skidude

iTrader: (3)

I am thinking about moving from Maine to Utah at the end of the year, and wondered what I would be getting myself into. I know some counties have emissions tests, and my car won't pass those, so what are my options for avoiding that? Somebody mentioned buying a small piece of land and registering my car in a county that doesn't require the tests, but that seems too easy to actually work.

I was there for a week on vacation, and I loved most of what I saw. I didn't like the emissions tests, and I didn't like the alcohol laws. I did enjoy the skiing, even though it's horrible this year (or so they tell me). The mountain roads were great, but the cars I rode in were missing quite a bit of power. I assume it would be pretty easy to tune a turbo car to regain the lost power though.

I spent my time in Salt Lake City, and since I have a friend there, it's where I would probably go, though I am not opposed to Park City. What is the job market like in that area for mechanical engineers? Will I be able to find something I'll enjoy?

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Come on up to Utah, bring your wives.

Jeff_Ciesielski

iTrader: (10)

I have good friends that grew up there and are now moving back now that my friend's wife finished her PhD.

Essentially: Nice views, great driving roads, OK climate.

Bad: Emissions testing.

-------. Mormons. Everywhere

Apparently its actually kind of a problem if you aren't mormon and plan on having kids some day. The amount of ostracizing that non-mormon children are subjected to is apparently problematic.

blaen99

iTrader: (6)

Not to mention the amount of ostracizing of non-Mormon adults....Or so I've heard from friends in Utah that aren't Mormon.

skidude

iTrader: (3)

I have heard that the ostracizing isn't as bad as it used to be. I don't know if I'll have kids there or not, but I am not too concerned with the mormons at this point, aside from their tendency to introduce legistlation of the alcohol-control type.

I am actually worried about the emissions testing. My miata does not meet any emissions requirements (standalone MS ruins even the most basic OBD2 scan), and the amount of work required to make it meet them is not something I am really willing to do. I would find another state to live in first. After 10 minutes of research, it does look like only some counties require the tests, so maybe there is merit to buying an acre of land for $1000 and registering my car there. Then I could also be a landowner!

blaen99

iTrader: (6)

You do understand that saying ostracizing got a little better is like saying ancient cultures started treating lepers a little bit better in major cities, right?

skidude

iTrader: (3)

Is it really that bad? My cousin has been living there for a year now and has not had any problems.

blaen99

iTrader: (6)

I've watched Mormons ostracize their own family members here in Washington over trivial ---- - and that's not even Utah.

But it also could be where he is, so it's a real case of YMMV. I've heard stories from friends in Utah that are of a similar vein. Is he not in the general location of their major temple?

skidude

iTrader: (3)

He lives right in the city, only a couple miles from the temple I think.

I just did some reading on that, and it really seems to vary. Some people complained that it was really bad, and others say they have lived there for years and feel very included.

Sam TII

I've been in Utah for the last 4 years going to school, moved here form the Bay Area. I simply got a PO Box in a county (Tooele County to be exact) and registered my car to the PO Box, they'll even mail the title to a different address when you register it so you don't even have to ever drive to your PO Box to get stuff.

As far as the ostracizing goes it varies quite a bit. I am LDS, and even I feel it sometimes just for being an outsider--I don't think the "Utah Mormon" culture is a very good reflection of what the religion itself is actually about but that's another topic. It's basically the classic problem of most people are one thing and if you're not you're different and so some people don't handle that well at all. It really just depends on who you're interacting with--as with any place on earth, some people are intolerant/ignorant nut jobs and others aren't.

I will say this though, racism here is unusually high, that's probably the biggest cultural thing that bugs me--that and the whole your religion is a social status thing, I'm not into that at all.

There are a decent amount of ME jobs though, at least the industry here for that is relatively large but I don't know how the job market is for ME's actually looking for work, but I do know several people that are. I'll ask around and post back.

If you like fishing, stay away, it's terrible. Mountain biking is good to great, skiing is decent when it isn't 55 in March, the car culture leaves something to be desired but track days at Miller Motorsports Park are cheap.

The pollution is atrocious, and when I say atrocious I mean so bad you can't see the city from the freeway pretty regularly and it's less than 2 miles off the road--it messes with my wife's Asthma so we're pretty much ready to leave as soon as we can.

Overall, I'd say it's not a bad place for a couple years, but I'm pretty excited to move and check out a new place.

skidude

iTrader: (3)

Thanks, Sam, that is a really helpful post. I am really excited to hear how easy it is to register a car in another county.

I have heard that smog is a problem, but that with the emissions tests (that will actively try to avoid) it is getting a little better. I will probably do my exercising in the mountains anyway, so that should help.

I don't fish, so I am not concerned at all about that, but I do bike and ski, which are both apparently good there. I don't tend to hang out with other car people anyway, besides at autocrosses, so as long as I can find some of those I should be happy. I will probably also try a track day or two, miller looked pretty cool when I was there.

Sam TII

Miller does events during the spring/summer/early fall called Wide Open Wednesday's where for $30 you can drive the track and an autocross course till from 5pm to Midnight, I went a few times last year it was pretty dang fun. Timing is virtually non existent, but it gives you some good cheap seat time.

The local SCCA chapter is pretty active and has a decent amount of autocross events (http://www.utahscca.com/). Other than that, basically all you'll find are your DC hat wearing WRX drivers.

Also, the one really good thing about Utah is the local classified ad system (ksl.com) it blows craigslist out of the water in terms of search/browse-ability and it's the most used system (as in craigslist is almost non-existent).

Park City is pretty nice too, it's more of a non-utahn's Utah if that makes sense. SLC is getting that way as well especially in the more urban areas, the further south you go (Lehi, Pleasant Grove, Orem, Provo, Spanish Fork) you get some weird cultural crap going on, but for the most part SLC and Park City are really nice. However, the mountain biking gets better the further south you go.

Avoid Draper like the plague, it's a bunch of pseudo wealthy people who think they're better than everyone because they bought $300,000 houses (which makes me laugh, I grew up in an area where the median home price is still $860,000, but that should give you an idea of where that part of Utah is at).

Also, eat at the Red Iguana in SLC, it's the best Mexican food around. The Ho-Ho Gourmet has the best Chinese good around (although it's kind of sketchy), Salt City Burger Co in Highland is also awesome (at the base of little CottonWood Canyon).

Contrary to popular belief, I'm not a fan of the Canyons ski resort in Park City, it has a lot of flat which bugs me. I really like Alta and Snowbird, they tend to have better snow that sticks around longer.

Sorry for the length of the post, I had a bunch of time in class. Let me know if you have anymore Q's. I ride a lot in the summer too if you wanna see some trails. I'll be gone in April 2013 though

Faeflora

iTrader: (2)

Wow, a lot of flat? Maybe on the green slope.

Canyons has the best mountain layout and most variety of any resort I've been to and I've been to nine resorts. The lift/trail design is brilliant, with many different types of runs off each lift.

skidude

iTrader: (3)

I spent a week there at the end of February, and skied 5 days (A couple were pretty short) at Snowbird, Deer Valley, and Solitude. I liked what I saw of Park City, but I didn't get to see too much of it. My favorite resort was Snowbird out of those three.

pusha

iTrader: (5)

What about Colorado? Same activities, no crazy cultural stuff.

Also, this may be an odd question, but are you single? If you are, the prospective mate pool should be on your mind.

I think you'd fare better in Colorado.

skidude

iTrader: (3)

I like Colorado, but I have a good friend who moved to SLC a year ago. I also have a girlfriend of three years who would be moving out there with me.

blaen99

iTrader: (6)

Living with a woman you are not married to, having premarital sex, and not being Mormon?

That'll be interesting. Be sure to report back to us on what your experiences are like.

pusha

iTrader: (5)

you do realize that you are on a Miata website, right?

blaen99

iTrader: (6)

You do realize we are talking about Utah, right? I never said an age bro, I never said an age! (Joking, don't string me up those of the Mormon persuasion!)

pusha

iTrader: (5)

Are there any open homosexuals in Utah?