tigran
Club Retro Rides Member
In rust we trust. Amen.
Posts: 6,444
Club RR Member Number: 142
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A jeep sounds an equally decent idea, for those hard to reach places down dusty tracks.
*ponders recreating scenes of 24 ;D *
p.s. that website has a load of cool stuff on it, ta!
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Last Edit: Jan 2, 2007 12:07:28 GMT by tigran
1964 Rover P5 i6 1987 BMW 525e - The Rusty Streak 1992 Micra K10 2001 BMW E46 316i 2002 BMW E46 330Ci 2013 BMW F31 320d 2018 BMW G31 530d
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,917
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Well me and some mates have decided to do something special for a holiday next summer. Plan is to abuse my mum's power to get cheap flights and fly off to San Francisco, rent a car and road trip down to LA, from there on to San Diego and finally over to Las Vegas and get a flight back from there. If anyone has done these kind of things before any help, tips or advise would be much appreciated. I presume the legal age from which you can rent a car is 21 (hope so anyway), which are the decent rental firms if there are any, anything cool to take in on the trip anything really. Done several USA road trips and in particular the SF to LA one (Via Phoenix for a NASCAR race - absolute must IMHO, Las Vegas and “the big hole in the ground” plus the Hoover Dam) The journey down PCH1 is stunning – make sure your friends have strong stomachs (ie aren’t prone to car sickness) cos once you are on it the only way of it is carry on or turn round and go back unless you are a mountain goat!!! Feel free to post pics of ultimate road trip cars to keep in on topic ;D I’ll add a few later The best way I've found to do this sort of thing is this, book your first nights motel and that's it. Land with a notepad full of places and things to see, sort your motor and just hit the road ;D Agreed plus recent entry rule changes in the US mean you must have an address for the first night of your stay – you used to be able to get away with the “fly drive” company head office but it’s no longer accepted… Remember, it's a first world country. Take a credit card (very necessary) and a sense of adventure and you'll be fine. Spot on advice Hotel wise the guys are such damn squares - insisting on pre-booking, I'm feeling the whole 'stumble across a motel and crash' vibe. Which is pretty much what I did on a roadtrip round cornwall/dorset/somerset. I'll win them over yet. As above first night is a must – the rest I have never had a problem with making it up as you go along
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ah yeah forgot about the first night address thing, i always put the best western Buena Park on the form they have never checked. The jeep was handy for visiting ghost towns and also useful for exploring route 66 many of the quieter roads finish mid size rentals off when fully loaded or enthusiastically driven ;D
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if it were me id plan as little as possible, just get an idea of where u wanna be and when, then just wing the rest, id also buy a big yank lump to shove across the country in. do a bit of research for what u can get for what money and u should be ok
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omg. this sounds absolutely amazing.
i've not really got any advice or anything, but this just sounds flapping fantastic !
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Anybody going to the states fancy picking up a few odds and ends for me? pair of front wings, drivers door or N/S quarter panel would be splendid. ;D
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tigran
Club Retro Rides Member
In rust we trust. Amen.
Posts: 6,444
Club RR Member Number: 142
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Well after a drinking planning session in le pub this evening looks like crooks of it are all sorted out. They have agreed to play it by ear after the first night. I have made the concession of booking rooms in vegas in advance.
Looks like we'll be pimping around in a lincoln navigator, and three weeks looks like the minimum ammount of time so as not to be rushing everywhere.
;D
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1964 Rover P5 i6 1987 BMW 525e - The Rusty Streak 1992 Micra K10 2001 BMW E46 316i 2002 BMW E46 330Ci 2013 BMW F31 320d 2018 BMW G31 530d
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,917
Club RR Member Number: 71
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just wondering, but if you were to fly out to the usa and buy a car with the intention of touring the usa, what do you do about insurance?
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,917
Club RR Member Number: 71
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just wondering, but if you were to fly out to the usa and buy a car with the intention of touring the usa, what do you do about insurance? You need an address.........
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bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
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just wondering, but if you were to fly out to the usa and buy a car with the intention of touring the usa, what do you do about insurance? I insured ours using my sisters camp address where she was working for the summer. Paid three months up front in the office, they then sent her the paperwork and the installment plan for 'us' to sort out. We figured we'd be gone by then, so what the hell? Looking back now, innocence really was bliss. Considering she never even got the docs and we were 3000 miles away within two weeks... I'm glad we didn't get pulled. The only other thing is that you need to register whatever you buy as well, which means going to the DMV. I shat myself when I found out they do it by weight and engine size as we'd just bought a '79 Cadillac Sedan De Ville with a 425ci motor in it. Then when they charged me $55 dollars for two years license including the plates... I remembered this was America and there's no way it was ever going to be as bad as England. Next time I think I'm going to use a proper address of a friend though, I'm getting too old for late night state line runs. And I'm never going back to Nebraska...
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Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
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"It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses. Hit it."
And then: Oh no. What the curse word was that? The motor. We've thrown a rod. Is that serious? Yup.
;D
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tigran
Club Retro Rides Member
In rust we trust. Amen.
Posts: 6,444
Club RR Member Number: 142
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"It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses. Hit it." And then: Oh no. What the dash was that? The motor. We've thrown a rod. Is that serious? Yup. ;D Road trip in a CROWN vic? Eeenteresting. p.s. cool pics BS. Any idea what the hotel in LV was with the cars?
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Last Edit: Jan 4, 2007 7:40:10 GMT by tigran
1964 Rover P5 i6 1987 BMW 525e - The Rusty Streak 1992 Micra K10 2001 BMW E46 316i 2002 BMW E46 330Ci 2013 BMW F31 320d 2018 BMW G31 530d
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tigran
Club Retro Rides Member
In rust we trust. Amen.
Posts: 6,444
Club RR Member Number: 142
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Well small update, it is now down to four of us going (isn't that always the way). But the other member of the group are being sad acts and even considering getting the coach around instead of paying the 30 bucks a day for a car (and another 30 a day for being under 25). Graaargh. In the politest possible way fook that right up, sitting in an airconditioned coach with some fruitcake across the coolest terrain in the USA.
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Last Edit: Feb 21, 2007 0:50:36 GMT by tigran
1964 Rover P5 i6 1987 BMW 525e - The Rusty Streak 1992 Micra K10 2001 BMW E46 316i 2002 BMW E46 330Ci 2013 BMW F31 320d 2018 BMW G31 530d
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Nooooooo coach trips are full of old people! Imagine Saga or Shearings but yankie!
You cannot do anything in the US without a car (except new york, vegas and in some respects san francisco)
My road trippin plans across the US have been put on hold for a couple of years due to family reasons etc but you have to do it and do it by car.
I would council caution about the idea of buying rather than renting, although you seem to have the rental idea sorted, but others have mentioned doing the fly-buy....
If its your car its your responsibility all the way. People have been extradited from the UK to the US over traffic accidents, even with rental cars. Have a think about the size of the PI claims over there and wonder if you'd rather that was down to the rental company...
Its bad enough driving in the US cities in a fully working modern car. I could not imagine the stress levels of driving some aged clunker in those situations.
The big empty bits are impossibly big and impossibly empty. We once drove drom Tuscon Arizona down to Santa Fe New Mexico in a shiny (dusty!) new Buick Park Avenue. Wouldn;t do that in any other kind of car. IE shiny and new and air conditioned. 120 degrees outside, drive for 2 hours without seeing any other signs of habitation or even another car for long periods. Nothing puts your life into perspective like that does, makes you realise how small and insignificant we all are really. Amazing. You need AC and an accurate fuel gauge! Breaking down out there? Jesus...
On the subject of breaking down, you planning on joining the AAA? Or trusting to luck? How are you going to fix your car if it breaks? What tools are you going to carry, what spares, where are you going to buy them? Are you really up to pulling a half shaft out of a back axle at the side of the road if a rear bearing siezes for example...
I looked at renting a beautifully restored '59 Cadillac in Nevada, but the rental company siad "don't take it out of the city limits in case it breaks down" It was in the rental agreement... So I got a Mustang rag top instead as we were out ot cruise the desert.
I'd recommend paying the extra for satelite radio and check if they have the on-star activated. Even a new car can pack in and if it does it in the middle of nowhere you want to be able to call for help. Also while the AM stations arew amusing enough to listen to and get a flavour of the area there is little reception when you are out in the badlands.
I don't want to seem negative but I'd play safe, especially if its your first trip out there.
I will one day maybe go buy a car over there but I'll probably have a rental and I'll probably just get my purchase shipped.
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1937 Austin Street Rod - 1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1976 Rover V8 - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
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Feb 21, 2007 17:10:13 GMT
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Its bad enough driving in the US cities in a fully working modern car. I could not imagine the stress levels of driving some aged clunker in those situations. The big empty bits are impossibly big and impossibly empty. We once drove drom Tuscon Arizona down to Santa Fe New Mexico in a shiny (dusty!) new Buick Park Avenue. Wouldn;t do that in any other kind of car. IE shiny and new and air conditioned. 120 degrees outside, drive for 2 hours without seeing any other signs of habitation or even another car for long periods. Nothing puts your life into perspective like that does, makes you realise how small and insignificant we all are really. Amazing. You need AC and an accurate fuel gauge! Breaking down out there? Jesus... I fully appreciate what you're saying there Alistair, but it's still a first world country (most of it )... And having done the opposite of what you're suggesting I'd recommend it anyday. Driving through the desert with all the windows down in a motor old enough to be your dad, arm hanging loose and then blowing the same motor up that night, in the middle of nowhere... Well, it was one of the defining points in my life. I wibblepoo thee not. I freely admit there was an element of luck in the fact that my friend and I returned from three months in the states, having had no plan whatsoever, but hey. For me taking a risk would be getting on a boat in South Africa, headed for Zanzibar with three other blokes and no sailing experience between you...
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Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
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tigran
Club Retro Rides Member
In rust we trust. Amen.
Posts: 6,444
Club RR Member Number: 142
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Feb 21, 2007 18:04:47 GMT
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Nooooooo coach trips are full of old people! Imagine Saga or Shearings but yankie! you have to do it and do it by car. Oh that's a given. If they don't want to I'm just grabbing flights there and back with them and then doing my own thing, anything but sitting on a chuffing coach.
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1964 Rover P5 i6 1987 BMW 525e - The Rusty Streak 1992 Micra K10 2001 BMW E46 316i 2002 BMW E46 330Ci 2013 BMW F31 320d 2018 BMW G31 530d
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Feb 21, 2007 18:42:38 GMT
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first trip id rent
get a feel THEN do the buy thing
i never done it although plans are afoot but like you say - breakdown in europe or here and no problem
break down in yank and it could in some (extreme) circumstances kill you specially in desert situations
freeways would take a little getting used to when they overtake on BOTH sides )like in movies
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2001 HONDA CT110 (NOT RCV)
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,917
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Feb 21, 2007 19:01:11 GMT
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freeways would take a little getting used to when they overtake on BOTH sides )like in movies Great isn't it ;D
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bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
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Feb 21, 2007 20:36:24 GMT
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first trip id rent get a feel THEN do the buy thing I never done it although plans are afoot but like you say - breakdown in europe or here and no problem break down in yank and it could in some (extreme) circumstances kill you specially in desert situations freeways would take a little getting used to when they overtake on BOTH sides )like in movies Ahh come on, let's not put him off before he's started. I have broken down, in the desert with no breakdown service... And I'm still here. You carry two days worth of water and you'll be fine America is neither as big or as scary as a lot of people make it out to be... I've been to far more remote places on four wheels, western Australia for one. Plus the worst breakdown experience I ever had was on the A303 in my beach buggy when I was left high and dry in a hail stone storm for six hours, that left me with mild exposure. If you never try, you'll never die... You'll just pass away
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Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
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