut

Miata Edoga asked:


Anyone who has been around our community for any duration of time will have heard us speak about the value of having a long term vision of what your perfect life would look like. The justification for this is that we, as people, need to be drawn towards what we craving as opposed to running away from what we don’t. In other words, we need to put the law of attraction to work for us, and to do this we need to focus on what we want rather than what we don’t want.

The other fundamental thing about a colossal, long term vision is that it will keep us moving forward through the inevitable obstacles that will seem in our way. Visualize traveling across a plain strewn with massive boulders: if what you are heading for isn’t much bigger than the boulders, you will quickly renounce because it is no longer in sight. Visualize, however, that your destination is a mountain instead of a hillock: how much easier is it now to keep heading in the accurate direction? It all comes down to having a strong, long term vision, and then working out what you need to do to get there: this is something that should be taught, in my opinion, in acting schools year one, because it is so necessary to artistic success.

When it comes to investing, the same thing applies. From 1977 to 1990 Peter Lynch, arguably one of the greatest investors of all time, increased the value of the mutual fund he was in charge of (the Loyalty Magellan Fund) from $20 Million to $14 Billion, recording an average 29% annual growth, and providing one of the most lucrative investment automobiles of the century. Yet, when he looked back at his numbers, he saw the most disturbing and weird thing: the majority of investors in his fund actually lost money.

How is this possible? For people that rode this wave, the value of their money was doubling every 2 ½ years: investors should have been gratified, and yet most people who bought Loyalty stock lost money on the bargain. Why? Because, as Lynch himself found out, people would leap in and purchase after good quarters – when the inventory price was up a bit – and then sell when the quarterly reports did not look so rosy. They were, in actuality, buying high and selling low, something that any high school student with a modicum of financial education could tell you was a evil idea.

So what was the motivating factor in back of that type of panic buying and selling? Dread. The same thing that keeps us locked into situations long after they have become untenable, or at jobs because “better the devil you know”, will kill any possibility of success, either financial or in our acting career. People would look at the short term results and either get eager and purchase, or get troubled and sell. This type of approach to anything, let alone investing, will crush you. As Lynch himself says:

“…stocks are relatively predictable over twenty years. As to whether they’re going to be higher or lower in two to three years, you might as well flip a coin to determine.”

The same remark might well be made about our artist development, or our job prospects: we might be up some years, and down others, but as long as we have the correct mentality – and by that I mean long term thinking – we will see stable progress. It used to drive me nuts in LA when I would hear people say “I’m going to give this acting thing a attempt for a few months, see how it works out”. I wanted to slap them and say “It takes years to build an acting career, not months, so why not take yourself back to wherever it is you came from, and desist giving remainder of us a evil rep!” You would never desist painting because you didn’t sell a part, nor would you quit acting school because you didn’t have an audition for a couple of weeks. What keeps us going through these situations is our long term vision of what our artistic goals are: the same thing will keep us going towards our financial goals as well.



Computer Items.

Margaret Adams asked:


Mazda Motor Corporation earlier announced the launch of Blaze, a special edition roadster intended for the Japanese domestic market. Blaze is a lightweight, open-top sports automobile which has been the subject of several modifications to improve ergonomics, style and performance. Both the interior and exterior auto parts have been enhanced for a entire new driving experience. Blaze is now on sale at all Mazda and Mazda Anfini dealers throughout Japan.

Blaze Edition Roadster got its name from “glitter,” “blinding light,” and “fiery color,” and the images they propose. Its dominant exterior, which is enhanced by special auto parts, epitomizes cutting-margin style. The forged 17-inch alloy wheels of the car are produced by BBS Japan Co. Ltd., a well-known name in the manufacture of auto wheels. The wheels are accentuated with chrome finish for a regal affect. Compared to base model roadsters, Blaze wheels are lighter to improve driving performance. Blaze also uses several Mazda Miata and parts. In fact, in April next year, a new version will be equipped with Mazda’s pride – Power Retractable Tough Top (PRHT).

The special edition car also boasts its chrome and lucid parts features. An exclusive deep wine-reddish body color, Sparkling Ebony Mica is made exclusive to Blaze. The deep green Highland Green Mica is also added to the standard model color range. Now, there are two color choices available for this special edition Roadster.

The interior of the automobile boasts its sand beige real leather seat upholstery and door trim mated to black leather combination for the steering wheel and parking brake covers. The interior is accentuated with alloy parts to equalize the sporty appeal with its elegant charisma. Other exclusive features of the roadster include the shift boot air vent bezel and dial rings, ornament panel, and stainless steel scuff plates.

The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) for the soft-top models are 2,840,000 yen for the six-speed manual transmission version. For the six-speed automatic transmission version the MSRP is 2,870,000 yen. For the Power Retractable Tough Top models, they are priced at 3,040,000 yen for the six-speed MT version and 3,135,000 yen for the six-speed AT version.



Miata

Miata Edoga asked:


 

Panic! Dash for your lives! The world is collapsing! In the last year, the housing market has collapsed, taking with it the inventory market. Oil prices have exploded, banks are showing record losses (how about $10 Billion for a quarter anyone?), and going out of business left, accurate and center, and, basically, lots of people’s money is going down the toilet. So now is not precisely the best time to be learning about one’s finances, accurate.

 

WRONG!! There is a fantastic quote by Warren Buffet (Multi-Billionaire, Philanthropist and powerful candidate for greatest investor ever) that says:

 

“Be alarmed when others are greedy, and only be greedy when others are frightened”.

 

What happens when there is a large economic slump is that people panic. Sometimes this is with good justification: when it is easy to borrow, people tend to get in over their heads with debt. Blend that with a housing market bubble, and suddenly that house you’re making payments on is of value 25%less than you paid for it. Ouch. Or those banking stocks that were being pumped by brokers collapsed under the weight of evil loans. Ouch again. Or… but you get the picture. The trick to riding this all out, notwithstanding, is to keep ones head, and not follow the herd. 

 

Take stocks as an example. Let’s say you bought a solid company when it was at $25. Things happen, we hit an economic downturn, and suddenly that same inventory is of value $15. Oh no. We’ve lost nearly half our money. Fast, sell before we lose any more…

 

…Or not. If the company is powerful, then it might not be its definite results that have caused its down turn, but a more general tide of destitute performance across the country. If this is the case, then all selling does is make genuine the money you have so distant only lost on paper. Mix this with the fact that you should be looking at holding stocks for at least the 3-5 year range, and with luck you won’t make any swift decisions that will loose you money. Everything goes in cycles, so instead of loosing ones head (and money at the same time), recollect the aged maxim:

 

“This too shall pass”

 

And keep on keeping on. The other thing, of course, is that when everything is down is actually a ideal time to be looking at putting money into the market, a house, or other currently miserable investment car. I recall during the last economic downturn, in early 2002, I had just put my first genuine money into the inventory market. A ally said to me “Why on earth would you be buying now? Everything is down?” I looked at him and said “Precisely”. We made over 50% return on that money in 2 years.

 

Not that we should be running out there and jumping into things willy-nilly. Random buying will make you just as broke as panic selling. But now is the time to seriously look at your financial situation. As opposed to fleeing all things financial in the coming months with remainder of the herd, swim up stream a little. Learn how to handle your debt properly, so that it isn’t hanging over you any more. Begin a high interest wealth account so that you can have some money to begin investing with in  the next year. Set up your finances so that you are maximizing your tax deductions. Learn about how to handle money now, so that when things turn around (which they will) you are way ahead of the curve, instead of in back of it.

 

 



Computer Items.