Overhaulin' - Road trip from NY to LA?

Road trip from NY to LA?

I am from New Zealand planning to do a month long road trip from NY to LA in couple of months time. Just wondering is it better to buy a car (US$1000) or rent a car and stay in motels or backpackers (I will be travelling alone) along the way. And if I to buy a car what are legal things (mechanical/Insurance) i need to look. Here in New zealand it's better to buy a cheap car and do the trip then sell your car which works out cheaper than a renting a car. Thanks Guys/Gals To "gtoacp"- if you are here in NZ for couple of weeks, i would suggest you rent a car. If you are staying more than a month then i would suggest buying a car (you can get an OK car for as low as NZD 1000). Thanks for the answer

Public Comments

Well, I will be in NZ next March so perhaps you have given me an idea for a car as rentals are expensive there. I will be there for 2 weeks. Here I don't think $1000 will buy you much of a car and my expectation would be that you would in fact have mechanical problems along the way. You could possibly find a good car for that, but you would be taking a chance. Also, it would take you awhile to find one, get it licensed and insured and then selling it. On Orbitz, I find it is about $300 less per month to go from LAX to JFK. A compact rental would be about $1200 US. That takes care of insurance and the risk of mechanical problems. Also, it will be more comfortable than a $1000 car you would buy. To keep costs down stay in small towns at small motels. You could also take a back pack tent and camp at state parks or private campgrounds like KOA. Have a fun trip and try to take roads that go through our beautiful National Parks.
I would not suggest buying a $1000 car. You would be getting something worse than a Hooptie. You might make it an hour or two before it broke down or you might make it the whole way. It's really not a chance worth taking. You could rent a car but if you spend all day driving you really will not get to enjoy the scenery or the unique places. Why not take the train? Below is Amtrak's website for a special that they have for international visitors. It is cheaper than renting or buying a car and you will not have to drive and be exhausted all day. You can either get a 15 or 30 day pass. Whatever you decide to do, Good Luck and I hope you enjoy your trip.
you are talking a distance of about 3500 miles. i have made this trip myself several times. i wouldn't cross this country in any newly bought used car and certainly not one that cost less than 7-8k dollars. rent a car and know that you have the reliability and security needed to make the trip. you are going to be crossing vast expanses of land with no facilities and getting stuck can be a nightmare. if you like to camp out, plan for it. go to the KOA website and track your trip beforehand. if not, go to the Motel 6 website and do the same thing. they are a low cost no frills chain that is nonetheless clean and comfortable enough. which route are you traveling? north across I-80 or, a southernly route? having driven both, I recommend you cut south stopping in Washington, DC for a day or, two. then, down thru the panhandle of Florida and into Texas, perhaps taking in San Antonio as opposed to Dallas for the best tourists spots. Then south again to Padre Island, Texas, crossing the border into Matamoros. Follow the roads closest to the border on into El Paso, you will pass thru a lot of fabulous terrain and bypass the huge expanse of desert you're going to be seeing in New Mexico and Arizona anyway. From El Paso, you can cross the border gaine if you'd like. Perhaps spiking north to Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, back south to the Gila Indian Cliff Dwellings then, on to Tucson - take in the sights at old Tucson and ask someone for the scenic drive back into town. It is marvelous, full of sequoias and southwestern style homes. You may want to spike north again before heading into the LA area and take in Yosemite. Then, you're just a few hours into LA. Have fun and enjoyed seeing the good ole US of A. P.S. You may want to throw Las Vegas in between Tucson and Yosemite - you then, will have had a truly marvelous trip! P.S.S. As for your rental, go tot he Hertz website. Car rentals are like anything else, the sooner you book the better the price. You do want to get the LDW - Loss Damage Waiver - to cover any collisions. It's going to add a lot to your rental but you've no choice. The other coverages are for your personal belongings and medical coverage for yourself and other occupants. Weigh these out for yourself. If you're smart about where you leave your car and how you conceal your belongings in the car you may not need these.
I would make sure you have medical cover for yourself. Check Squaremouth, it's a site that compares travel insurance and specializes in covering people coming into the country. http://www.squaremouth.com/visitors-insurance US Residents: http://www.squaremouth.com UK Residents: http://www.squaremouth.co.uk
If you can find a car for 1000.00 that you would be able to rely on to take you roughly 3500 miles WITHOUT experiencing any kind of mechanical problems, let me know...I'll beat you to it!!!! Renting a car would be your best move. There are plenty of deals online these days....I found travelocity.com to be the best for airfare and hotel as well. You will be traveling highways and byways that seem to stretch forever without any facility in sight. When you do find one, make sure you keep your fuel tank topped and always check your oil. Carry a gallon of water, a quart of oil and a can of Fix-A-Flat in your trunk for emergency. Never assume there is a service station up ahead...especially if you are going alone..WHICH IS NOT ADVISABLE. This country has a lot to offer in beautiful landmarks and scenery, but it also has its crime...especially people looking for foreigners traveling alone. BEWARE !!!!!! You are best to travel with a mate. Nonetheless, be very careful and enjoy the sights. WORD OF CAUTION: DO NOT TRUST ANYONE. .Too many wolves in sheeps woool !! I don't meant to instill the fear in God in you, I wanted you to know the reality of traveling in the U.S. Enjoy yourself and hope you have a great time. P.S. Please try and travel with someone so you are not alone.
as everyone else here as suggested - don't buy a car unless you can afford a very good one! too many things can go wrong on such a long trip. personally i would look into getting a greyhound bus pass or amtrak pass. go to greyhound.com and check out bus fares. go to amtrak.com to check out train fares. i think you can get tickets where you can get off and on at different cities as you wish. see the country without the hassle of driving! just don't hitchhike - too many weirdos' in todays world. keep your money, your i.d., passport, anything of value, on your person, not in your backpack! keep your wallet in your front pocket of your jeans/shorts/trousers whatever. too many thieves in the world! and i hate to say it, but really and truly, trust no one. don't 'flip' anyone off! you could end up getting in some serious 'spit' doing that. people aren't very nice anymore. having said all that, it truly is an awesome trip, an awesome country to see, and you will meet some nice people. however you choose to travel, have a great trip and stay safe!