Driving in America

loltim

loltim

loltim

Soldato
Joined
21 Oct 2002
Posts
14,597
Location
Wellington, NZ
I'll be driving from LA to Vegas soon. Should be fun once we get out of the city:o Just wondered if anyone can offer any tips? Obviously I plan on reading up on the US highway code etc. Turn right on red will take some getting used to!

Not bothered what car we get though, as long as it's got satnav and A/C. Was going to use Hertz unless there are any other companies worth looking at?

TIA.
 
Think mine's Europe only (Garmin Nuvi 300). You can choose satnav as an option for not a lot extra with Hertz.
 
Last edited:
Just got back from Canada and had the Hertz 'Neverlost' satnav, and while it was OK, it wasn't very good.

Had no detail or anything just a black background and a pink road to show where you were going, seeing as it was meant for tourists it hardly had any local attractions on it and didn't believe some of the smaller roads didn't exist (fair enough one was a dirt track but was a well used road still). The actual navigation was OK but was often very late giving instructions, and also gave instructions not very useful to non-locals.

If you have your own satnav with North American mapping definately take that.
 
Tim said:
Think mine's Europe only (Garmin Nuvi 300). You can choose satnav as an option for not a lot extra with Hertz.
Click to expand...
We chose neverlost on the Hertz website, when we came to collect it "You only selected it as a preference and we haven't got any available :mad: " (that was for a SUV hired for 2weeks from San Francisco to Los Angeles)- so bought a Garmin Nuvi 370 while out there! (was a lot cheaper and has full US & Europe maps)
 
Last edited:
ALWAYS stop for stop signs. I spent 3 and a bit months in the states and the cops are proper hot on rolling thru them, even if its only 3 or 4 mph. Not worth the hassle.

Not really worth laughing at and taking photos of the local cops buying doughnuts from the drive thru at dunkin donuts either. That lead to a pull and searches, visa checks etc.
 
you have to stop and not just move over if a police car is coming with blue ( orange ? ) lights on
 
bigchez said:
Not really worth laughing at and taking photos of the local cops buying doughnuts from the drive thru at dunkin donuts either. That lead to a pull and searches, visa checks etc.
Click to expand...

Seriously, how can I not laugh at that!? :D
 
Tim said:
I'll be driving from LA to Vegas soon. Should be fun once we get out of the city:o Just wondered if anyone can offer any tips? Obviously I plan on reading up on the US highway code etc. Turn right on red will take some getting used to!

Not bothered what car we get though, as long as it's got satnav and A/C. Was going to use Hertz unless there are any other companies worth looking at?

TIA.
Click to expand...

I drove from LA to Vegas last year, took around 9 hours due to traffic!

Get yourself a credit card that offers free insurance when renting a car, this will save you a lot of money
 
If you come to a T junction and there is a red light you can turn right as long as there is no traffic coming the other way.
 
I think the main thing to be aware of is that "undertaking" (i.e. overtaking on the inside) is legal and widely practiced on multi lane freeways. You also need to watch upcoming signs as there's not always much warning (especially when the off-ramp goes off to the left and you're in the right lane). Plan your route in advance, in the cities exit signs tend to be for the street served not location which can cause confusion.

Good points are that the highways are generally superbly engineered, even relatively minor mountain roads (be aware the hire companies don't like non 4x4's being driven on dirt or gravel). No roundabouts, though the "Four way stop" seems to confuse locals and overseas visitors alike.

The hardest part will be when you drive back to the rental drop off point at the airport. You get quite attached to that car over a two week Fly-Drive. American cars (even the Far Eastern imports) are quite unlike the tin cans we are afflicted with in the UK. Smooth, solid, sturdy - automatic transmission by default sometimes even self securing seatbelts (at least the shoulder belt). It's a bit of a culture shock when you get back to Heathrow and get back in that Punto with it's revvy engine and manual gearbox.

Enjoy. You're making me want to book up and go!
 
Vern1961 said:
You get quite attached to that car over a two week Fly-Drive. American cars (even the Far Eastern imports) are quite unlike the tin cans we are afflicted with in the UK. Smooth, solid, sturdy - automatic transmission by default sometimes even self securing seatbelts (at least the shoulder belt). It's a bit of a culture shock when you get back to Heathrow and get back in that Punto with it's revvy engine and manual gearbox.

Enjoy. You're making me want to book up and go!
Click to expand...

American cars are awful!! :p As are Punto's
 
Vern1961 said:
....
The hardest part will be when you drive back to the rental drop off point at the airport. You get quite attached to that car over a two week Fly-Drive. American cars (even the Far Eastern imports) are quite unlike the tin cans we are afflicted with in the UK. Smooth, solid, sturdy - automatic transmission by default sometimes even self securing seatbelts (at least the shoulder belt). It's a bit of a culture shock when you get back to Heathrow and get back in that Punto with it's revvy engine and manual gearbox.
...
Click to expand...

Any US car I've every had was awful. One had a 4L engine, was so bland I can't remember what it was. Handled like a barge and cheaper plastics than the inside of a biscuit tin. Lots of gadgets.
 
I did that drive a few years back. Very enjoyable from my memory, I think it takes you via Hoover Dam (but I wouldn't swear to that).
There are roundabouts, but you are unlikely to encounter them they are so few. Where they do exist, they often have a local radio broadcast signposted well in advance for U.S. drivers as they don't normally know how to use them!
Once you get into the cities, beware 4-way stop junctions. There are no priorities, but the rule is that the first person to arrive at the line gets to go first. Drivers over there are disciplined enough generally to obey this rule.
If you get a satnav, avoid Destinator. I used it over there and it was dire.

Long straight roads are novel at first, but the real joy is to head off them and go exploring!
Petrol is obviously very cheap, but the fuel pumps often require you to physically throw a switch before they dispense. It took me about 5 very frustrating and embarrassing minutes before someone pointed this out. If you are going to use a UK based card to pay at the pump, expect to have to go into the forecourt building to have the card authorised on a regular basis.

During my trip the fuel filler cap snapped off. I spent a reasonable amount of time trying to glue it back on before returning it, and this was a waste of time. When I returned the car I handed back the keys and filler cap with an apology. They weren't fussed at all and never charged me anything extra.
 
emailiscrap said:
IIf you are going to use a UK based card to pay at the pump, expect to have to go into the forecourt building to have the card authorised on a regular basis.
Click to expand...

Yep, most pumps want a zip code for authentication :(

Last time i went i hired a cadallac DTS and it had built in GM sat nav witch i thought was excellent. Found me cheap hotels in the poi in a matter of seconds.
 
Car rental companies don't miss a money making opportunity so from most you can hire a nav unit for extra cost.
 
Vern1961 said:
American cars (even the Far Eastern imports) are quite unlike the tin cans we are afflicted with in the UK. Smooth, solid, sturdy - automatic transmission by default sometimes even self securing seatbelts (at least the shoulder belt). It's a bit of a culture shock when you get back to Heathrow and get back in that Punto with it's revvy engine and manual gearbox.
Click to expand...
:confused: I would have said bad handling, gas guzzling, slow, always beeping for no reason, milk bottle plastic and seats that give you backache :p
 
Vern1961 said:
The hardest part will be when you drive back to the rental drop off point at the airport. You get quite attached to that car over a two week Fly-Drive. American cars (even the Far Eastern imports) are quite unlike the tin cans we are afflicted with in the UK. Smooth, solid, sturdy - automatic transmission by default sometimes even self securing seatbelts (at least the shoulder belt). It's a bit of a culture shock when you get back to Heathrow and get back in that Punto with it's revvy engine and manual gearbox.
Click to expand...
Yeah, seriously, just get rid of the Punto. US cars suck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom