Do not get a dark car. Tint and good a/c are necessities. You will need to change your battery every 3 or so years.

Lots of people have SUVs so if you buy a small car, be prepared to be the smallest around. Buy a car with reliable a/c, tint as part of the purchase package. Do not get leather seats you will stick to the seats and it will hurt. I recommend a car with good gas mileage too, because you need to drive every to get places and you will always be running your a/c which could impact you mpgs.

It is very easy to drive from place to place throughout Scottsdale. The roads are built in a grid system. If you know the direction of the place you are going you can get there with many different paths. There is very little traffic except when people are heading into or out of work, but what city doesn't? Also, because it is so flat you can see traffic ahead and go down a different road to get to your destination. I love driving during sunrise or sunset...Again because it is so flat you can see for miles and the mountains and the sky become so many different colors during the sunrise and sunset

Thompson Peak Parkway. It is close to the mountains and it goes in a north/south direction. It makes it easy to catch the sunrise or sunset without being blinded by the sun. It is also a less traveled road, so there is not much traffic on it.

The best thing I could say is to be extremely cautious and aware at all times. There are many drivers who do not signal at all, drive way too fast, and who want to race you at any given opportunity. I have had many close calls driving in this city.

The best thing I could say is to do your research first through Yelp, Google, and word of mouth, and more importantly, to know exactly what you want to pay, and do not waver much. Research what your credit is in advance, and demand to see their financing criteria. Also, if you can, finance through a credit union, and not through the dealer - you will likely get a better deal. The Frank Lloyd Wright stretch of car dealers is also a rather good one in this city.

My favorite memory is from driving down the 51 freeway late at night on a cool winter night with the windows down; the freeway runs through the heart of the city, with Camelback mountain on the side and the city views further south. It is hilly and windy, and very well paved, which makes driving very smooth. It is a gorgeous drive going through the mountain.

Princess/Pima. Princess Road as you go north is very winding, and almost feels like a different city entirely. At night, since it is a more remote part of the city, it feels like you're the only one on the road; it is a refreshing change of pace from the hustle of the city, and is a rather beautiful road to drive on.