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Cross Country Car

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tk421

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Hello everyone:

I like big vacations. I've been to London, Paris, been around New England so much that I could drive it blind, been to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Florida, Michigan, Virginia and Alabama.

But for next year, my mom and I are thinking about doing a cross country drive. But what car to take? I have a "stable" '96 XJ6, and she has a '12 Fiat 500C. The Jag is big, and will handle the highway with ease, but it will be 15 years old, and I'm not sure if I want to strain the car. The Fiat has a 1.4 and might not enjoy long, 20-24 hour stretches with only gas/pee breaks every few hours. Here's the pros and cons:

Jag

Easy highway traveling - 2250rpm @ 65.
Comfortable 4-seater, leather seats.
15 years old and probably needs god-knows-what parts today, who knows after a 24 hour ride?
300, 350 mile range (Average of 18 - 25mpg x 13 gallons)

Fiat

Cabriolet top in July.
Need to motivate the engine to get it up to 65-70. Long hours of that speed might be bad.
Around a 400 mile range (40mpg x 10 gallons)
Will have under 15000 miles on it by July 2013.

The trip will be starting on July 5th, 2013. We will be stopping at Rhinelander WI, Butte MT, Monterey CA, Las Vegas NV, the Schlitterbahn Water Park in TX, and Tuscaloosa AL. So, what car would you take and why?
 
Given the price of gas (which will likely be higher still by then), I'd take the most fuel efficient car as long as it's reasonably comfortable. That is, unless you are 1) independently wealthy or 2) don't mind taking out a second mortgage on the house to pay for the gas.
 
Well if I can keep the Jag at around 25mpg, it will do 325 miles per tank. The Fiat has a minimum of a 400 mile range, but since it is going to be mostly highway driving, it might be able to pull off 500 miles?

But is that 1.4 engine big enough to handle long, long rides without stopping. No matter which car we take, we'll stop in Vegas for a oil change/maintenance.
 
If it was me, I'd be stopping along the way anyway just to smell the roses along the way.
 
We're a "haul backside" family. If we have to drive 24 hours, we would do it in 3, 8 hour shifts. The 5700 mile trip should be a Friday-Next Saturday venture as long as we keep to a schedule.
 
TK - it sounds like you're more into "driving" than into seeing the sights.

So ... I'd say, take the car you enjoy driving the most.

If it were me, I would *never* want to make that long distance trip in one week - or in a small car. Definitely agree with Basil on the "smell the roses" bit.

My take: the driving AND the sights are the adventure.

I had something similar in mind -

map.png


Tom
 
NutmegCT said:
TK - it sounds like you're more into "driving" than into seeing the sights.

map.png
Click to expand...

Strangely enough, the routes we picked are close too, except that I'm going through Ontario to MI, no Calgary, and will be stopping in Alabama.

Worse comes to worse, we can slow the trip down by about 44 hours, meaning that instead of being home on Saturday morning at 4AM, we have until midnight Monday morning.

And yes, this is a driving trip more than sightseeing. I even planned out Montana because of the fact that the speed limit is 80.
 
I can't relate to that sort of expedition. I like to stop and see the various towns, and stay on two lanes whenever I can, even if it adds an hour by staying off the interstates. But since your question is which car to take, I would do a complete check-up on the Jaguar (I would have a professional do it in my case as I am not a mechanic by any means) and then take that to increase the comfort. At least you will be spending less than I would over that sort of route based on the number of meals and overnight stays involved, even if gas goes up more next year.
 
As for cost, that should be easy to rough out... and I'd only use the mileage of each to produce a net total. The cost differential may be worth it (to take the Jag) - which on a 5,000 mile trip might total $1000 (differential). As others have written, I'd not be making each leg a long one... and, personally, I have gotten to the point that I detest a drive of more than 3 hours. If the stretches are significantly, broken up, that little Fiat might be OK (but you'd best be the judge of that with a little experimental/test drive). Also, what is the luggage-carrying capacity of the Fiat?

This may seem nuts, but I'd also consider a rental car (that had unlimited miles).
 
Boink said:
This may seem nuts, but I'd also consider a rental car (that had unlimited miles).
Click to expand...

You have no idea how much I would LOVE to do that, especially when they ask you "will you be doing any traveling or just driving locally?" The rental places act like your taking their virgin daughter to a nightclub for her 21st birthday.

And to Brooklands, yes I would have the Jag inspected and poked by a mechanic I know before taking it out.

The Fiat can carry anything 2 people would want. We can fit about 6 50lb bags of gravel in the trunk, not including the back seats. My mom will put one basket of laundry in the trunk and one on the passenger's seat. We would probably just bring a gym bag each, so trunk would work fine.
 
Last car I took on a cross-country jaunt was a 1950 Ford Tudor sedan. Same car, now has overdrive and an arm, I'd do it again.
I'd hit all 28 grease zerks first, tho.
 
It's your trip, so do what you want, but if I were you I'd leave the gravel at home. :thirsty:
 
elrey said:
It's your trip, so do what you want, but if I were you I'd leave the gravel at home. :thirsty:
Click to expand...

This route 1 you speak of... It goes from Carmel in the north (which is close to Monterey and Laguna Seca, where we will be staying) to Morro Bay in the south? Is that the whole scenic part with the big bridge/viaduct? I googled that part quickly and saw that it wouldn't be a pain to do that stretch and then head off for Vegas.

Please understand, to me, Route 1 goes from Maine to Key West and is something to be avoided from North Attleboro to Warwick. I have no idea what California is like besides what I've seen from Clint Eastwood movies.
 
Me, I'd take the Fiat. I love small cars, and find them perfectly comfortable for long trips. Drove my Honda Fit from here to Denver (about an 8 hour straight shot) at 80mph or so by myself and was comfy and relaxed the whole way.
 
take the Jag- the off shift needs room to sleep.


m
 
tk421 said:
Boink said:
This may seem nuts, but I'd also consider a rental car (that had unlimited miles).
Click to expand...

You have no idea how much I would LOVE to do that, especially when they ask you "will you be doing any traveling or just driving locally?" The rental places act like your taking their virgin daughter to a nightclub for her 21st birthday.
Click to expand...

:lol: I presume you've checked a AAA rate or some other source of a discounter that is using a weekly rate. Hmmmm.
 
tk421 said:
...This route 1 you speak of... It goes from Carmel in the north (which is close to Monterey and Laguna Seca, where we will be staying) to Morro Bay in the south? Is that the whole scenic part with the big bridge/viaduct? I googled that part quickly and saw that it wouldn't be a pain to do that stretch and then head off for Vegas.

Please understand, to me, Route 1 goes from Maine to Key West and is something to be avoided from North Attleboro to Warwick. I have no idea what California is like besides what I've seen from Clint Eastwood movies.
Click to expand...
California State Route 1

It goes a lot farther than from Monterey to Morro Bay, but that's probably the most famous section. It is <span style="font-style: italic">very </span>beautiful.

I think most Californians would say you're missing a lot if you don't keep going south for a while.

If you're desperate to avoid LA you can skirt along the top of it by cutting inland in Ventura to head to Vegas.

If you're tired of the coast and all that beautiful Pacific Oceany stuff, yeah you can take the 58 from Morro Bay/San Luis Obispo to hop over the coastal range, cross the Valley and hit the 15 to Vegas. (Personally, I really enjoy the 58. But I wouldn't recommend skipping Hwy 1 between SLO and Ventura.)


pc
 
Boink said:
The rental places act like your taking their virgin daughter to a nightclub for her 21st birthday.
Click to expand...

Boink said:
:lol: I presume you've checked a AAA rate or some other source of a discounter that is using a weekly rate. Hmmmm.
Click to expand...


Discounts on a virgin daughter?!?!?! :shocked:

~NOW~ you tell me !!! :wall:
 
How many miles on the Jag?? I would take a spare coil or two, a set of belts, and tools to change both. Maybe a crank sensor too. Have it PROPERLY serviced before you go if it has not been done really recently. I mean trans and diff oil change, maybe pack the front bearings, and have someone who knows Jags check the rears. Then, you are set, take the Jag. Those cars are MADE for rolling up the miles.
 
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