2000 mile USA road trip, worth spending the $$$ on car hire?

[yellowbentines]

I know there's been a few threads on US road trips but I'm here to ask opinions specifically on the car to hire.

I'll be travelling for 3 weeks, around 2000 miles, through Death Valley, Yosemite, California coastal roads and more.

I've narrowed it down, either a mahoosive 5.3L V8 Chevy Tahoe SUV for about £850, or £1500 for a Mustang/Camaro/Challenger coupe, the latter I can guarantee the car and they'll be the V8 engined coupe flavour.

Nearly twice the cost, an extra £650 for the muscle car, I'm not sure it's worth it. Are the roads good enough to enjoy them, will I be able to use them without getting a ticket, are they actually any good?

Once I found out I could have an SUV in huge V8 engined guise I've thought it might be more comfortable over 2000 miles, have more luggage room, perhaps better air-con for the desert, the ability to venture a bit further off the tarmac (though I know most American SUVs are RWD not 4WD), but will I regret it.

Interested to hear what people have hired and if they thought it was a good/bad choice or a waste of money.

[yellowbentines]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

you cant go off road in any hire car without voiding your insurance technically. its up to you if you want to risk it.

Don’t plan on doing any real off roading, I’ve just read that some of the better views through Death Valley and Yosemite are on unmade gravel type roads that something with better tyres might be best suited for, to avoid a puncture in 110 degree heat in the middle of nowhere!

grumbledoak said:

If you need to ask you probably belong in the Tahoe.

I do need to ask, I’ve never driven any of them, there’s a huge price difference, and I’m not familiar with the roads. Why bother with the rolleyes and snide comment, are you that bored?

skibum said:

How about you get the best of both worlds and if you are spending a few days in one location, hire a mustang/camaro/vette for a day?

Had just crossed my mind. We had considered hiring one car for half the journey then changing, but 2 x one way hire charges = ridiculous total cost so I may rent something nicer for Californian coastal driving as we’ll be in SF for a few days.

Shaoxter said:

Hired a Camaro SS convertible (6.2L V8) and the car itself was very disappointing.
The roof down experience through DV and Yosemite was awesome though and I'd totally recommend a convertible. Just be aware there may not be enough boot space to fit a large suitcase!

Cheers for the useful feedback, this why I asked, I don't want to pay twice the cost and be disappointed if the cars are actually not that good, and luggage space is a big concern as SWMBO has a tendancy to pack everything she owns...

[yellowbentines]

pushthebutton said:

I assume you're going in the Summer?

I think for the times you're driving through the picturesque parts you'll miss having a convertible, but for the rest of the time, when the roof is up, the SUV is a much nicer place to be. I've hired a few convertibles and, luggage issues aside, we found ourselves putting the roof up on longer runs over about 45mph.

No, end of September/start of October next year.

I'm thinking it's perhaps only the world of movies that makes me think driving a convertible on that route will be delightful, and that in reality it's either too hot (sun directly on your head and air from a/c escaping), too windy, too small or too creaky & noisy - that's from owning 2 convertibles myself.

I've had the mid-sized Ford Escape (Kuga) in Florida myself before, and it was ok but had very light steering and a crappy 4-cylinder engine - the full-size SUV is the "if I'm not having a coupe/convertible it still has to have a huge petrol V8" option

I've decided haven't I...

[yellowbentines]

grumbledoak said:

I am a touch bored. And you are taking it all a bit too seriously.

To be more constructive: it will cost you a lot more than £650 to go back and do it in a Challenger, should that thought occur to you on your return.

It's a serious matter, it will be my longest, most expensive, most anticipated holiday of my life, and much of it will be spent driving. I will also be posting topics of similar seriousness asking whether to bet on red or black in Vegas, and if I should get pickle on my Mcfatsoburger or not.

We holiday in the USA most years anyway so I can hire one of the cars another time, its more about whether it's best suited to this kind of trip on this route, and weighing up pros vs. cons I think thirsty V8 land barge is the way forward, return it in Vegas a couple of days before we fly home, and explore the surrounds in a 'Vette for a couple of days.

[yellowbentines]

Thanks all for the input, the decision was made and I booked a Tahoe "or similar" full-size SUV with guaranteed gas-guzzling V8 engine, for the perfectly palatable all inclusive sum of £740 for 3 weeks, unlimited miles, all insurances.

Re: the post above quoting $850 daily rate for a Corvette Stingray, I think the desk agent may have been telling porkies to make the deal seem better than it is! In addition to the SUV I'm going to hire something nice for a day or two along the way, and on the Hertz website a Camaro SS is yours for £109, a Corvette convertible £128 and so on - all inclusive price and no haggle required, the only car that came up at around $850 a day was the E63 AMG.

Time to plan a route...

[yellowbentines]

Nickyboy said:

The price i quoted was one i had seen myself when they were first introduced to the Hertz fleet, now they seem to be a more palatable $300