Best Route for a Cross-Country Road Trip?

[ref1655]

not a bucket-list objective but more out of curiosity...a buddy & I have been toying with the idea of driving across the United States sometime after Labor Day.

1. the departure point would be either: (1) SF or (2) LA.

2. the vehicles of choice are: (1) a 1959 Corvette (283/fuel injected); (2) a 1957 Porsche Speedster; or (3) a 2014 Subaru Outback. concerns have arisen regarding parts availability & the quality of out-of-state mechanical repairs on the two older vehicles (if needed) + their lack of air-conditioning & overall storage space. on the other hand, while the Outback is far more practical from a common sense standpoint, it lacks a certain 'allure' for a journey of this nature.

3. if leaving from the LA area...the Corvette or Speedster would be driven. from SF...the Outback. based on these two hypothetical starting points, a S/E route or a N/E route are to be considered ending somewhere on the east coast.

4. after arrival, the car would be shipped back to CA (knocking on wood that it arrives in one piece).

so the questions are...which car would you opt for & what would be the most interesting & safest route? time constraints are roughly 10 days/shared driving with evening layovers at a roadside motel. would also like to avoid any potential or upcoming seasonal bad weather. lastly, depending upon departure point, where on the east coast is a good place to end this journey?

[azguy]

Surely, you are joking a 1959 Corvette or a 1957 Porsche Speedster

Please, don't be silly

[ref1655]

Originally Posted by azguy

Surely, you are joking a 1959 Corvette or a 1957 Porsche Speedster Please, don't be silly

seriously John...those two cars are not mine (I'm the one with the Outback).

the cool thing about the owner is that he believes all cars should be 'drivers' rather than garage-stored icons. when dings/bodywork/paint are required, he usually sends them out-of-state for repair work as nitro-cellulose lacquer is illegal in CA. while driving, he'll often point out countless 'fake paint' jobs on restored 50-60s era vehicles (i.e. polyurethane paint on cars that originally had enamel or nitrocellulose lacquer). the fact is, he doesn't care about minor scratches/dings...kind of like old-school Rolex owners.

incidentally, the Rolexes are staying at home...he plans on travelling with a 007 Seiko & I'll just slap on my Timex Expedition. no photo-ops on this proposed journey.

[Snow-Dweller]

Originally Posted by ref1655

incidentally, the Rolexes are staying at home...he plans on travelling with a 007 Seiko & I'll just slap on my Timex Expedition. no photo-ops on this proposed journey.

I'm just curious....why?

[ref1655]

Originally Posted by Clivek

I'm just curious....why?

thinking...probably because we'd have to search the used/vintage market for a replacement in the event of loss/theft. he's got a really cool one...a 6238.

[returntorolex]

Budget rent a car picking up at LAX and dropping at Dulles (mid September for 10 days)

[AzPaul]

Avoid I-10

[Abdullah71601]

How much time do you have, and do you prefer the interstate or local routes?

If it were me, I would run up through Nevada and Utah to catch US 30 in western Wyoming. Then stick to it all the way to New Jersey. It coincides with the interstate in a few stretches, but the rural stretches are worth the experience.

[ref1655]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

How much time do you have, and do you prefer the interstate or local routes?

as aforementioned, roughly 10 days...preferably over the most interesting & safest routes.

[Brenngun]

From LA catch historic Route 66 all the way to Oklahoma City or Tulsa. Then grab almost anything going due east to Memphis followed by Birmingham, Atlanta & Augusta. From there you can choose Charleston S.C. or for an even more laid back southern experience Savannah G.A. with diner at the Pink House and cigars and a cold one on a bench in Reynolds Square.

[AzHadEnuf]

You can rent a full size Tahoe or Suburban for about $400 a week with unlimited mileage. Super comfortable, tons of room and if you find yourself broken down on the side of the road the rental company will send another one. About the cost of servicing the Subaru after your 5,000 mile trip. Maybe I'm getting old, but I see no allure to doing that many miles without a/c, with a 4 speed manual and no cruise control.

Have a great trip!

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by AzHadEnuf

You can rent a full size Tahoe or Suburban for about $400 a week with unlimited mileage. Super comfortable, tons of room and if you find yourself broken down on the side of the road the rental company will send another one. About the cost of servicing the Subaru after your 5,000 mile trip. Maybe I'm getting old, but I see no allure to doing that many miles without a/c, with a 4 speed manual and no cruise control.

Have a great trip!

A 10 day, cross-country, one-way rental is not going to cost $400. Hertz is quoting $7k for tahoe or suburban from SFO to CHS. Granted, you can find a cheaper car rental companies but it will be over $2000 Even with my corporate discount, it's $900

[ref1655]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

Hertz is quoting $7k for tahoe or suburban from SFO to CHS. Granted, you can find a cheaper car rental companies but it will be over $2000

yikes...that's more than an airline coach ticket & I can't even imagine what the fuel costs would run for one of those gas guzzlers.

[AzHadEnuf]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

A 10 day, cross-country, one-way rental is not going to cost $400. Hertz is quoting $7k for tahoe or suburban from SFO to CHS. Granted, you can find a cheaper car rental companies but it will be over $2000 Even with my corporate discount, it's $900

My mistake, I was looking at Terrain but was thinking Tahoe. Also missed the one way trip. Hoping the OP didn't pick up the Tahoe and get hit with a $7k bill.

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[Danny83]

I would do I80E from San Francisco to New York and since your doing about 3,000 miles I would go in the Outback

[BNA/LION]

Wife has mentioned hitting Route I-89... Some good National Parks on the way. http://usroute89.com/89-or-89a-that-is-the-questionhttp://www.us89society.org/

[rr-nyc]

If you are just doing it for fun, don't take the interstate. Make sure you drive US50 through Nevada. The loneliest highway is an incredible drive

[77T]

If you leave from SF, almost any route will do. The Outback won't need mechanics if you've kept it maintained. And it won't have problems with Rocky Mountains.
If you leave from LA with either of those cars you'll need Interstates to stay close to repair facilities, and a route without long steep grades. Plus you won't have much room to pack much so mail your clothes ahead
Weather isn't a difficulty when you're going.

[1William]

It sounds like it might be a fun trip if you can overcome the car situation. I would not drive any of the listed cars for the reasons stated in previous posts. Don't turn a cool trip into a situation involving vehicle issues. The suggestion of renting is on the money. A Tahoe, as suggested, would be a good vehicle or another full size option. You can leave the vehicle where you finish the trip and not have to ship it back. I would take a southern route and see all the things that the south has to offer. If it is a summer trip be ready for the heat. Have fun and update your post when you decide.

[Pix]

Take the Vette, and the backroads and enjoy the adventure.

[MonBK]

Rent and drop off in NY.

[Tri-Tip]

I agree with those recommending the rental as long as there isn't a significant charge for dropping it off on the other coast.

Rental cost will probably be less than the cost to ship one of the other 3 cars cross-country.

Would be a great drive in the Vette, except for lack of A/C and risk of breakdowns.

[Kingair]

I would do it in a new Vette

Or in a 911 Convertible / Targa

More than fun enough !

Actually I was always thinking to do Route 66 or the I-10 to Miami from LA

[kirksingleton]

I wouldn't do it in the vintage, th novelty will wear off after about 300 miles or your first breakdown, whichever comes first.

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by kirksingleton

I wouldn't do it in the vintage, th novelty will wear off after about 300 miles or your first breakdown, whichever comes first.

I did the Mille Miglia years ago in a Morgan - and it was a astonishing race - but to be honest . . . that was more than enough . . . in that car at least

So you are gonna drive a few times further . . .

If time and money are no factors in this trip - I would go classic - otherwise / safety wise - go new !

[TheBluePrince]

Can't advise on routes but do not do it in a Speedster. I did London-Brighton round trip in one once and that was enough. They are not long distance cruisers in any way whatsoever.

[Wingman244]

In the Vette or Speedster - sounds painful. Go with the Tahoe.

[ref1655]

thanks for the many constructive insights. just thinking, that Speedster is going to get uncomfortable over the long haul...noisy, no radio/glove compartment & the pull-out side windows leave something to be desired.

it would also be somewhat disappointing to wake-up one morning & find that the Corvette had been stolen overnight.

a rental vehicle seems like a logical choice but not quite ready to go the RV/motor-home route either...that option seems more appropriate for 'old farts'.

[77T]

You wouldn't rent from an airport, nor from Hertz.
Since it's a one-way, your find an agency who wants a vehicle moved from one coast to another.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by 77T

You wouldn't rent from an airport, nor from Hertz.
Since it's a one-way, your find an agency who wants a vehicle moved from one coast to another.

I agree Hertz is on the higher end of pricing but they also have the best selection of vehicles. Off airport rentals are cheaper for local rentals but from my experience, one way rentals are typically cheaper at airport locations.