http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2007-07-22-3424110013_x.htm

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I wonder if they're more secure after dumping Chrysler.

He earns $4,682 a month pretax -- after all deductions he has $2,118 left
Lets bring THAT economic system to the USA!!!

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

To your pretax salary, add the total cost of your employer-provided health care. Also add their share of FICA and Medicaid. Then figure the percentage that you take home.

Our system isn't all that great either.

Even with taxes as high as they are over there, it seems to me, that the average Shmoe over there, has more than the average shmoe over here.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

Let's see, when I had a "good" job, my gross pay came to about $3306 a month. After the tax man got his share, I came away with about $2666. My employer's share of social security and medicare (I think) would have been 7.5% for each, or $495. I'm not sure what their share of the health insurance was, but I'll assume it was twice my weekly $15 contribution, or $129 a month. Add that up and the employer was shelling out $3930 a month for me to take home $2666. Not great, but still a lot better than what Daimler-Benz and Herr Haebich have to deal with.

OTOH, I know a guy who works under the table for $10 an hour. Employer shells out ten bucks, the guy takes home ten bucks.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Well this is right out of the book; "The World is Flat". Except in that book he talked about VW and Europes high tech industry. Western Europe should worry more about the near east than the far east. The former Soviet block is working on eating their lunch. Mercedes is never going to build its cars in China, but it may very well move the plants to Poland one day.

35 hour work weeks are BS and the know it, the gravy train is ending.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200