Hey,
I am thinking of moving to Colorado possibly in the summer of 2004.. so I was wondering a couple of things:

1) How much is premium gas out there?
2) What octane level is premium gas?
3) Do you have deisel fuel (I assume you do.. but thought I would ask...)
4) What is the highway speed limit in the state?
5) Do the cops have a good reputation/average, or bad?
6) Just general things I might like to know, etc...

 

ANd weather? How is the weather normally in the winter? 30s? 20s? Less? More?

How about the summer?

And, I have heard it is absolutely beautiful there! That's a big part of the reason I want to move there....

 

In response to your questions:

1. Premium: $1.45-$1.65 depending on brand name or not.
I'm sure you realize that this fluctuates.
2. 91 octane.
3. Diesel: Yes and television too.
4. 75MPH on interstates and 65 on rural backroads.
5. Too subjective for me. Personally, no problems here.
6. A list of shortcomings is easier: No ocean.

It appears to me that you're concerned with performance in the higher altitude here. Higher octane is not necessary here and I've been told that premium is not necessary in most cases. I burn premium. You can find some outlets for 100 octane here in the Denver metro area, but you'll pay for it.

Weather: 300+days of sunshine. Can snow in the morning and bright sunshine later the same morning. Low humidity will be a new experience for you, 35 degrees here is MUCH "warmer" here than east coast. Yeah, we can have very cold snaps but no worse than east coast. You can dress warm and be comfortable but there's no escaping the heat.

I think I'm speaking for everybody that attended the get together yesterday, another Colorado my350z.commer would simply add to an already great group of people.

Hope this helps.

Joe

 

But I can claim first-hand knowledge of your questions as I lived in Falls Church, VA (a suburb of D.C.) for two years. Life in the west is quite different. It's true that there's a lot going on in the D.C. area, but there's little question that the quality of life in Colorado is higher IMHO. Less people (although that is changing), less traffic (beltway traffic is WAY worse than T-Rex, believe it or not) and a nice blend of city or outdoors activities.

Gas is cheaper and I should take the time to point out that the reason higher octane is not required is our higher altitude. Less air = lower compression and less need for octane. Hence, cars that require 87 octane can get away with running 85 octane (regular unleaded) here. Of course, I still fill up with premium (91 octane) for my Z and I do know of local sources of 95-98 octane unleaded as well.

Weather is nicer out here- no more of that high humidity stuff! That may be reason itself to move!

 

uhhh....

Make that 95-98 octane. Like the man said.

I'd have referred you to him if you asked me.

Joe

 

No referral is needed, Shogun. What I was trying to say that there are sources of race gas (mighty pricey ones, I might add) that are available in the Denver area.

I should add that I think Colorado people, both the natives and the transplants, are generally friendly and a good-hearted lot!

 

Great, all of that sounds awesome guys! Thanks for your help. I am thinking of taking a trip out to Denver and Colorado Springs this summer. The trip will be in late July or early August.
Those are two places that are really top priority on my list. Would you guys happen to know how long the drive is from Colorado Springs to Denver is? I have heard about an hour, but I am not sure... The reason for that is my girlfriend will be stationed in Colorado Springs after she graduates. I have been thinking of Colorado and Denver for a few years now, so when she said that, I was really happy!

And, I'm also glad to hear that the people are nice. That would be a wonderfully welcome change from the DC area! lol As I am sure you must know, dkmura.

 

I now live in California, but spent 10 years in Colorado. I would love to have a Z out there. Great scenery, some incredible twisty roads, most roads in good condition. Some nice straight stretches where you can see for miles to do some high speed runs. It is hard to describe how good the weather is - lots of sunshine - occasional snow, but it goes away quickly.

 

Cool, cool... I am glad to be learning all these little tid- bits. Anything and everything is appreciated!


Another question:

How is crime there? DC is ranked pretty badly, and so you live in a perpetually hostile environment. I definitely want to get away from that!

 

...difference between D.C. and Denver. Both are big cities and yes, crime is a factor anywhere in the U.S. But I'd say that Colorado in general has a lower rate of crime than any large eastern city. Remember that parts of Colorado are considered rural, but it sounds like you'll be living in an urban setting. So that is another big plus for living in Colorado!

 

Downtown Colorado Springs is basically 70 miles from Downtown Denver. I-25 is 75mph for probably 50 of those miles. I make the trip once or twice a month and see somebody pulled over by state troopers mostly on the northbound run between Castle Rock and the Tech. center without fail.

Douglas county is south of the metro area and could be a good choice for residence depending on where you work. You could probably make it to the Springs in the same amount of time as getting to the north end of town depending on traffic.

T-Rex is our 5 year expansion of I-25 and it seems to me that traffic flow is actually faster than before. There are very few shoulders to pull off onto other than emergency pull offs and the police are few and far between. I was anticipating a 5 year nightmare and happily it hasn't developed.

Joe

 

Great! It's awesome to be learning all of this stuff. I'll have to look into Douglass county. And I'll definitely have to file away the location of that speed trap!

So, the T-rex thing is kind of like the beltway? Or does it run straight through the city?

-Charles

 

I-25 is the major thoroughfare that runs north and south through Denver and Colorado Springs. There is currently a project underway to complete a beltway of sorts around Denver, but it's not complete yet. That project (called E-470 or I-470) is also one of the few toll roads that you will find around the state!

Let me tell you about the time I ran out of money at the tollway into Baltimore someday. Another plus to living in the west!

 

lol Ran out of money in Baltimore! No one would help you out at all! That's one thing I don't like about the DC area. For example: SOmeone sees you put on your turn signal to try and get in their lane. Their reaction: Speed up or slow down to block you! WTF! Anyways... Just a quick rant.

And thanks for the info on the roads.

 

Unhappily, driving habits like you mentioned are not unique to your area.

Joe

 

Oh well! It's just a part of life, I guess!

 

Colorado is a great place to live compared to my hometown LA.

But the snow storm on Sunday was pretty hairy. I had to drive 15 mph from Evans and Monaco to my pad downtown. I couldn't believe how easy my car was fish tailing with stock tires. Goes with the territory, but I am sure glad I walk to work. I am definitely not taking this car snowboarding.

 

Sounds like you were! Ha ha, just messin'.

 

I moved here from London (UK) and I can tell you the only thing that Colorado doesn't have is an ocean, I have been here 3 yrs now and I love it. Live in downtown denver and think the crime rate is pretty low compared to a big city of course for the last 3 years I have been moaning about the cars out here, as my friends still in the UK get their hands on STi's and EVO VIII's and of course the Skyline! But now the tables have turned and they all have to put up with me raving about the Z while they can't have it! (oh sweet justice!)

The only other bad thing about CO at the moment is the damn TREX project and the way a speed bump will suddenly appear in the highway over night! Not plesent at high speeds!

 

Whoa, that sucks! What do they have speed bumps there for in the first place!?

And also, welcome to the board!

My uncle actually lives in London now. I might be going there in May to visit.... we'll see!

And as far as the cars: we are starting to get everything the rest of the world gets (finally)!!