NYC Parking

[mrsekret]

Hello NYC guys we are currently discussing moving from Chicago to NYC and I am just wondering about parking. Is really as bad as they say it is? I would like to keep 2 cars my daily driver and my 86 325. We will probably end up in the Bronx or Brooklyn. My fiance wants to live in Manhattan but I dont want to spend that kind of money haha. Just thought I would ask you guys since you have cars in the city. Thanks

[selturk]

No need for a car in NYC. Traffic/Parking are horrible. Subway FTW.

[mrsekret]

Its not about need its more of a want. I love my cars and really hate the thought of giving them up.

[u3b3rg33k]

Parking for two cars in NYC is gonna be like renting a second apartment.

[M-technik-3]

Think of the Seinfeld episode where George and Kramer are always fighting others for a parking spot. Parking in Frankfurt Germany wasn't even that much of a hassle.

[BrooklynMW]

It's a nightmare. If you live in Manhattan, forget about having a car. Just wipe that part of your life completely away. Some neighborhoods, you can't have your car parked at all from 9am-7pm monday through friday. If you can park during the day without paying the meter, every side of the street has bi-weekly streetcleaning where you have to move your car anyway. usually at very inconvienient, rediculous hours. Not to mention the constant threat of break-ins, hit and runs, or poorly skilled parallel parkers who treat your car like a buffer zone to know when they've gone too far. You can rent a garage space, but it's going to cost almost as much as a 2nd apartment, and won't likely be conveniently located right next to your house.

Brooklyn and Queens is a little easier but not that much. I lived in Park Slope, BK, and was usually able to find a parking spot at night within 10-15 minutes. The longest it ever took me to find a spot was 45 minutes. Alt-side parking (street cleaning) is only once a week per side of the street, so that's a little easier as well. But still, it's a pain in the ass.

And you're thinking of having 2 cars?!?!? Your life is going to be a living freaking nightmare. Being a car enthusiast and a New Yorker do not go hand in hand. I was raised in NYC, didn't get my license until I was 26 years old. I actually left NY because I loved driving so much, I wanted to be in a place where it was a normal thing to do.

My recommendation, move a bit further away from the city. Deeper into Brooklyn or Queens you can find some places with their own parking spots, driveways, what have you. Ditch the daily driver, you won't need it. Keep the e30 as your weekend fun, getaway car, and keep an eye on it.

Drive carefully when you're in the city. NY has some of the worst roads in America. They are not taken care of. After decades of weather changes, snow, salt, expanding, contracting, you have massive potholes, and also large bumps in the road that will destroy your oil pan. Get yourself a skid plate.

Or get a Subaru.

[u3b3rg33k]

And if you do find a place to park on the street, you get to enjoy watching someone with as much training as a 6 year old in a sandbox crush your pride and joy with an oversized tonka truck:

[M-technik-3]

And if you do find a place to park on the street, you get to enjoy watching someone with as much training as a 6 year old in a sandbox crush your pride and joy with an oversized tonka truck:

That was awesome.

[mrsekret]

Great to watch. 2 years ago I saw a plow here in Chicago going full speed slide off the road and take out a parked suv. Wish I had that on video. I guess Im going to have to start selling cars damn

[FLG]

I live in Williamsburg BK and have to currently shuffle (moms visiting) 3 Trucks, one pickup and 2 SUV's, alt side is only 2 days a week thankfully. Honestly, its not terrible...sometimes it sucks, but its not THAT bad. Especially worst case i can park under the BQE and walk a few blocks home. Manhattan? Fuggetaboutit! Queens is much easier as most houses youll have your own driveway/garage and in some areas its much less populated.

Depends on where you looking to move to exactly. Just dont think of living in Manhattan, or Downtown BK and expect to find parking.

[e30trooper]

Move to LA. You can buy 10 more cars and park all of them :D

[ME30W]

I live in Carroll Gardens in BK, and I have not found parking to be a problem at all. From time to time I have to circle around for 10 or 15 minutes, but I'm usually able to find a spot within a block or 2 of my place fairly quickly.

I would be careful about which neighborhood you move to if you are going to be parking the car outside. A friend of mine lives in Williamsburg and has had his car broken into twice.

No sense in living in Manhattan with a car, it is a HUGE pain in the ass. Plus, Brooklyn is nicer anyways.

[audiquattrot]

I've been in the same predicament. I'll tell you this from living in NYC all my life, if you want to live in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Bronx.....forget about having a car (unless its a beater you can care less about). If bumpers scars, dents don't bother you....then having a car in any of those boroughs can be done, but circling around for hours + alternate side parking will be an issue. I have a couple friends who have cars in Manhattan, and pay roughly $300-400/month for a parking space...and their cars still get damaged from tight garage spaces. My one friend pays for a space in the Lower East side, but its 10 blocks from his condo....so he has to ride his bike to fetch his car anytime he needs it.

Best thing to do if you want to keep a car, consider across the Hudson in NJ to reside. I live in Staten Island so parking isn't an issue there and I own two cars.

I'd been contemplating moving to the Carroll Gardens section of Brooklyn, but will have to sell one of my cars since having 2 will be a pain in the ass.

[u3b3rg33k]

for those living with it, how's motorcycle parking in NYC? Is it equally pointless? Just buy a scooter and be done with it?

[FLG]

Motorcycle parking is cake. Just cover/chain it up. Some areas you can get away with leaving it on the sidewalk. Just make sure you always remove your plate...they like stealing em.

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