Posted on 08/14/2019 3:52:09 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
Germany's economy shrank in the second quarter as global uncertainty and the trade war took a toll on its manufacturers.
GDP for the three months ended June contracted 0.1% compared to the previous quarter, in line with analyst expectations. That's down from 0.4% growth in the first three months of the year.
"Today's GDP report definitely marks the end of a golden decade for the German economy," said Carsten Brzeski, chief economist in Germany at the Dutch bank ING.
The world's fourth largest economy, and Europe's biggest, has been hit by what analysts have described as a "perfect storm" of negative factors.
(Excerpt) Read more at edition.cnn.com ...
Over-engineered...reflecting the Byzantine German mind-set. The elegant simplicity of Japanese engineering gets it right.
I bash contemporary German cars because they are overengineered and poorly built. Yet I own 2. A classic series 1 two door Jetta (not known for initial build quality), and a preban TDI series 6 Jetta. The TDI gets 50 mpg all day long, drives like a gas car, and goes 625 miles comfortably on a tank of fuel. I love them both and have been a “Dubber” since the early seventies. That said, new Germans cars suck.
The Japanese can make them run. Unfortunately EPA mandates have made them less reliable than in days past. Being from one of the most intensive salt belt areas, Japanese cars don’t hold up as well as German cars as far as rust. The Japanese are getting much better, but they roll their sheet metal to thin.
I’m think in similar terms with classic jeep versus what’s built now.
What they really need is a meat tax.
You can get a brand new Willis Jeep. Still built in India as Mahindra Roxor for a primal version and Mahindra Thar for a better equipped one.
When the Germans engineer some right, it is very good. When they engineer it poorly, however...
In before Remoaners whine that poor little Britain will just get abused in any trade negotiations. Why, they’ll just have to roll over and give others anything they want and get nothing in return and gosh wouldn’t it be so much better if they just ignored that pesky will of the people thing and stayed in the EU. Blah Blah Blah
Older Jeeps with the AMC derived 4.0 and 4.2 liter inline sixes were bulletproof, now not so much.
My project 82 came with a blown I6.
The plan until recently was to get a reman of the same.
My dad has what is very likely a good shape 304 that came in a dead CJ5.
Reman the 4.0 and do a 4.2 head and fuel injection swap. Plenty of vids on youtube. You’ll thank me later. I have an ‘84 CJ7 waiting to be restoed.
For a lot of reasons, I would prefer the 6 cylinder. I’ve read about the conversion and I would very likely go that route.
If I can get a functional 304 for sweat equity and some cleanup, so much for the I6.
My CJ7 mainly needs final paint for the tub, a replacement motor, and rewire.
It’s nnowhere as deteriorated as my Willys.However, the little 65 Willys will run.
Looks like recession is on the horizon... it happens.
There will have to be some adjustments to the slowdown in China and Brexit (two very important export markets for Germany). The loss of the bill payer UK from the EU, will also leave Germany and France paying those bills. The USA will likely press to reset the unbalanced trade rules in place since the Marshall Plan, and for Germany to honor its commitments to NATO. Phasing out nuclear power for more expensive alternatives will also be an additional drag.
Ultimately, Germany will retain its high skill workforce and excellent infrastructure with which to compete.
The 304 sounds fun, but for practicality the I6 has it all over.
A friend of mine had a ‘70s era Jeep that he was restoring. I can’t remember the year but it had a big honking inline 6 that pulled about like a V8. Wonder if it was one of those AMC engines.
The 304 tends to eventually have lifter problems. Mainly on 6 and 8.
Dad was able to jumper the solenoid on the 304. It sounded like any other 304 I ever heard. I will try to get up there to evaluate it some more.
A schwimmwerwagen (sp) would be ok.
I learned about them from instagram.
The I6 is partially apart but still in place. Pictures are here:
https://cjneil82.smugmug.com/CJ7-Works-In-Progress/
Yep, that’s the one.
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