[Solonng]

I might be getting a job in Chicago. Can you tell me your experiene of having a 335i in the city, also with taxes and things to do and where to live for a 27 yr old guy.. It would be nice hearing from the locals..

[ChrisTKHarris]

Wrong forum?

[Luongo]

Chicago has one of the worst road conditions you'll find in the country.
In the winter time, roads are filled with potholes and cracks. It is almost a 3rd world country level.

Also if you have sport package with summer tires, you'll need a dedicated set of snow tires.

[CubanJJ09]

Pm ultimate wt110 vudoo or go into the official chat thread in the great lakes sub forum. You'll get plenty of answers

[seanl]

I can't comment on Chicago but I've lived in downtown SF for the past 6mo.. My 335 sits in the garage unless I'm leaving the City or going to buy groceries (where there's a parking garage).

In fact I'm about to buy another car for City driving and parking b/c I can't subject my 11 mo. old mint condition car to city car 'life'. You park on the street you can kiss you pristine bumpers goodbye. The potholes will eventually swallow a wheel and destroy a runflat.

hardcore city driving FTL...

[Majikthese42]

I commuted to Chicago from New Jersey for three years.

I bought an extra car for Chicago, but I never brought it out there.

My daughter is in graduate school in Chicago right now.

Her car is in front of our house in New Jersey.

If I felt I really needed a car in Chicago, a 10-year old Ford Crown Victoria PI might be more appropriate.

[ragingclue]

You'd be amazed at what happens with some of the roads in the city. Potholes everywhere, and not just your run-of-the-mill "ouch that hurt" potholes. Some of these will swallow an entire corner of your car. Saw one sinkhole one time that would have swallowed the car completely, and wasn't even coned off or anything.

Sport suspension and runflats will get your car damaged but that's just part of it I guess.

[Daya]

I grew up in the suburbs and have lived in the city itself for the last 8 years. You will definitely want a dedicated parking spot, covered spot or garage would be ideal.

My 335 is lowered on KW V1 with the aero lip, you definitely have to be careful where you drive as there can some steep entrances to parking lots, garages, gas stations, etc, you just have to drive slowly and at an angle to avoid scraping. You will want a set of dedicated snow tires for sure, major highways and roads will get plowed first, but side streets and alley ways get shafted. Roads are horrible, potholes aplenty during the winter months

We have some of the highest sales tax (10%) and gas in the country, so get ready to pay up. Avoid shopping on michigan ave because there is an extra 1% tourist tax, even if you are a Chicago resident.

Are you looking to rent or buy a place? Since you are 27 and I assume looking to have fun check out the following neighborhoods to live - Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Bucktown, Roscoe Village, Southport Corridor, Lincoln Square, South Loop or West Loop. Wrigleyville is a great place to party and hang out but you don't want to live there, especially with a car. I can't really comment on the suburbs.

Good luck and feel free to PM me with any specific questions

[wt1110]

It all depends on where you live. If I were 27 and moving to Chicago, I would love to live in the Lincoln Park area. And the road conditions aren't that horrible... I drove my 335 coupe all throughout the winter and never really had any problems. Just keep an eye out for your occasional potholes.

[UdubBadger]

Everyone lives around Lincoln Park until you hit 30. Thats when you either get a family and move out to the burbs or stay a bachelor and move into the loop in some swanky ass pad.

Lincoln Park, Lakeview, and Wrigleville (watch out for queers) are the most popular areas but living in a nearby area is usually just as good and cheaper... check out the map of the near northside of Chicago.





As for potholes, just take it easy cuz even ones that don't look bad usually are pretty deceiving, you'll also encounter a few 10'x10' craters by the beginning of March. Gas and sales tax blows in the city... if you can fill up in the burbs somewhere its usually about $.10 cheaper

Also, if you have RWD I'd suggest some winter tires. It can get pretty bad out there on some days.


Things to do:
Bears games, Sox games, Cubs games, Blackhawks games, Bulls games (or go drink at a bar and watch any of these for a very similar experiance).

Thats about it.....


hahaha j/k. Lots of parks to visit, the tons of museums, 2 great zoos (these are mostly touristy stuff though)... basically anything you can think of in a really fucking huge city is here... best place to live on earth!

[ultimate]

amen!

be sure to find a house/apartment with garage or rent one though if you decide to live in the city (it will be expensive and hard to find though) because i doubt youd want to parallel park* and leave your car outside all year long.

* it only takes a matter of hours for an idiot to mess up your bumpers.

[BigDog]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

Everyone lives around Lincoln Park until you hit 30.

i don't live in lincoln park and i ain't no 30 yr old

check on the garage parking... i've garaged park since day 1 living downtown... don't regret paying that extra montly fee (highway robbery)

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by BigDog

i don't live in lincoln park and i ain't no 30 yr old

check on the garage parking... i've garaged park since day 1 living downtown... don't regret paying that extra montly fee (highway robbery)

everyone from where I'm from does...

[BigDog]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

everyone from where I'm from does...

i guess what my mommy said is true...

I is special!

[IL X5 M60i]

Lincoln Park FTW! I'm still hurting from Garden Fest, I've never seen so much quality trim in my life as I did on Saturday!