Used Cars for Sale in Boston, MA

I suggest new drivers in Boston take time to learn the major roads and how they feed into each other. If you know Storrow Drive, Commonwealth Ave and Boylston Street, for example, you should be able to cover a lot of ground in Boston. The multitude of narrow one-way streets in the older neighborhoods can frustrate both new and old drivers, but you only really need to use them if you going to a specific point of interest in the downtown area. Once you are familiar with the key roads in the city, I would strongly urge drivers to take the opportunity to use them to get to the highway and explore other parts of beautiful New England. Having lived in major cities around the world (London, New York, Hong Kong), I have often been frustrated how difficult it is to escape the urban sprawl when I have some free time. Boston is very different. A willing and knowledgeable driver can get from anywhere in the city to the nearest highway system with little difficulty.

Many of my friends bought their vehicles in the Boston metro area rather than the city itself. In the metro area, there are dealerships for all of the major car companies. In fact, I believe there are 3 or 4 Ford dealerships alone within a 20 minute drive of Boston! I have bought and sold 2 vehicles to these dealerships and am happy to report a positive experience on both occasions. Other options would be to go to the CarMax outlet in southern Massachusetts or to use Craig's List. I have not had personal experience with either option so can not report my experience. Several friends have bought and sold cars on Craig's List and have not reported any problems. In my circle of friends, I believe Craig's List is actually more popular than going to dealerships as a way of buying/selling used cars.

My "driving highlight" in Boston is actually driving out of the city. Boston is unique in the sense that it is a large American city but it is also possible to escape the urban sprawl relatively quickly and drive to scenic and historic New England areas. My personal highlight is driving up to Vermont on Friday after work last winter to go skiing. This was my first time driving from Boston to Vermont and I remember worrying that it would be a difficult drive. The reality couldn't be further from the truth! I first drove from my home on Commonwealth Ave. To Logan Airport in East Boston to pick up some friends arriving from another East Coast city. From there, we picked up 93-North and were on our way to Vermont. The driving in Boston only took about 30 minutes in total before we were cruising on the highway to our final destination. While it was relatively easy, it did require a lot of concentration and understanding of the roads in Boston. For example, I had to know that I would need to take Storrow Drive from Commonwealth Ave. In order to get to the cross-harbor tunnel that would take me to the airport.

Commonwealth Ave.. I like driving on Commonwealth Ave. Because it cuts through the scenic Back Bay neighborhood of Boston. It's very interesting to drive past large brownstone buildings and some of Boston's oldest churches. There is also beautiful green space on the side of the road where you can see inspiring statues and people walking to and fro. Another reason I enjoy driving on Commonwealth Ave. Is because it is a straight road that is relatively easy to navigate. I am thus able to enjoy the scenery and drive in a more relaxed manner. When I am driving through the narrow one-way streets in Boston's older neighborhoods, however, I often feel very tense and cannot take my eyes off the road or the car in front of me.

I would strongly recommend to avoid driving during rush hours (7-9AM, 4-6:30PM). Honestly, walking is faster than driving during this period. I have walked the stretch of Mass Ave from Symphony (central Boston) to Central Square (central Cambridge) onto to have passed 5 1 buses going the same direction. Also, drivers in Boston should watch out for pedestrians, who completely ignore crosswalks or signals and just cross everywhere. There are also many bikers. A final issue is with parking. The heavy snow and narrow street means that it's worth investing time and money into getting and keeping a good parking space.

For a used car, CarGuru.Com seems to be a great place. There are actually very few "standard car" (Toyota, Honda, Ford, etc.) dealers within the city (due to how crowded and expensive it is), so you'd have to go out into the suburbs for those. I would really strongly recommend against buying a car unless you have a good parking space already lined up - preferably off-street and indoor. This is due to the heavy snow Boston gets, occasional hail, and very rude people who will hit your car while its parked and not leave information or just scratch your car with their keys for fun.

While driving in Boston is generally stressful, dangerous, and sometimes painful due to the potholes, there are certainly a few memorable areas within this historical city. One particular highlight was on the drive back into Boston from a trip to New Hampshire. The sun happened to be setting as I drove across the I-95 bridge that runs over the Charlestown area. As I drove through, I could see the wires suspending the bridge run past, see the Boston skyline, and watch the setting sun bathe the city in orange light. It was so stunning that I would have liked to just pull over and enjoy them moment. Unfortunately there are no shoulders on this bridge.

Jamaicaway. It has a beautiful view of a long stretch of bike path/park. The road itself is very smooth with gentle curves that make it fun to drive on. While during the day, it is not that much fun with lots of traffic, at night, past 9PM or so, the road really comes to its own. It is well-lit, and there are very few cars at night on it. Furthermore, I have never seen a police cruiser along the side, so it's possible let loose a bit with the throttle and enjoy a great road.