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Pope's VW breaks eBay records (over 4m page views)
News 24 (South Africa) / AFP ^ | May 2, 2005 | Adrienne Taylor

Posted on 05/02/2005 12:07:59 PM PDT by Stoat

Pope's VW breaks eBay records
May 02 2005 06:35:09:267PM
 
 
 
 
 
 
Berlin - Interest in Pope Benedict XVI's old Volkswagen, currently on offer on eBay Germany, has smashed all records for the Internet auction site with nearly four million hits, the company said on Monday.

"It was viewed more often than any other item we have ever had on eBay Germany," the Berlin headquarters said.

The bidding for the metallic gray 1999 Golf IV in mint condition started at €9 999 (about $12 800), and by Monday, with more than 136 registered offers, had reached €62 595.

Because the auction is not due to end until Thursday (Ascension Day), eBay expects the price to continue to rise.

The Golf is being offered by Benjamin Halbe, 21, who bought it in January from a used car dealer having no idea that its previous owner, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, would become pope.

"It's a heavenly ride," Halbe said.

Ratzinger's private secretary bought it for him in 1999 in southern Germany. It was then taken to Ratzinger in Rome.

The company said that it had taken measures to guard against fraudulent offers by requiring bidders to provide their eBay user name, a phone number and a copy of their German identification card.

Coincidentally Volkswagen, Europe's leading automaker, said last month it is interested in building a new "Pope-mobile", a car especially designed and built for the pope.

Edited by Adrienne Taylor



TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Germany
KEYWORDS: automotive; autos; benedictxvi; cars; pope; ratzinger; religion; volkswagen; vw
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To: antiRepublicrat
The only automatic I'll buy is what Mercedes is coming out with, with F1-like paddle shifters so that it acts like a sequential.

I drove an Audi the other day with paddle shifters. Coupled with a transmission design which has two gearsets engaged at any one time (and two clutches), shifting is instant, and the traditional slush-box feel is totally gone. That's the first auto transmission I ever really liked.

41 posted on 05/05/2005 10:23:59 AM PDT by Fresh Wind
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To: Mears
It's a church thing. Bernard Cardinal Law was used in Boston and it has been this way during my long lifetime.

Exactly - it is not specific to Germany but is the correct way of referring to any Cardinal. What bugs me is how many news stories written during the papal transition failed to get it right - any number of times I've seen "Cardinal William Keeler" for example, instead of "William Cardinal Keeler".

42 posted on 05/05/2005 10:26:27 AM PDT by Heatseeker (Requiem in Pacem, Ioannes Paulus Magnus)
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To: Guillermo
I can understand if it's a sports car, but a minivan?

A Golf is not a minivan. Not even close.

43 posted on 05/05/2005 10:26:46 AM PDT by Fresh Wind
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To: Guillermo

Oops! Sorry, cancel my previous comment. I see you weren't referring to the Golf!


44 posted on 05/05/2005 10:36:21 AM PDT by Fresh Wind
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To: Stoat

Wow! I wonder who the lucky person will be?


45 posted on 05/05/2005 1:32:35 PM PDT by Killborn (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger --> Pope Benedict XVI: God bless and keep him. May he reign in greatness.)
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