Are We A Real City Yet?

by Chris

  Lamborghini in Downtown Raleigh

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.

Comments

[CT]

Well I now know which area to stalk if I want to steal a car!

[Leo]

if thats the definition of a real city then we are up there. i've seen multiple ferrari's, lotus's, and maserati's on glenwood. Even spotted an aston martin vanquish in front of helios.

[MikeB]

I know the guys at Epic Games (makers of video game like Unreal Tournament and the newly released Gears of War) have a couple Ferraris and Lambos, maybe even a Lotus now that I think about it. Considering the number of million dollar homes in the area its only logical that the cars will be here too.

[ITBJD]

Brand new Ferrari F430 Spider seen numerous times coming and going on Harvey St in Hayes Barton... also parked in front of Evoo and Sullivan's

[Evan]

LOL, this means nothing - my parent's neighbors in Washington, NC (yes, "Little Washington") have a Ferrari

[Q]

I hate to break it to you. Cars are not the measure of, "are we a real city yet".

How do I know this????? (good question)

I grew up in High Point, NC. High Point has had a Rolls Royce dealership for over 20 years.

Anyone willing to say that is the measure of a REAL CITY now???????

Anyone?

That is what I thought....

Cool cars tho!!!

[AndyO]

Yes, the maserati's run the Glenwood strip daily. There were a pair of lotus elise's that I enjoyed watching on Glenwood and Oakwood for a while end of last year, but I haven't seen them since. It's fun to be in a town big enough to have these cars, but small enough to recognize them and guess who the owners are.

[AW]

0-60 in 4 seconds...and what road around here can you find to test that. More like 0-to the back of a car in 4 seconds. I do have to say it is quite a nice car and I would love to give it a spin.

[JW]

Raleigh is great enough on it own. We don't need over-priced vehicles cruising the streets to make us a legitimate city. In fact, I hope through all our progress, we can maintain our approachable, lovable, southern feel. That's why people have been coming to our area in droves for years. Not because of the cars parked on its newly-renovated streets.

[Ron T]

I agree that the picture is of a cool car. And if that were the measure of a "real city", then we could say we are on our way. I would be curious how we all would define a "real city".

The first thought that came to mind is that Raleigh is already a real city, just not a major U.S. or world city. We have a core (growing and not as lame as it used to be), and some local home-grown culture (as in ideas, restaurants, theaters).

But if real city is more of a frame of mind, I would think we would be there when we stop asking the question. Circular?

For some metrics - maybe when the ratio of independent local restaurants/stores surpasses national chains? We are not close.

Or maybe when you mention the city and someone from another state says something more than "I heard that is a nice place to live." When we have an identity.

Thanks for the post.

[shaluka]

I have seen quite few Elises and Lambos and even a Maybach once on 440. Raleigh is certainly on the upward movement. Love it.

[Erock]

The only Rolls dealer in NC is now in Raleigh. It shares a showroom with Leith BMW. There is no longer an official Rolls dealer in High Point. Not even a dealer in Charlotte.

[RH]

If a "real city" is one in which new money flexes it's artificially tanned muscles for the sake of self promotion, we're well on our way...

[Betsy]

Real city dwellers walk.

[Dana]

I saw a 1989 Volvo the other day at Wellspring.

[Lew]

I'm with Ron and Betsy on this one. When we can walk to places that give the area an identity on at least a national level (forget INTERnational for now) -- we will then be considered a city. Presumably this will be done by the "Considerate it a City" Police.

[fast but not that fast]

@AndyO

"0-60 in 4 seconds...and what road around here can you find to test that."

Any entrance ramp to 540 at any time of day other than morning/evening rush hour. It doesn't take that much space.

[Tony]

There's been a Lamborghini parked on freaking Hillsborough Street many times in the past month. It is always in front of the former (and future) Raleigh Joe's. I believe it is the same car. With all the students walking by and taking pics with their camera phones, it's probably the most photographed landmark in the state.

[Matt K]

Gallardos are a little more common than most people think. That's not to say you can spot one just anywhere, but it doesn't surprise me at all to see one in Raleigh. I wouldn't be surprised to hear there are a few others in the area. And let's not forget about the highly visible Ferrari dealership along I-40 down the road in Greensboro.

Do I think cars make the "city"? Not really... I see enough Benzes, Lexuses ("Lexii", perhaps?) and Bimmers around town during the day that give Raleigh a cosmopolitan feel about it. I think when we have a downtown (or at least an area) that has an all-hours appeal about it - where you can go out for an impromptu overnight stroll, grab a coffee, a bite to eat, and do some people watching... now that's "big city" to me.

[Lea]

I'll feel like this is a "real city" if next spring most of the cafe seating on Fayetteville Street is occupied from, oh, 4:30 PM until midinght or one most nights.

That feels like a city--Paris, San Francisco, London. I guess I'm picturing much the same thing as Matt K. The best thing, though, will be when we can quit asking and just know. Personally, I'm getting close to there.

[Ryan]

I have seen the lamborghini a few times downtown in the city market area. I also saw the Rolls Royce come in and park in the parking lot while I was at the Jersey Mike's on Peace

[Bruce DeBoer]

Until we get a light rail - and keep in busy because we NEED one - we are pretenders. Sorry. I love Raleigh but I've lived in New York, Boston, and Chicago - we're pretending. But - truthfully - that's just fine with me.

[LMW]

When Raleigh actually becomes a "real city," people will no longer write in telling others where they saw an exotic sports car.

[Lea]

YES on the rail system! Good point.

[Beth]

I bet a lot of those sweet cars belong to Hurricanes.