The Rumor Mill

[gs3]

I just heard that Poinsett Homes had filed bankruptcy. Anyone else heard this?

I knew some changes had been taking place at Poinsett, but haven't heard they declared bankruptcy. It would be strange if they did.....weren't they voted homebuilder of the year for 2007?

[Brandon]

I knew some changes had been taking place at Poinsett, but haven't heard they declared bankruptcy. It would be strange if they did.....weren't they voted homebuilder of the year for 2007?

yeah thats why I found it odd...it may very well be that what I heard was misunderstood.

[Danmire]

I see work has stopped at what was the old Long John Silvers site on Augusta Rd. All signs are down. Slab is ready to be poured but rebar is rusting. I believe that was going to be a Bank branch. Got to be bad when a bank can't even finance it's own construction.

[gs3]

I hear that a group is working with SMART on a plan for dealers in Greenville and Charleston. Makes sense and follows the trend of Mini, Vespa, etc that are available in both cities. The rumor I hear is that SMART could be available here in early 2009.

http://www.smartusa.com/

Edited March 7, 2008 by gsupstate

[btoy]

i saw a SMART downtown last weekend. Actually saw a Bently and a Rolls as well, and the weekend before it was two Bentley's.

[goodbye]

i saw a SMART downtown last weekend. Actually saw a Bently and a Rolls as well, and the weekend before it was two Bentley's.

I saw a SMART about a year ago parked in front of the Lofts of Greenville. Saw a Bentley as well just a few days ago. Edited March 8, 2008 by Skyliner

[Sonrise]

I'm a product specialist for Lexus and travel around the country for the auto show circuit. I was in Cleveland last week and two of my co-workers and myself walked past a Smart car and I immediately called it a carffin. It's a hybrid, but not in the way we think of. You drive it off the lot, get in an accident and then they'll bury you right in it, no muss,no fuss. Carffin= 1/2 car 1/2 coffin.

[Galley]

I'm a product specialist for Lexus and travel around the country for the auto show circuit. I was in Cleveland last week and two of my co-workers and myself walked past a Smart car and I immediately called it a carffin. It's a hybrid, but not in the way we think of. You drive it off the lot, get in an accident and then they'll bury you right in it, no muss,no fuss. Carffin= 1/2 car 1/2 coffin.

Apparently you've never seen the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s.

[Sonrise]

^^^^ Don't have to, I've seen it in person. It's smaller than you could imagine. Good thing is you don't spend mney on gas you just push start it with one hand ala matchbox.

[erm1981]

I would be scared driving a car that small. The only way I will go to that level is when gas goes to 6 dollars per gallon and everyone else is driving them. I dont think you stand much of a chance surviving getting hit by a big suv/truck when your driving a mini-cooper/z3/geometro.

[Galley]

It appears that the former Donut Connection @ Woodruff Rd. and I-85 is being dismantled. I've heard Hooters will be moving from their current location on Laurens Rd. to the former Cracker Barrel store. Let's hope they create some kind of alternate access road.

[Greenville]

It appears that the former Donut Connection @ Woodruff Rd. and I-85 is being dismantled. I've heard Hooters will be moving from their current location on Laurens Rd. to the former Cracker Barrel store. Let's hope they create some kind of alternate access road.

That is in the old Hardee's building, right?

[RestedTraveler]

That is in the old Hardee's building, right?

I thought it was Burger King, actually, wasn't it? But yes - that building.

[Galley]

Yes, it was a Burger King.

Here's another rumor for you, and I doubt it's gonna happen. iPlace Technology Solutions, an authorized Apple reseller will be moving into RiverPlace. They're a great bunch of folks, but their current location stinks.

[Greenville]

Yes, it was a Burger King.

Here's another rumor for you, and I doubt it's gonna happen. iPlace Technology Solutions, an authorized Apple reseller will be moving into RiverPlace. They're a great bunch of folks, but their current location stinks.

I heard the same.

[Vegas]

Does anyone know anything about the construction (or lack of construction) on the corner of Grove and Augusta. At one time there was a sign indication a future site for Regions Bank. It looks like construction has completely stopped and the signs have been remove.

[gs3]

VW (and possibly Audi) decision on location expected to be announced by June. I'm highly doubtful this area will be chosen. With the large BMW announcement this past week, what major car brand would want to come into the area and be "second fiddle" (to use an old Southern term)?

Anything is possible though.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...1023/LATESTNEWS

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...1023/LATESTNEWS

[Greenville]

VW (and possibly Audi) decision on location expected to be announced by June. I'm highly doubtful this area will be chosen. With the large BMW announcement this past week, what major car brand would want to come into the area and be "second fiddle" (to use an old Southern term)?

Anything is possible though.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...1023/LATESTNEWS

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...1023/LATESTNEWS

So you think the Rocky Mount, NC rumor will prove to be true?

[gs3]

So you think the Rocky Mount, NC rumor will prove to be true?

I have a strong hunch that VW will use multiple locations...one for engine, one for assembly, etc. This area may see the engine plant, but the final assembly plant, I just don't see coming here.

What BMW just did, was basically open a second factory. The size of the BMW facility, along with the jobs being created and the new demand on area suppliers to ramp up.......that would all be alot for VW to compete with, in the same immediate area. There would be a job war for trained workers, a push on suppliers, etc. Maybe I'm wrong, but just don't see it.

But hey, we will soon have almost 5 Million square feet of BMW!!!!

[B&R]

I get the impression that VW regards themselves as the bigfoot and wouldn't hesitate to put their plant in BMW's backyard but it does seem more likely they will pick the NC site. It is closer to their new Virginia HQ. I don't know that the supplier situation would be a problem. It might make more sense to have a cluster of suppliers close by.

If they built an engine plant here that would be fine.

The original rumor was about Audi anyway, wasn't it? They would be looking for a smaller facility which would have less of a strain on the labor pool.

[gs3]

They certainly are working toward being the "bigfoot". Isn't their plan to be the largest automaker (topping Toyota) by 2012 or 2015?

Per the articles, VW is looking at building both brands in the US (Audi and VW).

[btoy]

VW (and possibly Audi) decision on location expected to be announced by June. I'm highly doubtful this area will be chosen. With the large BMW announcement this past week, what major car brand would want to come into the area and be "second fiddle" (to use an old Southern term)?

Anything is possible though.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...1023/LATESTNEWS

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...1023/LATESTNEWS

I have bennhearing that they are going to choose a site in Aiken, but alo recently heard they chose a site in Gaffney.

[gregtrob]

More info/rumours abound http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/26/u-s-vol...-parts-locally/

But it does say "VW's head of production, Jochem Heizmann, has said that the requirements for a factory are that: it not be in a hurricane zone, it be near a major airport, and that there be "no other production car in the vicinity" -- or at least, Google Translate said that for him." So I'm not sure what that means in term of BMW, obviosly the author of the article is not aware of the BMW plant being in SC.

[B&R]

Interesting comments. The Rocky Mount, NC area isn't on the coast but it is still within 50 or 60 miles of the coast. I would call that in the hurricane zone. They have had some severe flooding from hurricanes in recent years over that way. Also the Raleigh-Durham airport is about 50 or 60 miles away. Not so close.

One of the comments on autoblog was from somebody suggesting Chattanooga, TN as a location. It is on the Georgia border so they could put the plant in Georgia afterall. Georgia, NC and SC have been mentioned as the finalists.

[Brandon]

To return to my earlier question about Poinsett Homes...I heard again this week that they were preparing to close up shop, and had let everyone but a few office staff go. Anyone else heard anything on them? A real shame if its true...