Moving to Toronto
#121
Re: Moving to Toronto
Can I get away with it if I put 'Just passed' on the car ?
I did that the first 2 years i passed my test. Every time (not often thank God)
I did something which irritated the other driver 'I would say sorry I only passed my test last week' ! They were very nice and sympthetic after that.
You guys are scaring about driving in Toronto ?
I was told one needs to have a car in Canada like USA, otherwise you are stuck !
I did that the first 2 years i passed my test. Every time (not often thank God)
I did something which irritated the other driver 'I would say sorry I only passed my test last week' ! They were very nice and sympthetic after that.
You guys are scaring about driving in Toronto ?
I was told one needs to have a car in Canada like USA, otherwise you are stuck !
#122
Wanna-be Canadian
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 176
Re: Moving to Toronto
The first time I mentioned to a few Canadians that we were thinking of moving to Scarborough if/when we move to Canada there was a deathly silence... a few moments passed and then some one whispered "Scarberia". Enough said.
The driving is TO is poor, as is the general condition of the road surfaces, but 'cos you will be mostly driving slowly 'cos of traffic, it isn't that bad. Just remember that most drivers seem to have little road awareness or consideration for you and others and you'll be OK. In fact, many drivers in NA seem to have a death wish.
As others have said, I reckon that if you lived downtown near the Metro, or second best, near a streetcar (tram) route you wouldn't really need a car if you basically stayed in the city. Friends of ours over there do have a very old, and very cheap to buy, Jeep, which they only use to do a 'big shop' and for occasional days out and weekends away. Most of the time it sits in their parking bay gathering dust. I'm sure you could get by using the Metro & streetcars, and a cab for grocery shopping, and a rental if and when you need it.
M.
The driving is TO is poor, as is the general condition of the road surfaces, but 'cos you will be mostly driving slowly 'cos of traffic, it isn't that bad. Just remember that most drivers seem to have little road awareness or consideration for you and others and you'll be OK. In fact, many drivers in NA seem to have a death wish.
As others have said, I reckon that if you lived downtown near the Metro, or second best, near a streetcar (tram) route you wouldn't really need a car if you basically stayed in the city. Friends of ours over there do have a very old, and very cheap to buy, Jeep, which they only use to do a 'big shop' and for occasional days out and weekends away. Most of the time it sits in their parking bay gathering dust. I'm sure you could get by using the Metro & streetcars, and a cab for grocery shopping, and a rental if and when you need it.
M.
#123
Re: Moving to Toronto
Can I get away with it if I put 'Just passed' on the car ?
I did that the first 2 years i passed my test. Every time (not often thank God)
I did something which irritated the other driver 'I would say sorry I only passed my test last week' ! They were very nice and sympthetic after that.
You guys are scaring about driving in Toronto ?
I was told one needs to have a car in Canada like USA, otherwise you are stuck !
I did that the first 2 years i passed my test. Every time (not often thank God)
I did something which irritated the other driver 'I would say sorry I only passed my test last week' ! They were very nice and sympthetic after that.
You guys are scaring about driving in Toronto ?
I was told one needs to have a car in Canada like USA, otherwise you are stuck !
The truth is because of the grid system you are often sitting at traffic lights. Definately get an automatic that will chill the experience.
There are no round-a-bouts. On suburban streets there are 4 ways stops, they are easy.
There are hardly even roads with bends in. I used to joke with my Canadian freinds saying they wouldn't cope on bendy roads.
I hate driving in the UK because our roads, mainly in London and city centres constantly shift between one and two lanes and people always park their cars in stupid places so people cutting in, trying to get one up etc happens all the time. This stress completely went away in Canada with most city roads being 3 lanes wide and it being obvious which lane you need to be in to go where.
Also in the UK when you are driving to places and you cannot find them or go past them, it is a pain in the arse figuring out where to turn round and how to get back. This problem is easily solved with the grid system.
The motorway in Canada can be scary, you get heavy duty vehicles in all lanes and I used to hate it when I was in the middle lane between two trucks and used to get clear quickly!
They do not understand breaking distances in North America and they are not the best at indicating. Also no one ever thanks anyone for anything on the road.
If you understand breaking distances you will be fine. The great thing with Canada is there is lots of car parks outside of places which always makes taking your car so much easier.
Anyway my experience of driving in Toronto was a positive one.
I will point out the one thing that annoyed me was when I bought the car from the dealer they then added tax on, and when I sold the car I did not get that back so I automatically lost 15%(I think it was) plus the 1 years depreciation. Also as a new driver in Canada I got clobbered for insurance, my years of no claims in the UK meant nothing.
Anyway to summarise, I thought driving was easier but as a new driver it is going to cost you.
Last edited by JamesM; Dec 4th 2008 at 10:50 am. Reason: My spelling is terrible
#125
Re: Moving to Toronto
The problem with that is most of the cost of operating a car in Toronto is fixed, you have to pay for the license and insurance whether it moves or not. $2,500 a year would pay for a lot of taxis back from the 'big shop'.
#126
Re: Moving to Toronto
#127
Re: Moving to Toronto
My sister in law lives in Ottawa. As a trendy urbanite she doesn't own a car but is part of a car-sharing scheme http://www.vrtucar.com/ Anything similar exist in TO?
#128
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 137
Re: Moving to Toronto
In GTA you can do without car. With car is surely easier, but everything depends on where exactly you live and work. It's actually the same in Europe. Be organized, get used to the transport net and schedule, and you can actually save time (reading a book or doing other things while someone else is driving you).
#129
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 26,319
Re: Moving to Toronto
I've been to all three and they seem nice places.
#130
Re: Moving to Toronto
There are a couple of places northwest of Toronto named for being horrible. Catholics settlers could find no place better than a swamp and a barren hilltop. They called one Luther and the other Melancthon.
#131
Re: Moving to Toronto
A recent example. Last week I wanted to turn from Jarvis Street right on to the Gardiner ramp but the traffic was at a halt. I walked up to see what the problem was and found that some fellow had driven his Nissan Ennui into another's Honda Drearyness. They were fretting over scratches on the bumper. I pointed out that their collision was not a matter of interest to the cars backed up behind them and suggested that they take their problems elsewhere. The English speaking one demurred. I put my case more forcefully pointing out that neither of the vehicles was of great value to the world and that, as Asians, the two drivers were fated to bang them into objects; one more or less shouldn't really matter. The English speaking one raised his fist, as people are prone to do in traffic jams. By now we'd been joined by a crowd of disgruntled motorists and some scuffling ensued. Not a big deal but an irksome delay and typical of my commute.
However I am saddened that someone can make a clearly racist comment on this site and only one person makes a comment. I would like to think that such comments have no place on British Expats.
#132
Re: Moving to Toronto
I believe that Asians, in the American sense, not Asians in the UK sense, drive in a manner incompatible with the operation of vehicles powered by internal combustion engines. I know that's the stereotype and I believe it to be so because it's true. Is your assertion that there are no ethnic differences in driving style and competence or that there are such differences but one should not say so?
#133
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,782
Re: Moving to Toronto
I have found this thread really useful as I also am looking at moving to Toronto in the near furture and there has been some great advice here on where to live.
However I am saddened that someone can make a clearly racist comment on this site and only one person makes a comment. I would like to think that such comments have no place on British Expats.
However I am saddened that someone can make a clearly racist comment on this site and only one person makes a comment. I would like to think that such comments have no place on British Expats.
I suppose that if everyone went back to where they came from, the country would be empty.
#134
Re: Moving to Toronto
I believe that Asians, in the American sense, not Asians in the UK sense, drive in a manner incompatible with the operation of vehicles powered by internal combustion engines. I know that's the stereotype and I believe it to be so because it's true. Is your assertion that there are no ethnic differences in driving style and competence or that there are such differences but one should not say so?
Stereotypes exist over here like that for a reason, nothing to do with being racist, the 401 problems are mainly down to issues like this with certain drivers from certain areas of the world, its not a secret, everyone I speak to and know all seems to know this, the OH's chinese brother in law will be the 1st to admit it and refuses to drive in TO because he is useless at it!
#135
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,782
Re: Moving to Toronto
Couldnt agree more!!!
Stereotypes exist over here like that for a reason, nothing to do with being racist, the 401 problems are mainly down to issues like this with certain drivers from certain areas of the world, its not a secret, everyone I speak to and know all seems to know this, the OH's chinese brother in law will be the 1st to admit it and refuses to drive in TO because he is useless at it!
Stereotypes exist over here like that for a reason, nothing to do with being racist, the 401 problems are mainly down to issues like this with certain drivers from certain areas of the world, its not a secret, everyone I speak to and know all seems to know this, the OH's chinese brother in law will be the 1st to admit it and refuses to drive in TO because he is useless at it!