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Maybe moving to Seattle

Old Oct 3, 2004 | 06:06 AM
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Default Maybe moving to Seattle

Anything i should know about driving my Z's there year round? I have just the two Z's for cars.
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 07:13 AM
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Default Re: Maybe moving to Seattle

Originally posted by kbirdsong
Anything i should know about driving my Z's there year round? I have just the two Z's for cars.
Drive the roadster from July - Sept
Drive the coupe from Oct - June
When it snows out call in sick for work or take the bus.
Usually expect 0 - 5 days a year that snow is an issue with driving.
Where are you relocating from?
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 07:16 AM
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Southern California, I may get a job offer in the next few days from our division up there. Wife drives the roadster everyday and i drive the coupe. We both work.
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 07:37 AM
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Hope you like days and days and days of overcast, cool, damp, foggy, rainy weather ............................................................ . j/k

The sun does come out at least 1 day a month between november and march.
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 07:46 AM
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Is it really that bad?
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 08:18 AM
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Truthfully there have been winters where you think the sun has disappeared for what seems to be an eternity but when it does come out on a crisp cold clear day it is wonderful. The fall and spring here are beautiful with the changing colors. We are into our Indian Summer right now which means crisp cool (foggy) mornings, warm to hot afternoons and a refreshing cool down in the evenings with the shorter days. And the summers are excellent from mid June to mid september. Your challenge will be adapting to our mild wet winters. I can honestly tell you that I love living here on Puget Sound, with the Pacific Ocean close by and some of the prettiest mountains less than an hour away not to mention some large fresh water lakes right at our door step and a landscape that will knock your socks off. It's worth a visit.
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 08:21 AM
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Thanks for the info, it really helps.
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 09:22 AM
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Good luck with the new job. I would compare downtown Seattle to SanFrancisco in many ways except IMO it is much cleaner and we have better public market, although I see SF is trying to do same thing down at the ferry terminals 1 & 2 (I think that is the terminal).
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 12:33 PM
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My Z has been my daily driver for almost two years now. The Toyo tires that I have on now seem to be a much better wet rubber choice than the stock rubber. I did have one day I had to cancel appointments because I couldn't get the Z out of the cul de sac due to 1" of snow, but that is very unusual.
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 01:00 PM
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Thanks to you both! I have Toyo's on the roadster and Yokohama's on the coupe. Both seem ok in rain although i haven't had much chance to test that here.
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 03:23 PM
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I've lived in Seattle for over 30 years, and I think you could drive both cars every day of the year. That said, the 0 - 5 days per year when it does snow, the Z would probably do just fine, given that we usually only about 1 - 3 inches. The thing you have to watch out for are the other drivers. NO ONE here know how to drive in the snow at all. They panic at the first sight of snow. People abandon their cars, slam on the brakes, you name it. Partly because of this, at most companies here it is considered acceptable to call in sick at even a threat of snow; perhaps you'd have to take a vacation day, etc.

Now regarding car theft, it's not really much of a problem in the suburbs, but in the city it can be a really pain and I would worry about your convertible. I once lived on Capital Hill while in college. It was usual to be up at 2 am working on homework and look out the window and see people breaking into my Nissan pick-up. Also, usually when there was a new car in the area it would be broken into with 48 hours, as if there were people regularly casing out the neighborhood. Therefore, if you are going to live inside the Seattle city limits I would say both of your Z's need to be securely garaged. If you're on the Eastside or Northside it's probably not as big as a problem but still a risk.
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 03:26 PM
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Well... let us know when you get up here and we'll have a welcoming party.
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 05:05 PM
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Thanks everyone. Our division is out in Renton so i would want to live somewhere near it. I'll let you all know if i get the job!
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 05:13 PM
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Microsoft, software company or Boeing? And just in case you ever think about driving the Z in the snow, please use chains otherwise you will be one of those OTHER dirvers pacificwindsurf was referring to. Too much torque and not enough weight in the back for a rear wheel car like the Z to be effective in the snow no matter how good a driver you are. Take the advice and log in a sick day. Look forward to hearing you got the job.
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 05:18 PM
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Actually office supplies. I think in the snow i would try a cab if i could get one of those? It's an executive position so calling in sick would be hard.
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 05:36 PM
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Heh... I live near Renton. In Kent. Fairly affordable housing, 30 mins or less commute time, even during rush hour.
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 05:39 PM
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Looked like a nice area when i was there last week to interview. Afternoons were pretty, although i didn't see much, i was only there from 10am tuesday until 2pm wednesday.
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 10:47 AM
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Kent? You don't want to live in Kent!

Check out New Castle. Very close to the 405, which will take you to Renton in no time....plus you're close to the city and east side. More things going on.

You're moving up here at the end of the nice season...so it might be a little dreary your first few months here..if you can get thru that, you'll be rewarded.
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 05:28 PM
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Thanks for the advise!
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 07:54 PM
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Originally posted by kbirdsong
Thanks for the advise!
Advice on where to live in Seattle vs where you work. Avoid having to communte on either I-5 or I-405 during rush hour traffic - 7:30 to 9:00 am or 3:30 - 6:00 pm. Try and find a house close enough to work where you can take the backroads to get to work or find a home where you are traveling against the main flow of traffic. The east side is nice but add anywhere from 20% to 40% for your cost of housing. North end and East Side of Seattle more money as a rule than South end.
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