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Are We A Real City Yet?

By chris on November 14, 2006

Snapped a cameraphone pic of this little number Friday afternoon on Hargett St. in Downtown Raleigh.  It’s a new Lamborghini Gallardo which, according to some friends who work in the area, has been spotted quite regularly down there.  It’s 512 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque will rocket you from 0-60 mph in just over 4 seconds and will leave your wallet a cool $175,000 – $195,000 lighter.

Not to be outdone, a couple of days later in the exact same block, someone else (presumably) parked a new Rolls Royce Phantom, a massive car which is nearly double the price of the Lambo ($329,000).  Granted, we do have a RR dealer in Raleigh now, but it is still a bit rattling to see such a pricey car parked downtown.

So, if exotic cars can possibly be used as a gauge to measure a city’s "Real City-ness," I’d say we’re making some good progress!

But seriously, I mostly just wanted to post a picture of a really cool car.

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  • Joseph

    That car belongs to Mr. Poindexter. He is a bondsman (i.e., armed) so I wouldn’t suggest trying to steal it.

  • Joseph

    That car belongs to Mr. Poindexter. He is a bondsman (i.e., armed) so I wouldn’t suggest trying to steal it.

  • Leo

    ha, actually i’m going to retract my statement. forget cars, once we can have raleigh style pizza, THEN we are a real city, hahaha

  • Leo

    ha, actually i’m going to retract my statement. forget cars, once we can have raleigh style pizza, THEN we are a real city, hahaha

  • http://profile.typekey.com/chrisjam/ Chris

    (Sitting back watching the ruckus around my silly little fun… if only I would just learn how to be Switzerland… oh shucks…)
    Anyway, just found this little video… perhaps we should be happy that we’re a big enough city not to warrant this kind of police car? I’d much rather be taking pics of these things than trying to outrun them!

  • http://profile.typekey.com/chrisjam/ Chris

    (Sitting back watching the ruckus around my silly little fun… if only I would just learn how to be Switzerland… oh shucks…)

    Anyway, just found this little video… perhaps we should be happy that we’re a big enough city not to warrant this kind of police car? I’d much rather be taking pics of these things than trying to outrun them!

  • http://cheapholiday.blogspot.com/ LadyAdmin

    During the late 80′s, someone in Raleigh went around in a Delorean. THAT was always a fun sighting.

  • http://cheapholiday.blogspot.com LadyAdmin

    During the late 80′s, someone in Raleigh went around in a Delorean. THAT was always a fun sighting.

  • RaleighRobb

    Just wanted to point out that Raleigh’s populaion is a lot larger than lets say London during the time of Charles Dickens. Not that this means anything but London was a real city then wasn’t it. Also I know that the person who was talking about Boston and New York wasn’t being snotty but honestly those cities are so boring and predictable. I feel like the Clash a bit but I am so bored with New York.

  • RaleighRobb

    Just wanted to point out that Raleigh’s populaion is a lot larger than lets say London during the time of Charles Dickens. Not that this means anything but London was a real city then wasn’t it. Also I know that the person who was talking about Boston and New York wasn’t being snotty but honestly those cities are so boring and predictable. I feel like the Clash a bit but I am so bored with New York.

  • Betsy

    Actually, the population of London in Dickens’ time (around 1840) was about 2 million, or 7 times Raleigh’s population today (276,000).
    But your point is well taken — a city’s population isn’t necessarily any indicator of its cultural sophistication or urban experience. Look at Montpelier VT (pop. around 8000) versus Jacksonville, Florida (shudder).

  • Betsy

    Actually, the population of London in Dickens’ time (around 1840) was about 2 million, or 7 times Raleigh’s population today (276,000).
    But your point is well taken — a city’s population isn’t necessarily any indicator of its cultural sophistication or urban experience. Look at Montpelier VT (pop. around 8000) versus Jacksonville, Florida (shudder).

  • becky

    LMAO @ Dana. The real issue is why can’t US cars have more names like Vanquish? All we have are animals like Rams and Broncos. Where are the Gazelles? And the Mongooses?! Yeah I drive a 40 cylinder Nyquil.

  • becky

    LMAO @ Dana. The real issue is why can’t US cars have more names like Vanquish? All we have are animals like Rams and Broncos. Where are the Gazelles? And the Mongooses?! Yeah I drive a 40 cylinder Nyquil.

  • Matt K

    276,000 was Raleigh’s population about 6 or 7 years ago, at the time of the 2000 census… while that is “official”, it is certainly not the population today. The current estimated population supposedly surpassed the 350,000 mark in the last month, and it could be very close to 400,000 by the time the 2010 census rolls around, at the current migratory rate. Even that number is misleading though, given the Wake population, which lies between 600K-700K people. I’m wondering how long the current growth rate will hold as areas fill in – and as a result, developers will continue to create density with more condos and taller buildings downtown – that will definitely lend to more of a “city” feel to Raleigh.

  • Matt K

    276,000 was Raleigh’s population about 6 or 7 years ago, at the time of the 2000 census… while that is “official”, it is certainly not the population today. The current estimated population supposedly surpassed the 350,000 mark in the last month, and it could be very close to 400,000 by the time the 2010 census rolls around, at the current migratory rate. Even that number is misleading though, given the Wake population, which lies between 600K-700K people. I’m wondering how long the current growth rate will hold as areas fill in – and as a result, developers will continue to create density with more condos and taller buildings downtown – that will definitely lend to more of a “city” feel to Raleigh.

  • WWG

    This car parks in the lot where my children attend daycare so I see it almost every day and for over a month now the sideview mirror has been broken off- most likely stolen. Maybe it has to be special ordered but I would think the owner would want this “sweet” ride in 100% working order ASAP!

  • WWG

    This car parks in the lot where my children attend daycare so I see it almost every day and for over a month now the sideview mirror has been broken off- most likely stolen. Maybe it has to be special ordered but I would think the owner would want this “sweet” ride in 100% working order ASAP!

  • Matt

    Hi guys, any of you all know where any car clubs gather?
    PS- I’m one of those a-hole expensive car drivers, and the guys with cars like mine are the least of your concern. Who you should really be worried about is the robot-cyborg-pleasantville people in Treyburn, Preston, McGregor, The Barony, Linville, and the list goes on.

  • Matt

    Hi guys, any of you all know where any car clubs gather?
    PS- I’m one of those a-hole expensive car drivers, and the guys with cars like mine are the least of your concern. Who you should really be worried about is the robot-cyborg-pleasantville people in Treyburn, Preston, McGregor, The Barony, Linville, and the list goes on.

  • ChiefJoJo

    BTW, I was walking back from CapFit–uh, I mean Peak–when I spotted a Ford GT parked on Glenwood Ave next to the Hibernian Pub. This is a fairly rare car, with only 4,000 models ever built (production has now ended). In case you were wondering, it costs around $150k (probably worth more), has 550 hp, and runs 0-60 in 3.3 sec up to a top speed of 205 mph!!!

  • ChiefJoJo

    BTW, I was walking back from CapFit–uh, I mean Peak–when I spotted a Ford GT parked on Glenwood Ave next to the Hibernian Pub. This is a fairly rare car, with only 4,000 models ever built (production has now ended). In case you were wondering, it costs around $150k (probably worth more), has 550 hp, and runs 0-60 in 3.3 sec up to a top speed of 205 mph!!!

  • David

    Raleigh entered the top 50 city in the US list last year. I have seen figures of 465k and even over 900k for the metropolitan area. I think one would think of Raleigh of a city just as someone would probably think of Cary as a town, and that seems to go beyond mere population. Raleitgh is a state capital with state government, high tech companies, universities, hospitals, two professional teams and, most importantly, industry and commerce not centered around any specific aspect of people’s lives. Otherwise it would be considered a “college town” or the place that exists simply because XYZ company is based there.
    A downtown nightlife seems to be the missing piece of the puzzle to me, and it might be coming.

  • David

    Raleigh entered the top 50 city in the US list last year. I have seen figures of 465k and even over 900k for the metropolitan area. I think one would think of Raleigh of a city just as someone would probably think of Cary as a town, and that seems to go beyond mere population. Raleitgh is a state capital with state government, high tech companies, universities, hospitals, two professional teams and, most importantly, industry and commerce not centered around any specific aspect of people’s lives. Otherwise it would be considered a “college town” or the place that exists simply because XYZ company is based there.
    A downtown nightlife seems to be the missing piece of the puzzle to me, and it might be coming.

  • David

    As far as expensive cars go, a fool and his money are soon parted. Rarely are they a good investment and are usually a terrible one in my opinion.

  • David

    As far as expensive cars go, a fool and his money are soon parted. Rarely are they a good investment and are usually a terrible one in my opinion.

  • Matt

    David, you are incorrect about expensive cars being a bad investment. I’ve had many expensive cars and I’ve gotten my money’s worth out of each and every one of them. Then when I went to sell them, they had depriciated less than any normalcar out there. It’s only a bad investment if you are broke and can’t afford one, and then you should be focusing more on your life than your car anyways.

  • Matt

    David, you are incorrect about expensive cars being a bad investment. I’ve had many expensive cars and I’ve gotten my money’s worth out of each and every one of them. Then when I went to sell them, they had depriciated less than any normalcar out there. It’s only a bad investment if you are broke and can’t afford one, and then you should be focusing more on your life than your car anyways.

  • http://profile.typekey.com/lacho/ leo

    i have a video of that lambo lol..
    i tried to upload it to youtube but, my phone is the samsung that flips.. the Upstage..and the video format is not supported by youtube…sad….
    and byw, i know the guy who owns the yellow ferrari and the RR..His name is German …he owns some night clubs here…like the “Red Room” in DownTown..
    lol i know him cus we played paintball together…
    also i saw the lambo Diablo at downtown too…
    man raleigh is full of nice cars!!

  • http://profile.typekey.com/lacho/ leo

    i have a video of that lambo lol..
    i tried to upload it to youtube but, my phone is the samsung that flips.. the Upstage..and the video format is not supported by youtube…sad….
    and byw, i know the guy who owns the yellow ferrari and the RR..His name is German …he owns some night clubs here…like the “Red Room” in DownTown..
    lol i know him cus we played paintball together…
    also i saw the lambo Diablo at downtown too…
    man raleigh is full of nice cars!!

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