What car, Arrive and Drive issue......

So, we have a trip to So-Cal at the end of the month. It looks like we have some changes going on which includes that our ride from Cali back to TX may not be there. So the wife mentions that we may pick up a ride, and drive it back.

Now there are caveats:

No Motorcycles unless I ride back by myself, since we have a 1 year old, even with a sidecar. I checked :)

4 Door, this is not set, but would make sense

sub-5k probably less, the wife has to approve, but as long as I can sell it

I havent done any real looking, but it would need to be good enough to make it halfway across the lower 48. Not sure if I should look for 60-70 classic, or a Mercedes S class, Saab 9000, or just a conversion van. Anyone have any thoughts?

Hard to say. Your profile says texas so rust shouldn't be an issue where you are. Look for something you can't find? I think a classic from SoCal should make for an easy flip when you get back.

Yes, outside of Houston again.

why dont you just rent a car......thrifty/dollar car rental $350 per week unlimted free miles, 4 door mopar?

In reply to The:

Typically, that rental price is for round trip, not one way.

As a conversion van owner, I have to say they rock. Also they are dirt cheap used, plenty of space, comfy, and yes, somewhat gas guzzling. My old '87 ford conversion van just last summer did an 1,800 mile trip loaded to the top with stuff (I was moving and on a road trip to visit parents/pick up childhood stuff). I would do it again without reservation. Very reliable.

At one point my parents tried selling it, and nobody was interested. That was back when it was a summer-miles only, low mileage, high-end, completely rust free van in Wisconsin. They are very useful vehicles, but extremely low-demand.

Miata. Or your classic Mercedes idea.

In reply to bgkast:

1 year old goes in the trunk?

Anyway, this would be an easy one if you were going up north. Is there anything that sells cheap in Cali but is worth more back home in TX? I can't think of anything but I've never lived in either of those places.

I like the conversion van idea for a one-off road-trip car, but the hard-to-sell aspect is going to be a pain when you go home and want to sell the van.

In reply to ShadowSix:

They can ride on laps like on an airplane, right?

If you don't have to pass emissions back home...maybe an older Mercedes S Class that won't pass smog?

I would think things that won't pass smog may be the ticket:

http://stockton.craigslist.org/cto/4406829033.html

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/4455469623.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/4449501684.html

EDIT: Nevermind, THIS IS THE ONE: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/4456532677.html

NONACK wrote: I would think things that won't pass smog may be the ticket: EDIT: Nevermind, THIS IS THE ONE: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/4456532677.html

Oh yes to the Cherokee Chief!!!! I haven't seen one of those in decades.

Of course you wont pass many gas stations.

Nonack may be onto something. I did find several Crown Vic Wagons. Those are AWESOME :).

We can fly back too, but then you have to pay for a plane, we don't get to stop by the Grand Canyon, and where is the joy? Same can be applied to a rental car.

The older cars here just need to have cats. Newer just get plugged into the OBD port and it looks for the CEL. So if its just an exhaust thing we are good.

What is available on there thats not in TX. Any other wierd Ideas? Cadillac Convertible seemed nice, but not sure I can sell that as soemthing since the nicer ones I can get are double the range Im thinking.

Prerunners/other desert prepped vehicles are common out there, less so in TX depending on the area.

This?

Better yet, this

NONACK wrote: Prerunners/other desert prepped vehicles are common out there, less so in TX depending on the area. This? Better yet, this

Is it legal to drive a 2wd truck in Texas?

Look/Post on craigslist to see if you can find someone to pay you to drive their car from CA to TX. Lots of CA jobs moving to Texas means lots of people probably moving to TX as well.

+1 on a clean prerunner!

Rusnak_322 wrote: Is it legal to drive a 2wd truck in Texas? Look/Post on craigslist to see if you can find someone to pay you to drive their car from CA to TX. Lots of CA jobs moving to Texas means lots of people probably moving to TX as well.

I hope so. Ours is only a 2wd, but it is a Dually Diesel...

May have to look into the auto relocation.

Wait, what?

Did you say you found crown vic wagons?

What the...

I think that some of these ideas may not go over in the TX environment vs their native land of CA. I really like the "won't pass smog" idea. That M5 Copy E39 is sweet.

Well, this answer was kinda pushed on us. Not in a bad way, but the owner was a friends dad who made a decent deal.

2000 528i 5spd Sport/Premium Pkg.

That's awesome. Perfect for eating up the highway miles.

In reply to Thinkkker:
That's a nice picture from Shoreline Village Dr.
Looks like a nice BMW too.

If you're still in The LBC, I recommend The Schooner or Later for breakfast or lunch.
It is one of my favorite places. Good breakfast and lunch only food, overlooking the marina in Alamitos Bay.

How much do you want for it and when do you get back?

Get an old classic that works well, but needs some love. Drive back in style. Then call the Gas Monkeys and sell it to them. Be on TV. Win.

Eating the Hwy miles is right.

Averaged 26.5 mpg, 74.7 mph while the car was running, made it in 26 hours. Not too bad with a 1 year old in the car with us I don't think. Car is awesome, and has some fairly new tires on it.

John, Ill have to check that out when we go back. We are trying to plan a trip possibly sans kid to be able to dive and do some other stuff.

Nicksta, I sent you a "PM"