Bernie's Car Show Coverage: 2012 Gold Rush Rally Meetup: Atlanta

This past Wednesday was the Atlanta stop for the Gold Rush Rally. Because I was a virgin to automotive rallies, I didn't know what to expect, so I went in positive AND with an open mind. And you know what? I'm glad I did.



I got there a little too early. Despite media registration being open from 10-5, I got there at 2, knowing I should have gotten there by 5. The Gold Rush Rally participants have partied way too hard in Vegas (well, who could blame 'em) and they got to Atlanta uber late. Which meant, when I got there, there were only 6 cars. But those 6 cars carried a bit of weight to them.



To park within the area and to partake in the actual rally aspect, you had to get decaled. Gold Rush Rally was smart, and they brought with them Vinyl Styles, a automotive graphic company out of San Francisco to decal every single car at every tour stop. Let me repeat that. Every single car at every single stop. I asked them, how many decals do you put on each vehicle. Their answer... 25. And they decaled every vehicle- from the stock Chevy Surburban that confused me to the matte black Bugatti, and all those in between.



There were 19 cars that showed up- not counting the Subaru that belonged to one of the media and the factory Chevy Surburban and GMC Yukon. There were Lambos, Ferraris, A Rolls Royce Phantom, An SLS or two, an Audi R8 that had a questionable front license plate (the Georgia Flag), a Mercedes S550 that had the AMG accessories, a Mercedes Benz CL63 that was actually the AMG level, and the car that stole the show- the Bugatti Veyron that stole the show. But everyone knows that a racing event can't be considered a racing event without the two vehicles that are considered God of the import world- the Nissan GTR and BMW M Series, and they were both there as well.



We're all friends here, so we both know that when it comes to shows, I'm a critical person. I like cars to be at shows. However, even though there were 19 vehicles there that totalled to over 5 million dollars (if they were brand new), the Gold Rush Rally stop was the most productive show I've been to since SEMA. I met some great people- The Vinyl Styles guys, The Vossen Wheel guys came (the same Vossen Wheels that I feature on my site often), Jason from ATL Autorsports, Sunny from Speed Mischief, and I did meet more but I'm horrible with names. Basically the people who showed up are those who truely had a love for cars, not guys who customize cars to get girls.



I really hope that Gold Rush Rally comes back to Atlanta. Rallies don't come here, those are mostly a West Coast thing. That's why I made sure I attended. If they do come back, I hope they listen to the Gold Rush Rally volunteer who suggested for the Rally to be in Buckhead as opposed to Midtown. Midtown Atlanta is okay, but it was a business area- everything closes early in a business area.

P.S. I wish Gold Rush Rally would have given me a gift bag. Certain media members got one and I didn't. For more photos, well not much more (I mean, there were only 19 cars), click here to check out my Gold Rush Rally gallery

Interesting List: 10 Most Expensive Vehicles to Own

24/7 Wall St released a list about the 10 most expensive vehicles to own in America. They compiled this particular list based off of depreciation, fuel costs, and repairs. And I paraphrased off of their comments, because they looked at every aspect of owning a vehicle, something that most lists do not take into consideration.

10. Nissan GT-R
Style: Premium 2dr Coupe AWD (3.8L 6cyl Turbo 6AM)
True cost of ownership: $117,892
Purchase price: $91,830
Combined (city and highway) MPG: 19

"The GT-R ranks among the top 10 most expensive thanks largely to two additional costs on top of its depreciation. First is the car’s maintenance costs, which average $10,043 over five years — the highest amount among all models. The GT-R also has the second-highest insurance costs, at $22,334 for the five years." Now I'm thinking back to all of those GT-Rs I saw at SEMA.

9. Land Rover Range Rover
Style: HSE 4dr SUV 4WD (5.0L 8cyl 6A)
True cost of ownership: $118,158
Purchase price: $88,862
Combined (city and highway) MPG: 14

"Compared to other models, Range Rover’s biggest expense is repairs, which cost an average $4,214 altogether for five years. This amount is the third-highest. Also expensive for Range Rover owners are fuels costs. Over five years, owners will pay nearly $22,000 to fuel the car, which gets a mere 12 MPG in the city." Most of Los Angeles and Atlanta are in trouble...

8. BMW 750i
Style: 4dr Sedan (4.4L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A)
True cost of ownership: $122,076
Purchase price: $101,545
Combined (city and highway) MPG: 20

"The true cost of the car is much more than the $101,000 price tag. After five years, outside costs, including taxes and fees, insurance and financing interest, ownership of the vehicle averages more than $122,000. Sales also have been low, with only 118 registrations in the U.S. in 2011." The 750 as well as the 745 is the car people buy in Atlanta as soon as they get a little money.

7. Mercedes-Benz G550
Style: 4dr SUV 4WD (5.5L 8cyl 7A)
True cost of ownership: $126,714
Purchase price: $108,900
Combined (city and highway) MPG: 13

"The car has the third-most expensive fuel costs among all models examined, at approximately $23,500 for five years. The car gets a combined MPG of just 13, and just 11 MPG in the city. The G550 also has among the highest finance interest rates. Five years of ownership result in an average $12,000 in interest. Customers apparently do not mind paying these high costs, as the G-Class has been in production since 1979."

6. Lexus LS 600h L
Style: 4dr Sedan AWD (5.0L 8cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
True cost of ownership: $129,542
Purchase price: $119,019
Combined (city and highway) MPG: 20

"According to Edmunds, the full-size luxury sedan is the most expensive model that Lexus produces in large numbers. The car’s base price of $119,019 is the fifth-highest among all companies."

5. Mercedes-Benz SL500
Style: 2dr Convertible (5.5L 8cyl 7A)
True cost of ownership: $129,588
Purchase price: $106,718
Combined (city and highway) MPG: 17

"Although it is the seventh-most expensive when ranked by purchasing price alone, it ranks the fifth-most expensive model for overall cost of ownership because of its particularly costly financing interest and insurance. Total registrations of the car have dropped dramatically from more than 5,600 in 2007 to less than 1,500 in 2011." I never saw the big deal behind this body style. I think it's the ugliest one out of the house of Mercedes Benz.

4. Mercedes-Benz CL550
Style: 4MATIC 2dr Coupe AWD (4.7L 8cyl Turbo 7A)
True cost of ownership: $142,558
Purchase price: $121,671
Combined (city and highway) MPG: 18

"The CL550 has the fourth-highest purchase price and finance interest. It also has the third-highest cost of maintenance. Sales of the car have steadily decreased over the years. There were more than 3,200 total registrations in 2007. In 2011, there were 980." Of course, this is the best body style out of the house of Mercedes Benz.

3. ALPINA BMW B7
Style: SWB 4dr Sedan (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 6A)
True cost of ownership: $153,150
Purchase price: $133,445
Combined (city and highway) MPG: 17

"The car’s purchase price alone exceeds $133,000. It also has among the most costly interest on financing and insurance."

2. Audi R8
Style: 5.2 quattro 2dr Coupe AWD (5.2L 10cyl 6M)
True cost of ownership: $193,429
Purchase price: $170,175
Combined (city and highway) MPG: 15

"The two-door sports car also has the second-most expensive maintenance costs, reaching $7,370 over five years. It also has particularly high fuel costs, thanks to its 13 MPG fuel efficiency in the city. The R8 does relatively poorly by JD Powers’ standards, scoring a three out of five for both overall quality and design. Despite this, there were 1,173 registrations for the car in 2011 — the most of any year." I'm a little biased about this vehicle, since someone close to me bought one.

1. Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
Style: 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl 7AM)
True cost of ownership: $245,469
Purchase price: $210,875
Combined (city and highway) MPG: 16

"After depreciation, finance interest, insurance, fuel costs and maintenance over five years, the car’s true cost of ownership during those years is nearly a quarter million dollars. This cost has not prevented the SLS AMG from being popular; total registrations of the automobile increased from 470 in 2010 to 707 in 2011." I'm sure that owning this vehicle isn't hurting Kanye West.

So the one thing we learned is that Mercedes Benz are the biggest car hustlers of all. If you don't believe me, look at this list again...

Nissan Invitation

Nissan has released new images showing the model Invitation.

Nissan Invitation to a concept coupe, which debuted in March of this year. The vehicle is to predict how future generations will look new Nissan compact.

Invitation Nissan production version is expected to be the first customers next year.

Concept One Wheels Presents Concave CS-10.0 Matte Gunmetal Wheels

Concept One Wheels released product photos of their Concave CS-10.0 Matte Gunmetal Wheels that's now in stock. Available in sizes 20x9 & 20x10.5, these wheels will compliment most Bmws, Lexus, Infinitis, Nissans, Mercedes-Benzes, Ford Mustangs, Chevy Camaros and much more.

For more information, check out their official website at Concept One Wheels USA.com

Nissan 370Z

During the Chicago Auto Show, Nissan introduced the 370Z after a slight facelift. The changes are almost entirely cosmetic and will be noticeable almost exclusively for fans of this sports car race.

The easiest way to recognize the new version of the Nissan 370Z in the vertical LED daytime running lights, which appeared near the edge of the bumper. By the way, slightly changed the front grill, which is now entirely in black. There are also new 19-inch for option Sport Package, a standard rim with a diameter of 18 inches also were changed. There are also two new exterior paint (Magma Red and Midnight Blue).

For a 355-horse version of the Nismo also provided a Bose stereo, 19-inch wheels and new, stronger and more efficient brake lines brake fluid. Sport Package Includes also find a new rim in size 19-inch, red brake calipers and shocks from Euro Performance.

In the U.S. market Nissan 370Z will still be available in three versions: Coupe, Roadster and NISMO Z. The first two 3.7 V6 engine develops 337 hp, while for the factory tuning increases power to 355 hp. In the U.S., refreshed Nissan 370Z goes on sale in June, and so far no information on its debut on the European market.

Nissan Invitation

The new hatchback from Nissan will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, and today we see the first visualization of the model.

Nissan has put on dynamic lines. Solid car is consistent and has an aerodynamic shape. Such a model does not look different Invitation is not only a marketing gimmick. The car has a very good coefficient of drag, which translates into a cruising.
Aggressive features are continued from the front side of the car through a clearly defined wedge-shaped crease. Rear roof spoiler crowned. Exhaust tips have been very carefully integrated into the bumper.

Inside, Nissan uses the highest quality materials. Inside, outside, like strong strong lines dominate the shape of drafting the dashboard.

At this stage, Invitation, as opposed to the Yucca looks very good. Question how many simplifications bring accountants ... One can only hope that the car will keep its style.

Nissan has not revealed information on the drive unit, but the segment B is to be the most economical car. For the first time in such a small car, installed the Around View Monitor system, thanks to it, undo and reverse parallel parking is no problem.

Nissan Juke-R

For several months, Nissan is constantly warming the atmosphere around their strong crossover. Photographs and video of the test appeared on the internet with the frequency increase in fuel prices at the stations. But no one knew what performance represents Juke R.

Today, everything is clear. The Japanese thoroughly tested 485-horsepower crossover 3.8-liter V6 derived from the Nissan GT-R. Simply put, you can even say that the Juke is the GT-R R `em in disguise.


But to the point ... Performance is very good. 3.7 seconds to 60 mph and 160 mph top speed. Enough to cause shame many a supercar.

Theoretically, the speed could be higher, but the engineers say it's a matter of aerodynamics. Shape Juke not allow it anymore.

Moreover, the Juke R is very heavy - weighs up to 1800 kg for!. All because of the reinforcements and frames, which are designed to stiffen the body. Soon should appear further information and possible release date crazy car from Japan.

Over the last half year, Nissan, along with RML and Nissan European Technology Centre built the hardcore Juke-R. In order not to be groundless Juke-R showed its potential in Dubai.

The showpiece race through the streets of Dubai Juke-R has given virtually no chance of the three superautom. Japanese super crossover defeated Italia Ferrari 458 horsepower (570 hp and maximum torque of 540 Nm), Lamborghini Gallardo (520 hp and 510 Nm) and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG (571 hp and 650 Nm). You can see that supersportowe classic cars do not keep up with the Juke-Rem. Interestingly, when Nissan is sometimes praised at the Nurburgring?

Nissan Juke-R is a car developed by RML, which prepares the Nissan sports. Auto received the engine from the GT-R with a capacity of 3.8 liter and 4WD also transplanted with Nissan's sports car. Twin-turbo V6 engine generates 480 hp. Formed only two versions of the Juke-R, one of the wheel on the right and one left-hand drive.