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Went on vacation with the family this last week, 2400 miles, one hell of a great drive. Left from the SF Bay area, up to Portland, Seattle, cabin in the WA mountains (just escaped the wildfires!) then back south via Yakima, Painted Hills in OR, Cedarville CA (awesome hot springs), Burney Falls, and Lassen Volcanic Park.
Managed to snag a pic at 8000 ft driving through Lassen. Car handled altitude, dirt roads, washed out mountain roads and everything else in between amazingly.
<p>Looked like a blast! And nice wagon It looks so well suited for this sort of adventure.</p><p>Did this trip inspire any new trips in the foreseeable future?</p>
<p>Looked like a blast! And nice wagon It looks so well suited for this sort of adventure.</p><p>Did this trip inspire any new trips in the foreseeable future?</p>
We were with friends in WA who questioned the ability of the wagon to traverse harsh unpaved roads - they were stunned when i said "no problem!" (Considering I lived in Afghanistan for a number of years and regularly drove roads worse than you can imangine in an old Corolla, this was cake.) This absolutely inspired more trips though. The wife was equally pleased and she generally dislikes long drives. Neither of us have been to Glacier or Yellowstone in a while, maybe those will likely be next. A solid road trip was a great departure from our fly-everywhere-for-vacation tendencies!
In two weeks I am taking vacation and exploring Portland and Seattle as well, but flying in and getting a rental instead, once my 9 month old is older I might consider doing a road trip like this.
In two weeks I am taking vacation and exploring Portland and Seattle as well, but flying in and getting a rental instead, once my 9 month old is older I might consider doing a road trip like this.
We went from Chicago to Toronto/Niagara for a conference my wife was attending while our kid was 10 months old, that went far better than we expected but now that he's 4, it's amazing. Somehow we managed to keep him engaged without screen time for 80% of the trip, which made it even more fun.
Looks like a good time, though it continues to amaze me that people use their own cars for this kind of a trip (you can rent one w/ unlimited mileage for around $200 a week).
Looks like a good time, though it continues to amaze me that people use their own cars for this kind of a trip (you can rent one w/ unlimited mileage for around $200 a week).
Couldn't find a suitable rental deal. My parents used to do that, but at the same time, the trips were "easier" on the family in a familiar vehicle. with a 4 year old, familiarity is critical
Looks like a good time, though it continues to amaze me that people use their own cars for this kind of a trip (you can rent one w/ unlimited mileage for around $200 a week).
It amazes me someone would pay as much as they do for insurance and the actual cost of the car and not just use their own vehicle. Why do I want a rental that probably smells inside. I inevitably wind up with the rental car previously used by a chain smoker. Plus it's usually a crap shoot of what car you actually get. And driving a Chrystler for that many miles? No thanks. Rental cars are for people who don't drive or currently own a hooptie and it wouldn't actually make the trip. Otherwise rentals are for warranty work or accident repair. And at least with warranty work you usually wind up in another Acura.
It amazes me someone would pay as much as they do for insurance and the actual cost of the car and not just use their own vehicle. Why do I want a rental that probably smells inside. I inevitably wind up with the rental car previously used by a chain smoker. Plus it's usually a crap shoot of what car you actually get. And driving a Chrystler for that many miles? No thanks. Rental cars are for people who don't drive or currently own a hooptie and it wouldn't actually make the trip. Otherwise rentals are for warranty work or accident repair. And at least with warranty work you usually wind up in another Acura.
As with everything, to each their own. My experience with rentals has been quite different from what you describe (it's not 1982 anymore), and when I can use up 2500 miles of someone else's car in a week for around $200, it too good of a deal to pass up. Maybe I just car more about my vehicles.
As with everything, to each their own. My experience with rentals has been quite different from what you describe (it's not 1982 anymore), and when I can use up 2500 miles of someone else's car in a week for around $200, it too good of a deal to pass up. Maybe I just car more about my vehicles.
I care about my cars, but i also quite enjoy my cars and prefer my own to an unknown rental any day. i spent years as a field engineer on the west coast and was traveling about 50% of the time. i got so many crap cars (to the point that i gave Hertz an ultimatum threatening to never rent from them again) that if i can avoid it, i just don't rent.
