The American dream - Ultimate road tripping cars for the USA

I was going to say a CROWN Vic, but Mr Shapes beat me to it.

Petrol is a lot cheaper in the US remember, its currently about $0.85 cents a litre in New York so about £3.15 a UK gallon.

Compare that with around the £5.60 mark a gallon in the UK.

The drive from NY to LA is around 3000 miles so @ 20mpg that will be 150 gallons @ £3.15 a gallon which is £472 and in the UK the same 3000 miles would be £840.

Maybe you can afford a bit of a luxury chariot after all.

No idea what you are earning, what you will be earning and how good you are at saving, or finding savings around you. Or how you will be employed.

Ultimately it’s going to be your trip, your way.

So all we are possibly doing is maximising your return on investment here, with loads of info, guidance, stories of past fails and wins, and that’s a great thing to do.

I am certain you would prefer to sleep in someone’s home, garage, couch, driveway, to spending circa $80.00 per night.

This year, craigrk went on the road trip with me again, and though we could both afford to stay in a $110.00 per night Holiday Inn, we also both get a buzz from seeing money roll over into the next days budget,

2019 ROAD TRIP: forum.retro-rides.org/thread/210620/deja-grizz-craig-dennis-kelly

But trust me, a $60.00 per night motel feels like a $60.00 motel.

Sometimes you need to be sensible too.....

Biting the bullet for a slightly better car, or even truck, if you don’t intend sleeping in it, could deliver long term.

Also, getting to know people along your route, who may be a bit like you, and want to share culture, knowledge and friendship (Americans are friendly, and certainly in my experience open hearted) and see the real America, there is a lot to be said for reaching out, you still pay your own way all the way, but it is better.

So you may spend the motels $60.00 on taking your hosts to dinner at a nice Mexican/Chinese/Chicken/Whatever cheap option type place but you get a clean bed, real humans,meet awesome people, learn all about the local culture, history, and like you would, if they visited you here and you took them to Dover Castle, Stone Henge Greyhound Races, London, or whatever their interest is, you will be rewarded with a massively expanded itinerary

I have been invited to Gas Monkey Garage (spent 3 hours with Aaron, met a load of the guys) spent a few hours with Sue, got to Fired Up Garage, seen George Poteets place twice, met Elvis’s Harley mechanic, American Pickers (sucked) spent a night at Sprint Car Races, dives some of the most awesome cars, eaten food, done stuff I never planned to do, just because random people wanted to share a small part of their world with me. None of this was planned or part of the usual tourist itinerary, Route 66 ?? Of course, but run parallel to it, stop at breakers yards, small cafes and speak to strangers..... your mind will be blown.

But you need to plan now....

Save £1.00 per day into your Road trip upgrade car, and really leave it alone in the bank or bottle on the mantelpiece suddenly, you have $600 extra to play with, equalling a room upgrade, car upgrade or whatever.

Not sure if any of this is of value.

You are going to have an awesome trip.

I would be inclined to either go for something LS powered or something big and floaty from the late 60'S early 70's.

Why?

Everyman and his nan can fix an LS - parts are plentiful, they are pretty bullet proof and get good fuel economy. Think early 2000 Camaro etc or 1500 pickup etc.

Late 60's Early 70's because no computer. Can fix them with a stick. Everyman and his nan knows about them. If you are going to do the American Road trip do it in a proper American Road trip car. Think the Grizwolds and you are in the right ball park

Ok So pictures didn't load but use your GoogleFoo and you will be good.

P.

It's not the insurance that is the problem here, it's the registration. Each state is different, but most need you to be resident in that state with a driver's license in that state. Then there is the matter of a title. Effectively a sheet of paper that says you are the owner, but no title means problems. Each state is different again. My Mercedes came from a "no-title" state. A state next door to my own. Not unusual, one would assume. That turned into months of hassle to get plates. Not trying to put you off, but check what is needed for your state.

D

I totally forgot about temp and transit tags

Massachusetts doesn't do them. Weirdo state I live in

Another thing you could check is autotempest. They've advertised/sponsored a few shows on YouTube I watch, but if there's a particular make/model or budget you are after, it could find it on craigslist or elsewhere. But if you don't have anything particularly in mind, then it I doubt it's going to be helpful.

I just know that when I was coming over to the UK, having someone on the ground to search/deal before I got there was ace, as I didn't have to buy something sight unseen.

On reading this the idea of a Lexus LS400 popped into my head. I've no personal experience of these but it would seem to tick most of your boxes, with the exception of not being American. It's a big comfy luxury 90s barge, designed for America. No idea what they're worth in the US but there are plenty of UK ones that come well within your budget so I'd imagine the situation is similar over there. 

(At this point someone will presumably pop up and tell me they're a rotten old money pit that should be avoided like the plague!)

Id second that a LS400 is a great option. I roadtripped with a couple of mates in mine, and got nearly 950km to a tank on the highway. (Roughly 8.4l/100km or 28mpg)

super comfy seats, 10 CDs and air suspension. The only thing you could want more is the ability to lay the seats down and sleep in it, but a metal partition between the cabin and boot means it's not possible.