The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX


Go Back   Rolex Forums - Rolex Forum > General Topics > Open Discussion Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 20 June 2016, 09:41 AM   #1
ref1655
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: SF Bay Area
Watch: 1655/MkI
Posts: 1,100
Best Route for a Cross-Country Road Trip?

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?
ref1655 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2016, 10:40 AM   #2
azguy
Banned
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Real Name: -------
Location: -------
Watch: ---------
Posts: 12,609
Surely, you are joking a 1959 Corvette or a 1957 Porsche Speedster

Please, don't be silly
azguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2016, 10:57 AM   #3
ref1655
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: SF Bay Area
Watch: 1655/MkI
Posts: 1,100
Quote:
Originally Posted by azguy View Post
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.
ref1655 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 June 2016, 08:54 AM   #4
Snow-Dweller
2024 Pledge Member
 
Snow-Dweller's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Real Name: Clive
Location: The Alps
Watch: collections change
Posts: 6,284
Quote:
Originally Posted by ref1655 View Post

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?
__________________
.
The path from WIShood to WISdom can have many turnings...
———————————————————————————————————

.
16803. 16570. 18038. 114300. GMW-B5000D.
Snow-Dweller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 June 2016, 09:13 AM   #5
ref1655
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: SF Bay Area
Watch: 1655/MkI
Posts: 1,100
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clivek View Post
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.
ref1655 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 June 2016, 10:36 AM   #6
returntorolex
"TRF" Member
 
returntorolex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Real Name: Steve
Location: Atlanta
Watch: Jackie Stewart DD
Posts: 5,661
Budget rent a car picking up at LAX and dropping at Dulles (mid September for 10 days)
Attached Images
File Type: jpeg image.jpeg (133.4 KB, 34 views)
__________________
Rolex - Tudor - Omega - Breitling - Oris - Grand Seiko - Timex - Casio - Ocean Crawler - Ganymede - American Waltham - Seiko - Gruen - Arethusa - Citizen - Sinn - Nodus - Formex
returntorolex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2016, 10:42 AM   #7
AzPaul
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
 
AzPaul's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Real Name: Paul
Location: Tucson, Az
Watch: Rolex 1501
Posts: 13,896
Avoid I-10
__________________
Ain't much of a crime, whacking a surly bartender
AzPaul is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2016, 11:10 AM   #8
Abdullah71601
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Calumet Harbor
Watch: ing da Bears
Posts: 13,568
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.
Abdullah71601 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2016, 11:21 AM   #9
ref1655
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: SF Bay Area
Watch: 1655/MkI
Posts: 1,100
Quote:
Originally Posted by Abdullah71601 View Post
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.
ref1655 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2016, 11:35 AM   #10
Brenngun
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
Brenngun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Real Name: Rick
Location: Smokin' Heaven
Watch: Rolex & Tudor
Posts: 3,866
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.
__________________
Simple solutions solve complexed problems more often than complexed solutions solve simple problems!

Brenngun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2016, 12:15 PM   #11
AzHadEnuf
"TRF" Member
 
AzHadEnuf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Real Name: Ralph
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Watch: 6263,DJ,SUB,BB,THR
Posts: 2,043
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!
__________________
"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." -A. Einstein
AzHadEnuf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 June 2016, 07:47 AM   #12
rr-nyc
Liar & Ratbag
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Real Name: Renato
Location: NYC / Miami Beach
Watch: Rolex Daytona
Posts: 5,344
Quote:
Originally Posted by AzHadEnuf View Post
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
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Screen Shot 2016-06-20 at 5.51.20 PM.jpg (35.0 KB, 45 views)
rr-nyc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 June 2016, 08:26 AM   #13
ref1655
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: SF Bay Area
Watch: 1655/MkI
Posts: 1,100
Quote:
Originally Posted by rr-nyc View Post
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.
ref1655 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 June 2016, 01:39 PM   #14
AzHadEnuf
"TRF" Member
 
AzHadEnuf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Real Name: Ralph
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Watch: 6263,DJ,SUB,BB,THR
Posts: 2,043
Quote:
Originally Posted by rr-nyc View Post
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.

image.jpg
__________________
"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." -A. Einstein
AzHadEnuf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2016, 01:06 PM   #15
Danny83
2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member
 
Danny83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Real Name: Danny
Location: Bay Area CA
Watch: Yellow Gold
Posts: 20,314
I would do I80E from San Francisco to New York and since your doing about 3,000 miles I would go in the Outback
Danny83 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2016, 01:56 PM   #16
BNA/LION
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
BNA/LION's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Real Name: Larry
Location: San Diego, CA
Watch: ROLEX
Posts: 25,659
Best Route for a Cross-Country Road Trip?

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/
__________________

✦ 28238 President DD 18K/YG ✦ 16610LN SS Sub ✦ 16613 18K/SS Serti ✦ 16550 Exp II Non-Rail Cream Dial ✦ Daytona C 116500 ✦ 126710 BLRO GMT-Master II ✦ NEXT-->?
Hole In One! 10/3/19 DMCC 5th hole, par 3, 168 yards w/ 4-Iron.
BNA/LION is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2016, 02:07 PM   #17
rr-nyc
Liar & Ratbag
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Real Name: Renato
Location: NYC / Miami Beach
Watch: Rolex Daytona
Posts: 5,344
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
rr-nyc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2016, 03:18 PM   #18
77T
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
77T's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Real Name: PaulG
Location: Georgia
Posts: 42,017
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.
__________________


Does anyone really know what time it is?
77T is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2016, 09:43 PM   #19
1William
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: North Carolina
Watch: Rolex/Others
Posts: 47,787
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.
1William is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2016, 11:21 PM   #20
Pix
"TRF" Member
 
Pix's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: midwest
Watch: SS Datejust
Posts: 1,288
Take the Vette, and the backroads and enjoy the adventure.
Pix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2016, 11:30 PM   #21
MonBK
Banned
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Kingstown
Posts: 58,279
Rent and drop off in NY.
MonBK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 June 2016, 03:07 AM   #22
Tri-Tip
"TRF" Member
 
Tri-Tip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: CA, USA
Watch: Out!!!
Posts: 6,474
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.
Tri-Tip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 June 2016, 04:16 AM   #23
Kingair
"TRF" Member
 
Kingair's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: USA
Watch: Not enough ;-)
Posts: 21,232
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
Kingair is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 June 2016, 04:40 AM   #24
kirksingleton
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,759
I wouldn't do it in the vintage, th novelty will wear off after about 300 miles or your first breakdown, whichever comes first.
kirksingleton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 June 2016, 04:51 AM   #25
Kingair
"TRF" Member
 
Kingair's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: USA
Watch: Not enough ;-)
Posts: 21,232
Quote:
Originally Posted by kirksingleton View Post
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 !
Kingair is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 June 2016, 05:11 AM   #26
TheBluePrince
"TRF" Member
 
TheBluePrince's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: London
Posts: 2,081
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.
TheBluePrince is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 June 2016, 05:19 AM   #27
Wingman244
"TRF" Member
 
Wingman244's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Pacific NW, USA
Watch: Root Beer
Posts: 734
In the Vette or Speedster - sounds painful. Go with the Tahoe.
Wingman244 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 June 2016, 05:48 AM   #28
ref1655
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: SF Bay Area
Watch: 1655/MkI
Posts: 1,100
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'.
ref1655 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 June 2016, 08:39 AM   #29
77T
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
77T's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Real Name: PaulG
Location: Georgia
Posts: 42,017
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.
__________________


Does anyone really know what time it is?
77T is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 21 June 2016, 01:49 PM   #30
rr-nyc
Liar & Ratbag
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Real Name: Renato
Location: NYC / Miami Beach
Watch: Rolex Daytona
Posts: 5,344
Quote:
Originally Posted by 77T View Post
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.
rr-nyc is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Wrist Aficionado

My Watch LLC

WatchesOff5th

DavidSW Watches

Takuya Watches

OCWatches


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.