It's CrossCabriolet Picture Day

Sunday, July 10
1 pm

This morning when I left church there was a group of people including a minister gathered around the Caribbean beauty I had parked in the lot.  I  answered some questions for them about features, cost, colors, four wheel drive and more.  One young woman called it 'a pimped out mommy car'.    She said it makes her want to go out have kids and get married. I hope she's kidding. The gathered parishioners are shocked by the roominess of the interior and particularly the backseat. If would have to agree.  Even with my 6'2" friend in the front seat there was room in the backseat for his 20-year-old daughter. 

3pm
On the way to the store, a young lady with her mom is taking pictures on my Cross Cabriolet while riding in her own car.  I wave through the open roof at them and they wave back.   After getting my wares from the store, I pull out of the parking lot.  A young man drives into the lot and stops to talk to me.  He asks if he can take a picture of my car to show his "old lady".  I happily oblige. 



6pm
While sitting outside the ice cream shop enjoying a chocolate cone,  I have the Cross Cabriolet parked in a nearby parking space with the top down.  More than an hour passes, and during that time several couples and families stop on their way into the surrounding shops and look around and inside the car.  I can hear comments like "look at that car", "I've never seen one like that before",  "what a pretty car",  "that's a Nissan?",  I few times I call out  to the passers by and offer to answer any question they may have.  A few of them take pictures as well.  I should be charging a fee! 

8pm

I go for a ride around town with a friend.  It's a great night for it.  There's a chill in the air by now and with my favorite music playing through the Bose speaker system, I'm having a ball.  I tell me friend "this car is a great ego-boaster.  for anyone who doesn't feel loved, noticed, or appreciated, this is the car for them. It definitely gets attention."

Murano Nights, Murano Lights

murano on the go

July 8th
6 pm
My neighbor is celebrating his birthday today.  I went for a visit and also to show his wife the new Murano.   Several of his party guests came outside.  They asked me to drop the top and I was happy to oblige.  I showed them some of my favorite features:  the GPS systems.  The bluetooth cell phone connection,  the leather seats and wood grain interior.  the backup camera.  Everyone oohs and aahs, takes a walk around door and then... they ask me for the sticker price.  Too bad, I don't know what it is.  Of course,  I'm at the home of a Nissan plant employee and he doesn't know either.  Another neighbors comes out of the house and I hear a lot of comments like 'sweet ride,  nice car,  awesome car, and  hot set of wheels.'  One young woman tells me that she has been pricing Muranos at local dealers, but now that she has seen the convertible, she will wait to get one of them.  Of course the birthday boy's wife is hooked on it and can't wait to have one.  She even loves the color.  Wow, I think I just made my first sale. 

11pm

Leaving the movie theatre, the security guard is driving around the parking lot.  He stops behind my car just as we are getting inside.  He asks whether or not it's custom-made.  I tell him it's not a custom build but it is a new make.  I explain that he too can have one.  He said "no I can't because I can't afford it".  I said, "yea.  I now the feeling, and we both have a good chuckle.

midnight

There is a cool breeze blowing now, and riding around with the top down is a delight.  We decide to stop at a drive-thru for a quick cup of coffee.  The line is pretty long.  Behind me there is a Lexus and behind that a BMW.  Both drivers have there windows down and they are discussing my Murano.  "That's a sexy ride, but I can't get a good look at it from here,"  one of them says.  I start to laugh and he now knows that I can hear their conversation.  He yells to me  "that a nice car you have there".  I yell thank you and give him a thumbs up.  These guys are driving luxury cars themselves, but are enamored by the Murano. 

The Murano buzz never ends!

Murano to the Rescue!

July 8

5:00 pm
Oh No.  One of my friends has a dead battery in his truck.  Luckily, I've got the Murano and I'm ready to help a friend in need.  Now, I have to figure out how to open the hood and turn on the hazard lights.  Fortunately, everything in the car is easy to find and easy to use.  My friend hooks up the jumper cables and I give the Murano some gas.   We get the truck started but alas when he pulls away, it dies again before he gets to the end of the block.  I go back out, and we boost the battery once again.  That should do it right?  No quite.  But, the third time was the charm.  In the middle of the battery debacle, a neighbor stops by.  He works at the Nissan plant in Smryna.  He tells me this is the first time he has seen the new Murano convertible on the road.  He says he doesn't want his wife to see it because he just bought her a Rogue and if she sees the new Murano, she will definitely want it!  He's quite impressed and excited about the new model.  He doesn't even notice that we're in the middle of a distress situation. 

Oh well.  The stranded motorist is on his way now.  Maybe he'll considering replacing his truck with a Murano.  LOL. 

A Very Murano Saturday

Saturday, July 9
8:00 am
I'm up and out of the house by 8 am.  I teach a Zumba class at 9am every Saturday.  I drop the top on the caribbean blue baby and head out. It's 77 degrees outside and a perfect time to go topless.  I turn out of my neighborhood and stop at a stop sign.  An older woman is nearby in her front yard watering flowers.  She yells "That's a nice car!  What kind is it?"  I tell her all about it.  "My daughter would love that, I'll have to tell her.", she says.  Already, I'm wishing I had a Nissan salesperson's business card or something.  This car is selling itself! 

8:45 am

I arrive at my destination and raise the top on the Murano.  By this time, a crowd of ladies is starting to gather.  They are walking around the car and lean in to tell me how great it is.  "That a hot car", one of them says.  Another mentions "this is a perfect car for a busy lady, you guys are going to sell lots of these." 

11:00 am

Heading to brunch with a couple of family friends.  While we are dining, I notice a couple of girls are around the car taking pictures.  I think that's hilarious.  You would think its a lamberghini.  This vehicle gets a lot of attention.  It's really attractive and quite unique; and people are taking notice.

1:45 pm

This afternoon, we are cruising around the countryside.  It's a hot day, but with the shade of the canopy trees, its a suitable afternoon for top-down riding.   Along our way, we notice a field of corn and a field of soybeans.  Funny what you notice when you're just enjoying the day, and not rushing through it.  This Murano actually motivates me to stop and smell the roses, so to speak.  Cows, donkeys, horses and even llama are all a part of this afternoon joyride.  The ponds, creeks, and lake are lovely from this vantage point, as well.  Let's go Murano!

Picked Up the Murano

Friday July 8 
4:30 pm
I picked up my new convertible Murano today.   The color is carribean which is a light oceany, skyish blue.  The convertible top is tan and the car has buttery soft leather interior.  I begin orienting my to the vehicle.  The Backup security camera is a great convenience.  Roomy front and back seats are comfy.  The seat and steering wheel warmers will come in handy in the winter, but not today.  GPS engaged.  Radio stations are set.  I'm ready to roll.  I stop by a friend's office a block away from Nissan headquarters.  While waiting in the parking lot, I lower the top.  That draws a crowd.  A few people stop to ask me what kind of car it is.  I'm happy to tell them all about it.

6:00 pm. 
Going to pick up a friend.  By now I've figured out how to bluetooth connect my cell phone to the car.  When the phone rings, the radio stops playing and I can converse with the caller through the car's audio system.  Fantastic.  It start to rain a bit and this is where I find out I have to be at a complete stop before opening or closing the top.  No problem.  It takes 30 seconds to close while I'm stopped at a red light. 

Coming down briley parkway a car full of teenages girls are poking each other and guesturing at the Murano.  It has stopped raining again, so I re-open the top.  Their mouths drop open.  I didn't realize the car would get this reaction. But

I arrive at my friend's home.  While I'm waiting for her to come outside, her neighbor are walking around the car.  She's thrilled with the car and ready for an evening of joy riding.  We had to 1-65 and a tween aged boy and his mom have obviously been looking at and discussing the Murano.  The boy rolls down his window and gets my attention.  "Is that a car or a truck?" , he asks.  "It's a crossover.  I bit of both."  I say.  "I told you", his mom says.  They tell me how much they like it and we roll on. 

7:00 pm
Stopped at a redlight on Old Hickory Blvd on the way to dinner. A couple of young men roll up along side us and they're rap music is blaring.  They turn their music down and roll down their windows.  "Nice ride, young lady", one of them says.  "I've never seen one of those".  "It's a brand new design", I explain and give them some details about the car.  At this point I'm thinking the marketing department should have given me some fact sheets about the car and it would be helpful to know the MSRP as well.  These car are going to be flying off the assembly line, after shut down is over.