Austin after 90 days - thumbs up and thumbs down from a new citizen (Houston: transplants, university)

[txgolfer130]

Originally Posted by curious1111

thumbs down --

ridiculous lack of highway infrastructure and resulting traffic, paradox of a city so obsessed with healthy living, but everyone smokes, cyclists endangering themselves and others, sometimes feels a bit like Austin is trying too hard to be "weird" or "cool".

Word.

[Idlewile]

Having spent time in Seattle and Portland and upstate NY, from my standpoint, Boulder and the Denver metro area still take the Suby cake. The Subaru dealership here in Boulder claims there are more per capita (in Boulder proper) than anywhere else in the world. Not sure if that's really fact but I'm certain it helps sell more cars.

[noexcuseforignorance]

I agree on the Austin traffic front. If they actually replaced the red light infrastructure on the way to the airport with a few roundabouts, getting around would be a lot easier.

[sinking]

Originally Posted by curious1111

You MUST be kidding. I used to live in the pacific NW, and I spend a fair amount of time in the NE on business. Yes, there are Subarus in both those areas, but I still think there are more in Austin. It is the official car here as far as I am concerned.

And while the NW has its share of body piercing/tattoos, I also think Austin (downtown) is tops on that too.

You were in the NE but did you go to Amherst specifically? Amherst is also like Lesbian capital and each one has a Subie. Subies also seem to be popular with educated, white, liberal people and with five major colleges in the area there are plenty of those. Then there is all the snow so there are the people that don't fit into those two groups that get them for their capable winter driving.

[latikeriii]

I had an 83 Subaru as my first car, loved that piece of crap. I'd buy one now but my wife hates them. Oh, and i'm not White, liberal, but I guess my UT degree makes me somewhat educated.(as i'm typing this, a Subaru commercial is airing now).

[Jennibc]

Somehow I think he or she meant "Suburban" and not Subaru. There are practically no Subarus here.

[curious1111]

This may become an agree to disagree post :-)

1- we lived in Silverdale, Washington and spent considerable time in Seattle. I still think that there are more Subarus, tatoos, body piercing and cigarette smoking in Austin. Now when I say Austin, I am strictly talking about DOWNTOWN area, which is where we live, shop, etc. My kids have grown up quickly since we got here relative to social liberalism and expression... my 5 yr old is asking about tatoos...

2- We have never been to Amherst, so definitely cannot comment specifically on that.

So, if some posting here spend all/most your time in the suburbs, maybe there are indeed more F-150 vehicles and no smoking, etc....but downtown in our experience is like one large Hard Rock Cafe experience :-)... but with Subarus everywhere with combination bike/kayak/canoe/etc. racks on top of them... oh yea, with the requisite labs or similar breeds in the backseat!

[centralaustinite]

I live within 20 blocks of downtown and we see plenty of tatoos and Subarus aren't rare but hardly in noteworthy numbers. Maybe I just don't see the tats anymore, my extended family does comment on it when they visit. Of course right now, downtown, S. Congress, and S. Lamar are a sea of people, most from out of town, so check back in a couple of months and let us know if your perceptions have changed.

[Jennibc]

We just moved here from Seattle (Wedgwood 'hood - in city) two years ago, we drive a Subaru Legacy wagon and there aren't nearly the number of Subarus here that we left behind. In fact, we made a joke when we first moved here that it would be MUCH easier to find our car in the parking lot at Costco now since it doesn't look like every other car. I can go an entire day here with out seeing a Subaru other than our own. In fact, we only know one other family here that owns one.

[speris]

I've been here just a bit longer than you, and definitely agree about the smoking! I've been fairly shocked by it, for a city that is supposed to be so green, etc. And, I live in the burbs but spend a fair amount of time downtown as well.

As for cars, I think the Prius is the one I've noticed most. :-)