Hungary Bill said:
I cant beat San Antonio, Texas.
Try harder ;)
I kid, I kid. I found the cost of living in Texas is nice, but yupididit is absolutely right that having lived in SoCal takes the shine off Texas. The weather, roads and local car culture can't be beat.
Yup and skierd, the non-traditional car stuff is also appealing. In a place like Alaska or the Virgin Islands, road quality isn't typically very good, but that doesn't mean a lifted Miata or something along those lines wouldn't be a blast. Potential for overlanding, powersports, and the like are definitely considerations.
Bubbal, calm down; your bias is showing. I know the cost of living and taxes are both high, but it's not some wasteland on the verge of collapse. Many people can't afford to live in the cities, but I think there are plenty of reasonably priced homes in the mountains outside of Yosemite, for instance. I currently have an address in Dallas and the way I see it, no matter how much money you spend there, you'll never match the view or the weather of many modest homes on the West Coast.
Western South Carolina is an interesting option, and the proximity to AMP and Road Atlanta is cool. Even VIR isn't THAT far away. Does the BMW Performance Center host any events for cars that aren't, y'know, BMW's? What is the heat and humidity like in the summer?
I will likely end up in Florida soon, but the oppressive heat and humidity mean I don't think I'll ever settle there. That said, the access to karting tracks is pretty amazing and the proximity to Sebring, Daytona and Homestead are all nice.
I have no counterpoints to Monterey. I adore most everything about that place.
Colorado strikes me as Alaska Lite, not that that's necessarily a bad thing.
Canada is an interesting option as I like the access to JDM cars and if I get permission to, there's work I can do up there.
I like the idea of Austin between the rally school and COTA, but the weather vs. $$$ equation doesn't work for me.
Eastern Europe, Croatia and Hungary in particular, seem very interesting. I would like to visit both at the very least.
Germany wasn't necessarily a serious suggestion, but the seeming abundance of cheap M, RS and AMG cars is attractive, if only for export. I also seem to recall they have a famous racetrack there. Something starting with an N?
Spain is definitely on the list of travel destinations as well. Authentic paella is a bucket list item of mine. Maybe I'll fall in love with the place?
Ireland and Wales are interesting choices. I really like the fact that you can road register virtually anything through SVA in England. Is the rest of the UK similar?