What is Colorado Springs like?

Ski slopes are easier to get to. You don't have to get on I70 until you get to Dillon. Some you don't have to get on I70 at all. 70 is a nightmare on weekends from Denver.

 

I lived by the Costco in Fort Collins for a short time and it was nice to be close to the Loveland basin and just throw my shit into my 4Runner and go snowboarding after work. College girls in bikinis on the slopes was a nice thing too.

 

This is the main problem that I've had out of Colorado Springs this year. Before we moved out here my daughters car got some hail damage on it and I had it repaired for $3500. Looked brand new once they were done.

After moving here, within the first month this is what her car looks like now.

Sorry. Not the greatest picture since the car is white. This was the same storm that I posted the video of earlier where it was golf ball size hail for over an hour. How my van doesn't look like this I've no idea?



So now it's almost like "what's the use in fixing it again just for it to get beat up again". I'd say that at least half (probably more) of the cars out here have moderate to severe hail damage. Her A/C evaporator core went out in her car back in July so that cost me $3000 to fix since they had to take the entire dash apart. I seriously thought about just buying her a new WRX for the AWD. But then it's like "why??". It's just going to get beat up.

 

ye

ya its weird. my rtt has hail damage but my truck doesnt. the only time my rtt is outside is when its on my truck, so they were both in the same storm. guess the exteriors of tacomas are a little tougher? doubt it

 

I think the same thing goes with the van. The hood on the Mercedes is relatively small and it is pretty thick metal. But I still got a few very small dents that only I can see. It bugs "me" but it could have been much worse. The solar panels on top of the van are military grade so I don't worry as much about them. The roof of the van I could care less about since you can't see the roof anyway. And there are some small dents on the roof when it was converted and they cut and drilled all the holes for the Maxxair fan, the A/C, etc... And I suppose since it is so flat on the sides that it would have to literally be blowing hard for it to damage the sides of the van.

But my daughters car has such a flat roof that it is a hail magnet. Her hood is pretty beat up also. It's been a strange year as far as weather goes here that's for sure. There was well over a week that we never even saw Pikes Peak due to the weather. I feel sorry for anyone that traveled through this area wanting to see Pikes Peak during that time.

 

Oh... On a side note for everyone that has much more experience out here than I do. What would be the best tires to put on my daughters car? I suppose snow tires would be best and just switch them out in the spring. But I'd like something that is a good all season tire that will perform well in the snow if that tire even exists? Any recommendations would be appreciated.

*EDIT* Her car is front wheel drive.

 

Does she have a job or commitments that require her to travel on snowy streets? If not good all season tires will be fine and she can just not drive for the day or two when there’s snow. That’s the benefit of this area - it snows but is gone and 60° again two days later.

 

Yeah, she works at UPS in Mounment which is only a 10 min drive from where she lives. But she has to be there anywhere from 4am to 4:30am depending on the day. She generally gets off of work around 9am - 10am each day Tues - Sat. College isn't as big of a deal since it isn't that far away and if the weather is terrible she can miss a day or so. But she will have to be at UPS.

 

Thank you very much for the information!

 

Since she has commitments she can’t miss and a 2WD car I’d suggest a dedicated snow tire.

 

I guess the only problem is finding a place to store the tires she has on the car right now. I'm just not sure how much it actually snows here in the winter since we've never spent a winter here before.

 

There's normally a day or two that's bad. I think 4-8 inches in a night/day depending on where you were last may. It all melts in a day or two though and the interstate is only bad with other drivers

 

https://gazette.com/news/more-than-...cle_9056f158-458a-11e9-9974-53e3ebdd484a.html


https://www.koaa.com/weather/weather-science/dangerous-arctic-outbreak-impacts-colorado-this-week

not trying to scare you. weather changes quick here. welcome

 

that bomb cyclone was something else for sure. it hasn't been that bad since, but we have gotten close a couple times

 

Military? Drive a Tacoma? You’ll fit right in

For real though, it’s pretty alright. As people have said. There is no ‘city’ aside from a few blocks downtown. Tallest building likely less than 20 stories. Biggest lot you’ll find is less than an acre.

I also would never live anywhere near Fountain (hail and not great area imo) or Falcon (almost 1.5 hours away to get to the mtn’s, meh schools, and just a glorified suburb). The Springs is really a spot you have to visit before buying or renting. One block can have nice, million dollar homes next to meth houses.

As far as school systems go, I feel like I can weigh in from the other side of things. I am a public school teacher (not a parent) so my perspective may not be the same as yours. With that said, if I were sending my kid to school in town it would vary from school to school within a district. Feel free to dm me any questions regarding schools but I would say some of the better options would be a select few in D20 (academy), D12 (Cheyenne Mtn), and D14 (Manitou Springs).

 

This outweighs putting up with snow. My view of pikes peak from the mailbox.

 

Finally got the van washed after about 2 months of camping and quite a lot of rain. It was completely covered with dirt and mud. Finally got a good look at the hood and there is about 10 small hail dents on the hood. I'm the only one that would really notice them since the hood is matte paint but it still bugs me. Is what it is... Starting to feel like this is a rite of passage for living in Colorado Springs.

Getting ready to go on a week or two trip down to Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and just stopping in all the towns we've passed through but never got to explore since we were always just passing through on our way to a destination due to having to be back for work. I've spent countless numbers of days in Durango, Silverton, and Ouray but it's been about 3 years since I've been back to Ouray and Silverton. Figure we'll go up to Animas Forks North of Silverton. IIRC, there is a campground in Eureka so we'll probably stay there for a couple days.

 

Just shit out of luck. The hail storms happen at all hours, but my 10+ years here seems to say more commonly in early evening…while your vehicle is parked outside at work (or on base for you?).

I’m a southerner who’s live a hand full of places around the country…Colorado Springs in pretty decent, but far from great as a city. Location wise in the state, it’s a really decent balance. Decades of exploring and adventures to be had within a few hours, it’s busy but not Denver/Atlanta busy. It’s expensive, but still not yet offensively so if you have a decent job (for the most part).

The politics are balanced, sways this way or that way at times.

Overall, I love it here and I think most do, even if we shit on certain aspects of it.

I live on the west side and love it, a little more chill vibe than the east or north side. You said you want a bit rural, so I’ll speak to those areas a bit:

If you want a bit of a country vibe, but with no break in traffic, check out Falcon area.

If you want land, but a 45-60 minute commute, check out Calhan/Yoder/Penrose or outskirts of Fountain.

If you want mountain and rural-ish, Green Mountain Falls/Woodland Park or further west.

If you want crime, 60 minute commutes BUT cheap living, risk Pueblo (Pueblo West for a bit better experience).

If budget isn’t a problem, go to Black Forest.

 

Ugh... Pueblo.... The Pine Bluff (Arkansas) of Colorado