New Michigander...HELP!

[BigRed66]

Of all the places this native NE Ohioan would least want to live (outside of Pittsburgh), Michigan would be 1B to Pittspuke's 1A. Truth of the matter is, yes, I HATE the Wolverines, and can tolerate the Tigers as an Indians fan. I'm a diehard Browns fan, but have always, as far back as I can remember, liked the Lions in the NFC. Getting to see Barry Sanders on Saturdays in Stillwater in '87 and '88 solidified that. I don't like the Pistons, as I'm a Cavaliers guy, and when the NHL left Cleveland for good in 1978, I turned to the Red Wings and learned to love the Penguins when Mario came to town. So there IS some love for Michigan there...

That said, I will, as of January 11th, 2010, be an official resident of The Wolverine State. My job here is being sent to Sterling Heights, MI. I have gotten an apartment in Romeo, and when my wife and daughters migrate north come July `10, we'll look in Bruce Twp., Armada Twp., or Richmond Twp. for our house.

So, one of the things I want to know is, what can I expect to pay for license plates? I understand it is based on the car's "suggested retail value". Kelly Blue Book says my car is worth $8475. What is the ratio of value:plate fee? I can't find it anywhere on the Michigan Secretary of State website. Anyone know?

I am looking forward to the Romeo Ice Fest at the end of January and the Peach Festival in September. That, and my daughters will love the Macomb Orchard Trail to ride bikes on.

It's just that I'm a Buckeye. I'll be a stranger in a strange land. Michiganders: sell me your state's virtues. I know about the U.P. and Detroit metro/Windsor...what else can I look forward to?

Thanks,
Matt

[motorcitydak]

Sweet, your work is not too far from me and Romeo is a nice, out of the way, area. Its mostly farmers out there. I do not think that license fees are all that much, yours will prob be 150 or so Id guess. Mine are 105 iirc, but I doubt my truck is worth 8500 in their eyes. Its worth more with what I have done to it, but they don't care about that. The fees , im pretty sure, are based on what the vehicle sold for brand new tho. I know mine have never changed in the 6 years ive had the truck.

You can expect shitty roads everywhere and tons of doom and gloom on the news. I wouldn't suggest even watching it. The wings rock and have an awesome fan club everywhere they go. If your daughter likes bike trails, she will also LOVE Stoney Creek, check that one out on google. Its a local metro park with tons of stuff to do.

[chargerboy69]

So you are the two guys who have jobs in Michigan.  

You can expect shitty roads everywhere

As I live in Fort Wayne Indiana I am through Michigan on a weekly basis.  Mostly in the Detroit, Flint and Lansing areas.  This statement about the roads is most certainly true. At least I94 is getting some long needed repair.

As a side note, I am a long time Steeler fan.

[R2]

Mancini Racing is close by,,,good shop for all kinds of Mopar stuff,,,saves on shipping since you can just drive there
Best Machine Racing, Muscle Motors, Modern Cylinder Head,,etc,,,,good engine, mopar shops close by
Mopars at Milan Dragway,,,,usually have at least 1 or 2 events during the year
Woodward Cruise, Donut Cutters,,etc,,,the week of Woodward cruise,,,there are alot of Mopar guys out there cruising
Chrysler Museum,,,lots of old cars,,,displays
Greenfield Village
AutoRama @ Cobo hall,,,,

[4cruzin]

Yes we only have 2 seasons here in Michigan . . . winter and construction.  But close to the Mopar Nats, Carlisle is within reach . . . plenty of lakes . . . fishing . . . lots of car shows in the summer . . . frankenmuth auto fest is great . . . and as stated above . . . many auto parts suppliers are here in Michigan.  A friend of mine that I bowl with works at Mancini's and you can score some good deals and save shipping.   

[Troy]

Boy I'm glad the roads came up first. If you ever thought Ohio roads were bad you'll be praising them the second you hit the Michigan border. My honest opinion is that Cleveland is only slightly higher than Detroit on places I don't want to live - although I seem to be there on a regular basis. The Chrysler and Ford museums are pretty cool and there's lots of car related stuff. I don't know what else is there to keep families happy though.

Troy

[stripedelete]

Michigan? Spent a year there one winter.

You are going to be within "weekend" reach of one of the best summer vacation regions in the country. The Lake Erie Islands and the Bay are nice, but nothing compared to northern Michigan.  Several hours drive in the Charger to a lake cottage.  Life doesn't get any better than that. Take advantage it!  

Fellow Buckeye

[BrianShaughnessy]

  Grew up in Armada,   we went to Romeo to try to find some excitement... they had a McDonalds.  For the big time we went to Richmond... they had a Burger King.

  Armada hasn't changed all that much.  It's still a small farm kinda town.   There's a flea market every Sunday,  a fair in August and people coming through in the fall to pick apples.   A boring fairly safe place to bring up a family.

  The people in town are nice and it's simple.   If you want to go to the movies you have to drive someplace else... like just about everything else you might need - except tractor parts or apples.

   I went to Romeo for voc-ed classes way back when every morning for Jr/Sr. year.  Nice schools.  Probably a  lot more congested now but it's a straight shot up Van Dyke / M59 from Sterling Heights.

   I had a lot of friends in Sterling Heights, they probably all moved out by now.   It's way overgrown that it was back then. 

   But congratulations on being able to move out of the state of living hell on earth.   No place on earth I'd rather not be than f'ing Ohio      That's coming from a guy that moved to NY for a job at HAL in '82.   

[0X01B8]

Well, my plates for the Dodge are about $65.  I think it's based on weight because it's so old.

We've got bad roads, high unemployment, and the MILFiest governor of all them all, Jennifer Granholm.  She was on TVs The Dating Game in the 70s. And we have the Great Lakes, which are the largest fresh water lakes in all of the galaxy.

If you like to shoot deer, we have plenty, so don't be shy.

If you go up north there's fudge, one of the coolest suspension bridges, and Canadians, although they're actually part of America.

If you go west to Grand Rapids there are churches, Amway, and furniture.  Then a little south you'll find breakfast cereal and pop-tarts.

Flint has crime, Roger Moore, and a nice airport.  Go north and west and you'll get Traverse City and cherries, or cranberries, or some sort of marble sized, red fruit.

Lansing has state government and some GM plants that build assorted Cadillacs and crossover SUVs like the Acadia.  Right next door is East Lansing, home of the Michigan State Spartans.  They invented the Final Four riot long before it became fashionable.  Shit, we were burning couches and turning over cop cars in the 80s for a sweet sixteen victory, for Pete's sake.

You can root for them.

[Ghoste]

Flint has crime, Roger Moore, and a nice airport. 

I think you mean Micheal Moore but it's an honest mistake since his first film was titled "Roger and Me".

[teddy1500]

You people live there, and no one mentioned Greektown? How abot 2 weeks of fireworks for the 4th of July?, Mount Clemons isn't bad, they still have cruise nights on wensday? Gratiot is hot on friday, whats that bowling alley at 13 mile? They had a cruise night. Pampa too. You got to check out the metro parks, a$20.00 parking sticker, and use of all the park, all year long. Sure, the economy sucks, the roads are turning to dust, but Detroit Rocks. Don't miss the "Downtown Hoedown", its free, and Canada is right across the river, a very nice place, very european.