"Gas prices high? Try an eco-friendly, $3.5 mln Skycar"

[GreenPartyVoter]

CHICAGO (Reuters) - If that Hummer is draining your cash at the gas pump, Neiman Marcus Group Inc. has the perfect holiday gift: A fuel-efficient, $3.5 million "Skycar" that flies 350 miles per hour and burns environmentally friendly alcohol.

The luxury retailer's annual Christmas Book of gifts for the rich and richer shows no signs of scaling back in times of economic strain -- although there are a few stocking stuffers such as a $15 paperweight for those on a tighter budget.

The M400 Skycar prototype is a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that gets 21 miles per gallon and is designed to be "as safe, affordable and easy to use as an automobile.

"A limited number of M400s is expected to be available within the next three years, but you can purchase the actual prototype for yourself or your favorite commuter now," Neiman Marcus said in the catalog.

http://reuters.iwon.com/article/20050929/2005-09-29T180224Z_01_EIC964950_RTRIDST_0_ODD-NEIMAN-ODD-DC.html

[MadHound]

1. Just what we need more ostentatious spending by the haves and have mores

While, for the rest of us, times are tough and the economy is starting to tank. Not suprising, the perfect economic storm that we're facing will be considered by the rich to simply be a buying opportunity, much as the Great Depression was. Sick motherfuckers:grr:

[Skink]

2. In a related note terrorists are planning to use the M400 sky car

to drop dirty bombs on freeways throughout the country.

[BiggJawn]

3. Oh, WOW!

And while they show this over-the-top shit in their catalogue, and might EVEN sell one, people like me and my GF are wondering how to survive this winter's heating bills w/o freezing to death or maxing out the Visa...

What, they think we couldn't build a Guillotine if we needed one?

[LizMoonstar]

4. now if they sold it for $3500 instead, I'd be excited.

[SammyWinstonJack]

5. If one can afford this, does one need a tax cut? GREED PIGS!

[VolcanoJen]

6. Look at this stupid thing

It's so the haves and have-mores can fly over the apocalypse!

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Looks like it belongs is a big budget dystopia sci-fi flick

[berni_mccoy]

7. Pic of it

And yes, it really does fly.

[MercutioATC]

8. Haven't they been "selling" that car for the past 6 or 7 years?

...with the disclaimer that "it should be available soon".


And, since this is an aircraft, it comes under all of the same regulations...inspections, outrageous insurance costs, the need for a pilot license, etc...

[Webster Green]

9. Longer than that, I believe...

I swear I've seen this thing being hyped for the last 20 years, but I've never seen any footage of it flying, other than lifting a few feet off the ground and hovering.

[Dr.Phool]

10. They've been selling it for at least 20 years that I'm aware of.

Should be coming out soon.

Should be released right after Jim Bede's private mini-jet comes out. Been waiting for that one for 40 years!