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gezzam
SFN Regular
Australia
751 Posts |
 Posted - 02/19/2004 : 17:17:23
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Hi all,
My wife and I are looking to come to the States in about 5 months. We originally planned this for our honeymeoon but Sept 11 put an end to that.
I have always dreamed of driving across America and after seeing countless movies with people driving down Route 66 in an old gas guzzling V8 convertable, this is how we were wanting to do it as well.
What kind of dollars am I looking at for a resonably reliable old yank tank? I do know my way around a car , so I can fix a lot of problems my self.
What models should I look for?
What is my chance of getting rid of the thing at the end of the holiday? Even if we sell it to a wreckers.
Is this just a stupid romantic idea? Is it more woth my while to just hire a car?
Where are the best places to go? The plan is to fly into L.A, drive through Nevada to Las Vegas then head South East Through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The through the south (I wanna hear the blues) to South Carolina then up north along the coast to New York and fly home.
Lastly, what are the best beers (by state if possible)?
And Kil, The plan is to spend the first week in the crazy state, I may need a crafty old local to show me the secret surfing spots in California.....dust off that Mal
There ain't no better way to see the country than by the road.
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Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it's a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from.
Al Franken |
Edited by - gezzam on 02/19/2004 17:18:58
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
 Posted - 02/19/2004 : 19:01:37 [Permalink]
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quote:
Gez: may need a crafty old local to show me the secret surfing spots in California...
I'm afraid the "secret" spots are long gone. Of course, there are the hard to get to spots... |
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 02/19/2004 : 19:45:51 [Permalink]
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I know there are places in Los Angeles (especially) from which you could rent the muscle car of your dreams, but they'd probably want you to bring it back to LA, as I doubt they'd be nationwide operations like Hertz or Enterprise.
However, those large rental operations will have big land yachts - and even convertibles - available. If you're going to spend lots of time in the car, roomy tends to equal better, regardless of the year, make or model. You won't have to get it registered, and you won't need to sell it. Just make sure to reserve one plenty of time in advance.
Plus, if it breaks down, the company ought to send the tow truck, and just swap cars with you at the nearest available outlet. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie
USA
4826 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2004 : 07:40:59 [Permalink]
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Beers:
Stay away from Red, White, and Blue beer. Ditto for Rhinelander in the midwest. Don't buy any beer in Colorado. Its 3 point beer which is a good beer if you like urination cause it sure as hell doesn't do anything else. |
Cthulhu/Asmodeus when you're tired of voting for the lesser of two evils
Brother Cutlass of Reasoned Discussion |
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Sea Sorbust
Skeptic Friend
USA
68 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2004 : 08:38:27 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Valiant Dancer
Beers:
Stay away from Red, White, and Blue beer. Ditto for Rhinelander in the midwest. Don't buy any beer in Colorado. Its 3 point beer which is a good beer if you like urination cause it sure as hell doesn't do anything else.
Are u talking about bland, tasteless...but PURE...if you trust water from the heavy-metal filled Rocky Mountains...Coors? It's pretty good beer but your specious, baseless, unproven, near-slanerous "3%" allegation is worth considering though...Coors does seem to take a long time to give a buzz.
Dancer disembles: Suggest you stay clear of all American beers. I like the German beer Becks. Almost as good as Kickapoo Joy Juice. Also the Mexican beer Corona. The Busch guys make something called Tequiza which is tasty and somewhat buzzworthy.
If you enjoy driving back and forth, back and forth, through western Australia then you should love the drive through southern Arizony, New Mexico, El Paso, and Texas all the way to about the Texan city of Del Rio...one of my personal favorites of all American "towns." But if you're in a hurry, the southern route is the best one to go...very exceedingly desolate...hardly a fellow car to be seen. Not even many vultures, especially in south-western Texas. But if you do decide to go that way, be sure to detour...it's a normal two-lane road but so little trafic that it's about as fast as the interstate...to the town of Langtree, home of the famous and great western jurist, Judge Roy Bean. Now there was an activist judge...activist toward the cause of True Justice.
There is a nice interstate that takes you through Colorado and then you can drift southward through Infamous Arkansas into Louisiana and lovely and exciting New Orleans. If you go to Las Vegas be sure your wallet is full of American greenbacks...or the decidedly more solid euros. Never been there but have heard that the Colorado mountains are unsurpassed beauty.
Hope you have fun. If you do go the near-Mexican route, the rent-a-car option...with assured repair/replacement...might be the best way. I've heard that you can still buy real old-style VW beetles in Mexico. Very dependable and easily repairable cars.
On and on yo ramble. With little travel experience.  |
"This is the forest primeval...."  |
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2004 : 08:50:17 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Valiant Dancer
Beers:
Stay away from Red, White, and Blue beer. Ditto for Rhinelander in the midwest. Don't buy any beer in Colorado. Its 3 point beer which is a good beer if you like urination cause it sure as hell doesn't do anything else.
We do too have real beer. It's just you can't buy in the stores, you can't buy it on Sunday, you can't buy it after 2300, you can't buy it before 1100, or you have to buy it from a bar. Yeesh! Plus, you really do want to avoid the Rocky Mountain Piss Water, aka. Coors. But a stop for Rocky Mountain Oysters should be a treat you don't miss.
edited to add the bit about Coors and RMO. |
...no one has ever found a 4.5 billion year old stone artifact (at the right geological stratum) with the words "Made by God."
No Sense of Obligation by Matt Young
"Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith. I consider the capacity for it terrifying and vile!"
Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
They (Women Marines) don't have a nickname, and they don't need one. They get their basic training in a Marine atmosphere, at a Marine Post. They inherit the traditions of the Marines. They are Marines.
LtGen Thomas Holcomb, USMC
Commandant of the Marine Corps, 1943
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| Edited by - Trish on 02/20/2004 08:52:28 |
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Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie
USA
4826 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2004 : 09:05:22 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Sea Sorbust
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Valiant Dancer
Beers:
Stay away from Red, White, and Blue beer. Ditto for Rhinelander in the midwest. Don't buy any beer in Colorado. Its 3 point beer which is a good beer if you like urination cause it sure as hell doesn't do anything else.
Are u talking about bland, tasteless...but PURE...if you trust water from the heavy-metal filled Rocky Mountains...Coors? It's pretty good beer but your specious, baseless, unproven, near-slanerous "3%" allegation is worth considering though...Coors does seem to take a long time to give a buzz.
[/quote]
From the last time my father went deer hunting near Denver, Colorado law limited alcohol content in beer sold in their state.
Here is the offending statute.
12-46-102. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly hereby declares that it is in the public interest that fermented malt beverages shall be manufactured, imported, and sold only by persons licensed as provided in this article. The general assembly further declares that it is lawful to manufacture and sell fermented malt beverages containing not more than three and two-tenths percent alcohol by weight subject to the provisions of this article and applicable provisions of articles 47 and 48 of this title. -- Colorado Revised Statues. Thats 6.4 proof. Miller Lite in Illinois, by comparison, contains 5% alcohol by volume, or 10 proof.
I had heard that you could buy full strength beer from a bar, but it's bend over and grease up time on price. |
Cthulhu/Asmodeus when you're tired of voting for the lesser of two evils
Brother Cutlass of Reasoned Discussion |
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Sea Sorbust
Skeptic Friend
USA
68 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2004 : 09:30:01 [Permalink]
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Maybe the Coors here in cloudy Florida is full-strength. Still rather drink Becks, Tequiza, or Corona even though they cost almost twice as much Coors.
Hey gezzam! Whatever u do, don't forget to always wear your seat belt. "It's the law!" And they mean it.
Have you thought about motercycles? Lots and lots of Americans...lawyers, doctors, rich people like realators, even judges and police officers...have taken to motorcycling for recreation. It's a move away from the pick-up trucks and SUVs maybe. A little dangerous though. |
"This is the forest primeval...." |
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Renae
SFN Regular
543 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2004 : 10:01:30 [Permalink]
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I've spent many vacations in the American Southwest and loved it.
You should definitely see Las Vegas, if just for the spectacle of sheer American excess. Spend a day bouncing through the casinos and catching the free shows...and of course, an all-you-can eat buffet. I'd recommend stopping at The Rio. It's off Las Vegas Boulevard by a few blocks, but it's colorful and the buffet is actually good.
I loved Santa Fe, NM. Have a burrito at The Blue Corn Cafe or at Castro's...the very best burritos I've ever had. They take their chiles seriously in New Mexico. Gotta love 'em.
Can't help ya with beer. We have great microbrews here in the Northwest (Pyramid Ale, etc.), though.
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Tim
SFN Regular
USA
775 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2004 : 02:41:52 [Permalink]
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quote:
My wife and I are looking to come to the States in about 5 months.
Well…July…Touring the Southwest and the deep south…Hmmmm…Y'all must be very brave. I've never been beyond West Texas, but 100 degrees Fahrenheit and beyond is not uncommon. Plus, mile after mile of brown dirt, and yellow grass broken by the occasional mesquite tree and distant brown mesa is fascinating at first, but after the first couple hundred miles it becomes a bit tiresome.
At least it's dry out there. Once you hit get east of Austin the humidity starts to skyrocket. By the time you arrive in Houston it will be above 90 degrees Fahrenheit and 90 percent humidity. All you have to do to soak your clothes is to stand still in the morning sun. Later, afternoon thunderstorms are the norm, and it doesn't get any better until you reach the Smokey Mountains.
Believe me; you'll come to think those flat, lush, deep green landscapes and pale, hazy blue skies of the Deep South are the foulest vistas in the world.
I don't know about summertime in Australia, but take it from a native over here—it sucks!
Screw the convertible. Get yourself a mid-sized rental with an air-conditioner that kicks ass. A touring bike is a good alternative. If you really want to go topless with a big V-8, you'll have to start advertising, or web searching. Renting or even purchasing one of those tanks will be difficult. If you must, may I suggest a late seventies convertible Caddy El Dorado. We used to love to cruise the strip in Ft. Lauderdale while getting loaded in my step-father's Caddy back in the day.
All I can offer is this;
http://www.rent-a-wreck.com/
Of course, if you “get you're kicks on Route 66” you won't have to worry about most of Texas and the Deep South, including South Carolina. The road will take you north where it is just a bit more temperate in the summertime. Plus, you're Blues experience will be limited to St. Louis and Chicago, and that ain't bad. But, there, I can't tell you the best places, (except for Buddy Guy's Legends Club downtown Chicago). I've only been up there once.
quote:
Is this just a stupid romantic idea? Is it more woth my while to just hire a car?
No, really it's a great idea, but you need to know that it won't come cheap. Even if you find a decent vehicle to suit your wants and your needs for less than a couple grand, you have to think about reliability in the middle of a desert or a swamp, insurance and fuel. I don't want to bring you down, but I don't have a clue as to your income level. Plus, I'm a bit biased through tunnel vision. I see what's pertinent to my life, not yours. Your plans sound like a blast, but I guess I've just gotten too jaded against driving to attempt that big of an excursion.
Anyway, wife's home…I'll talk more tomorrow—if I have time. This is the first time I've been on the net in a while and even now my time is limited because of too much work, and a mother-in-law fighting a six year battle with cancer.
So, till then…I look forward to the beer and blues parts. Those are my favorites.
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"We got an issue in America. Too many good docs are gettin' out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their -- their love with women all across this country." Dubya in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, 9/6/2004
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2004 : 09:49:03 [Permalink]
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I too reccommend renting wheels rather than buying some. As you are a forign national, the peperwork will probably take 1/2 day of dealing with idiots at DMV. Not to mention insurance and so forth. It would be easy enough to get rid of at the end -- any salvage yard will cough up a few $$ for it, and some car lots will buy it for better bucks, but, if the heap is a clean, reliable one, you'll take a beating. Incidently, I've done it a couple of times in ride-a-while, wrench-a-while pieces of vehicular crap. Don't care to do it again, although I'm still driving pieces of crap.
There is an outfit called Rent A Wreck that, I think, is nation-wide and has the best rental prices.
American beer is swill, 'nuff said. Drink imports. Fosters is available in many places, although I've been told that it's not the best of Ozzy brews. American and Canadian whisky is excellent, as long as you avoid the cheap stuff. We make some decent wine, but again, you gets what you pays for.
If you go the Rebel Route (southern roads) and find yourself on I-20, do not eat at Big O's Barbeque on the GA / AL line. They use too much funky sauce. Wait 'till you get to the Carolinas; we make the real deal! TX 'q ain't bad and you can get excellent ribs in Pascagoola MS. Rip Griffin's Truck Stop, east of Dallas has a buffet worth hitting -- lots of Mex-Tex. In NM, the green chili is the hottest (and best!) version. Have it poured over everything (da filth begins to salavate -- not even I can make chili that excellent)! You might want drop by the Rattlesnake Museum in Albuquerque, but not for lunch. I'm planning to visit this summer, $$$ and health permitting.
On I-10, west of the Big Easy boasts Tiger's Truckstop. Go there for red beans and rice, served with alligator sausage, in season. You can hurt yourself at Tiger's. Of course, in New Orleans thare are a great many super-fine eateries, serving all of that good creole and cajun-ness.
Avoid like syphlis the fast food joints and other burger cannons; McD's, et al. They are all but downright poisonous. Bojangles serves passable, often quite good, chicken, but not even my house 'possum likes grease enough to eat at KFC. It didn't used to be that way; I wonder what happened. Popeye's is also fair for fried fowl. If you absolutly must have a burger, get one at a real resturant, cooked to order.
Seafood: anywhere on or near the coast will have it and, for the most part, it will be excellent. Order locally-caught. It will be fresher.
Ok, getting gas and stuff: Flying J truck stops usually have the cheapest fuel in any, given area. Also, their resturants and restrooms are cleaner than most and the food ain't bad in a pinch. Often, there is a motel on the premisis and security is good -- you won't come out to find your car broken into, nor be hassled by hookers, etc. O'course, there's a lot of big, ugly, nasty, mean-looking truckers hanging around, telling lies about trucks and women, but you can write that into your American Experience. 
You can get a guide showing the location of all Flying J's at any of their truck stops. And, if you need directions, one of those drivers will know where what you're looking for at. All you've got to do is ask -- with a few asshole-type exceptions, they are some of the most generous people in the world.
Reccommend road: The Blue Ridge Parkway through NC into VA. Pretty country. Also, a swing through New England, particularly VT and NH over Rt. 2 will provide some good camera fodder. Stop before you get to Rumsford Maine. If you smell a paper mill, you've gone too far and must either turn back or hurry to gat past it before you puke.
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist! 
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tw101356
Skeptic Friend
USA
333 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2004 : 09:50:43 [Permalink]
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Touring the southwest US by car is far more comfortable than driving from Sydney to Alice Springs. It's a bit cooler and much more inhabited. Think outback with paved roads and without bulldust.
Small brewery (microbrewery) beer is better than national brands, but also more expensive. I'm in the east, so I don't know what's local out west.
- TW
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- TW
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gezzam
SFN Regular
Australia
751 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2004 : 12:25:08 [Permalink]
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Thanks for all the advice, looks like the rental is a go.
Can't farkin' wait to see it all.
I've driven around Australia 1 1/2 times and met some great people...hope to do the same in the States.
quote:
filthy : Fosters is available in many places, although I've been told that it's not the best of Ozzy brews.
Yeah, it's worse than camels piss......although I only know that because my mate told me |
Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it's a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from.
Al Franken |
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Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie
USA
4826 Posts |
Posted - 02/22/2004 : 09:06:58 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by tw101356
Touring the southwest US by car is far more comfortable than driving from Sydney to Alice Springs. It's a bit cooler and much more inhabited. Think outback with paved roads and without bulldust.
Small brewery (microbrewery) beer is better than national brands, but also more expensive. I'm in the east, so I don't know what's local out west.
- TW
I can vouch for Goose Island microbrewery here in Chicago. As for wines, I can personally vouch for St. Julians and Warner Wineries in Paw Paw, Michigan. |
Cthulhu/Asmodeus when you're tired of voting for the lesser of two evils
Brother Cutlass of Reasoned Discussion |
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 02/23/2004 : 08:36:27 [Permalink]
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Gezz,
Been thinking about your trip. If you do decide to cut through Las Vegas, heading across the I-70 corridor into Colorado, you'll come close to Arches National Park, gorgeous wind sculpted arches are it's claim to fame, you'll also be close to Yellowstone National Park - by cutting farther north and into Wyoming. Both are definately worth taking the time to see. Check the national parks systems, see which ones you'd like to see. Camping overnight is fairly cheap, some even have showers. The southern Rockies in CO have been described as similar to the Alps in structure, these still show being carved by the ice ages, so you get the spectacular peaks. You'll be in the Sangre de Cristo ranges. Is worth the time to take the 5 city tour there. It starts in Telluride, goes to Ouray, and I forget where else. But that's an additional expense as you'd have to rent a 4x4, preferably a Jeep, they're narrower than most and better suited to the trails. The tour includes several old mining towns and takes about 6 days, but make the trip mid-July to August, otherwise you might get caught in a freak snowstorm, you're elevation is high enough that IF we get enough snow this winter, there will still be snow on most peaks. Colorado also boasts the highest road in the country. That's high tundra in Rocky Mountain National Park outside Estes Park CO. Though you can't hike through the area, except on designated trails - the tundra was being destroyed by too many tourists. Still a sight to see though.
In other states, the Bad Lands aren't a bad place to stop, that's in South Dakota. The Ozarks (Missouri, Arkansas, etc) and Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains (Tennessee, Kentucky) are pretty little bumps in the landscape too. The Sierra Nevada (Western portion of the Rocky Mountains, running through northern California and western Nevada) are gorgeous too. Don't know how familiar you are with the work of Ansel Adams, most of his pics were taken in the Sierras.
I've about covered the portions of the country I'm familiar with. Let each of us know when and if you'll be in our part of the country. I'm sure most of us'll stand you a beer - somewhere. |
...no one has ever found a 4.5 billion year old stone artifact (at the right geological stratum) with the words "Made by God."
No Sense of Obligation by Matt Young
"Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith. I consider the capacity for it terrifying and vile!"
Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
They (Women Marines) don't have a nickname, and they don't need one. They get their basic training in a Marine atmosphere, at a Marine Post. They inherit the traditions of the Marines. They are Marines.
LtGen Thomas Holcomb, USMC
Commandant of the Marine Corps, 1943
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jmcginn
Skeptic Friend
343 Posts |
Posted - 02/23/2004 : 14:30:12 [Permalink]
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If you want good BBQ Memphis has got some good stuff and quite a bit of blues history too, plus you can see the King's house there too (King of Rock that is) if you're into that kind of thing. Don't listen to Filthy, Carolina BBQ is just weird :> (Just kidding filthy, I actually like it although I prefer KC, Memphis, or even TX BBQ over it) :>
Edited to add:
All mass produced American beer tastes the same to me, maybe try local breweries as you find them, I personally drink Guiness stout and Killians Irish Red. |
| Edited by - jmcginn on 02/23/2004 14:31:22 |
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