Mods: I know parts of this are not Thirdgen related but there should be enough on topic material to keep it unlocked.

Ok this weekend was my first trip to Raleigh, NC and I wasn't overly impressed. Not to upset anyone I am not saying it isn't a nice place just that my tour guide was almost lost as I was.

I am looking at relocating from MD for various reasons but one of the things I like about MD is the thirdgen community here. We have very friendly and knowledgeable people.
What is the community in NC like?
I have been searching this board and see that alot of you are in the GMMOC. So I am assume this is a Thirdgen friendly club, right?

Also what alre the local past times? (parks?, car shows?, beach?)

Depending on why your relocating, if it doesn't have to be the Raleigh area, why don't you try Charlotte. I think its alot nicer than Raleigh. We got the Panthers, Bobcats next season, AAA baseball, minor league hockey Charlotte auto Fair twice a year at Lowes Motor Speedway supposedly one of the largest car shows in the country and of course NASCAR racing and lots of other stuff to do. About the 3rdgen community, Im not sure. I have never really looked for any but I know there are a few clubs that meet nearby. SO if you don't have to move to the Raleigh area visit the Charlotte area.

I'm not locked in to Raleigh it was just the first place I went. I'm trying to avoid the larger cities. Traffic is one of the biggest reasons I'm leaving the Washington DC Area.

Is traffic in Charlotte bad? I noticed it's almost 10* hotter in NC than MD. The thought of being stuck in traffic while sitting in a thirdgen with a broken AC system in NC heat is not appealing.

How about Greensboro? It's a bit smaller than Raleigh, but still pretty big. Night life is good, but of course, not as big as Raleigh or Charlotte. We're right between charlotte and Raleigh, and with Winston Salem and High Point right next to us, we're "almost" as big of an area as the others.

I've been here 8 years, and here's what I've noticed.
-Charlotte is the most fun to go and spend a weekend downtown, but I would NOT want to live there. Kinda too big for it's own britches. Kinda dirty too. Lot's of smog compared to Raleigh or Greensboro. It has the biggest downtown.
-Raleigh probably has the best job market, and it's MUCH cleaner than Charlotte...a lot prettier too.
-Greensboro has no where near the night life of either Charlotte or Raleigh because it's smaller, but it's easily the nicest area to live. It one in the top ten nicest cities to live in back in 1991. It's centrally located between the two, so you can easily travel to both in about an hour and 15 minutes.

Raleigh has a very big 4th gen community. Not such a big 3rd gen community.

The GMMOC is very friendly to thirdgenners. I'd say it's probably at LEAST 1/3 thirdgens, and about half f-bodies in general. It's a GREAT group of people. We are currently trying to push the club from just a loose club with minor events, to a full fledged group that has fund-raisers for charities, and regular shows, and picnics. Check out our message board:

http://gmmoc.ibforums.com/

Traffics not too bad but is getting worse. Our highways are all being built with traffic data from the 70's so the new highways are outdated before there even built. I don't have A/C either. It is hot and humid though during the summer. I have managed for the last five years w/o it. Always have the t-tops off.


Charlottes not all that big. You can get to anywhere within the area in a pretty decent time. I don't think its dirty at all or smoggy like Abubaca said above. Although I heard we have some of the worst air quality in the nation from auto emissions, but its not like there is a cloud of smog hanging around like the big cities. I do think its one of the cleanest cities around in terms of appearance.
I am origianlly from the Chicago area so its a HUGE night and day difference.


You could always move on the outskirts of the county in the much less populated areas and South Carolina and still be within minutes of the city and eveything it has to offer. If you do look around here check out the Southeast portion of Charlotte, Union county and even South Carolina for some nice places to live that aren't that congested.

I only meant in comparison to Raleigh and GSO.

Thanks guys really appreciate the help
1/3 Thirgen! Wow now that's a club I have to check out.

I'll be heading back down on the 24th to do some more scouting so I'll def check out Greensboro, then stroll on down to Charlotte.

I know I just didn't want him to get the wrong idea of Charlotte just incase he missed the comparison.

Well to tell you one thing there are a couple of third gen based companies down here in/near Charlotte F-Body Motorsports, and then the used car lot/parts place my dad is starting and we deal alot with third gens.

I havent gotten involved in the third gen community so not so sure. Most of the time my third gen was a pos but not going there.

Charlotte is relatively nice, ive lived here for 5 years, the weather is somewhat hot and humid but its like that in most places down here.

Where is it going to be? I think I just told you in another post but I live in the Ballantyne area.

Hey a used car lot that will deal with Thirdgens - that's reason enough to move right there

Now onto the job search...this should be interesting..I will post and let you guys know how it's going.

Oh and I signed up with the GMMOC Forums as Coor Runner.
I'll be cruising with you guys pretty soon