Did I spell it right?

I posted this in the SouthEast forum and got one response. Hmm...guess the Forced Induction board is just a tad more active than that. So thought I'd give this shot over here. I'm going to miss all the bonds I've made with the SoCal community...its been great. I'll probably be fully moved by mid July. And help with these questions would be great....I already got a couple of them answered. 93octane gas a no smog checks!!! WOOHOOO!!!!


Originallyi posted in the SouthEast Forum

Hi everyone, well, it's been fun here in LA, but my company is relocating me to Charlotte, NC for about 2 years. I am excited...I hear that Charlotte is a really fun town, and my sister actually just moved out there about 5 months ago as well...and has nothing but good things to say about it.

I am in need of the "Idiots Guide to 350Z'ing in Charlotte, NC"

Here are some of my questions.

1) What octane gas do you have? How much is per gallon?

2) How often do you need a smog check...do they have very restrictive rules and regs when it comes to smogging? Random tests? Annual tests? Anything else regarding smog checks would be helpful

3) If I have CA plates paid for 1 year...do I still need to immediately get NC plates?

PS: I am really praying that the answers to questions 2 and 3 have more no's then yes's...or else I am screwed....check out my sig for mods...I am dead meat.

4) Are there any really mod friendly Nissan dealers in or around Charlotte?

5) What are the good tuning/speed shops in the area.

6) Where should I live? What parts are nice...I want a 4 bedroom house with a 3 car garage...maybe 2200sq feet......newer construction...and I don't living within 20mins of downtown.

7) What are the nearest major cities to Charlotte....also give me driving time to each...thanks!

I can't wait...I am looking forward to hopefully meeting some of you soon. I will be moving down approximately July1st.


__________________

 

Welcome to NC!

I'd PM McDuck seeing as he is from Charlotte he should be able to help ya out.

 

I'm from the Raleigh-Durham area (two hours east of Charlotte). I relocated here with my wife and kids about 7 years ago and it's a great place. A bit too humid for me, but it's got 93 octane and it's close to sea level

The Charlotte area for its size seems to have a LOT of tuning/mod/racing interest. You might try posting at www.nctuners.com although the crowd is a bit younger than this one. There are a couple of drag strips within an hour or two and you're reasonably close to some very nice tracks.

Much less restrictive emissions than you're used to. Talk to a tuning shop (www.cprace.com is a start) and find out where they go

As far as nearby large cities, Atlanta is reasonably close.

--Steve

 

Oh yeah... You might find a hard time finding a 2200 square foot house with a 3 car garage--but who knows. I wish my 3300 sq foot house had a 3 car garage.

--Steve

 

Congrats... sorry i cant help you out with answers... but maybe we can meet up one day! If there is a meet in the VA/DC area we can get together.

 

Went to School at UNC-Charlotte, now live about 45 miles nw of Charlotte in Conover, NC. A little info for you. Glad to see you come over from the "Dark Side".


1. 93 Pretty Much Everywhere and some stations have 100. Right now about 2.01 per gal for 93.

2. No smog check just a OBD scan for CEL's.

3. Yes, to be legal you need new plates. They are cheap here $20.00 per year, $40.00 for personalized I think. You will have county taxes on the car, in my county about $120 per year right now. Goes down as car ages. Insurance will be considerably cheaper here too. For me it is about $500.00 per 6 months for my Z and my wifes Izusu Amigo.

4. Refer that question to McDuck

5. Refer that question to McDuck

6. Northern part of Mecklenburg County is nice around Lake Norman, Huntersville, Davidson, Corneilus.

7. According how you Drive
Atlanta GA - 3.5-4 hours
Columbia, SC - 1.5 hours
Raleigh, NC - 2-2.5 hours
Jacksonville, Fl - 8 Hours
Tampa, Fl - 11 Hours
Miami, Fl - 13-14 hours

One of my best friends moved from here to L.A., he always complains about the cost of living in CA. If your salary remains the same you should be able to live like a King here. 2200 SF Home probably run you 200,000-300,000 around Charlotte according to area and size of lot.

Good Luck..

 

 

Thanks for all the help folks...keep the tips coming.

I am looking forward to the land of 93octane, no smog checks, affordable housing, and beautiful girls??? right??

 

now i know everyone's doing the Tail of the Dragon thing this weekend, next week there's Kinston.

but if you're getting here in July, it occurs to me that we should have a mid-to-late summer gathering of the tribes. not a car show, maybe something track oriented. i know it's easier said than done, but i just thought i'd float that out there. TZC, Emerald guys, any thoughts?

 

Say it ain't so GQ.

I know you will probably enjoy the 93 octane, $2.01 per gallon, less congestion, and maybe housing price that is more realistic unlike what we have here in SoCal.

I want to wish you luck in your future endeavours. Good health, be prosperous and always have fun in the Z.

We should meet up before you take off.

 

Not unless your taking Mercedes Terrell with you.......damn

 

damn
one less 350z greddy turbo in socal...
but you are a lucky bastard... you can afford a house now... a nice big one for the price of a shack here in los angeles.
I'm gonna come visit when there's some recycled goods ie your household trash I'm gonna buy from charlotte.

hey sharif... let eric tune up the car so that our fellow north carolina 350z owners can see streetimage's work.

-J

 

Now thats a real car enthusiast...first 3 questions are regarding his car. Good luck Sharif. Enjoy that $2.01 per gallon 93 octane.

 

I would love 93 octane. Yesterday I paid $2.44 a gallon for 91 octane and my car reg is like $300.00 a year and the Smog in Norcal? Fughetaboutit......

Congratulations and enjoy!

I guess some one wants me to move too! Today in the mail I got a half inch thick color glossy brochure addressed to me titled "The Official 2004 Vacation Guide to Tennesse."

God I wish....

It would be awesome to visit Crawford and Crew et all or even *get* a vacation for longer than two days in fact!

Good for you, we will still be here on the forum and you will be close to all the great NC and Tennessee people like Doug and Bill aka Ravas (wherever he went.)

 

Kickass! I'm going to be in Winston-Salem all summer (1.5 hours to the north). And like it or not, I'm coming to see your car!

 

I live in portsmouth, Va, not that far from NC. Maybe we I could stop by sometime to see your Z and you can give me some pointers on the tt kit. I know that NC cops can be dicks, but probly better then CA cops. Can get race gas at some gas station around VA. Dont know about NC. Theres a gas station at Virginia Beach that sells race gas for $3.70 but it is worth it if you are going to be racing. Hope to hear back from you and let me know when you come.

 

First of all...Bobobwah...are you called my townhouse in Pasadena a "shack"...heheh

Yes, I am particularly excited about my newfound purchasing power when it comes to buying a new place in NC. For HALF the price of my townhouse in Pasadena, I can get a really nice 4 bedroom 3000sqft 2 car garage, on a half acre. In LA, that would pretty much buy you a very delapitaded crack house in South Central LA....no joke.


Funny story....when they offer me the relo, the first thing that went through my mind was questions 1-3 above. That shows you were my headset is at!!

Bobowah, I will be bring my car in for a final "tune-up" before it gets loaded onto a transport to Charlotte. When you "tune it", make sure to "tune" the brakes by slapping on some 14inch Stop-Techs.

Jeff/Jason (Performance Nissan)....if you guys are listening....as a going away present, can you warranty out my entire drivetrain, engine, and rotating assembly.......either that...or can you open up a Charlottle remote site for Performance Nissan??? It's going to be "interesting" to say the least when I try to get some warranty work done in NC.....I dont think there are any mod friendly dealers in that state. If worse comes to worst, I'll transport that car back to LA for warranty work.

Johanna and USAfarice....you are both totally welcome to cruise down and check out the car...anytime. I'll hopefully be fully settled and situated by end of July. And yes...the cops here are probably even dickier than in NC. Good thing I just ordered a Passport 8500 X50. I've never used radar detectors my entire life....and I've only gotten 1 ticket in an automobile...but about 7 tickets on my Ducati. :P

I am sooooooo happy to get some of that NC sweet 93 octane stuff....I can probably raise my boost 1psi without toching anything else...yippie. And FYI....I just filled up today for $2.55/gallon....someone stop the madness!

 

The Nissan dealership in Winston-Salem (just off of University) is quite mod friendly--but that's a ways away from Charlotte. I went there to have the Nismo LSD installed on my Infiniti G35.

--Steve

 

Good Luck. We'll miss you at the SoCal Meets.

 

I'll be back!