Arriving at Fairbanks in mid December, advice? (lease, buying)

[Gennaver]

Originally Posted by heathen

Hmmm, no not really. I think you'll find that most Alaskans are pretty laid back when talking about the challenges - and even dangers - of living and traveling here. I think everybody would recognize that this'll all be really new and strange for you (like it was for most of us at some point), but we like to assume that people have good heads on their shoulders and can recognize and solve problems as they come up. Is it a good idea to hop in your Geo and cruise on up the Alcan in December? Well maybe, maybe not. If you'll get all bent out of shape when you find it's not at all like driving on a southern interstate, then probably not. If you recognize that you'll have to get it winterized (best to wait till you're in the upper midwest, where mechanics have experience with that sort of thing), that it's not really safe to do much night driving, that the days in December are very short, that you need to allow lots of extra time for slow driving, snow storms, and possibly extreme cold, that you need to be self reliant and have enough survival gear for a night out in extreme cold, then yeah driving up the Alcan in December can be perfectly reasonable. I've done it in February, and it was no big deal.

Yes the clothes I mentioned are what you should buy BEFORE getting on the plane. You'll want more once you're here.

If you want to get a new car, they're MUCH cheaper in the lower-48. Some people up here in fact fly out, and drive a new car back up, though the economics of that don't usually quite add up. Selling your car outside and planning to buy a new one in Fairbanks doesn't make a lot of sense though.

Hi,

I will need some warm clothes to get off the plane and also to get me around town to find a house or apartment to live in too.

I get it that I may not have to be a pedestrian on the street all day in Fairbanks, not like in Chicago, so that makes it easier.

Perhaps, uh you do realize what a geo metro is right? It barely makes 65 mph and is very low to the ground and is really just a city car...she cannot take a city pothole and I don't really think you get what I am saying. I am trying to be pro-active and take care of what I need because this is short notice.

A new vehicle to me does not mean a brand new off the line vehicle. Thank you but, perhaps you didn't understand what I was asking. Perhaps it would be best to rent a vehicle until I can get one. Not sure where to find one in the midwest though, besides I will be flying, not driving.

Lets face it though, you don't really expect me to get in my 160K 96 geo and drive the alcan and then get out of it with my denim pants, my short sleeve shirts and my cowboy boots do you? Come on.
Gen

[naturesdreams]

I would trade your car in for a subaru... my forester is great and it gets me there safely... I drive winters in Wisconsin and sometimes remotely... just be smart and don't take chances especially not knowing where you are going... these guys are a great bunch of people and can be blunt at times but they know their stuff for sure ... happy Friday evening everyone... (sorry 6:29 here)

[tigre79]

Search some threads, do some research on your own first so you can ask more specific questions. Definitely don't get an attitude with people trying to help you. If you're dead-set on flying, then of course you'll be buying a vehicle up here. It will almost certainly have more miles and/or be in worse shape than a similarly-priced vehicle where you are. So be prepared for that. For relatively inexpensive warm clothes I personally like Lands' End because they have good quality clothing, very good sales and usually free shipping. Columbia and North Face stuff can also be found pretty cheap online and on clearance at various stores. Here's an article about layering that has links to other information: http://www.whyfairbanks.com/dress-in-layers.html. Don't worry too much about cotton vs. synthetics if you're just running around town.

As long as it's not windy (and in town, Fairbanks usually isn't), it's not as bad as it probably sounds, at least for short periods of time just running around town. I grew up in North Texas and lived in Tampa for five years before moving up last year, and at -40 in Fairbanks I was running errands in a t-shirt, flannel shirt, and jeans with light thermals underneath. It feels kind of sharp on your skin, but it's not the bone-chilling sort of cold you get with wind and humidity.

[AADAD]

Not sure why this thread is sideways but here is what you should/could do.

LL Bean Baxter State Parka $199.
LL Bean long underwear cool max
LL Bean Arctic Boots
LL Bean Baxter State Down Gloves/Mittens
Baclava for face coverage
Chap stick (lots)
eye drops to keep your eyes moist (don't use outside)
Wool/Heavy cotton socks over sock liners linen/silk
100 cotton heavy sweatshirt hoodie.

When you get off the plane it will be near or below zero maybe with wind chill. All rental cars are plugged in. Make sure it's been started. Dont be afraid to tell them that you are newbie. They can help.
Don't stay outside. Acclimate slowly. You will want to get food first.
Do you have an apt/home already set up?


The University is a good place to wander.

[Frostnip]

For normal errand-running there's no reason to bundle up like you're about to run the Iditarod. About the most bundled-up I ever got during visits to Fairbanks last winter was my peacoat, ugg-type boots and knit gloves. I mean, it's in town. There are buildings and stuff to go into.

The thing is, though, that you want to have gear in your vehicle in case something goes wrong and errand-running turns into sitting in a ditch freezing your ass off or whatever. But it's easy enough to hit an outfitter's once you get here and pick up some heavier stuff. No reason to haul an arctic sleeping bag and snowpants along on the airplane.

[Rance]

There are plenty of Geo's on the Kenai Peninsula! They seem to do fine as long as you stay on the roads.

[Gennaver]

Originally Posted by Rance

There are plenty of Geo's on the Kenai Peninsula! They seem to do fine as long as you stay on the roads.

Oh, I love my Geo. Perhaps I could have it shipped up. But, I do not think I could make the drive from San Antonio to Fairbanks in it.

Gen

[Gennaver]

Originally Posted by naturesdreams

I would trade your car in for a subaru... my forester is great and it gets me there safely... I drive winters in Wisconsin and sometimes remotely... just be smart and don't take chances especially not knowing where you are going... these guys are a great bunch of people and can be blunt at times but they know their stuff for sure ... happy Friday evening everyone... (sorry 6:29 here)

Hi,

Gosh, even though I really adore my metro...I do think, in reality, that it definately would be a big risk to drive it and to even drive it in light snow. I'd been considering a subaru for more than a year.

In Chicago I could drive my little Dodge neon in the snow okay but, I know this geo gets blown around in San Antonio and if it downpours I have to pull to the side of the highway because it can't handle that either. ;(

Thank you for your post. I was trying to find out exactly how to avoid taking any chances and the answers were a bit vague for me. I am totally good with blunt, but, toxic words like, 'bent out of shape' and 'pernickity' are just absurd. They really don't belong in any regular conversation. I have no feeling or anything about the folks that said it, yet, choose not to continue comunicating with someone who is going to throw that out there.

Thanks for the time and advice.

I was told by several people here who saw my car and who had been stationed in AK that my car would never make it. Actually I'd been told by quite a few people here that my car shouldn't even be on the road but, she is solid for what I am using her for.

Jen/Gen
p.s. she is like a little weak, go-cart that is very reliable for driving my less than 5 mile commute on dry roads, although if the temp goes below 70 she has an issue.

[Frostnip]

Originally Posted by tigre79

If you're dead-set on flying, then of course you'll be buying a vehicle up here. It will almost certainly have more miles and/or be in worse shape than a similarly-priced vehicle where you are. So be prepared for that.

I haven't done an exhaustive study or anything, but I had to replace my vehicle last winter and I got the impression that new-ish used vehicles in Fairbanks weren't too much more expensive than lower 48 prices (I assume a lot of them were returned leased vehicles?), but there were very few reasonably priced 3+ year old vehicles in good shape.

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Gennaver

Hi,

Gosh, even though I really adore my metro...I do think, in reality, that it definately would be a big risk to drive it and to even drive it in light snow. I'd been considering a subaru for more than a year..

Whatever you do, DO NOT buy a Subaru.

After years of observation, it is clear to me that the entire Subaru line is defective. First, the cars are obviously underpowered. They require far more distance than a standard freeway on-ramp to reach anything close to an adequate speed that would allow them to merge safely on to a highway without other drivers swerving madly to avoid them. And second, Subarus apparently have some sort of governor or speed limiting device installed that causes them to consistently travel 10 to 15 mph slower than the surrounding flow of traffic no matter where they happen to be.

Complete pieces of cr@p.