Observation - LA versus Chicago: Night vs Day

Guys, I've just moved to LA for a three month business stint, and all I can say is: WOW!! I have seen more Porsches in the last two days I've been here, than I have all year in Chicago. Of course, there are tons of Cabrio's and lots of little Boxsters as well, but still... LA, CA seems to have a lot of them. The cachet of having one get visibly diminished here. I was at a restaurant called "Ago" yesterday (good Italian food), and I saw three 996's parked outside - one black with Gembella wheels. I wonder what the geographic split is between LA, CA and ROUS (rest of the US)? Numbers/percentages anybody? Can't wait to get back to Chicago and see my baby! Regards.

Vik The way I heard it is one half of all US cars go to California, which means 25% of all Porsches. And they're concentrated in S.CA. You get a very skewed view of the world if you're in Santa Monica, Bevely Hills, Hollywood, or the beach towns. I'd go nuts every time I went out there on business. BTW take your time coming home. Enjoy Sunny Southern California. All us local rennlisters are taking good care of your car. It's fine, although suddenly we're having a little trouble downshifting to 2nd. Has that happened before? Mike, in Chi

Enjoy your stay.... If you really want to see eye candy (not the Baywatch girls) drive by some of the "money-belts": LaJolla, Malibu, Montecito/Sanata Barbara. I have found myself at time at a stop light and could almost count 1 million worth of cars at the light alone, Porsche's, Ferrari's, Bentley's, etc. The company I work for has several parking structures but the one I park in and specifically the floor I park on has 7 Porsche's and 1 Lamborghini alone... the negative side is that our p-cars here in SoCal are about as common as Ford Mustangs and reflects in their value. <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> Enjoy your stay

Thanks for the info guys (good one Mike -- I almos picked up the phone to check). Rodney, I will certainly check to the areas described. I am new to LA and while I have certainly heard of all these places, have not visited them as yet. Will let you know how far my eyeballs popped out when I do. I assume weekend cruising is the best time to see them. Two questions for you guys, and for all Californians in general: 1. I've heard that because "image is everything" in California, most people put a lot of money into their car...even if they have little left over. Is that true. I mean I see a lot of nice cars around, but I thought there was a lot of wealth to support the habit (so to speak) as well? 2. Rodney, you mentioned that because of the glut of Porsches, the values are lower than in the rest of the country. Makes perfect supply-versus-demand sense to me, but how much of an approximatley discount to RoUS are we talking about? 10%? more? Just curious? Also, does that extend to other supercars as well, specifically the Ferarri? Regards.

It's true. You'll see minimum wage workers putting everything they earn into a $$$ set of wheels and tires on a nearly rusted out 12 y/o Civic or Prelude. Gotta " keep up with the Joneses " , well not exactly Jones, since there are probably only 10 people left in some parts of Southern California who have THAT kind of name.

Try the Newport Beach/CDM area for more eye popping cars. Our cars will last alot longer out here as well. We don't get the salty air of the east coast and no snow and ice/salt and gravel combination either. My first reaction back in '82 when I moved here was not only all the pcars, etc. but all the old VW bugs still on the road as well. They'd all rusted out in Illinois! Enjoy your stay in CA! Where exactly are you located during your stay? Brent

Hi Brent, Sorry, I've been at work all day, and so haven't had a chance to respond. I'm living in Westwood, right off of Westwood Blvd, on Glendon Avenue. If you and/or a group of your Porsche buddies are getting together, please include me in the festivities. Would love to get to know other P-car owners, and drool over their cars. Regards.

Vik, I personally spend almost every minute of spare time playing golf. Enjoy your stay in CA. Brent