US Road Trip Vehicle Advice

Burnsy2023

Burnsy2023

Burnsy2023

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So I'm in the process of planning the highly unique idea of a roadtrip across the eastern US. There are three perhaps four of us going. The question of vehicle has come up, especially as people will need to sit in the rear seats.

I'd like a Mustang convertible as that is part of the unique vision that absolutely nobody else has already thought of. From Google the leg room is a little tight. Is it workable considering that we will be driving a couple of thousand miles? If not what are my other options? Mustang GT perhaps? Another car that will eat the miles and be comfortable for all passengers? Boot space is also a possible concern. Would it be workable to fit 3/4 cases in the boot?

Thought and experiences please :)
 
East Coast road trip sounds cool. Where are you going from and ending up? I can't add much other than there is no way 4 suitcases will fit in the boot of a mustang. The only cars with boot space for that will be estates or SUVs.
 
A Mustang Convertible will just about accommodate 2 people if they are careful with luggage. There is simply no way it's going to work for 3 adults. You'll need to rethink unfortunately.

You could book what I book each year - Luxury Sedan. You get pick of pretty much everything on the rental lot, but you'll probably end up with the US equivalent of something like 3 or 5 Series. Works well, especially for the East Coast where it's not really Mustang territory. However again I'd worry about the space they offer for 3-4 adults. We filled a Cadillac ATS last year with just the luggage for two of us.

I have to ask, why the East? The West is miles better for road tripping. Don't go to the East unless you've got some sort of non-negotiable reason for it.

The weather is better in the West, the scenery is better in the West, the road trip routes are better in the West... it's just better in the West.

Yay, only 2.5 months until my... East Coast road trip :/ :D

Actually thinking about it if there are 4 of you why not just rent 2 cars? It's not as if car rental over there is expensive. Get some 2 way radios on the go, probably loads more fun than sitting in the back of a car for hours.
 
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Caddy would be most comfortable although I think you should consider an ford explorer or equivalent. Much more comfort and leg room for 1000s miles. Then again their 3 or 5 series equivalent are normally much roomier
 
Lima said:
East Coast road trip sounds cool. Where are you going from and ending up? I can't add much other than there is no way 4 suitcases will fit in the boot of a mustang. The only cars with boot space for that will be estates or SUVs.
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Looking to go all the way from Boston to Florida but the route is very much up for debate. We need to go East Coast we're meeting some friends who live out there. We've only just decided on what our holiday was going to consist of, but I know there is a wealth of information here.

I think it's likely to be 3 rather than 4, but if it does end up as 4, I'll look at the cost of renting two cars. Someone did suggest an SUV type vehicle. Perhaps something like a Shogun would have enough space?
 
Burnsy2023 said:
Looking to go all the way from Boston to Florida but the route is very much up for debate.
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Thats going to be a nightmare to do rental car wise. None of the rental firms will want cars going one way from Boston to Florida and they will discourage you from doing so by applying enormous one-way fees, some of which will be payable locally so might not appear obvious on any quotes you get online. If you do find one they'll likely palm you off with the worst car they've got that they want to see the back of :D That happened to be last year too.

I did a similar route a few years ago, New York to Key West, FL. I ended up one-way renting between New York and Washington DC (The one-way fee on this doubled the cost!) and then another rental from Jackonsville to Miami (No one-way fees within some states). I then linked the two together with an overnight Amtrak train.

Big one-way's are a real pain.

Perhaps something like a Shogun would have enough space?
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Never seen a Shogun over there. I doubt they even do it. Standard SUV will be sufficient though (Bigger than the Ford Escape or similar class, the Escape is a Ford Kuga). The enormous SUV's are huge money to rent. Especially one-way!

To give you an idea, 2 weeks fully inclusive rental in a standard SUV is £355 through Alamo right now for 2 weeks in October. Good deal.

They then apply a $590 one-way charge! Doubles the rental cost.
 
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Burnsy2023 said:
So I'm in the process of planning the highly unique idea of a roadtrip across the eastern US. There are three perhaps four of us going. The question of vehicle has come up, especially as people will need to sit in the rear seats.

I'd like a Mustang convertible as that is part of the unique vision that absolutely nobody else has already thought of. From Google the leg room is a little tight. Is it workable considering that we will be driving a couple of thousand miles? If not what are my other options? Mustang GT perhaps? Another car that will eat the miles and be comfortable for all passengers? Boot space is also a possible concern. Would it be workable to fit 3/4 cases in the boot?

Thought and experiences please :)
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I've done many road trips in the US in a Mustang Convertible and it's great, actually I'd refuse anything else. However for 4 people it's probably not ideal as the luggage space is pretty limited.. just hire 2 of them :)
 
Jase said:
I've done many road trips in the US in a Mustang Convertible and it's great, actually I'd refuse anything else.
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Crikey, you are a glutton for punishment :D I had one once because you have to do California in a Mustang Cab but I actively avoid them now. They are iconic cars and they look great but they are otherwise fairly rubbish, there are much better cars available for rental, usually worth twice as much to buy yet available to rent for less :)

My favourite rentals now are the new-generation Cadillacs. Absolutely brilliant cars, last years ATS was as good if not better than the current 3 Series BMW. Fingers crossed for a CTS this year.
 
[TW]Fox;26495074 said:
Thats going to be a nightmare to do rental car wise. None of the rental firms will want cars going one way from Boston to Florida and they will discourage you from doing so by applying enormous one-way fees, some of which will be payable locally so might not appear obvious on any quotes you get online. If you do find one they'll likely palm you off with the worst car they've got that they want to see the back of :D That happened to be last year too.

I did a similar route a few years ago, New York to Key West, FL. I ended up one-way renting between New York and Washington DC (The one-way fee on this doubled the cost!) and then another rental from Jackonsville to Miami (No one-way fees within some states). I then linked the two together with an overnight Amtrak train.

Big one-way's are a real pain.



Never seen a Shogun over there. I doubt they even do it. Standard SUV will be sufficient though (Bigger than the Ford Escape or similar class, the Escape is a Ford Kuga). The enormous SUV's are huge money to rent. Especially one-way!

To give you an idea, 2 weeks fully inclusive rental in a standard SUV is £355 through Alamo right now for 2 weeks in October. Good deal.

They then apply a $590 one-way charge! Doubles the rental cost.
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Thanks dude, that's really worth knowing. I'll keep that in mind.
 
[TW]Fox;26495296 said:
My favourite rentals now are the new-generation Cadillacs. Absolutely brilliant cars, last years ATS was as good if not better than the current 3 Series BMW. Fingers crossed for a CTS this year.
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Who are you and what have you done with [TW]Fox?!
 
Standard SUV is what I pick when we go to the states. We have a lot of luggage and kids with a buggy too and they fit everything in with plenty of room for passengers in the rear. Don't bother with the Dodge Journey though, there's loads of them at every Alamo for a reason. The Ford Edge on the other hand is pretty good and we had a Volvo XC60 T6 the time before last as a free upgrade.
 
Dandle said:
Standard SUV is what I pick when we go to the states. We have a lot of luggage and kids with a buggy too and they fit everything in with plenty of room for passengers in the rear. Don't bother with the Dodge Journey though, there's loads of them at every Alamo for a reason. The Ford Edge on the other hand is pretty good and we had a Volvo XC60 T6 the time before last as a free upgrade.
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Hate to say it but if your doing mile after mile in the US not much really beats those Ford SUVs :S

If your road tripping eastern US then try and fit in some of the Blue Ridge Parkway i.e. Skyline Drive.
 
Have you considered a people carrier like a Chrysler Voyager? Lots of room inside for people and luggage.
 
Burnsy2023 said:
How many miles can people comfortably cover per day whilst also being able to enjoy the area they are driving through?
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How long is a peice of string? I've done 500 miles in one day before yet in other areas there is so much to see more than 100 is pushing it. Totally depends on the area. Most of the East Coast is dull enough that you'll be able to cover big miles on the interstate without missing much ;)

The most I've covered in one day through interesting scenery where I stopped to see things was 350 miles from Vancouver to Revelstoke through the mountains.
 
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