Will my Fiat 500 survive in Omaha?!

[Furious_Rose]

I am moving to Omaha from Los Angeles in October. I've never been to Omaha, but my boss used to live there and she liked it, so I'm taking a chance and hoping for the best. California has finally priced me out of the rental market; I knew it would happen eventually.

I've been reading about the weather in Omaha, and I don't know if my car would make it through the snow and/or freezing temperatures.

I have a Fiat 500, which is not a rugged automobile by any stretch of the imagination.

Does it snow a lot in Omaha? Do you think I should trade my Fiat for a truck?

I don't want to go skidding off into a ditch once I get there . . .

[U R my Helix]

Yes the road ditches in in Omaha are filled with ice and snow in the winter. You will need a truck to drive across them.

[U R my Helix]

Sorry I wasn't wearing my welcome to Omaha hat. There are actually curbs here like most places the ditches along most Omaha streets have been filled in long ago except for the big one in the middle of downtown and they are working on that now. You will need to watch out because in the spring we do get big potholes and they like to eat little cars. This just wont cut it in my opinion. Welcome.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

Welcome! My wife has owned a Fiat 500 for the past 7 years, most of which have been in Chicago winters which are worse than Omaha's. It hasn't given us any problems in the snow, cold, or even with potholes. It's probably slightly better than my Jetta for winter driving. Your 500 will be perfectly fine for Omaha winters.

Some people may tell you you need a truck or SUV for the winter. They're completely unnecessary, especially considering many trucks and SUVs are front wheel drive now anyway which is no different than a Fiat. For urban driving, trucks and SUVs don't provide much more than a false sense of confidence. One of my roommates in Chicago managed to get his Grand Cherokee stuck in the alley behind our apartment.

That said, it might be a good idea to see if your 500 has all-season tires. If not, you should get some. If the snow really makes you anxious, you can get a set of snow tires to swap out in the winter but that can get expensive.

[jessep28]

Plenty of people drive small cars year around in Omaha without issue. You'll be fine. The main challenge for you will be learning how to drive on snow and ice. Running snow and ice tires in the winter helps.

If the roads are bad enough during a snow event to require a pickup truck, then people really shouldn't be out driving.

[Uffda]

I have been driving a 2012 Veloster in Omaha for the last 7 years. I did have some snow tires that I put on once snow hit as I lived on a steep hill but most times I didn't need them.

[Furious_Rose]

Thanks for all the input! Maybe I will take public transportation when it snows. Ha

[RockHarbor]

You're not moving to Yellowknife, Canada -- or "Moose, Alaska", or Siberia. Yes, it's Nebraska, but it's a warmer and less snowier Nebraska then ever before (with the exception of this last year). And, when you get to Omaha, you'll see plenty of Fiats at dealerships all lined up for Omahans to buy. Nobody is "all worried about it" in Omaha. It's funny the perspectives people have. Course, I run into Californians here w/ similar perspectives all the time.

Los Angeles: The city doesn't have the exciting edge it used to have, imo. I would leave it, too. I hear it's nothing but overpriced rents, and wealthy foreigners buying up a second home. Stars live there less & less. Downtown has this surge of condo towers going up, almost like they are desperately trying to create the frenzy Downtown Seattle has because of Amazon -- but its not happening. What a strange, conflicted palmy city, losing its luster. It doesn't seem the same to me. I'm no longer fascinated w/ CA cities, I think. They are not quite "colorful kaleidoscopes" anymore, imo. (Note: Laguna Niguel in Orange County has all these homes bought by wealthy Chinese people, I hear, who rent them out to other Chinese, so a woman can come to the states and have her baby here. Thought that was interesting.)

Anyways, glad you're trying out Omaha. Maybe you'll love it.

Let me guess: You're going to ignore my post, while sounding friendly & responsive to the others. (Yawn -- used to it. People who think they are "something special" often don't like other similar type people that talk/walk like they are, too, I've found. It's a double standard...)

Omaha is filled w/ plenty of people who are in "Los Angeles mode", btw. If you happen to be some aggressive "CA girl w/ a big attitude" who wants to make a "big splash" in smaller Omaha, and you think you're gonna pull into town with your attractive "California edge" and laughable "Sunbelt car" that will create cute conversation and laughter with some "NE farmer boy", you're probably in for a surprise. You're gonna find girls like you already there in town -- and maybe they will even drive a Fiat, like you.

You're from California? So what. Nobody cares anymore. Nobody's impressed. Nobody laughs and questions in meekness & humility, making you feel validated "Why did you move here, to Nebraska?" People KNOW why a Californian has just moved there, just like native Phoenix, Denver, Portland, and Boise people know. And, people don't think you're "better" or have moved from someplace "better." That California perspective is gone. Maybe they would have reacted like that in Omaha 20-30 years ago. Nowadays, Clooney comes to town with Matt Damon, to film a movie, and I would say 80% of the town doesn't even care.

Lol. I sound kinda mean. But, I'm just flat-out laying out the real Omaha nowadays, beyond your car/snow question. Vanity-filled social media, the internet, 24 hour cable, the same stores everwhere, creates a vibe and up-with-the-times aspect to Omaha that is much like anywhere else anymore. Are people nicer and less flakey there than in Miami or LA? Sure. But, its not as different as you may think from California -- especially not as different as it used to be. Maybe that is a good thing for you to hear...

[Uffda]

Furious_Rose - welcome to Omaha. Your car will do fine and not all will rant post.

[RockHarbor]

Oh, I'm sure she's so worried about a "rant post" with a name like "Furious Rose."

And, I did welcome her to Omaha.

Some of us don't have simple little mindsets (that almost seem nerdy to me nowadays, maybe because Im jaded a bit) that produce usual, predictable comments like "Welcome to Omaha! Your Fiat will do just fine here! I have a similar car. Hee hee. Can I point to the chamber? Ooops, my zipper is down. Sorry! We're all nerds here. Can you make us somehow cooler, CA girl?"

And, who just picks up and moves to Omaha from Los Angeles, just because their L.A. boss had lived in Omaha, and liked it. What is the real story?

[GenX]

Your 500 will do just fine, and if you decide you don't want it anymore, there are plenty of buyers in Omaha for a car like that. Welcome to Omaha, you'll love it here!

[GrandpaaSmucker]

I have been driving a 2012 Veloster in Omaha for the last 7 years. I did have some snow tires that I put on once snow hit as I lived on a steep hill but most times I didn't need them.

You take that car out on a day where there has been a 5 or 6 inch snow and you will be high centered on the first snow drift you hit. Then if some one comes along and hits you you could be splatted.

[Furious_Rose]

Oh, I'm sure she's so worried about a "rant post" with a name like "Furious Rose."

And, I did welcome her to Omaha.

Some of us don't have simple little mindsets (that almost seem nerdy to me nowadays, maybe because Im jaded a bit) that produce usual, predictable comments like "Welcome to Omaha! Your Fiat will do just fine here! I have a similar car. Hee hee. Can I point to the chamber? Ooops, my zipper is down. Sorry! We're all nerds here. Can you make us somehow cooler, CA girl?"

And, who just picks up and moves to Omaha from Los Angeles, just because their L.A. boss had lived in Omaha, and liked it. What is the real story?

My username is Furious_Rose because when I went to an anagram website one time, it rearranged the letters in my first and last name, and that's what it came up with. If you include my middle name, it would also include variations of Furious Urine, which I found even less tasteful. I have to move because I am very low income and I can't afford to live in Los Angeles anymore. My landlord died (he was almost 100 years old) and his son took over as landlord, raising the rent by 50%, which effectively evicts me. I don't have family to help me out, and although I have friends, I would never ask for financial help, and therefore, I find myself getting squeezed out of the state. Life didn't really work out the way I thought it would, but I am trying to make the best of it. I don't have a problem being completely transparent, so if there's anything else you want to know, feel free to ask.

[GrandpaaSmucker]

I don't have a problem being completely transparent, so if there's anything else you want to know, feel free to ask.

Why does someone from a legendary cool state want to move to a red neck state like Nebraska? Many Californians move to Colorado but very few move here. Nebraska is not the most understanding state towards its poor to put it bluntly.

[Tinker]

If your fiat runs you'll be fine. Your driving skills may need to improve, if you are not used to driving on ice and snow. Baxter on auto row sold them and have mechanics that can repair but may charge you the cost of another used car to fix. Nebraska in general has no respect for Californians or Fiats. Nebraskans generally will fix what ever they can not out of respect for you but their own capability and perception of being "hard workers". Best wishes. If you are republican, white, pro-life ( no rights for women even by women), Christian and blue lives matter more than anyone's and you voted for Trump, you will blend well.

[Busguy2010]

The attitudes posted above I have found only really show up in the suburbs of Omaha/Lincoln. Omaha and Lincoln urban areas don't really carry the same "Nebraska values" as the rest of the state, as a good percentage of people who inhabit the cities aren't even from here. Anybody outside of Omaha and Lincoln, has a mild level of disdain for us "city-folk". If you are low-income and move to a low-income area and associate with other low-income people, you definitely won't have anybody looking down on you. But I'm not gonna lie, a lot of white people out in the suburbs do enjoy themselves a good pissing contest.

As to the driving around in snow, I have no personal account of getting around in a compact vehicle, but I can't stress this enough... When it snows, people lose their brains. I don't know if this is due to people not compensating, or because their cars don't handle snow well. People slip and slide ALL over the place when it snows. I don't want you to be too confident, it will be difficult getting around. I drive a 4WD truck and my level of getting around in the snow is night and day vs all the cars out there. Don't want to come across as a d-hole, its just a matter of fact. Do you need a 4WD truck? No. Is it WAY better? hands down, yes.

[GrandpaaSmucker]

If you are low-income and move to a low-income area and associate with other low-income people, you definitely won't have anybody looking down on you. But I'm not gonna lie, a lot of white people out in the suburbs do enjoy themselves a good pissing contest.

You can't go 3 or 4 houses down any street in any direction in most of West Omaha without finding a house collecting gov entitlement checks. We got 2 guys on my block alone who make are making 100,000 plus a year that have 30 and 40 year old wives who decided they did not want to work anymore that are getting disability checks. The reality is there is an amazingly huge problem with people in the suburbs that do not like to work and don't mind collecting handouts.

[Busguy2010]

You can't go 3 or 4 houses down any street in any direction in most of West Omaha without finding a house collecting gov entitlement checks. We got 2 guys on my block alone who make are making 100,000 plus a year that have 30 and 40 year old wives who decided they did not want to work anymore that are getting disability checks. The reality is there is an amazingly huge problem with people in the suburbs that do not like to work and don't mind collecting handouts.

Your part of (as far as I can generally tell by reading your posts over the years) Millard isn't so bad when it comes to talking about the "white status lifestyle" i guess you could call it. Houses in that part are from the 80's and kinda max out in the mid 150,000s. A lot of normal people living around there.

I'm more alluding to the people that have to have the big expensive houses, the luxury cars etc. you know what I mean.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

If your fiat runs you'll be fine. Your driving skills may need to improve, if you are not used to driving on ice and snow. Baxter on auto row sold them and have mechanics that can repair but may charge you the cost of another used car to fix. Nebraska in general has no respect for Californians or Fiats. Nebraskans generally will fix what ever they can not out of respect for you but their own capability and perception of being "hard workers". Best wishes. If you are republican, white, pro-life ( no rights for women even by women), Christian and blue lives matter more than anyone's and you voted for Trump, you will blend well.

...what Omaha are you from?

[Uffda]

I have been driving a 2012 Veloster in Omaha for the last 7 years. I did have some snow tires that I put on once snow hit as I lived on a steep hill but most times I didn't need them.

You take that car out on a day where there has been a 5 or 6 inch snow and you will be high centered on the first snow drift you hit. Then if some one comes along and hits you you could be splatted.

It has been my only car for 115k miles and I have lived in Omaha all that time and never had a problem. I guess this Grandpa drives better than other grandpas.

[Omahacritic]

Rose, don’t let the hooligans scare you off.

For driving in snow ... think like it’s the first rain of the season in SoCal. Other people will drive too fast but you can drive safely and stay on the road if you are patient.
The other worry ... how long will it take for that little corn popper engine to warm up when temperatures drop to near zero?
Your car will thank you for renting garage space.

[nativeomahan]

1. Enjoy your time in Omaha. You will no doubt find the pace of life much slower than in SoCal. It will take some getting used to, but you will probably end up enjoying it.
2. Every neighborhood has its own flavor, it’s own ethnic and socio-economic vibe. Find one you are comfortable living in. There are perhaps a dozen entertainment hubs scattered around the city. If you want to live in or near one you will have many possible choices.
3. As far as snow goes, in a typical winter we might get snowfall of 2 inches or more maybe 6-8 days a year, several of which occur overnight and on weekends (in other words, maybe 2% of the year). Try not to drive during an actual heavy snowfall or the few hours afterward and you should avoid 90% of the problems. Uber, anyone? If we happen to get an ice storm just don’t drive in it! Roads are typically ready for driving a few hours after a “typical” snowfall. Some years it hardly snows at all. Some years the snow just saps your physical and mental strength. We never know what to expect come December. What you will probably hate more than the snow is the biting winter winds.

[Busguy2010]

As far as snow goes, in a typical winter we might get snowfall of 2 inches or more maybe 6-8 days a year, several of which occur overnight and on weekends (in other words, maybe 2% of the year). Try not to drive during an actual heavy snowfall or the few hours afterward and you should avoid 90% of the problems. If we happen to get an ice storm just don’t drive in it! Roads are typically ready for driving a few hours after a “typical” snowfall. Some years it hardly snows at all. Some years the snow just saps your physical and mental strength. We never know what to expect come December.

Have to keep in mind that the city prioritizes main routes, and that in many cases, they don't touch "your street" for two, three days after the end of an event. Street parking (and people not following the rules) makes it hard for plows to clear the streets in the urban areas. Definitely something to consider.

[lisanstan]

Born and raised in Los Angeles. Love Omaha and plan to die here.

[buildomaha]

LA people seem to love Omaha when they move here. I’m curious why? Or maybe that’s just the people I’m talking to haha

[Louie]

2 people in my closest friend group are LA transplants. There is something to that, not sure what, though.

[lisanstan]

Couldn't tell you exactly what it is, but this is the first place we have lived that has felt like home to me. Some kind of Rockwellian embodiment of what I dreamed life could be like as a kid growing up in the barrio of Hawaiian Gardens. A place with four seasons and nice people. Not quite small town, but not big bad city either. Oddly enough, my ancestors are from this area. My maternal grandmother's family is from Nebraska. My maternal grandfather is from North Dakota (first generation). My paternal grandfather is from South Dakota. I never planned to set foot in the Midwest until we moved here almost 15 years ago.

I have lived all over the world, but this feels like home.

[Stargazer]

If I can drive a rear wheel drive electric car... I'm pretty sure your front wheel Fiat will be fine.