OT: Anyone From LA? Tips? 996 Practicality?

Hi, I am considering a job in LA (Pasadena) and wanted to know the practicality of driving a 996. Potentially I would leave it at LAX when I go on trips as well. I was there a couple of weeks ago, and what's up with all the cops pulling people over, often for no apparent reason? How about valeting a 996? I went out on Sunset, and every parking in valet only. I am used to driving the car garage to garage. What about a place to live? I want somewhere vibrant with amenities (Pasadena seems sleepy), but not too much of a commute. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks, winovin

try santa monica area..... fun place...... and get use to the police pulling you over all the time... its a regular thing unfortunately

Word of advice; if you decide to live in Pasadena, fly out of Burbank airport. YOU DON'T WANT TO LEAVE YOUR CAR AT LAX. Burbank has a lot called VSP parking across from the airport were you can park indoors in a slot with protective pads that hang from the ceiling on the sides of the car. It is a little expensive, but a very good lot. As far as Pasadena being a sleepy town, you should go down to Old Town and hang out. When people get pulled over, sometimes it's a simple thing like tinted windows or no front plate. Also, I would never let a valet park my car in L.A. I had problems with valets rummaging through the car for valuables and have also had damage done to a car while it was being parked.

winovin - firstly, Porsche in general are so common in LA that you wouldn't stand out at all - so that's a good thing. Traffic is crazy, but people drive better than in DC, based on my experience of both cities. What's up with the lane changing in DC!!!!!!!!!!!!! Valet parking - just say no! - tip the guy to park your own if you absolutely have to go to that restaurant - or go somewhere else, plenty to choose from! Cops - welcome to the CHP - car tax on wheels - mind you I saw plenty of RADAR action around DC, what's up with that!!!!! Place to live - it's a big place - get yourself online and check some places out - get a good realtor

DC drivers are just horrible. One of my friends emailed me a list of reasons you know your driving on the beltway and one of them went like this: If you are a Minivan or full size sport utility driving soccer mom who races to get on to the passing lane of the freeway going 55 while on the cell phone, you are in DC. So true. Sad how I can drive faster in the slower lanes. I think sometimes that DC drivers don't even bother to look when changing lanes. I want to move, Pete

It all depends on your commute - I live in San Marino, right next to Pasadena, but commute to Sherman Oaks. I am in a lot of stop and go traffic every day. For this reason, I don't drive my 6 speed P Car each day. It gets too frustrating. Pasadena is great if you have a family, but if you are single, live in Hollywood, Brentwood, West LA, or the South Bay (Manhattan Beach or Hermosa). As for the cops, they are horrible in Hollywood - you get a ticket for "cruising" if you pass the same buildings more than twice. Other than that, in 12 years of living here, I don't have problems or concerns about the police.

I live in LA with my gf and my 6-speed 996. The 996 is definitely not a stand-out car in LA, but it's fun for my commute to the City of Orange. The gf is a stand-out, but that's a different matter I usually park at Park'N'Fly at LAX. If you go to the SE corner there's plenty of room, and generally quite a few other nice cars to park between. OTOH, Burbank is definitely going to be a lot easier from Pasadena. Haven't flown out of there, so can't comment further. A good alternative resource is www.flyertalk.com . There's a forum on LA, where a lot of people have asked about where to live, plus lots of airport advice, as you'd expect. Currently I live in Redondo Beach and love it, but when the gf starts her MBA at USC, we may move to Long Beach.

I drive a regular 996c2, and it is the LA equivelant of a honda civic anywhere else. You might stand out if you had a lambo or something, but p-cars seem to blend in around here. I like the westside the best, I don't really see a point of living in LA and not living a few blocks from the water.

I do - it's $$ - we have a monster of an economy here. It's a big pie with a lot to go around.

You will really want to keep your commute here in the LA metro as short as possible, it will improve your quality of life as well as delay your onset of insanity. As far as 6speed in the crawl, it gets frustrating because it always seems like 1 is too low and 2 is too high, and then you want to uncork it, but you can't for at least an hour, ha!

Yes, yes, and yes to everything. Pasadena IS the bomb, though.

I drive my C4Cab almost every day, even though I told myself when I bought it that I would try to drive my Tahoe most days. It is just too much fun, particularly on a day like today, when it's in the mid 80s! I don't mind the 6 speed in traffic, and commute from Hermosa Beach to downtown LA most days. If you'll be working in Pasadena, I would try to live somewhere close by. Much of that area is really really nice, but relatively "sleepy," with the exception of Old Town Pasadena, which is a blast. Los Feliz, Silverlake and Studio City are all happening 'hoods these days, as well as Hollywood, and all are a short drive to Pasadena. Geography aside, I would recommend South Bay (Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach), but that commute would be brutal for you. As for valets, you cannot avoid them in LA if you want to go out to eat, particularly at the hotspots in H'Wood and Beverly Hills. I always give them $10 up front, ask how their night is going, and have had no problems. It is a risk, but asking your date to walk a few blocks in heels is an even bigger risk. I may be in the minority, but I love LA!