Accelerated

quote:Do you really want to be like MJ?LOL.....to tell you honestly, I dont know enough about him, and recent events have lead me to believe he is Bitter Old Fart....so the answer is NO. Wouldnt mind his vocabulary though

Interesting article from drive.com.au quote:Battle carsBy Joshua Dowling The Sun-Herald Tuesday October 8 2002 THE LUXURY four-wheel-drive battle has just stepped up a gear. Literally. Porsche may have developed the world's fastest 4WD with the Cayenne, but its twin under the skin, the jointly developed Volkswagen Touareg, will be the first 4WD to change gears like a Formula One car. It is available with a pair of "paddles" behind the steering wheel, just like Michael Schumacher's Ferrari, where the driver can select one of up to six gears with a fingertip. This feature, and the world's first electrically extendable and retractable towbar, are just a taste of techno gadgets set to appear on the new Volkswagen and Porsche off-roaders. Given that they're the last to arrive in the booming luxury 4WD market, the German pair need to be best dressed. BMW and Mercedes-Benz can't build enough 4WDs and the waiting list routinely stretches beyond six months for some models. Now Volkswagen and Porsche are poised to join the battle. This year's most anticipated new models go on sale in Europe before Christmas and in Australia by the middle of next year. We will have a sneak preview at Darling Harbour on October 17 when both cars make their local debut at the 2002 Sydney Motor Show. We won't know for a few months what the Porsche Cayenne is like to drive, but if the Volkswagen Touareg we tested last week is any indication, 4WDs have a new benchmark. The flagship turbocharged V10 diesel, in particular, will blow your Akubra off. Thanks to Porsche, this Volkswagen has Arnold Schwarzenegger in its genes, but more about that later. Both companies are said to have invested a combined $2 billion in the project over the past four years. But their companionship has also led to fierce rivalry as each tries to capitalise on their investments. Both are trying to claim the high ground. The battle has turned bitter in recent months. Porsche apparently broke an agreement with Volkswagen when it unveiled pictures of the Cayenne months earlier than planned (both cars were supposed to be unveiled together at the Paris Motor Show last week). This forced Volkswagen to release pictures of its car before it intended. Now the companies are engaged in a who-did-what argument. The doors and underbody are common but every other panel (and engines and interior) are unique. Porsche engineered both cars; Volkswagen will build them at a factory in Slovakia, 1500km south-east of VW headquarters in Wolfsburg. Of the German-badged 4WDs at least the Porsche and Volkswagen twins will be built near Germany, rather than in the US, as is the case with BMW and Mercedes. Both cars were developed side by side by engineers from both companies. But Porsche chief DrWendelin Wiedeking said senior executives from either company had not tested each other's cars. At the media preview of the Touareg in Barcelona last week, Volkswagen executives tried to play down the Porsche relationship. "I don't think we will sell any more because it was developed with Porsche," said Jorn Henrichs, the marketing director at Volkswagen AG. "The Porsche is a high-performance car that is capable of going off-road," Volkswagen marketing colleague Catarina Wenzel said. "Whereas the Volkswagen is three cars in one: a sports car, a luxury car and an off-roader." How the vehicles perform and how they may or may not differ appears largely academic. The Porsche, capable of reaching 266km/h, has a two-year waiting list despite prices tipped to range from $130,000 to $200,000 for its two models. The Volkswagen's price is also to be confirmed but expect it to cost between $65,000 and $110,000. There will be three models: a 3.2-litre V6, a 4.2-litre V8 and a turbocharged 4.9-litre V10 diesel with a whopping 750Nm of torque. For the uninitiated this means you can move house with it. As in, it'll move your house if you attach a rope to it. Amazingly, the V10 diesel doesn't sound like a diesel. The trademark tap-tap, rattle is more like a hum. It moves the 2.5-tonne Touareg off the line gently before hitting full thrust from as low as 2000rpm. At that point, the Touareg surges forward as if it's been pushed along by a giant hand. It belies its considerable mass and accelerates to a claimed top speed of 225km/h. At times its road manners could be mistaken for that of a sports car. Thankfully the three suspension modes (sport, comfort and auto) are well equipped to handle such enthusiastic performance (Volkswagen claims an official 0 to 100km/h time of 7.8 seconds but it feels much quicker). The Touareg rides like a mattress; the air suspension adjusts automatically or manually to suit a range of conditions from freeways to creek crossings. It has five settings, from lowering the car on its belly for a more graceful entry and exit, to lifting itself up as if it were on stilts to clear large obstacles. (The standard ground clearance is 215mm but ranges from 160mm to 300mm across the five settings.) Short, rounded bumpers front and rear make the Touareg more capable off-road than many of its peers. It won't scrape its chin on steep grades and has above average wheel articulation to claw through really rutted tracks. The 4WD blokes reckon the VW's underbody protection was reasonable but the jury was still out on how it would perform in a water crossing. It has constant all-wheel drive (split 50:50 on sealed roads) but when off-road the power is delivered to the wheel that most needs it. VW claims the Touareg can deliver 100 per cent of the power to one wheel if necessary. Unlike many of its main rivals, it has a centre-differential lock and a low- and high-range gearbox. Volkswagen has coupled the hardware with hill descent software similar to that pioneered by Range Rover (where the car's anti-lock brake system activates automatically on steep declines to allow the car to proceed at a crawl while the driver needs only worry about steering). The Touareg also has a "hill hold" feature so the car won't roll backwards on steep inclines. The V6 tested was impressive but, without the might of the V10, needed more throttle to keep moving. It may have been about 200kg lighter than the V10 (the V6 Touareg weighed "only" 2.3 tonnes) but it still felt like a wheelbarrow full of water compared with the flagship. Contrary to how it appears in photos, the Touareg is a big beast: it's longer and wider than, say, the BMW X5 and Mercedes M Class and it has a longer wheelbase. However, the VW is not as tall as the others and therefore, the maker claims, is better suited to multi-storey car parks in the concrete jungle. It also has a bigger cargo area than the X5 and is not far off the Mercedes for luggage space. The cabin is trademark VW: plain, simple, and well laid-out. Visibility, especially to the rear, is better than in the Mercedes and BMW. Like the BMW, the rear window can open separately to the rear hatch. There are eight airbags and climate-controlled air-conditioning for front and rear passengers. The VW's seats were unimpressive. Flat, wide and unsupportive they were clearly designed with their biggest (in both senses of the word) customers in mind: Americans. The flagship V10 has other techno gadgets, such as a proximity sensor in the keyfob. You no longer need to fumble with the remote to unlock the car, simply having the key in your pocket will grant access as soon as you are within one metre of the driver's door. Once inside, you don't even need to put the key in the ignition, just having it in your pocket (or in the centre console) will be enough. One press of a button on the dashboard and you're away. And to think this is a 4WD. [ October 07, 2002, 08:44 PM: Message edited by: Accelerated ]

nairi, quote:Accelerated jan, if there's one thing bullies are good at, it's not understanding. That's why I never bother replying.Yeah, I probably shouldnt have replied either, but I was half-way through a 2000 word essay on a tasteless topic, so I was in a pretty vile mood and couldnt resist the temptation.

Sip, quote:Totally out of line of coursemmmm, MJ insulted like everyone who posted on this thread (including yourself), and I am the one 'out of line'? Sorry, but if I had done something like that I would have gotten a warning at the least. I realise Martin has contributed (much) more to this forum than me, but that doesnt mean he should be allowed going around unsulting people willy nilly....... quote:note that a good insult always makes up for lack of an agrument in my bookhe didnt have an argument, looks like the wall you broke down also took apart part of your mind. I really think you should not put off sleep untill next week quote:On one hand, you are saying we should embrace technology and change ... on another hand you say we should not change our "way of life" ... So which changes compromise our culture? I would make the argument that ANY change by definition compromises "culture" by "way of life", I basically meant culture also. And ANY change doesnt compromise culture....I guess it would be up to the meaning of the word 'culture'. quote:For them, it's like a woman is either Married, a virgin, or a whore.I never said this, but i do believe this is an ideal, but the reallity is different... quote:No one here is saying we should have "no restrictions what so ever."THOTH is.... quote:I can see I was waaaay off in putting you in the same category as Tigrannes and Jug. mate, Juggernaut belongs in a category of his own

....and that neck brace of yours must be made of titanium, because I just cant see anything else holding up your big head....

quote:As reluctant as I am to come in, I think this thread should be renamed "Psychopathic Idiots' Paradise."Yeah, we could do that, but I dont know if anyone would appreciate being put on the same high moral level as yourself. After all, as the saying goes "toon@ mi hat unnormal k'lini" Previously that post was reserved for hagarag, but since this is a pretty big house, you may join him. [ October 07, 2002, 05:30 AM: Message edited by: Accelerated ]

quote:So you're basically saying that we should continue to supply, instead of trying cut the supply, for instance by creating jobs that do not require physical/sexual abuse.Firstly, we cant cut the supply, because if you kill one pimp, another will take his place and creating jobs isnt easy. Secondly, assuming that Armenia is successful in creating more chances for young women at home, what about the rest of the world? Half of it lives below the poverty line, hence supply is simply re-routed. This problem is the same as narcotics, it is the DEMAND (ie. people who utilise) that must be the point of focus, because if there is people who want something bad enough, they will get it one way or another. Kill demand, and supply will also disapeer, no other way....... [ October 07, 2002, 04:45 AM: Message edited by: Accelerated ]

Actually, its probably fair to say that European governments are relativelly powerless, its gotten to the point where society will no longer except a total bann on prostitution (and that is the only measure that can be taken to stem the flow)

nairi, I stand by what I said earlier, if there wasnt any demand there wouldnt be a supply. quote:is to provide them with adequate informationDo you think they dont know where their going and what they will be doing? They know better than you and me......its just that they dont realise how bad it might get (ie. virtual inslavement) quote:another, to arrest the Armenian pimps who get involved in such distasteful deeds.Again if supply is needed, people are required to organise it and make it efficient..... quote:We cannot expect Europe to do EVERYTHING for us. Everything? Europe is doing nothing! Except pointless efforts to please the media and YOU.

quote:It's because you're not a woman, and therefore you automatically care less about what's abuse and what's not. Yes. And I also trade in women and child p***ography.........so bite me!

nairi, quote:There's a hundred institutions in Holland alone where you can go as an abused woman and you will get protection. Really? I guess thats why people trafficking is such a flourishing (and growing) trade there.... quote:Do you realize what you're saying? Child p***ography is also in demand, does that mean Armenians should supply children to those who demand it? LOL....yes that is exactly what I am saying

btw. I am in no way against introducing laws in Armenia in regards to domestic violence, and I do regard men who assault women (let alone their wives) the lowest form of life. I just think that it will make little difference because men prone to domestic violence are more or less mentally ill, and this 'illness' will exist regardless of laws, customs, religion, culture etc.

nairi, quote:Where the West has laws protecting womenYes, but there isnt much point if they arnt enforced.... quote:Meanwhile TENS OF THOUSANDS of Armenian women are SEVERELY abused (sometimes KILLED) by their husbands each year.Im not an expert on statistics, but I dont think 'tens of thousands are severely abused'. quote:remember that it was another Armenian who lured her there, and it is another Armenian who is making money off her.I will just say one thing.....there wouldnt be supply if there wasnt demand....simple law of economics

nairi, on the subject of human rights and being a hypocrite....... The other day I saw a special report on the BBC in regards to people traffiking in Europe. As you might know young women in from Eastern Europe are basically inslaved and bought to Western Europe (this case it was Belgium, right next to you) to work in the sex industry. I saw some horrific footage of young women dressed in only bikinis dancing (hours on end) in basically what were 'shop-windows' (for brothels)! Presumably you could go in and say I want the one in that window. Some of the footage was taken in broad daylight, ie. girls dancing in the windows in broad daylight also. I suspect this would be no better (if not worse) in Holland. The Animals in the impoverished Yerevan Zoo are treated better, so I say clean up your own backyard before accusing us of anything!

Sip jan, keep your pants on, I never advocated that we should give up technology and change, just as long as it doesnt compromise our culture....

THOTH, From your posts I think it fair to conclude that you consider yourself an Armenian (to a certain degree). But you (and some others) advocate that we should give up our religion, our culture, our way of life....everything that differentiates us from other nations. If that were ever to happen we as a nation will cease to exist and just become a tiny part of a global mass with no apparent direction, no morals, no future, nothing....

quote:I am actually hoping women start walking naked on the streets.If that ever happens the make-up industry might rival the oil-producers....LOL

quote:People,don't you get sick of topics like this!!!! Whats the matter? Dont like juicy.....?

nairi, First I thought I shouldnt reply, but then I decided to repost your stuff, maybe if you re-read your material you will realise how absurd it is..... quote:Again you guys are turning a human rights' issue into a personal one, by blaming the West. quote:Then why is it that we allowed the Ottomans to push us into becoming cruel, but we refuse to reverse the situation now that we are free and independent? If you still dont get it, I think the only solution for you is going to be the cell with hagarag.....

LOL, The other day I was watching a documentary on the aboriginies living in the Amazon....they were all completelly naked, makes you wonder how the men control themselves...LOL. I guess they are just used to seeing each other naked, or somethin.

quote:why should women have the same rights (by law or by social traditions)? don't men deserve more rights and prevelegies than women? Harut, bro I think you should run and hide under a rock for a few weeks, otherwise this mob might lynch you.

quote:First mistake - assuming that the hot/hottest loking gals are either the best time (short term) or best partners (long term)Well, the other guys didnt really think she was 'hot', just good/ok looking...I was the only one to have blown my gasket over her...LOL quote:So don't waste your time with these gals (unless of course they show interest in you - always nice) - instad make conversation with all It was a relativelly small engagement, there were only like 2 or 3 other possibilities and they were either taken or ugly or both. quote:and if you think they are I believe that your priorities are not ideal..Incidently...LOL...one of the guys sitting at my table told me that once he banged a 49 year old (he is 20)...i was speechless quote:Wrong (2nd mistake) - if already "taken" your number would just have been thrown away....you needed to really make an impression if you were to have any chance at all...Yeah, this is the crux of the problem, Im not good at making good first impressions....and not courageous enough, I guess its experience. And when I found out she was 'taken', I just went "F@#% this, Im just gonna get p!ssed" quote:Doesn't sound like the Jug I know.yeah well, alcohol isnt really a substitute for sex, like it is for petrol... Anyhow toward the end of the night some of the guys were so hammered, that on one of my regular visits to the toilet, I caught three of them flashing their lists to each other....LOL. I decided not to intervene in their 'ritual' and promptly unloaded my baggage in the neighbouring female toilets..... [ October 04, 2002, 11:41 PM: Message edited by: Accelerated ]

MJ, quote:Are you sure you meant to say the entire Western world or just the USA? Dont know about Western Europe, but definettly all English speaking countries (Britain, USA, Aust etc.) quote:accompanied with a problem getting laid.Yeah, it is a bit of a problem, when you get to 21 all the 'good ones' seem to be taken . Like I was at an engagement last night and there was this hottie there. Anyhow after spending a bit of time with her (and getting a photo of her stitting on my lap ), I found out from the host that she was 'taken'. Just lost all motivation after that and instead got obscenelly drunk and still had a good time . This morning though, I was cursing myself for at least not giving her my number, and I cant get her out of my mind.....its like torture [ October 04, 2002, 07:19 PM: Message edited by: Accelerated ]

quote:I would like to inform you that the words "namus" and "djigar" are brought to the Armenian society by the invadors.The words in themselves are insignificant, it is the meaning behind them that should be of concern... quote:These are "honor" Indeed if one wanted to translate "pativ" to a single word it would be "honour". But I would say that they werent exactly the same. And anyway the concept of 'honour' is currently non-existant in the Western world.

quote:there are (at least there used to be until very recently) two essential, interrelated concepts in Armenian society: "namus" and "baroyakanutyun". (i can't even find equavalent words for them in English)I can add a couple more concepts "pativ" and "djigyar". And you cant find the equavalent words in English because these concepts dont exist in Western societies.....and if we were to listen to our Teacher we ought to have given them up a long time ago.........