Moving to Florida 2 questions Bike & Phone...

[jackw72]

Good day all,

2 questions...

1. Do I get a motorcycle and just ride it every day of the year in great weather? Downside is that it is illegal and a commonly ticketed offence to filter thus rendering the bike almost useless in terms of beating traffic...

Does anyone have any knowledge of cars in America and what to look for for around $5,000? Reliability, high mpg the usual impossible list.

2. I just signed a 24 month phone contract (this Florida opportunity came at me as a surprise) any suggestions on how to flounce this? I have seen some adverts for rent-your-sim companies which claim to pay your monthly fee and use the minutes for their own purpose or so? Trustworthy?

Regards,

Jack
____________________
08/11/2007 A2 Passed.
Suzuki GSXR 1000 K3
Rapid Training passed

[dydey90]

[jackw72]

Yes I know! This I have noticed they don't want the cars to go over say 30 mpg...

Silly but I'm starting out on the cheap!
____________________
08/11/2007 A2 Passed.
Suzuki GSXR 1000 K3
Rapid Training passed

[angryjonny]

[dydey90]

You mean, they only get ripped off when the oil market fluctuates, whereas we get ripped off all the time?
____________________
This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[mentalboy]

Don't forget when you're making comparisons that a US gallon is smaller than an Imperial one

Imperial gallon - 4.54litres
US gallon - 3.78litres

Filtering thing is a bit of a bind but nearly every road out here seems to have multiple lanes so the only real drawback is when waiting at the lights.
It would seem that out here bends are something divers get - I think I've been round three in four weeks!!!! Ready yourself for instant driving boredom!

Far Eastern brands abound - although they generally stick larger engines into the models we're familiar with - general rule of thumb for vehicle purchase here seems to be 'increase size of vehicle proportionately to your driving inability'
____________________
Make mine a Corona.

[iooi]

[P.addy]

Sold your UK bike?

[metalangel]

What do you want to know about cars? Or rather: what sort of car do you want? You’ll find that there’s largely the same selection from European and Japanese and Korean manufacturers for small cars, but the larger models will be different. You’ll also notice there’s hardly any hatchbacks – everything has a proper trunk. The only place to get a diesel is from Volkswagen, unless you’re buying an SUV or pickup. Some hate, some love the domestic brands, that’s up to you if you find one that you like the look of – Google it and see what owners say.

You’re correct that filtering (lane splitting) is illegal in Florida.
____________________
Previous: 2002 Honda CB500 (sold), 2007 Suzuki SV650SK6 (crashed), 2005 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer (sold). Currently bikeless
"A faired bike will get you 10x more clunge than a unfaired one." -Marlboro Matt

[J.M.]

Saw lots of bikes using the hard shoulder in Florida. They were just like 'sod it' and flew down there at 50-60mph, in their t-shirt with no helmet

An absolute must is a car with some form of air-con.
____________________
2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[jackw72]

Phone companies (from what Google says) do not just let you off a contract they will make money on you for! There used to be a loophole in terms of the ability to provide the service that no longer exists.

Car wise not sure I have much choice as money will direct me but was just wondering if anyone knew if any US available brand/make was "better" than another.

Thanks guys!
____________________
08/11/2007 A2 Passed.
Suzuki GSXR 1000 K3
Rapid Training passed

[angryjonny]

I would advise against any American-built car if reliability and fuel-consumption are anywhere near the top of your list of must-have features.

However I understand the modus operandi in Florida is to drive some sort of far-too-large Cadillac in which you can't see over the bonnet, and to make sure that one or other turn-signal is flashing at all times.

[mentalboy]

[jackw72]

I see a lot of beemers too which would be nice but still a bit pricey.

Melbourne, FL is where I am heading!
____________________
08/11/2007 A2 Passed.
Suzuki GSXR 1000 K3
Rapid Training passed

[mentalboy]

Due East of me then! I'm on the opposite coast in Sarasota (at least in 3 monthly stints thanks to current visa limitations!)

Best bet is to find someone at your new workplace who doesn't come across as a total cock and ask them to help in your search - ideally it'd be someone you already know as transport will be something you want immediately (hire car for the first week, etc??) - last thing you want is an 'Arthur Daley' special!!!
____________________
Make mine a Corona.

[angryjonny]

[metalangel]

What are you basing this on? North America-only models are scoring highly in the tables from the likes of JD Power and Consumer Reports.

The recent bailout and end of the SUV craze forced the Big Three to seriously up their game if they wanted to compete with imports.
____________________
Previous: 2002 Honda CB500 (sold), 2007 Suzuki SV650SK6 (crashed), 2005 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer (sold). Currently bikeless
"A faired bike will get you 10x more clunge than a unfaired one." -Marlboro Matt

[stevo as b4]

Well I like some old school American muscle car's and the quirky less popular Oldsmobile and Buick muscle car's as opposed to the popular and now pricy Plymouths, Dodge's and Ford/Chevy main stream old muscle cars.

I'm led to believe that americans are wanting to get back their 60's/70's Nostalgia, and are now paying really silly money for Mustangs, Charger's and Camaro's etc? Bit like our craze for FS1E's I suppose?

But all that said if I lived in a northern state, i'd be reading Import tuner and buying a 10year old beat up Honda Civic with no exhaust and ideas for junkyard turbo's etc. You might as well fit in with everyone else in the area!

p.s. As an outsider, there seems to be loads of old air cooled VW's knocking around on the west coast, so a simple air cooled non rusty beetle might be an acceptable way to get around at a leisurely pace?

[stinkwheel]

It should be pointed out that while lane splitting is illegal, Switching lanes and overtaking on either side is perfectly normal. As long as it's just you in your lane, good to go.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Robby]

Second hand cars are more expensive in the US, but new ones can be had a lot cheaper. I remember when I was out there in '06 seeing adverts for brand new Chevy pickups starting at $12k. Looking at second hand cars, I would expect to pay at least $4k for something that would get me home in one piece. You may also be driving longer distances, so spending a bit more one something comfortable is advisable.
Have a look at leasing a new car for a year or 6 months.

[DrSnoosnoo]

A little piece of info, my mates got a hire car when in US for their road trip, they were given a Beetle and every person they drove past called them queers or gay , horns were pressed etc. They upgraded to a bigger "more manly" car
____________________
I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[sabian92]

[-Matt-]

I'd get a bike without any doubt - besides hurricane season being worse weather sometimes and the odd [very extreme torrential downpours - you would be needing to pull over for half an hour very occasionly], you're generally good with the weather there most of the year.

Police there are quite hot on bikes, but its mainly because of the amount of imbeciles doing mile-long wheelies with nothing more than a pair of shorts on

They're generally fairly accomodating and respectful of bikers from the more sensible ones i've spoken to over there recently. Filtering wise i wouldn't be too concerned either, depending on what area of florida you're in the high ways are so wide and sprawling you're often not caught in traffic as you would be here, and their lack of care of over/under-taking regulations means you can dart past people in most situations anyway.

The main thing that might come as a shock is actually their speed limits, on roads that feel easily capable of riding at 70mph compared to the uk you may often find ridiculous limits like 50KMPH, which on a long seemingly endless straight highway can become a drag sat up on a bike while you watched air-conned SUV's driving by

Their driving is also generally atrocious from what i've witnessed - so you need to be suprisingly cautious on roads you wouldn't expect to be danger-spots. The wide lanes and long roads seem to encourage people into a false sense of security and laziness, a good quarter if not more of cars tend to be driven by someone on the phone, texting or other idiotic activity.

[Flatbadger]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFbdYRVGzR4

Irrelevant but still strangely on topic
____________________
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
You're in ISIS