Road Trip and a Question For You Guys

[Seawolf]

Hey guys. I've got a question for you. There is no right or wrong answer. I'm mainly just trying to get an idea of everyone's opinions on something.

Some recent events in my life have shown me that time is short and that you need to make the best of the time you have while on this earth. I'd like to do something special with my Dad this year, just the two of us. He's always talked about going out west to places like Montana and some of the national parks in the western parts of the country like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, etc. We live in East Tennessee, and while it's certainly beautiful here (wouldn't want to live anywhere else) I along with him would love to see some of the great sights this country has to offer. He's mentioned wanting to see Mt. Rushmore as well. He's always wanted to drive out that way and take in all the sights. The closest he's come is a trip he took out that way with his cousin who used to drive tractor trailers for a living; so it wasn't a sight-seeing trip. It was basically all interstate. I've finally gotten to a point in my life where I can afford to do this and take him with me for about two weeks some time this year.

Sorry for the background info, but here is the actual question. Would you guys spend the extra money to rent a vehicle and save the mileage on your Camaro or drive your Camaro and save the money spent on a rental at the cost of putting a lot of mileage on your car. I've had my Camaro for just over 5 months with about 8,000 miles on it already; so this is a decision that I will be making. Granted, a road trip of this magnitude would be absolutely astounding in my car (not to mention the photo opportunities I would have for my car which is a very good reason for taking the Camaro). If I take the trip that I would like to plan, it's going to be in the neighborhood of 4,500 - 5,000 miles round trip.

Here's the break-down the way I figure it.
In the Camaro:
No extra charge for driving it besides gas (and depreciation)
Gas: $750
Total: $750 + earlier depreciation costs

In Rental: Small SUV (If I'm going to rent something, I might as well rent something decent on comfort for such a long trip)
Rental Fee: $900 (with Enterprise...I've not shopped for the best price, this is just as an example)
Gas: Probably in the neighborhood of $1,000.
Extra Mileage: Since they only would give me $3,000 miles included, I have to pay .25 cents for each additional mile, about 2,000 which would put me at about $500.
Total: about $2,400

I obviously come out better monetarily by driving my own car, but with depreciation considered, I might come out better if I rent a vehicle.

So what do you guys think? Would you sacrifice the mileage on the car for what should be a trip to remember for the rest of my life or fork out the extra cash and rent a vehicle and still have a great time with my Dad?

Also, if any of you guys that live out that way know of any "must see" locations, let me know.

[TommyTSquared]

I am a fan of driving my car for whatever reason. To me, cars are meant to be driven. So I'd say drive it.

[bobbybottleservice]

If the answer on which option would be cheaper was a clear cut, I would go with the SUV, because spending time with you father on an great trip when you're both adults is bound to be a memory you cherish till you are old and gray.

That said, your car is still so young, and you bought it specifically to drive it, right? Live in the moment.

[tommygun6644]

Take the Camaro. Those miles on the engine will be memories.

And I wouldn't worry about depreciation, IMO. It isn't like these cars will be classics one day since they don't rot.

[Vinz68]

I'd take the Camaro!! If you rent a suv you'll probably be saying " I wish I took the Camaro " the whole time.......

[MikeSVX]

I have a suggestion for your trip. Drive old RT66. I've ridden cross country a few times. Las Vegas to Delaware. Twice on a motorcycle, once in my Nissan Spec-V and once in a uhaul. RT 66 is scenic and will bring you within 10 Minutes of the Grand Canyon if you stop in Flagstaff, Arizona. It also passes about an hour south of me in Las Vegas, on its way to Cali.

[RAdams]

You said it yourself: "time is short and that you need to make the best of the time you have while on this earth." Take your awesome new car and enjoy the hell out of it!

[Seawolf]

Originally Posted by Vinz68

I'd take the Camaro!! If you rent a suv you'll probably be saying " I wish I took the Camaro " the whole time.......

LOL That is probably very true.

[MONTANACARGUY]

You should be able to find a rate with unlimited mileage. USAA members get unlimited mileage on their special rates. If your coming to montana you've got to drive the Going to the Sun road in Glacier Nat'l Park.Its one of the best drives in the country. Definately take the Camaro you bought it to drive it!

[Partick]

I'd drive the Camaro in a minute if it were me...You'll have a great trip either way though, a couple of years ago I took a road trip with my dad to Montana when he found where his dad had homesteaded on a section of land in 1913 outside of Dillon. Spent a week and had a great time...

[first one]

My neighbor rented a V6 camaro for relatively cheap. Maybe, instead of renting an SUV, rent a camaro and you can have your cake and eat it too.

[SSchase]

id take the camaro. it will be worth it.

[TommyTSquared]

What is the reasoning behind not wanting to take the Camaro? The only thing I've seen you mention is that you're worried about putting miles on the car. Why are you worried about the mileage? Deprecation is going to happen, and the bulk of it already happened the SECOND to drove the car off the lot (sans a wreck or something of that nature).


I don't mean to dissuade you with this but I drove my car 300+ miles the day I bought it back to where I'm going to school. I ended up with 3 noticeable rock chips from the drive. I would do it again without hesitation. Things are going to happen to your car no matter what.

[Sir Nuke]

Seawolf, for me, its a no brainer.....take YOUR car, and take a lot of pitures of you and your dad together with your car. those monents in time captured in the images will be PRICELESS. There are only 5 states in the USA I havn't driven through, and your dad already mentioned Mt. Rushmore, and right down the road from that is the Crazyhorse monument, then go on to Yellowstone and into the Tetons......some of the most beautiful parts of our country. I would highly recommend it.