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Best Place to Live

  • Thread starter Thread starter klaw
  • Start date Start date Dec 13, 2008
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klaw

Member
Oct 11, 2007
343
0
16
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Dec 13, 2008
#1
  • Dec 13, 2008
  • #1
Where in North America do you think is the ideal location for a car guy? Things to consider:

Year 'round driving (no more 7 month winters)
Low frequency/risk of natural disasters (hurricanes, tornados, floods, fires, hail storms, tsunamis, earthquakes)
Low crime rate
Nice scenery
Active car hobby scene
Good motorsports facilities (drag and track)
Low cost of living
Relaxed regulatory environment (emissions restrictions etc)

With a population of one million, Calgary scores high on most of these but the long winters suck. I stay here because of my company/industry but plan to retire in the next few years and will be looking to relocate to a climate more conducive to my hobbies. Anyone want to make a case for their favorite locale?
 
B

bluecar

Member
Feb 19, 2007
99
0
6
SF CA
Dec 13, 2008
#2
  • Dec 13, 2008
  • #2
I would imagine the towns outside of Los Angeles or perhaps Monterey county (also CA).
No snow and we complain about cold weather when its 55 degrees. Here at home at this moment it is sunny and 53 degrees, always warmer in SoCal. Okay, okay, yes the earthquakes, yes LA will drift up to where SF is in the far far distant future.
 

BlackRod

Member
Apr 8, 2005
55
0
7
Southern California
Dec 13, 2008
#3
  • Dec 13, 2008
  • #3
I'm half hour from LA and it's rained twice since summer. I only have to wash my car once every week or so and it doesn't get under 50 until sometime in Feb. I'm north so I don't really worry about traffic or anything since I live 3 miles from work. So Cal is the place to be, if you can afford it.
 

DarkFireGT

Playing with my wife's really makes me want one.
10 Year Member
May 23, 2004
692
10
89
East Moline, IL
Dec 13, 2008
#4
  • Dec 13, 2008
  • #4
So Cal or Vegas. Year round racing, large car scene, and close to the desert and salt flats for some real fun runs.

With all the wild fires and such, along with earthquakes, I would say Vegas, if I had to pick one of those.
 

klaw

Member
Oct 11, 2007
343
0
16
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Dec 13, 2008
#5
  • Dec 13, 2008
  • #5
BlackRod said:
I'm half hour from LA and it's rained twice since summer. I only have to wash my car once every week or so and it doesn't get under 50 until sometime in Feb. I'm north so I don't really worry about traffic or anything since I live 3 miles from work. So Cal is the place to be, if you can afford it.
Click to expand...


What are the emissions testing and restrictions like in SoCal? I thought they were pretty strict with power adders, custom tunes etc?
 
F

FarmerTom390

New Member
Feb 13, 2002
8
0
0
Johnstown PA
Dec 13, 2008
#6
  • Dec 13, 2008
  • #6
Bowling Green, Kentucky would be my bet. I was down there for a truck show in April, theres a good car scene down there , and the weather was really nice. Beautiful homes around the area.
 

cave diver

Member
Sep 9, 2007
81
0
7
Lake County, Florida
Dec 13, 2008
#7
  • Dec 13, 2008
  • #7
Florida for me.

Year round good driving weather with no snow or ice to ever worry about. Also, there are no state inspections and no emission tests either

Lots of race tracks, car clubs and weekly cruises. Then there are the beaches and lots of other attractions to take a drive to.
 

red05bullitgt

Member
Aug 15, 2005
861
0
16
Pittsburgh, PA.
Dec 13, 2008
#8
  • Dec 13, 2008
  • #8
IMHO, I would have to say that Phoenix, AZ would be the ideal place to live. Not only is the weather always warm, but you also don't have to worry about Hurricanes or Earthquakes either.
 

red05bullitgt

Member
Aug 15, 2005
861
0
16
Pittsburgh, PA.
Dec 13, 2008
#9
  • Dec 13, 2008
  • #9
cave diver said:
Florida for me.

Year round good driving weather with no snow or ice to ever worry about. Also, there are no state inspections and no emission tests either

Lots of race tracks, car clubs and weekly cruises. Then there are the beaches and lots of other attractions to take a drive to.
Click to expand...

You just have to worry about Hurricanes, that's all
 

autumn_again

New Member
Oct 2, 2007
356
0
0
Hamilton, NJ
Dec 13, 2008
#10
  • Dec 13, 2008
  • #10
i'm going out on a limb and saying jersey.

theres 3 tracks no more then an hour away from me. we've got emission testing, but theres always way to overlook that missing cat.

its snowed once this whole year and it didn't stick to the roads. hope i don't curse myself and walk out tomorrow and see 5 ft of snow. hah. never have seen a hurricane, tornado, etc here. there have been tornados, but nothing near where i live.and they aren't common, like in tornado alley.

crime rate, where i live is pretty low, go a mile or so down the road, it gets pretty grim.

active car hobby scene - i've got a guy down the street whos got a third gen nova, early third gen. and another whos owned the anniversary trans am forget the specific year but its the last style, hes got a mystichrome cobra right now think an 04, then around the block we've got a s2000 and a trd tundra, on the other street theres a first gen camaro. on the corner of that street is my brother, who owns a 94 stang with a built 306 supercharged, we're guessing its going to be around 500 or so horses. and he also owns a 1975 porsche 911. then a block over, theres a guy whos been into foxbodys as long as i've been alive, hes always had at least 1. and when the parking lot was open across the street he would have 3-4 at a time. down that street theres a guy with another 03 cobra, and before that he had a hooked up 95 gt. around the block from him my friends dad bought a built chevy II.

theres imports and all around here, but i don't pay attention to them too much, american muscles where its at for me. and then the occasional german car sneaks its way in. hah. low cost of living would be the negative though, jerseys one of the most expensive places to live. my best friend lived in texas when he was younger, and he wants to go back but he cannot afford a house by himself being 19, so we were talking of going down the 4 of his [his girl and his son, me and him] supposedly its pretty cheap out there compared to here, and texas has alot of car guys.



i could never live in canada, i went to niagara falls as a family vacation, and my dad and i were just shocked, at cars being from like 2000 and older, rusted out. i love older muscle cars, and with those kinda conditions, i highly doubt i'd be able to find one clean.
 

bryce93lx

Member
Jan 20, 2006
88
1
19
Luke AFB AZ
Dec 14, 2008
#11
  • Dec 14, 2008
  • #11
phoenix blows, i am leaving this hell hole asap
 

stangdude2000

Founding Member
Jun 23, 2001
1,727
0
0
Northern VA
Dec 14, 2008
#12
  • Dec 14, 2008
  • #12
I live in DC and work in San Diego. I will tell you its not DC. San Diego is pretty good, aside from the earthquakes, emission requirements and low cost of living requirements. The weather is phenomenal (it rains like 10 days per year and its rarely below 50 degrees), its a beautiful area, and winding mountain roads are a short drive away.

Other than that, I'd say North Carolina is a pretty good bet. My parents moved to the Raleigh area a little over a year ago. It is cheap as dirt, the weather is pretty good - although it does get somewhat cold for a few months, it RARELY snows. Raleigh is far enough inland to not have to worry about hurricanes, at least not at any dangerous strength. There is very little crime in the suburbs - not sure about in the "city" itself. Motorsports are definitely big in the area. Some malls have entire stores deticated to NASCAR. But, here's the best part: NO FRONT LICENSE PLATE!!!
 

Towelly

New Member
May 9, 2006
174
0
0
Dec 14, 2008
#13
  • Dec 14, 2008
  • #13
I think I would have to agree with DarkfireGT and say Vegas. Either that or Ft. Collins Colorado. They have less average snow fall then we do in Iowa. The average temp's in the winter are Higher. The average temps in summer are in the mid 80's . You can always go canyon carving. There is a drag strip near denver (can't remember the name) and Denver is only about 45 minutes away.
 

DarkFireGT

Playing with my wife's really makes me want one.
10 Year Member
May 23, 2004
692
10
89
East Moline, IL
Dec 14, 2008
#14
  • Dec 14, 2008
  • #14
Yeah Denver is good, too. Nothing like shoveling snow in shorts lol.
 

Towelly

New Member
May 9, 2006
174
0
0
Dec 14, 2008
#15
  • Dec 14, 2008
  • #15
DarkFireGT said:
Yeah Denver is good, too. Nothing like shoveling snow in shorts lol.
Click to expand...

To tell you the truth the Quad Cities area is pretty cool too. Its not "cutting edge" or anything. But I can't complain about anything but midwest weather... Take today for example. Supposed to be 40* almost all day then be like 2* tonight with the possiblity of a crap load of snow.
 

faspony

New Member
Sep 17, 2006
56
0
0
Dec 14, 2008
#16
  • Dec 14, 2008
  • #16
I'd have agree that Calif. or Florida are great places for a car or motorcycle guys and gals.

I lived in Northern Calif for 12 years and love every minute. I'd still be there but my company transfered me to Pa., which sucks for the most part.
Now that I'm retired I want to move to Florida but my wife says no.
 

DarkFireGT

Playing with my wife's really makes me want one.
10 Year Member
May 23, 2004
692
10
89
East Moline, IL
Dec 14, 2008
#17
  • Dec 14, 2008
  • #17
Towelly said:
To tell you the truth the Quad Cities area is pretty cool too. Its not "cutting edge" or anything. But I can't complain about anything but midwest weather... Take today for example. Supposed to be 40* almost all day then be like 2* tonight with the possiblity of a crap load of snow.
Click to expand...
Exactly. I can't STAND the weather here. Otherwise, it's not too bad. Not too big, but not too small. Things are cheap. And we're really starting to expand. But the weather.

But yeah, 54* right now, and tomorrow's high is going to be 18*. F that.
 

walter

Founding Member
Aug 13, 1998
1,054
0
46
Houston TX
Dec 14, 2008
#18
  • Dec 14, 2008
  • #18
SoCal for the scene but the laws are just ridiculous.

Welcome to Californistan!
 

whyask

New Member
Apr 4, 2005
735
1
0
Sacramento
Dec 14, 2008
#19
  • Dec 14, 2008
  • #19
I love NOR CAL.... 2 hours from everything, sand, snow, big city.... 2 tracks. HUGE car scene... and the cops are mostly retired military or prior service ...(Bonus for us military guys)
 

05wolfkiller

Member
Sep 4, 2006
114
0
16
pearland, texas
Dec 14, 2008
#20
  • Dec 14, 2008
  • #20
my vote, Austin, Texas. excellent weather year round. far enough from the coast that hurricanes are not an issue. cost of living is reasonable and emission laws are tolerable.
 
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