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Old 06-02-2011, 09:17 AM
 
Location: Wicker Park/East Village area
2,474 posts, read 4,166,049 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FAReastcoast View Post
A little research shows that it could be a good place to play. It looks like it may be a bit of a challenge to get there though from my place
If you can make it out to Queens to play tennis, you make it up to Fullerton, $12 cab ride, 15 minutes of yr time.
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Old 06-02-2011, 12:26 PM
 
1,210 posts, read 3,062,483 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FAReastcoast View Post
Anyone workout at the Equinox at 900 North Michigan Ave (I think it is the "Bloomingdales" building?), if so, any feedback on it? That seems to be the closest decent gym to my new place. I am currently a member at Equinox but appearantly the deal I have doesn't include out of state gyms. The one in Chicago is actually $50 less per month, I just want to make sure it is decent.

It's just cheaper because well, Chicago is cheaper. Equinox is one of the nicer gyms around though.
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Old 06-02-2011, 02:25 PM
 
1,302 posts, read 1,951,013 times
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Originally Posted by Jandur View Post
It's just cheaper because well, Chicago is cheaper. Equinox is one of the nicer gyms around though.
That is my thought, but there are a couple of Equinox locations in NY that are not up to par with others, just wondering if the one at 900 N is one of the "nicer" ones. Based on the website it looks like it is.
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Old 06-03-2011, 09:28 AM
 
1,302 posts, read 1,951,013 times
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So let me first say that I really appreciate everyone's help and responsivness to my questions. One week from tomorrow I will be on my way to Chicago, I am truly excited.

I do have a question/concern that I am hoping somebody here can help me with; I have been going back and forth over the last week on whether or not to buy a car. I have pretty muched lived in New York all my life, The only time I have ever owned a car was in College (Ann Arbor). Where I currently live, literally nobody owns a car, it just isn't feasable to do so. With that said, my Chicago friends are telling me that I should buy a car in Chicago. I have spent enough time in there to know that I don't need a car to get by, but it is a luxury many are willing to pay for. I did notice many people Valet at nicer restaurants (similar to LA), and parking seems available at most stores/shops in the core of the city.

Is anybody else in a similar situation where they bought a car when they moved to Chicago, just to have one?
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Old 06-03-2011, 09:38 AM
 
Location: Oak Park, IL
5,525 posts, read 13,950,687 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FAReastcoast View Post
So let me first say that I really appreciate everyone's help and responsivness to my questions. One week from tomorrow I will be on my way to Chicago, I am truly excited.

I do have a question/concern that I am hoping somebody here can help me with; I have been going back and forth over the last week on whether or not to buy a car. I have pretty muched lived in New York all my life, The only time I have ever owned a car was in College (Ann Arbor). Where I currently live, literally nobody owns a car, it just isn't feasable to do so. With that said, my Chicago friends are telling me that I should buy a car in Chicago. I have spent enough time in there to know that I don't need a car to get by, but it is a luxury many are willing to pay for. I did notice many people Valet at nicer restaurants (similar to LA), and parking seems available at most stores/shops in the core of the city.

Is anybody else in a similar situation where they bought a car when they moved to Chicago, just to have one?
Cars are useful to have. The only question is what is the opportunity cost of car ownership? Aside from acquisition costs, car ownership in the trendy parts of Chicago where you want to live will be several thousand dollars a year (parking, insurance, maintenance, even fuel). Car sharing services (zipcar and I-go) are worthwhile options for those who need occasional car access.
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Old 06-03-2011, 09:45 AM
 
1,302 posts, read 1,951,013 times
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Originally Posted by oakparkdude View Post
Cars are useful to have. The only question is what is the opportunity cost of car ownership? Aside from acquisition costs, car ownership in the trendy parts of Chicago where you want to live will be several thousand dollars a year (parking, insurance, maintenance, even fuel). Car sharing services (zipcar and I-go) are worthwhile options for those who need occasional car access.
I have already crunched the numbers, I would most likely lease a car, since my stay in Chicago is probably only 2 years. My work pays my parking at the office in the loop, insurance, fuel, parking at home is on me. Im not really into car sharing, as all the cars I have seen are usually Ford Focus/Honda Civic type cars, If I decided to pay for a car, I want to get something with a little speed and flash
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Old 06-03-2011, 09:53 AM
 
Location: Oak Park, IL
5,525 posts, read 13,950,687 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FAReastcoast View Post
I have already crunched the numbers, I would most likely lease a car, since my stay in Chicago is probably only 2 years. My work pays my parking at the office in the loop, insurance, fuel, parking at home is on me. Im not really into car sharing, as all the cars I have seen are usually Ford Focus/Honda Civic type cars, If I decided to pay for a car, I want to get something with a little speed and flash
Don't forget, unlike most other states, in Illinois you pay sales tax on the full price of a leased car.
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Old 06-03-2011, 09:54 AM
 
1,302 posts, read 1,951,013 times
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Originally Posted by oakparkdude View Post
Don't forget, unlike most other states, in Illinois you pay sales tax on the full price of a leased car.
Did not know that, thanks for the heads up.
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Old 06-03-2011, 09:59 AM
 
Location: Oak Park, IL
5,525 posts, read 13,950,687 times
Reputation: 3908
Quote:
Originally Posted by FAReastcoast View Post
Did not know that, thanks for the heads up.
That's why I would never lease a car in Illinois. Imagine leasing a $30k car, paying tax on 30k, driving it for a few years, ending the lease with a residual value of 15k, deciding to purchase it, and then being forced to pay tax (again) on 15k. That's just wrong.

Anyway, if you don't mind the expense, a car is mighty handy to get around (and out of) town.
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Old 06-03-2011, 10:15 AM
 
3,697 posts, read 4,998,064 times
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Cars are useful to have but here in Chicago among yuppies there can be a problem. Lincoln Park and Lakeview have terrible parking and downtown has no free parking this really increases the cost of driving. People who work elsewhere and live elsewhere don’t have this problem. Also traffic into the loop is very bad during rush hour and during the day. Unless you work odd hours(i.e. at work at 6a.m. out no later than 3p.m.) driving wouldn’t be my first choice even if parking were free.
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