Seems like there's no state without some major bad sides. Just as I thought.
Now it's time to do Maryland. I moved here from NJ about a year ago or so and I know it pretty well now.
Motorist laws
Pretty bad. Way too many cops patrolling and they aren't out to protect, they are out to meet quotas and bring in revenue. Many speed traps.(and many speed cameras) Many red light cameras.(with "shortened" yellow lights to get extra revenue)
One of the worst "police states" if not the worst.
Maryland is significantly worse than other states in this regard.
Here's one example of how police are here, trust me there are many more examples i've seen...
And here's an article on how the states compare to each other in regards to motorist laws and motorist freedoms(or lack of). Maryland is third worst!!!
Historic/vintage car laws
This is actually really good. A vehicle only has to be 20 years old to register it as historic. You technically by law can only drive the historic registered car to events, only occasionally, not to work or daily, etc. But this isin't enforced in my experience and they don't even ask or check to see if you have another car to daily when you register the historic car. I see many old cars with historic plates when i'm out. You don't have to get the historic car inspected or emissions tested and get a cool, minimal, plain white license plate.:D
Climate (read: susceptible to rust?)
Maryland is in the rust belt. We get snow and they salt the roads.
It's not the worst by any means though. We don't get as much snow as some other farther northern states and don't get salty corroding wind from the ocean, at least not in my part of the state.
High humidity though which contributes to rust in the summer as well!!!
Concentration of e30-people
Very good, one of the best. Probably only behind washington state and cali.
We have weekly meets near DC (though that's a bit far from me) and I know a lot of people near me in the baltimore area and also nearby in delaware, PA, and NJ.
The mid-atlantic forum on here gets more traffic than most other regions.
Also many events. Bimmerfest east is here, H20, and many more.
Local motorsport events (auto-x, local racetracks, etc)
I'm halfway between NJMP and summit point, two well known tracks. There's also VIR in northern virginia. I know theres auto-x events closer to DC area too.
Overall one of the best areas on the east coast in this regard.
Traffic and driving roads (twisties?, potholes and condition of roads)
Near Baltimore and DC traffic is very bad but there's a lot of rural areas where it's not that have great twisties and scenic driving roads. Road condition is typical of northeast states - bad; there are worse states though. I came from NJ and it's definitely worse there.
Places to buy E30 related things locally (shops, machine shops, or aftermarket manufacturers)
getbmwparts.com is located near DC. Not any major well known places I can think of. Guten parts is about 3 hours away up in NJ. Not sure about shops because I do everything myself but I believe it's good in that regard.
Local e30 availability, condition, and prices
Good e30 concentration so good availability but usually rusty condition. Price for a non rust e30 is significantly higher than the west coast.
Now it's time to do Maryland. I moved here from NJ about a year ago or so and I know it pretty well now.
Motorist laws
Pretty bad. Way too many cops patrolling and they aren't out to protect, they are out to meet quotas and bring in revenue. Many speed traps.(and many speed cameras) Many red light cameras.(with "shortened" yellow lights to get extra revenue)
One of the worst "police states" if not the worst.
Maryland is significantly worse than other states in this regard.
Here's one example of how police are here, trust me there are many more examples i've seen...
And here's an article on how the states compare to each other in regards to motorist laws and motorist freedoms(or lack of). Maryland is third worst!!!
Historic/vintage car laws
This is actually really good. A vehicle only has to be 20 years old to register it as historic. You technically by law can only drive the historic registered car to events, only occasionally, not to work or daily, etc. But this isin't enforced in my experience and they don't even ask or check to see if you have another car to daily when you register the historic car. I see many old cars with historic plates when i'm out. You don't have to get the historic car inspected or emissions tested and get a cool, minimal, plain white license plate.:D
Climate (read: susceptible to rust?)
Maryland is in the rust belt. We get snow and they salt the roads.
It's not the worst by any means though. We don't get as much snow as some other farther northern states and don't get salty corroding wind from the ocean, at least not in my part of the state.
High humidity though which contributes to rust in the summer as well!!!
Concentration of e30-people
Very good, one of the best. Probably only behind washington state and cali.
We have weekly meets near DC (though that's a bit far from me) and I know a lot of people near me in the baltimore area and also nearby in delaware, PA, and NJ.
The mid-atlantic forum on here gets more traffic than most other regions.
Also many events. Bimmerfest east is here, H20, and many more.
Local motorsport events (auto-x, local racetracks, etc)
I'm halfway between NJMP and summit point, two well known tracks. There's also VIR in northern virginia. I know theres auto-x events closer to DC area too.
Overall one of the best areas on the east coast in this regard.
Traffic and driving roads (twisties?, potholes and condition of roads)
Near Baltimore and DC traffic is very bad but there's a lot of rural areas where it's not that have great twisties and scenic driving roads. Road condition is typical of northeast states - bad; there are worse states though. I came from NJ and it's definitely worse there.
Places to buy E30 related things locally (shops, machine shops, or aftermarket manufacturers)
getbmwparts.com is located near DC. Not any major well known places I can think of. Guten parts is about 3 hours away up in NJ. Not sure about shops because I do everything myself but I believe it's good in that regard.
Local e30 availability, condition, and prices
Good e30 concentration so good availability but usually rusty condition. Price for a non rust e30 is significantly higher than the west coast.
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