Ideas for sub-$3k car for cross country adventure?

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I will agree with the general sentiment that this a big country full of boring straight roads. Much like sex on a beach seems romantic until you realize sand is a poor lubricant... unrelenting wind noise you have to shout over and kidney punching suspension gets old fast. I am all for that sort of adventure myself anyway but I would not bring my wife along to save both of our sanity. With that in mind: If your girlfriend is a real adventurer then skip the car and do it on one or two motorcycles.

We considered motorcycles, but a good one seems to cost more than a car!

NOHOME wrote: I have done a substantial amount of cross-country driving in a 1990 Miata. What is good about the Miata is that it is just a pleasant car to drive, and since you will be doing so much driving, that is a good thing. I suspect you wont be doing a lot of long haul legs since this is an exploratory trip. Luggage is going to be an issue. My wife and I could pack the car with enough clothes, camping and fishing gear to go for two weeks. My parents did a similar trip to what you are describing. They used a Toyota 4 wheel drive Pick-up since they wanted to include logging roads and more out of the way destinations. They had a great time and went to some incredible destinations, so you might want to keep the option for such destinations open. Enjoy.

Very helpful, that's sort of what I was thinking, I hate driving big boats and floaters, even on the highway. We do plan to seek out some fun roads (Tail of the Dragon) and maybe an autocross.

CyberEric wrote:

glueguy wrote:

CyberEric wrote: It's insane that I am cross shopping a Miata and a 1970 Ford Econoline van!

Nope, that's this board. The rest of civilization doesn't get it, but that's normal here.

I love it! I came to the right place.

I too, when reading this, realized that this cross shopping was not really odd...at least around here

Let me add; from my deep wisdom, gas mileage is inversely proportional to fun and adventure.....and the same goes for women.

Gasoline wrote: Let me add; from my deep wisdom, gas mileage is inversely proportional to fun and adventure.....and the same goes for women.

Are you saying women are inverse to fun and adventure?
or
Are you saying that gas mileage is inverse to women???

Gasoline wrote: Let me add; from my deep wisdom, gas mileage is inversely proportional to fun and adventure.....and the same goes for women.

What are you measuring in gallons to get the mpg for the women???

CyberEric wrote: I hate driving big boats and floaters, even on the highway. We do plan to seek out some fun roads (Tail of the Dragon) and maybe an autocross.

I drove the Tail in a 69 Olds Delta 88 convertible, in the rain, with the top down. It's a lot more fun than you may think ;)

Or, buy a pocket bike and toss it in the trunk of a Crown Vic and have the best of both worlds.

I'm not anti fun car, but having logged over 50,000 miles on 5+ day roadtrips in the past 8 years I can tell ya bigger is better. Out of my constantly changing list of roadtrip chariots, if I were to pick the best based on what you're saying I'd go with a fox body mustang. At least more space than a miata, plenty of hoonability and some handling ability, easy to find parts for, available in a drop top variant if you are still not convinced that's a terrible idea.

In reply to CyberEric:

Old Kawasaki Concours 1000 shouldn't be too costly and would make a fine motorcycle for this trip.

I don't want to turn this into an MC vs. Car thread, just saying that there are options.

You know what else might be good? AWD AMC, like a Spirit SX/4. Okay mileage, easy to park compared to a truck, should do a lot of good things offroad or on paths through the woods, etc etc.

Gasoline wrote: Let me add; from my deep wisdom, gas mileage is inversely proportional to fun and adventure.....and the same goes for women.

I think he is saying gassy women are more fun and adventurous.

In reply to CyberEric:

I don't think you answered if your girlfriend would be driving, or if you are doing all of it.

What does SHE want??

The Tail of the Dragon is fun, regardless of what you are driving. I've done it in radical Subaru XT that outran an NSX up the hill, and I've done it in my F-250 extended cab diesel. Still fun.

But the Dragon is 11 miles long. You're gonna cover 8000 miles. Don't kid yourself- you will be driving FAR more highway miles with the cruise control on than any fun driver roads. For a 6'-3" guy, 8000 miles worth of cramped legs and butt cheeks without the ability to shift positions might not be anywhere as fun as you think.

Do you REALLY hate driving floaters THAT much?

CyberEric wrote: I would love a 944, but finding one that is in my price range and has been properly maintained seems difficult.

Where is home base? There's 3 or 4 sub 3k 944s just in the chicago CL - cutter67 has sold a couple nice looking ones in the past 6 months or so on the 2013 classifieds - seems like a good mix of what you're looking for.

SVreX wrote: In reply to CyberEric: I don't think you answered if your girlfriend would be driving, or if you are doing all of it. What does SHE want?? The Tail of the Dragon is fun, regardless of what you are driving. I've done it in radical Subaru XT that outran an NSX up the hill, and I've done it in my F-250 extended cab diesel. Still fun. But the Dragon is 11 miles long. You're gonna cover 8000 miles. Don't kid yourself- you will be driving FAR more highway miles with the cruise control on than any fun driver roads. For a 6'-3" guy, 8000 miles worth of cramped legs and butt cheeks without the ability to shift positions might not be anywhere as fun as you think. Do you REALLY hate driving floaters THAT much?

This x 10000%. I'd do a Grand Prix GXP if it had to be a car with room and some handling. Get almost 30mpg on the highway, trunk large enough to carry 4 dead hookers and your luggage for the week, don't handle bad and the 3800SC is a hoot to romp on.

Floater

Eric,

I am 6'4" and have a Miata. I am also in the Bay Area. If you want to examine Miatas up close and personal, hop the BART over to the Oakland Coliseum Sunday morning. There is an SCCA autocross. I'll be there along with many other Miata drivers. I'll show how I did a "Foamectomy" on the driver seat to fit in it.

Having done a few road trips to places like San Diego in the Miata, I think you may want something larger and quieter for a cross courty jaunt. I also have a '93 Civic Si. Given a choice of driving eirther of them to say Atlanta. I'd take the Civic. The extra space, quiet and the 39 mpg I get on the highway make it a better long distance cruiser than the Miata. And it doesn't "float".

let me know if

Found it !!!!!

http://lansing.craigslist.org/cto/3677810915.html

Gasoline wrote: Floater

That's not a floater. It's a sleeper.

Big enough, convertible with working AC. Mustang GT.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/3619877228.html

Same thing in a hardtop http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/3677910285.html

Cruisin' in the caddy http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/3632074250.html

For the classic http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/3654576880.html

Is there another opportunity that you are overlooking?
You are starting your trip from San Francisco, generally known as a land of rust-free cars.
You will then drive toward the rusty side of the country and where Hurricane Sandy has wiped out a lot of good used cars.
When you get there you are planning to turn around and take your rust-free car home with you?

I would one way the trip, sell the car and fly home.

As an example, if you find a '01 or newer Hyundai Elantra GT with ZERO RUST, less than 150k miles and generally in good shape; buy it for $3k. Drive it cross country at your leisure. When you arrive, I will give you $4k for it in addition to dropping you off at the airport.
It is a win-win because I get a car that is clearly capable of a cross country drive, and rust free.
You can travel in a car style that fits the trip but then get all your money back (plus profit) to then buy a car that may be more appropriate for city living.

As far as the autox'ing during the trip. We will find an event and you can co-drive my Miata while here.

In my case, find the buyer first and take an order for a specific car.
Another option may be to find the car first and then search for an east coast buyer.
Here in the rust-belt, there are cars that have near completely gone away that are still rather plentiful out west. You would be hard to go wrong with a mid '90's vintage Toyota 4Runner. They are usually pretty desirable in the snowy (and rusty) states.
The list of the possibilities is endless.

BAM! The AW11 MR2 is bulletproof, I would drive a complete POS with parts falling off cross-country no worries. It will always start, and that's a good thing.

For your budget, find a rust-free Bay Area car for $1200, add new clutch, brakes all around, and some flush/fill service and off you go for $2500. There is plenty of room for two inside, it has a sunroof that can be removed for that quasi-convertible feel, and is a hoot to drive. The rear trunk, front trunk (frunk) and some small space behind the seats gives a surprising amount of room. You can even strap a big bag to the rear deck as long as you don't block the vents. It's only 2-5 years older than a 1990 Miata!

The downside? Perhaps a bit buzzy at highway speeds, but better than a Miata. (The MR2 is a pretty solid little car) They can be a little twitchy, especially when you run the camber and bars that I do. And you will have to stop often so people can ogle and take pictures of your car. You will also get a lot of phone numbers from hot girls, even with your SO standing right there.

Haven't read the entire thread (trying to get in before the Miata bashers get it locked!)...

Toyman01's Buick RM wagon. Luxe, cargo space, and possible automotive adventure. On top of that you can fly, bus, train to the east coast and then do a 1.5 lap of America. Go back west via a northern route, come back east using a central route, and then go west again using a southern route.

novaderrik wrote: here it is at the site of the JFK assassination:

Been there! As soon as I walked around the site, I fully understood the conspiracy theorists obsession with the grassy knoll. Way easier shot from there than the book depository.

Oops, mods please delete...

1st gen Subie Forester. Tons of room, AWD, handles pretty good, rides well, lots of cargo room, and can be found pretty damn cheap...

A buddy did a trip like this solo. He bought a Chevy Astro for cheap and built a plywood bed into the back about 2' off the floor (he is 6'6" tall) and used the area underneath for storage. He made the trip last 2 months using it for driving and camping. Had a reliable V6 with AC and cruise control and he could get parts anywhere. That's what I would do. I have daily driven Miatas for 8 years but they suck on long trips for all the reasons already discussed. If you have to do it in one get a hardtop so you stay sane!

I'm with Pinch valve, +1 on the AW11. I wouldn't be a bit afraid to drive my '89 coast to coast starting tomorrow morning, with cruise, AC and mpg in the middle to upper thirties.

For less gas mileage, I'd also vote for a really nice 2nd or 3rd gen Supra. I had an '87 NA back in the day - only got about 23 mpg at 70 mph, but got 20 at 90 mph (don't ask how I know,that was back in the days of 55 mph speed limits, so I must have been dreaming across western New Mexico, right?). Very comfortable, great handling, quiet. Only problem is finding one that hasn't been seriously riced or with a zillion miles. Can also be hard to find one with a 5-speed.

Type Q wrote: Eric, I am 6'4" and have a Miata. I am also in the Bay Area. If you want to examine Miatas up close and personal, hop the BART over to the Oakland Coliseum Sunday morning. There is an SCCA autocross. I'll be there along with many other Miata drivers. I'll show how I did a "Foamectomy" on the driver seat to fit in it. Having done a few road trips to places like San Diego in the Miata, I think you may want something larger and quieter for a cross courty jaunt. I also have a '93 Civic Si. Given a choice of driving eirther of them to say Atlanta. I'd take the Civic. The extra space, quiet and the 39 mpg I get on the highway make it a better long distance cruiser than the Miata. And it doesn't "float". let me know if

Thanks very much! I am traveling in Asia for the next 1.5 months so sadly I cannot make the event at the Coliseum, but when we get back I'll holler. I'd really like an old Civic Si, it'd be harder to convince my girlfriend though I think since they look pretty boring. She will be driving this, and she, and I both want something with a fair amount of character/romance, and I'm not sure how she'd feel about a Civic, but I'll see. Thanks again.