Orlando - Next Weekend, so what have I forgotten?
Discussion
Matt Harper said:
At risk of pissing on your chips a bit here, one-way rentals on anything other than standard (i.e. unexciting) cars is going to be difficult/not possible and/or bloody expensive.
Hertz do not offer one-way rentals on their "Adrenelin Collection" - Avis do allow one-way on certain 'executive' models, but charge a BIG premium (hundreds of dollars) for the concession. You might want to investigate this a little more thoroughly before you get too excited...
I can get a Mustang from Miami to LA for 22 days for about £1200. That isn't too bad is it? Hertz do not offer one-way rentals on their "Adrenelin Collection" - Avis do allow one-way on certain 'executive' models, but charge a BIG premium (hundreds of dollars) for the concession. You might want to investigate this a little more thoroughly before you get too excited...
Deva Link said:
...you can't do much with a V8 muscle car anyway - compared the UK, US roads are very, very heavily policed.
Plus whoever has to travel in the back won't be very happy, and you can't carry much baggage on them.
It wouldn't be the same doing a US road trip without a muscle car.Plus whoever has to travel in the back won't be very happy, and you can't carry much baggage on them.
WEHGuy said:
I can get a Mustang from Miami to LA for 22 days for about £1200. That isn't too bad is it?
That sounds like around $80 per day - I did a one way with a 3.5L Charger from Detroit to Indy a couple of weeks ago, through National Rentals Emerald Club that worked out at around $60.I suspect that you will be renting a 6cyl Mustang for a one-way. A nice car with 300+hp, but not a muscle-car by any stretch. If there are more than two of you, I pity the poor sod who has to sit in the back.
I have a 2012 Mustang and the back seats are less than generous when it comes to leg/head room.
Here's what I mean, I am 5'8" and the drivers seat is set just right for me...
Matt Harper said:
It is possible to get the hammer down here as much as anywhere else really, you just need to be aware of your environment and maybe think more like a traffic cop, so you can anticipate where you are likely to attract attention. Sustained high speed (85+) on the Interstate, without a radar, will get you busted sooner or later. I drive from Orlando to Tampa quite frequently and if the time of day and conditions permit I can run at around 100 between Haines City and the other side of Lakeland, only lifting off when the radar tells me to. Even a good detector doesn't protect against an "instant-on", so again, think like a cop and ask yourself, "Where would I hide?". Bridges, crests in the road, stands of trees in the median - all likely trap locations - don't forget light aircraft and helo's that also patrol some highways.
Speeding in towns/neighborhoods is much more risk-laden than out on the highway, because the latitude cops have to use discretion is much narrower.
Personally, the benefit of a 'muscle-car' (not sure that my 5.0 Mustang qualifies) is the abundance of torque that delivers hard acceleration, rather than balls-to-the-wall high-speed runs - any rental car will comfortably cruise at 95-100mph, you don't need a thumping great 8 cyl to do that.
Some states have a much more prolific and aggressive Highway Patrol stance - in my experience, GA, IN, OH, VA, MI and AZ have a policy of only employing neo-nazi State Troopers.
I've driven from LA to Vegas on the i-15 a few times, and each tiome have not really dropped under 90-100mph in my rental car, and that's for a sustained 4-5 hour period. I haven't once seen any police?!? Is this an exception or something? As i'm back off there on Friday and am hoping it hasn't all changed!Speeding in towns/neighborhoods is much more risk-laden than out on the highway, because the latitude cops have to use discretion is much narrower.
Personally, the benefit of a 'muscle-car' (not sure that my 5.0 Mustang qualifies) is the abundance of torque that delivers hard acceleration, rather than balls-to-the-wall high-speed runs - any rental car will comfortably cruise at 95-100mph, you don't need a thumping great 8 cyl to do that.
Some states have a much more prolific and aggressive Highway Patrol stance - in my experience, GA, IN, OH, VA, MI and AZ have a policy of only employing neo-nazi State Troopers.
Edited by nick s on Monday 10th September 10:17
nick s said:
I've driven from LA to Vegas on the i-15 a few times, and each tiome have not really dropped under 90-100mph in my rental car, and that's for a sustained 4-5 hour period. I haven't once seen any police?!? Is this an exception or something? As i'm back off there on Friday and am hoping it hasn't all changed!
I'm not particularly familiar with that part of the US from a driving/plod perspective. The last time I drove in Nevada (late at night, southbound on I-15 toward Vegas, from Utah) I got pulled over by a State Trooper, who had gunned me coming in the opposite direction. He didn't ticket me - I think it was because I didn't offer any bullsEdited by nick s on Monday 10th September 10:17
t excuses and just said I was driving sloppily and not paying attention - he seemed surprised by my honesty - and thanked me for turning my interior light on when he pulled me over.My thought is, if you do this regularly, they'll get you in the end - and just because you don't see 'em, doesn't mean they're not there. Tourists (anyone without a Nevada drivers license) pay 'on the spot' in NV too, so if they do pinch you, you will be escorted to the nearest ATM.
I would say on the Interstate roads you do get quite a lot of traffic doing 80, including, scarily, the big trucks. However I would have thought 90, and certainly 100, would stand out as being noticeably faster than pretty well everything else.
Don't know how much they really use air observation (it's signed all over the place) but from the air faster (than everything else) vehicles really stand out.
Don't know how much they really use air observation (it's signed all over the place) but from the air faster (than everything else) vehicles really stand out.
Matt Harper said:
I'm not particularly familiar with that part of the US from a driving/plod perspective. The last time I drove in Nevada (late at night, southbound on I-15 toward Vegas, from Utah) I got pulled over by a State Trooper, who had gunned me coming in the opposite direction. He didn't ticket me - I think it was because I didn't offer any bullst excuses and just said I was driving sloppily and not paying attention - he seemed surprised by my honesty - and thanked me for turning my interior light on when he pulled me over.
My thought is, if you do this regularly, they'll get you in the end - and just because you don't see 'em, doesn't mean they're not there. Tourists (anyone without a Nevada drivers license) pay 'on the spot' in NV too, so if they do pinch you, you will be escorted to the nearest ATM.
ahh i see, well i've never done it at night! Only in the daytime when there was wuite a few other cars on the road, and i was just keeping up with the fastest traffic. So guess it might be different at night when it's quiet!!t excuses and just said I was driving sloppily and not paying attention - he seemed surprised by my honesty - and thanked me for turning my interior light on when he pulled me over.My thought is, if you do this regularly, they'll get you in the end - and just because you don't see 'em, doesn't mean they're not there. Tourists (anyone without a Nevada drivers license) pay 'on the spot' in NV too, so if they do pinch you, you will be escorted to the nearest ATM.
Just out of interest, what's the normal speeding fine for tourists when you have to pay on the spot then? does it vary?
nick s said:
I've driven from LA to Vegas on the i-15 a few times, and each tiome have not really dropped under 90-100mph in my rental car, and that's for a sustained 4-5 hour period. I haven't once seen any police?!?
This thread was just started: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...nick s said:
ahh i see, well i've never done it at night! Only in the daytime when there was wuite a few other cars on the road, and i was just keeping up with the fastest traffic. So guess it might be different at night when it's quiet!!
Just out of interest, what's the normal speeding fine for tourists when you have to pay on the spot then? does it vary?
I don't believe there is a "normal speeding fine for tourists". Your line of question seems a bit odd to me.Just out of interest, what's the normal speeding fine for tourists when you have to pay on the spot then? does it vary?
At risk of handing out advice that isn't asked for, I would suggest that you might want to consider strategies to avoid contact with the Highway Patrol, rather than deal with the consequences of such an encounter. Despite being very pro-police, I have to say that the State Troopers - sometimes referred to as "Road Roaches" are pretty much the bottom of the pecking order when it comes to US law enforcement - and that sometimes shows in their attitude toward those they have sworn to 'protect and serve'.
Their working lives pretty much revolve around speed enforcement and clearing up accidents, which would drive a lot of people insane due to repetition/boredom.
A lot of them just seem to have bad attitudes, a pretty over-inflated opinion of their status and some strange sadistic desire to make life more difficult than it needs to be. Most of the Troopers I have had dealings with have been ar$eholes who felt the need to demonstrate how tough, intransigent and demeaning they were.
Being stopped by the Highway Patrol is rarely and uplifting experience.
cat220 said:
Guys,
Bit off topic but heading over to Florida in two weeks, who do you recommend for car hire? Past few times I've booked through Holiday autos. Always found them pretty good price wise. Any recommendations?
Thanks,
C
Could try Hertz, they have a 20% off sale on ATM and more if you go via quidco. I've used them many times and have never had a problem. Make sure you view all cars on the results page -a lot of them are hidden to begin with.Bit off topic but heading over to Florida in two weeks, who do you recommend for car hire? Past few times I've booked through Holiday autos. Always found them pretty good price wise. Any recommendations?
Thanks,
C
HOGEPH said:
I always use usrentacar. Not necessarily the cheapest, but they have always sorted out any problems I've had on my return.
I have just booked with them for next March, they were the cheapest by quite a margin.This'll be the fourth time I've used them, always the cheapest for me, and never any problems at all - produce voucher at desk, bypass all (or most) of the hard sell on upgrades and extra cover you don't want, collect car, easy.
Matt Harper said:
The tolls have just gone up again (the theiving tts) - so bring a handful of quarters - or avoid the toll road (at the North exit, at least) altogether, without racking up any extra miles.
Here's how...
Take Semoran Blvd north out of the airport, ignoring signs for SR 528 to I-Drive, Disney etc.
Turn left onto Frontage Road (1st light after the airport).
At the intersection with South Conway Rd turn left and then turn right at the next light (McCoy Road).
Note: there is a very nice casual bar/smokehouse grill on the right after a 1/4 mile.
McCoy runs into Sand Lake Road at the intersection of Orange Avenue. Be careful at this intersection. There are more accidents at this intersection involving UK tourists than anywhere else in Orange County. Sand lake leads directly to the hell-hole that is I-Drive.
Top tip, thanks Matt. Used those directions last night. Saved a few dollars to be spent on beer instead!ts) - so bring a handful of quarters - or avoid the toll road (at the North exit, at least) altogether, without racking up any extra miles.Here's how...
Take Semoran Blvd north out of the airport, ignoring signs for SR 528 to I-Drive, Disney etc.
Turn left onto Frontage Road (1st light after the airport).
At the intersection with South Conway Rd turn left and then turn right at the next light (McCoy Road).
Note: there is a very nice casual bar/smokehouse grill on the right after a 1/4 mile.
McCoy runs into Sand Lake Road at the intersection of Orange Avenue. Be careful at this intersection. There are more accidents at this intersection involving UK tourists than anywhere else in Orange County. Sand lake leads directly to the hell-hole that is I-Drive.
HOGEPH said:
Matt Harper said:
The tolls have just gone up again (the theiving tts) - so bring a handful of quarters - or avoid the toll road (at the North exit, at least) altogether, without racking up any extra miles.
Here's how...
Take Semoran Blvd north out of the airport, ignoring signs for SR 528 to I-Drive, Disney etc.
Turn left onto Frontage Road (1st light after the airport).
At the intersection with South Conway Rd turn left and then turn right at the next light (McCoy Road).
Note: there is a very nice casual bar/smokehouse grill on the right after a 1/4 mile.
McCoy runs into Sand Lake Road at the intersection of Orange Avenue. Be careful at this intersection. There are more accidents at this intersection involving UK tourists than anywhere else in Orange County. Sand lake leads directly to the hell-hole that is I-Drive.
Top tip, thanks Matt. Used those directions last night. Saved a few dollars to be spent on beer instead!ts) - so bring a handful of quarters - or avoid the toll road (at the North exit, at least) altogether, without racking up any extra miles.Here's how...
Take Semoran Blvd north out of the airport, ignoring signs for SR 528 to I-Drive, Disney etc.
Turn left onto Frontage Road (1st light after the airport).
At the intersection with South Conway Rd turn left and then turn right at the next light (McCoy Road).
Note: there is a very nice casual bar/smokehouse grill on the right after a 1/4 mile.
McCoy runs into Sand Lake Road at the intersection of Orange Avenue. Be careful at this intersection. There are more accidents at this intersection involving UK tourists than anywhere else in Orange County. Sand lake leads directly to the hell-hole that is I-Drive.
Mr Roper said:
Or pay the few dollars and avoid all the stop start. I took the tolls from the airport and it took 35 minuets to do 26 miles....non toll on the way back was an hour of stop start stop start stop start...drove me nuts. Pay the $2.75 life's too short.
You make a perfectly valid point. The reason I use that route is that I'm back and forth from the airport very very frequently - and this particular route is pretty free-flowing. It's useful to know because the queues at that toll plaza get very big and tiresome, due to the high volume of tourists fumbling for change, throwing money at (and missing) the bucket, heading into the EZ Pass lane and then trying to reverse back out of it, asking for detailed turn-by-turn directions to I-drive etc., etc.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff