![]() |
|
Welcome to the Australian Ford Forums forum. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and inserts advertising. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features without post based advertising banners. Registration is simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. Please Note: All new registrations go through a manual approval queue to keep spammers out. This is checked twice each day so there will be a delay before your registration is activated. |
|
The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
![]() |
#31 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Utah
Posts: 3,479
|
Quote:
|
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#32 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 57
|
I did it in a Camaro v6 Because under 25 couldn't get a v8 unless I went to a luxury car hire mob who charge a fortune
I can say that getting handed the keys to it in the middle of peak hour LA driving wasn't the most relaxing experience lol but worth it Hope you have a great trip Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
Current ride 2013 PX Ranger 4x4 Previous rides 84DXC 78 Falcon 500 XC 302 collum shift auto 03 XR6T manual blue print 84DAU 99 AU falcon ute 86 XF falcon 4.0L |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#33 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Vic
Posts: 165
|
Quote:
__________________
Currently own XB 351 Sedan XE ESP 302 69 Mustang Convertible XA 351 Coupe 1965 Galaxie Convertible 2005 GT-P AU XR6 Ute |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#34 | ||
My kids think I'm cool
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Perth, WA
Posts: 7,880
|
Double the price of what ever you get quoted. I've just done it. It was great but hiring cars in the US is expensive, very expensive. You get a relocation fee, state and federal taxes, rental taxes, insurance (and get the full insurance, trust me!), sun pass (for tolls), sat navs, toddler/child seats etc. I'd work on $1600-$1800 a week to hire and run a mid size rental car in the us. Fuel is about the same as Australia, but parking and valets is crazy- $150-$200 a week I'd reckon.
The GT500 ended up costing just under $2,500 for 3 days. That's for a car that was "$399 a day" As an aside, this has been a WAY more expensive holiday then we'd expected. Enjoy it though brother!
__________________
2011 FPV GT 335 >My Build Thread< (Posts 3511-3515 has a compilation of most of the pics, page 118 @ 30 posts per page) BLUESTREAK built 5.2L flat-plane-crank VOODOO with 3.2L Intercooled Kenne Bell blower, 1000rwhp/746rwkw @ 8000rpm @ 20psi on E85. Built ZF with BLUESTREAK 2C Circle D converter. Unbloodybelievable... 2018 Ford Ranger RAPTOR 2013 Audi SQ5 |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
This user likes this post: |
![]() |
#35 | ||
XR5 Pilot
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Perth, Ex NSW
Posts: 1,455
|
Another option for Insurance... get Travel Insurance. 1Cover do a good one that covers your car too.
__________________
'08 Ford Mondeo XR5 in Thunder |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#36 | ||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,308
|
I used these guys http://www.midwayreservations.com/ when I did that drive. Careful with the HWP. They dont mind you giving it a little, but not too much. Pretty strict on that stretch of road between LA and Vegas.
__________________
My Ford Family... 2014 GT-F, Manual, Kinetic with Black Stripes 2021 Mustang Mach 1, Manual, Velocity Blue |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
This user likes this post: |
![]() |
#37 | ||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Checking out soft furnishings....
Posts: 8,698
|
Thanks heaps for the tips everyone, our route is set.
We will leave San Francisco on the first day for Eldorado Hills and stay there overnight. The next day we will head to South Lake Tahoe travelling along route 50 and stay there for two nights. From there along route, 88,89 and onto route 385 down to Mammoth mountain for the night. Then continuing down route 385 and onto route 190 into death valley for two nights. From there route 95 into Las Vegas for three nights. We will then head to NY via plane. Our contingency plan if route 50 is closed due to weather (snow) is to go up to Reno and and get in via that way, i've done research and that highway (route 80) is open all year round as it is a major route. I'm still yet to find a place that i can hire one for the week under $1000. I'm thinking of not doing the insurance they offer, as our personal insurance will cover us if something was to happen. I'm thinking i might not be able to hire a mustang or similar now, still hunting around. I'm not sure what the rules are on driving through alpine areas either. I wont be fitting chains as i will drive around the bad weather if i can, but i might need winter tyres. |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#38 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: On The Footplate.
Posts: 5,086
|
Yep, we used Alamo...it was great to deal with and a big tip is to book from here online and pre-pay which meant at the airport pickup area you skipped the sometimes-huge lines at the rental desks and just walked up to the garage and grabbed your car.
1Cover does great insurance deals as well and covers all sorts of stuff. I believe the car cover they have as part of the policy was on a "whatever it costs" level, as was the health and injury cover. If you want a specific car, be prepared to pay more for specialist rentals. Most say some vehicle "or similar". Ours for instance said "Dodge Charger or similar" and when we got there the lineup was just all Chev Impalas. Great cars...but they're not Chargers... ![]() "Only" a V6? Don't be disappointed...they put out V8 horsepower over there and because of different noise regs, they sound a hell of a lot better than our six cylinders here. The Impala we had produced a lovely exhaust note throb and induction roar under throttle. GPS: if you have your own decent quality GPS here, look at renting a map pack for the USA, and take it with you. I have a Navman, and downloaded a USA map pack for a cheap price. It only "lasts" thirty or sixty days or something and then deactivates, but that's plenty for most people. All we did then was change the units to imperial from metric and we were away. |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#39 | |||
XR5 Pilot
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Perth, Ex NSW
Posts: 1,455
|
Quote:
As for rules driving Alpine, I don't believe there are any. Just avoid getting caught in a bad snow fall ;) ... It started Snowing as we were driving through the Sierra on our way to El Dorado hills but thankfully was only light.
__________________
'08 Ford Mondeo XR5 in Thunder |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
This user likes this post: |
![]() |
#40 | |||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,308
|
Quote:
__________________
My Ford Family... 2014 GT-F, Manual, Kinetic with Black Stripes 2021 Mustang Mach 1, Manual, Velocity Blue |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#41 | ||
XR5 Pilot
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Perth, Ex NSW
Posts: 1,455
|
If you're using your Mobile over there and for a decent period of time, use these guys. This made life much easier for me... I had Unlimited calls for the month and 2GB of data.
http://www.mobipassport.com.au/USA-SIM-p/usa-att.htm
__________________
'08 Ford Mondeo XR5 in Thunder |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
This user likes this post: |
![]() |
#42 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,215
|
A mate did just that only some months ago from LA to Vegas in a new V8 Mustang said it was cheap as, he could not believe it and said the company to go too, i can't remember what company but said only go with that mob As the others are rubbish he said. then he got a chevy cruse said the fuel econ was unreal and you take the car back empty he said not like hear full.
He said he is never going to Asia again, USA was the best place he said he won $600 at the Casino you get free grog and drink all you want and he flew to New York the next day and recons if you smoke in NY they have the strictest laws you can't find a place to smoke anywhere. ![]() |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#43 | ||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Checking out soft furnishings....
Posts: 8,698
|
Bit of an update, so i went through driveaway.com and booked a mustang. Driveaway.com are a booking agent and Alamo is the company im hiring with. It was cheaper to go through them by about $200 rather than going through Alamo direct. Cost is $428 AUD for monday-friday with full insurance and unlimited kms. I've done my research and there are no hidden costs.
We are going from LA to Death Valley and then on to Vegas. We decided we will do Yosemite when we can spend a couple of weeks there. I am a photographer so a couple of days in that region would just be a tease. Thanks for all the advice. |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#44 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,910
|
So whats the story with a drivers licence? What happens if i get pulled over? I'm heading over to seattle next month, first time overseas.
|
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#46 | |||
BANNED
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,886
|
Quote:
Over 100mph in California is attempted manslaughter, not a fine You'll be waiting in custody for the circuit judge to do his rounds, could be hours or it could be days. Worth a thought, was warned by the nice man at Avis, LAX. |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#47 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 718
|
I use www.VroomVroomVroom.com .... Sort of a comparison site for all car rental companies. When using them I have found Dollar Car Rental on the West coast and Alamo on the East coast to be the best deals. But it depends on what type of vehicle you are after.
This year have driven LA to Vegas and then all the way to Niagara Falls via Grand Canyon, 4 State Corner, Million Dollar Highway, Rocky Mtns, across Kansas to St Louis, Indianapolis, Detroit, Niagara. Then back to Vegas via a different route, Cleveland, Chicago, Des Moine, Mt Rushmore, Devils Tower, Salt Lake, Vegas and on to LA. Did that in 4 weeks. Flew to Europe after that. Was a blast, then on the way back from Europe did New York, Boston, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Niagara again (The missus loves it), Pennsylvania, New York. That took 2 weeks Petrol is cheap and the roads are great. Food is delicious and they give you big helpings lol. Scenery is awesome and the people love Aussies. Will be going back again. Enjoy your trip. Cheers Mike
__________________
Current - 2014 FG MkII FPV GT (No 1460) Winter White, Black Stripes - 6 Speed ZF - Factory Leather & Sat Nav - Tint - Full Metal Dipstick - K&N Filter. Wife's - 2018 Peugeot 3008 Gtline, Pearl White - 6 Speed Auto - Fully Optioned. My Toy - 2014 Smart Fortwo Passion Crystal White, Black Tridion Cell - 5 Speed Auto with Flappy Paddles - Tint - Twin Exhaust The only good Commodore is the one now very very quickly disappearing in my rear view mirror. ![]() |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |