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spdrun
ParticipantA 1996-2003 BMW isn’t “modern” by that standard — I think that the battery registration thing came later. And BTW, is NOT required unless you’re replacing a battery with a different type (wet lead acid to AGM for example).
Sure, a dealer will screw you for $400-500. Solution: don’t go to a dealer and replace the batt. yourself. Easy enough if you have basic electrical knowledge.
ParticipantI’m actually surprised that NYC is #1. Unless you’re talking about “NYC with essentially unlimited money and a 5000 sq ft townhouse.”
NYC is a great place to live, but living there also involves certain compromises that are very different from normal suburban life in the US.
ParticipantA slim .45.
Does it come with a matching turntable?
ParticipantAssuming a real transmission, the I-6 engines in those cars are pretty bulletproof. I looked at an e39 with almost 200k miles on the clock a while back, and it actually drove great.
ParticipantThe 1990s-designed Bimmers have a certain charm that modern, overly-gimmicky, rolling HAL-9000s on wheels don’t have. Can you even find a 5-series with a real (i.e. 3-pedal) transmission any more in the US?
If you’r going to get rid of it, at least sell it to someone who’ll fix it up, not to the crusher to be made into scrap metal to send to China.
ParticipantAnd you get something for the income and sales taxes … some (not great, but some) level of public transit. Decently maintained roads. Few tolls in Southern California compared to other states, and they actually kept their word on eliminating tolls on the Coronado Bridge.
Free, well-kept beaches (yep, gotta pay in other states). Strictly enforced environmental regulations (that’s a good thing — ever been to LA in the 80s?) A decent public university system by national standards. Well-maintained public spaces, parks, museums, etc. A social safety net that’s somewhat better than other states if you lose your job or happen on bad luck.
I strongly doubt that Prop 13 will be overturned statewide. It would require a popular vote or state Supreme Court action to repeal. Plus there are already mechanisms in effect for localities to bypass it if their voters so decide (Mello-Roos and parcel taxes), so it needn’t be overturned.
Participant^^^
So buy a 2 or 3 bedroom condo. It’s not the end of the world to live in an apartment, American snobbery notwithstanding.
BTW – 1.1% of purchase price is low by national standards. In some parts of the East Coast, you’ll be paying $10-20 grand a year on a $700k house, not approx $7700.
Participant^^^
Then again, California has low property taxes, relatively low food costs for good quality food, and a climate amenable to solar energy. Coastal areas also have a climate that promotes low energy usage, so even if electricity is expensive, cost of living is kept under control.
It’s not all bad. Also betting that for every person leaving, there’s another coming in either from further east or from abroad. Same deal with people whinging being people leaving NYC or NJ. The replacement rate (mostly from abroad) is good enough to not cause a population loss.
ParticipantIf the body is straight at all four wheels and no damage to alignment, I’d fix it in a heartbeat. If they let you, take the settlement, and use a bodyshop of your choice, not the goons which they recommend, unless their goons come with particularly good reviews.
Is this vehicle a total loss/settlement for book value, or are they paying you for repairs?
ParticipantWhat ideology? SD is pretty conservative. OK, not as conservative as parts of TX, but that might be a good thing.
ParticipantDisagree about it being dangerous — it just depends on how and where you ride. Bombing down mountains at 30 mph — sure, there are quite a few ways to kill yourself. Start out on prepared gravel trails and move from there.
ParticipantOh please — a 3% (meaning 5-10% of total tax burden) tax hike isn’t going to make people stay or leave a state. Especially since the highest tax is on income above $1 million. They’re already paying decent bank to live in California.
The people affected moving to Texas would be like Donald Trump moving out of NYC because his property taxes went up 10%. Right.
Though I have to say that prop 30 raising taxes retroactively was dirty ball — and possibly illegal since the Federal prohibition against ex post facto laws applies to states as well.
ParticipantThen again, sometimes the badmouthing is true. I know someone from a rural town which had farms, a main street with a few dozen stores, a growing meth/heroin problem, and multiple prisons. His choices were to stay on his parents’ farm, work in a store, or go to work for the prison service in some capacity. Since none appealed, he left and didn’t look back.
His description was that it was the kind of place where you left your car keys in the ignition at night. Not because car theft was nonexistent, but if someone escaped from the prisons, you’d want them to take a car and get out of town, rather than taking you with the car.
ParticipantLeatherman tool, usb LED flashlight on my person. Much more in my car — jack, toolbox /w sockets, cables, charger, voltmeter. Hey, it is 31 years old and I don’t have AAA 🙂
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