[1&done]

Originally Posted by CDM3DCT

The North Koreans are going to buy it....

On a serious note we should all do a group buy and timeshare this bitch.

Haha, brilliant!

I'm sure if Dennis Rodman asks Kim Jong-un to buy it he would

Reminds me of that old South Park episode w/ the Saddam

[dtwyim]

As other posters have said, the automakers should band together to buy it. Chump change for them.

[631twentyeighteye]

Originally Posted by 1&done

I disagree, privatizing might not be a bad thing. Things always go to shit when the government gets there hands on things here in the states, looks at the post office! They lose millions! I say sell it to a wealthy enthusiast who can make it better than ever and keep it a front runner

Now. What's Germany going to do w/ the $$$ when it sells? Piss it away on helping the socialist failing counties in the EU?? I think they have cut off Greece...Maybe they should pay back the taxes they took from the people...ok, off my soap box.

Stay positive people!

end of story.

[Rcruice]

Maybe the whole racing community could start a kickstarter to fund a partial position in the track that comes with voting rights and decision making. Similar to a 10% ownership in a publicly traded company?

[s2kroma]

Hope I win lottery tomorrow

[Dackelone]

For anyone local... there will be a demonstration for 'Ring supporters on Tuesday in Mainz...

[DrivenByE30]

Let it be Top Gear buying it ! LOL

Celebrity Fastest lap with the reasonably unsafe car ...

[shivaswrath]

BMW could easily swing that...

[Roundown]

Originally Posted by E46M54325Ci

there's got to be some exception for objects/monuments of German Culutural Heritage?

What about an Enthusiast collective? Surely we can gather 125,000 souls willing to plop down 1000 euros, no?

This and the 'Group Buy' comments...isn't that what's happening here? This side of an oligarch or middle eastern royalty, the only non-government entities that could be involved are private companies...most likely companies with shareholders!

[chrisk03]

Originally Posted by 1&done

I disagree, privatizing might not be a bad thing. Things always go to shit when the government gets there hands on things here in the states, looks at the post office! They lose millions! I say sell it to a wealthy enthusiast who can make it better than ever and keep it a front runner

Now. What's Germany going to do w/ the $$$ when it sells? Piss it away on helping the socialist failing counties in the EU?? I think they have cut off Greece...Maybe they should pay back the taxes they took from the people...ok, off my soap box.

Stay positive people!

Thank you! I keep reading this thread and wondering why in the heck people are pissing and moaning about a private company taking over...especially those from the US. Look how well the German gov't did and they are arguably the best financially in the EU.

Privatize the damn thing and keep the poly's away and I bet the place does quite well.

[e92ben]

Ahhhhh. Hope nothing happens I'm going June 22nd!

[Davin]

I've always wanted to drive on this track
and i'm down for the group buy LOL

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by ferrari6891

I wonder if it would be in the best interest of car makers (BMW, Porsche, Audi, Mercedes, etc.) who use the Ring to put in a combined offer...seeing how much history and testing they do there. Obviously that contract agreement would have to be ironclad.

Originally Posted by index1489

All the German automakers should form an entity and purchase it.

Originally Posted by Megabeast

Yes! BMW-MB-AUDI should buy and co-own it!

I do agree that BMW - Benz - VW (not in that order) should stick there heads together and put up the cash and be the new owners. They all use it and know they want it

Originally Posted by Rickster311

It's not about how much it costs to buy it. It's about how much it costs to maintain it. Post pointed out it costed over 400 million euros over last few years.

Exactly .... this ^^^ the cost to maintain this ring is very expensive, still the German and other European automakers that use the ring on a regular basis should get together they can afford the purchase price and the maintenance costs as well ... in the long run they all will be able to write it off as development costs and save a bunch of taxes. Having said that I think in the end they will add a hidden line to the "new car delivery costs" something like NBRTREX translation ----> "Nürburgring-Trial-Run-Expenses" I bet you in the end new car purchasers will pay there share one tree at the time for the ring

Originally Posted by e92ben

Ahhhhh. Hope nothing happens I'm going June 22nd!

No worries ... you be fine for June ... too much red tape in Germany for anything to happen before that nice map of the ring below something to look forward to before it is sold ... hope it will turn out okay or it will be a very sad day for people like us.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by avlnch

For some reason I always figured the 'ring to be a decent and profitable business. The article basically phrases it to be a money pit surrounded by tons of controversy.

This is really huge news for the automotive industry. I wonder who the 10 or so interested parties are.

Can anyone shed more light on the story? Is the 'ring an unprofitable business? Sounds like a whole lot of controversy.

The 'ring sale price is almost 165 million USD. How many active members are here? 8,000? Hey, if all BimmerPost members here throw down $21,000 we can make history as the coolest online group buy.

I think it would be key for a German automaker to buy this out and maintain it for what it is. If they would even do that. Who knows what will happen.. have to hope for the best and that this iconic track will stay afloat and alive in the right hands.

Count me in. I will pay 21,000 for my 1/8000th share. Seriously.


EDIT - i call dibs on the toll booth where they collect all the money. that will be my 1/8000th.

[rmani]

Originally Posted by b33g33

So, I guess it's ok to spend billions of German taxpayer money to keep the EU afloat, but a few million to keep an iconic automotive site is too much?

Why is Germany in the EU again?

germany achieved what they wanted to do in ww2 but through monetary policy. Germany controls Europe. Probably for the best since the rest of europe doesn't want to work.

[RyanC]

I'm glad I'll be able to drive it in May on my european delivery trip. Hopefully I won't be priced out of being able to do the same in the future.

The Ring itself is a profitable business. It's the albatross of an 'amusement park' hung around its neck that's dragging it below the water.

[Year's_End]

I'll bet literally everything in my back-right pocket that the Ring never goes away regardless of its future. It's been in limbo for god knows how long anyway.

[Pentium]

I didn't visit it yet

[M3_WC]

Trump can buy it...then build a big casino next to it. LOL

[Meeni]

Originally Posted by chrisk03

Thank you! I keep reading this thread and wondering why in the heck people are pissing and moaning about a private company taking over...especially those from the US. Look how well the German gov't did and they are arguably the best financially in the EU.

Privatize the damn thing and keep the poly's away and I bet the place does quite well.

Its almost a religion at this point. Privatizeeee privatizeeee privatizzeeee. There are a couple of examples that disprove this theory, get yourself educated (I'm not going to do it here, I don't have time for "there's somebody wrong on the internet").

Anyway. When the Paul Ricard racetrack has been sold, it has been completely closed to the public, no track days nothing. Lets hope the same thing doesn't happen to the ring.

[Fugly M3]

Originally Posted by M3_WC

Trump can buy it...then build a big casino next to it. LOL

That will add the understated class and charm it was always lacking.

[Shaggykjb_135I]

Jay Leno should pick it up on the cheap and move his garage their to add to the museum. That would be perfect...