Go Back  British Expats > Living & Moving Abroad > USA
Reload this Page >

We leave in three days for a new life in San Francisco

We leave in three days for a new life in San Francisco

Old Oct 11th 2010, 2:30 pm
  #61  
Forum Regular
 
sarahlou145's Avatar
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Walnut Creek, California
Posts: 268
sarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nice
Default Re: We leave in three days for a new life in San Francisco

Originally Posted by BadgerNaboo
Hi

We were in Burlingame on Saturday looking at cars
If you are looking for a toyota - we have a prius, i can recommend the guy we went to, we had no trouble getting credit through them, and we have referred a few expats to them since.

PS: Did get your email thanks, will reply later, things have been a bit hectic the last few days
sarahlou145 is offline  
Old Oct 11th 2010, 3:35 pm
  #62  
London-San Fran-Vancouver
Thread Starter
 
BadgerNaboo's Avatar
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 336
BadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud of
Default Re: We leave in three days for a new life in San Francisco

Originally Posted by sarahlou145
If you are looking for a toyota - we have a prius, i can recommend the guy we went to, we had no trouble getting credit through them, and we have referred a few expats to them since.

PS: Did get your email thanks, will reply later, things have been a bit hectic the last few days
We were looking at a Jeep and they do 3 years at 0% but not sure how easy this will be for us to get.

Going to look at a Honda bike in Los Gatos on Friday..
BadgerNaboo is offline  
Old Oct 11th 2010, 5:47 pm
  #63  
Forum Regular
 
sarahlou145's Avatar
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Walnut Creek, California
Posts: 268
sarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nicesarahlou145 is just really nice
Default Re: We leave in three days for a new life in San Francisco

Originally Posted by BadgerNaboo
We were looking at a Jeep and they do 3 years at 0% but not sure how easy this will be for us to get.

Going to look at a Honda bike in Los Gatos on Friday..
we werent able to get a 0% deal, we got 9.64% in the end from Toyota, also the length of the credit agreement will only be for the length remaining on your visa
sarahlou145 is offline  
Old Oct 11th 2010, 6:13 pm
  #64  
London-San Fran-Vancouver
Thread Starter
 
BadgerNaboo's Avatar
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 336
BadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud of
Default Re: We leave in three days for a new life in San Francisco

Originally Posted by sarahlou145
we werent able to get a 0% deal, we got 9.64% in the end from Toyota, also the length of the credit agreement will only be for the length remaining on your visa
Ah that's good as we have 3 years it just so we can build up some credit. It's a special offer Jeep are doing at the moment.
BadgerNaboo is offline  
Old Oct 11th 2010, 8:28 pm
  #65  
 
meauxna's Avatar
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
meauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond reputemeauxna has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: We leave in three days for a new life in San Francisco

Originally Posted by BadgerNaboo
We have full UK car and bike Licence I'm going to look at a bike on Friday. We can get insurance for the bike on our UK licence will this be ok until we take the test.
It depends on how you represent yourself to the insurance company?
You should definitely confirm with the insurance company since policies/companies may have differences.
meauxna is offline  
Old Oct 12th 2010, 6:56 pm
  #66  
London-San Fran-Vancouver
Thread Starter
 
BadgerNaboo's Avatar
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 336
BadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud of
Default Re: We leave in three days for a new life in San Francisco

Originally Posted by meauxna
It depends on how you represent yourself to the insurance company?
You should definitely confirm with the insurance company since policies/companies may have differences.
Thanks we gave them all the facts and they seemed happy enough.
BadgerNaboo is offline  
Old Oct 13th 2010, 12:36 am
  #67  
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 44
oldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud of
Default Re: We leave in three days for a new life in San Francisco

Originally Posted by sarahlou145
we took our tests at the San Mateo DMV, compared to the UK test it was really easy
Me too @ San Mateo, although I was told off and deducted a few points for 'that weird shuffling you were doing with the steering wheel' and the fact that I 'ran two stop signs with crossings in front'.

The shuffling I was told was 'not how they turn the wheel over here, where hand over hand is more advanced and safer' (apparently) and 'you're in the US now, so don't turn ever the wheel like that'.

The latter problem with stop signs/crossings was an interesting interpretation on coming to a complete stop prior to the pedestrian walkway, looking all ways before pulling forward slowly while continuing to look left and right and then continuing on my way. Seems my error was not slamming my foot down on the floor and simply pulling out as if there was no potential for other traffic to suddenly spring out from behind the parked cars that were obstructing the view. Silly me.

I almost complained about the latter given it was obvious I'd been dinged for being more careful, but it was a pass anyway. I seem to recall there had to be 8 points of failure items to fail, and of course all I cared about was passing so I thought it was best to not kick up a fuss and just take the license I had so rightfully earned.

What this really told me though is that if you drive as well as you were taught in the UK then despite some differences and some potential disagreements over higher lower/standards of driving...you'll pass.

The annoying thing for me though is that in this case, I found my older US driving license from another state a week later. The only reason I had to do the test was because it was missing, presumed lost while I had been living in Canada for the two year prior.

Read into that as...I've taken a US test twice. After doing so once you'll appreciate the diligence of the learner and test system in the UK, despite the fact that it annoyed the hell out of you when you were 17.

Over here, it's almost like all they really want you to do here is cut four tokens out from the back of a box of cornflakes and simply turn up and drive around like a crazy dude.

Incidentally, I'll always recall my original test...the guy before me wheelspun it like a teen when pulling out of the DMV, yet still passed. I was amazed by this.
oldskool is offline  
Old Oct 13th 2010, 2:20 pm
  #68  
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: From Uk, now in San Jose CA
Posts: 166
tilz has much to be proud oftilz has much to be proud oftilz has much to be proud oftilz has much to be proud oftilz has much to be proud oftilz has much to be proud oftilz has much to be proud oftilz has much to be proud oftilz has much to be proud oftilz has much to be proud oftilz has much to be proud of
Default Re: We leave in three days for a new life in San Francisco

Originally Posted by oldskool
Me too @ San Mateo, although I was told off and deducted a few points for 'that weird shuffling you were doing with the steering wheel' and the fact that I 'ran two stop signs with crossings in front'.

The shuffling I was told was 'not how they turn the wheel over here, where hand over hand is more advanced and safer' (apparently) and 'you're in the US now, so don't turn ever the wheel like that'.

The latter problem with stop signs/crossings was an interesting interpretation on coming to a complete stop prior to the pedestrian walkway, looking all ways before pulling forward slowly while continuing to look left and right and then continuing on my way. Seems my error was not slamming my foot down on the floor and simply pulling out as if there was no potential for other traffic to suddenly spring out from behind the parked cars that were obstructing the view. Silly me.

I almost complained about the latter given it was obvious I'd been dinged for being more careful, but it was a pass anyway. I seem to recall there had to be 8 points of failure items to fail, and of course all I cared about was passing so I thought it was best to not kick up a fuss and just take the license I had so rightfully earned.

What this really told me though is that if you drive as well as you were taught in the UK then despite some differences and some potential disagreements over higher lower/standards of driving...you'll pass.

The annoying thing for me though is that in this case, I found my older US driving license from another state a week later. The only reason I had to do the test was because it was missing, presumed lost while I had been living in Canada for the two year prior.

Read into that as...I've taken a US test twice. After doing so once you'll appreciate the diligence of the learner and test system in the UK, despite the fact that it annoyed the hell out of you when you were 17.

Over here, it's almost like all they really want you to do here is cut four tokens out from the back of a box of cornflakes and simply turn up and drive around like a crazy dude.

Incidentally, I'll always recall my original test...the guy before me wheelspun it like a teen when pulling out of the DMV, yet still passed. I was amazed by this.
:-) made me chuckle
tilz is offline  
Old Oct 13th 2010, 4:04 pm
  #69  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Steerpike's Avatar
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,091
Steerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: We leave in three days for a new life in San Francisco

Originally Posted by oldskool
...After doing so once you'll appreciate the diligence of the learner and test system in the UK, despite the fact that it annoyed the hell out of you when you were 17.

...
I agree with all you say above. I would make one comment about hill starts, though. On the one hand, I really appreciated the fact that in UK, they make you come to a complete stop on a hill, and then set off without any roll-back, and making good use of the handbrake. This is great training for driving in SF in a 'stick' (manual). However, it's not such good training for driving an auto. It wasn't until about 15 years later that my (US) g/f taught me a much better way to stop / start on steep hills with an automatic - simply use the left foot for the break and the right foot for gas, in much the same way that you use left foot for clutch in a stick on a hill. You really need to figure this out because in so many US automatic cars, you don't get a proper handbrake.
Steerpike is offline  
Old Oct 13th 2010, 5:00 pm
  #70  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,851
Giantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: We leave in three days for a new life in San Francisco

Originally Posted by Steerpike
However, it's not such good training for driving an auto. It wasn't until about 15 years later that my (US) g/f taught me a much better way to stop / start on steep hills with an automatic - simply use the left foot for the break and the right foot for gas, in much the same way that you use left foot for clutch in a stick on a hill. You really need to figure this out because in so many US automatic cars, you don't get a proper handbrake.
If adjusted correctly, an automatic shouldn't roll back even on an upward hill. And using the heel & toe technique is often considered safer than using two feet.
Giantaxe is offline  
Old Oct 13th 2010, 5:06 pm
  #71  
Forum Regular
 
Joined: May 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 96
OzExpat has a brilliant futureOzExpat has a brilliant futureOzExpat has a brilliant futureOzExpat has a brilliant futureOzExpat has a brilliant futureOzExpat has a brilliant futureOzExpat has a brilliant futureOzExpat has a brilliant future
Default Re: We leave in three days for a new life in San Francisco

I did the test at the SF DMV (Fell St.)

It was RIDICULOUSLY easy. Basically just a drive around the block with a few stop signs.
OzExpat is offline  
Old Oct 13th 2010, 5:43 pm
  #72  
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 44
oldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud ofoldskool has much to be proud of
Default Re: We leave in three days for a new life in San Francisco

Originally Posted by OzExpat
I did the test at the SF DMV (Fell St.)

It was RIDICULOUSLY easy. Basically just a drive around the block with a few stop signs.
Same at San Mateo, thus I think my advice over tests is just to do it where convenient and not avoid a specific location. They don't appear to take you on difficult roads.

The only place I would advise different is Salt Lake City. One of the DMV's there (actually out in the burbs not the city itself) has an off road course and the advice among ex-pats was to go there because it was even easier than the road test.

To be honest, the off road test was kind of a joke - they'd built a fake railroad crossing with permanent red flashing lights and everything. The general advice was to just stop at the railroad and sit there like a dumbass until you're told 'it's okay, there's really no train and one will never come along so go ahead and jump the light now, but don't do this in real life'. Apparently if you stopped and even said, well, no train and crossed yourself they would fail you.

The reverse park on this course, was pretty much a lay-by size area to reverse into. You could easily get a lorry in it.

Of course the other joke over here is often the written test, which in many states they give you the highway code book to reference as you do it. Absolutely no revision or study is required, you just have to be able to look things up!

Last edited by oldskool; Oct 13th 2010 at 7:30 pm.
oldskool is offline  
Old Oct 14th 2010, 3:33 am
  #73  
BE Forum Addict
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 4,913
md95065 has a reputation beyond reputemd95065 has a reputation beyond reputemd95065 has a reputation beyond reputemd95065 has a reputation beyond reputemd95065 has a reputation beyond reputemd95065 has a reputation beyond reputemd95065 has a reputation beyond reputemd95065 has a reputation beyond reputemd95065 has a reputation beyond reputemd95065 has a reputation beyond reputemd95065 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: We leave in three days for a new life in San Francisco

Originally Posted by Giantaxe
If adjusted correctly, an automatic shouldn't roll back even on an upward hill. And using the heel & toe technique is often considered safer than using two feet.
Parallel parking on a steep hill in San Francisco can be challenging, however, regardless of the type of transmission.

Until very recently I had a Toyota MR2 with sequential manual transmission and it took me quite a while to fully master the art of hill starts and parking with it ...
md95065 is offline  
Old Oct 14th 2010, 4:42 pm
  #74  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Steerpike's Avatar
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,091
Steerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: We leave in three days for a new life in San Francisco

Originally Posted by Giantaxe
If adjusted correctly, an automatic shouldn't roll back even on an upward hill. And using the heel & toe technique is often considered safer than using two feet.
I rent a lot of cars while traveling; my conclusion is, the bigger american cars behave the way you describe but the smaller cars, and Japanese cars, don't. Now, maybe they all will work that way on 'typical' hills, but SF does have some challenging ones!
Steerpike is offline  
Old Oct 14th 2010, 5:32 pm
  #75  
London-San Fran-Vancouver
Thread Starter
 
BadgerNaboo's Avatar
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 336
BadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud ofBadgerNaboo has much to be proud of
Default Re: We leave in three days for a new life in San Francisco

A lot of people I have been speaking to have driven in SF on a Canadian / UK licence for years anyone on this thread done that?
BadgerNaboo is offline  

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.