Would I like Phoenix? (Tucson, Scottsdale: rent, job, college)

[devin1229]

Hey everyone,
I hate to beat a dead horse and ask the "Can you tell me about..." question, but I was wondering if anyone who had some spare time could answer or give me some insight.

I'm a recent college graduate looking to relocate, put down some roots, and persue my master's degree. I'm originally from Cleveland, Ohio and moved to my current location of Orlando, Florida 6 years ago.

I'm looking to escape the high cost of living here in Florida, the idiotic drivers, the (forgive me for being "racist") massive population of Puerto Ricans, and the overall "I don't care" attitude that's ever-present here. I've narrowed my search down to Phoenix, Charlotte, or Austin.

I'm drawn to Phoenix because of the weather, landscape, and the amount of job opportunities. Austin is a close second because of the cost of living, but since I'm not in the IT field, my employment opportunities there are slim to none. Charlotte is nice, but being in my 20's, I'm afraid that there won't be enough things to do there to cater to my "young lifestyle."

Thoughts on this from anyone? Thanks.

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by devin1229

I'm looking to escape the high cost of living here in Florida, the idiotic drivers, the (forgive me for being "racist") massive population of Puerto Ricans, and the overall "I don't care" attitude that's ever-present here. I've narrowed my search down to Phoenix, Charlotte, or Austin.


Thoughts on this from anyone? Thanks.

Well, we will be cheaper than FL, but we have a lot of mexicans since we are a border state. I've never been to FL or of course driven there, but we have a lot of idiotic drivers here as well. Lots of road rage, cell phone drivers, aggressive drivers, drivers who don't have a clue how to driver, the list goes on. I run into issues on the road everyday. Near accidents almost daily from people who don't pay attention.

Since you're young you may like Tempe for the nightlife.

[AngelAura28]

Originally Posted by devin1229

Hey everyone,
I'm looking to escape the high cost of living here in Florida, the idiotic drivers, the (forgive me for being "racist") massive population of Puerto Ricans, and the overall "I don't care" attitude that's ever-present here. I've narrowed my search down to Phoenix, Charlotte, or Austin.

I'm drawn to Phoenix because of the weather, landscape, and the amount of job opportunities. Austin is a close second because of the cost of living, but since I'm not in the IT field, my employment opportunities there are slim to none. Charlotte is nice, but being in my 20's, I'm afraid that there won't be enough things to do there to cater to my "young lifestyle."

Thoughts on this from anyone? Thanks.

Yes, I've been out of Phoenix for many years. But, since I've been gone, as far as my friends still living there say -- the Mexican population is huge and growing, drivers were and still are nuts and the weather may be great; nevertheless, people don't seem to understand that 120 degrees dead heat is NOT PLEASANT! It's like stepping into an oven for eight hours!

Every year, a few tourists drop dead because they don't seem to understand that "dry heat" of 120 degrees or even 105 can be quite deadly if you exert yourself [even a game of golf!] or drink beer and lie in that heat . . . you're body dries up too quickly, the body temperature rises and you die! Of course, you're young and probably more resilient . . . but let me tell you; heat stroke is not a fun, either.

Hey Phoenix residents, do they still have heat alerts?

Heat alerts are warnings on the hottest days to "not exert yourself" or go outdoors, if you can avoid it. Air conditioning is a necessity there and your car can catch on fire if left outside. Be sure to park inside garages or covered parking.

If being too hot isn't your cup of tea, though. North of Phoenix usually is about ten or twenty degrees less heat. Tucson and Sedona, AZ are gorgeous and a bit cooler, too.

From a girl born and raised in Phoenix!

[irwin]

I think Phoenix and Orlando are pretty similar in regards to their urban design, problems, and the type of people they attract. Both are sprawling exurbs with a lot of McMansions and strip malls. Both has serious infrastructure problems. Both seem to be run by developers who look for track developments in the exurbs. Phoenix is of course bigger and browner, but deep down they are similar.

Come visit Phoenix first, but if you don't like Orlando you may not like Phoenix.

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by AngelAura28

Hey Phoenix residents, do they still have heat alerts?

Heat alerts are warnings on the hottest days to "not exert yourself" or go outdoors, if you can avoid it. Air conditioning is a necessity there and your car can catch on fire if left outside. Be sure to park inside garages or covered parking.

If being too hot isn't your cup of tea, though. North of Phoenix usually is about ten or twenty degrees less heat. Tucson and Sedona, AZ are gorgeous and a bit cooler, too.

From a girl born and raised in Phoenix!

Yep, We still have heat alerts. Much more than before as the temps get worse. We get quite a few pollution alerts as well.

I never heard of cars catching on fire from the heat. Many people park their cars outside most of the time because their garages are full of stuff.

[AngelAura28]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

Yep, We still have heat alerts. Much more than before as the temps get worse. We get quite a few pollution alerts as well.

I never heard of cars catching on fire from the heat. Many people park their cars outside most of the time because their garages are full of stuff.

LOL! I actually had three cars burn to the ground during heatwaves in Phoenix. Maybe my cars were old?! But the fire department told me during one of the fires . . ."that's the third car today!"

It was how the sun beats down on the windshield and goes to the hood and some oil or whatever ignites. You know, like we used to do with magnifying glasses and ants?!

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by AngelAura28

LOL! I actually had three cars burn to the ground during heatwaves in Phoenix. Maybe my cars were old?! But the fire department told me during one of the fires . . ."that's the third car today!"

It was how the sun beats down on the windshield and goes to the hood and some oil or whatever ignites. You know, like we used to do with magnifying glasses and ants?!

That's a lot of cars. Maybe you hold the record! Anyway, I think it's the heat but they don't just catch fire sitting there. Years of high underhood and interior temps cause insulation to become brittle and gas lines to crack and leak. Then kaboom!

[foma]

If you have issues with Puerto Ricans then I do not suggest Phoenix or Austin, although I believe they are both great places for people starting out. There is a large population of hispanics and Latinos in both. Personally, I think there are a lot of bad drivers in Phoenix by the way. Just an opinion.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by devin1229

Hey everyone,
I hate to beat a dead horse and ask the "Can you tell me about..." question, but I was wondering if anyone who had some spare time could answer or give me some insight.

I'm a recent college graduate looking to relocate, put down some roots, and persue my master's degree. I'm originally from Cleveland, Ohio and moved to my current location of Orlando, Florida 6 years ago.

I'm looking to escape the high cost of living here in Florida, the idiotic drivers, the (forgive me for being "racist") massive population of Puerto Ricans, and the overall "I don't care" attitude that's ever-present here. I've narrowed my search down to Phoenix, Charlotte, or Austin.

I'm drawn to Phoenix because of the weather, landscape, and the amount of job opportunities. Austin is a close second because of the cost of living, but since I'm not in the IT field, my employment opportunities there are slim to none. Charlotte is nice, but being in my 20's, I'm afraid that there won't be enough things to do there to cater to my "young lifestyle."

Thoughts on this from anyone? Thanks.

Sounds like you are going from the frying pan into the fire....LOL no pun intended. Florida minus the hurricanes -the Ocean = Phoenix.

I moved to Charlotte but I'm not 20 so I don't feel the need to hang out on Mill Ave in Tempe. I'm not sure what the 20 something crowd does in Phoenix besides hang out in Tempe or Scottsdale doing the bar scene.

[AngelAura28]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

That's a lot of cars. Maybe you hold the record! Anyway, I think it's the heat but they don't just catch fire sitting there. Years of high underhood and interior temps cause insulation to become brittle and gas lines to crack and leak. Then kaboom!

No, kaboom! Nothing like that . . .contrary to popular belief [like movies], cars do not usually blow up! They burn, sure . . .but kaboom! . . . it's very rare.

My cars that burned . . . I had been driving them, of course, that day; each day. It was a hot day and I had the A/C on; thus, the car gets even hotter from running in that heat. Sometimes the car overheats, as well.

So, thus, the car was a bit hot (not overheated), but I had just parked and the sun is beating down on the already hot car. The windshield was acting like a reflection glass and keeping the hood very hot. And somehow, according the investigation, the liquids under the hood (not gasoline) ignited.

And sure, I may hold a record that three different cars, of mine, caught fire. Only one was completely destroyed, the other two were saved; just had to replace some tubes and such. Anyway, the lost car, that particular day, three Phoenician's had their car catch fire citywide and they were all "just sitting there"! A particularly hot day and the 120 degree sun beating down on them caused them to ignite, I guess!

I also noticed, soon after that . . . most of Phoenix started erecting parking lot covers!

This was around 1989 to 1992 area; the last time I lived in Phoenix.