Driving from LA to SF, and back down PCH, take the camaro?

[rogue]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Gonna go up the 5, stay overnight in SF, then drive to monterey bay, stay in cannery row, check out 17 mile drive, then drive down to hearst Castle. Then we continue down to San Luis Obispo for a spa retreat for the girlfriend. Then onto Solvang and Santa Barbara and eventually LA. No stopping.

My Camaro is on R888s currently would you take a rental car or take the camaro?

Girlfriend doesnt care about the lack of AC, just the lack of a radio. I suggested headphones and we each use one....

The car in question:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/07/IMG_6893JPG-1.jpg


Too long a haul on R888 R-Comps? Should I pony up and buy a set of street tires this weekend or go balls out?

[Vegas69]

I think they'll be OK. I drove mine on the street for about 2000 miles and 8-10 races. I picked up a nail towards the end of their life but never had any leaks.

[Mkelcy]

Ignoring the tire issue (which I think would be fine), by yourself, I'd say take the Camaro - I've done Seattle and back several times in mine and have always had a great time.

However - and that's a big however - unless the GF is a big fan of the car and is completely willing to overlook the noise, ride, lack of AC, radio, etc., I think you'll have a better trip with a rental.

I'd also be concerned about vehicle security unless you've addressed those issues already.

[rogue]

Todd I had an issue with a valve stem and a small fingernail size chunk out of the sidewall about 1mm deep. Mostly cosmetic. Good to 'see you' online.:twothumbs

[rogue]

Ignoring the tire issue (which I think would be fine), by yourself, I'd say take the Camaro - I've done Seattle and back several times in mine and have always had a great time.

However - and that's a big however - unless the GF is a big fan of the car and is completely willing to overlook the noise, ride, lack of AC, radio, etc., I think you'll have a better trip with a rental.

I'd also be concerned about vehicle security unless you've addressed those issues already.

She loves the smell of exhaust, fuel and the car itself. Hates when I push the limits of grip, slide around, or generally haul ass. All of which I don't plan on doing on PCH. Its a giant speedtrap from what I've heard.

The only real issue is lack of AC in the grapevine. Its 96 today. If we left early we may be able to miss a lot of that heat...

The headphone radio issue is easily resolved. Hell the car lulles her to sleep in 5th. She slept all the way from Palm Desert to CA...

The rental car is a POS Chevy Cobalt with no power windows, no power locks, 4 door. Driving this thing, I'm reminded why the general public drives like crap. Cars these days dont require you to pay attention or actually drive the car. :hand:

[Mkelcy]

She loves the smell of exhaust, fuel and the car itself. Hates when I push the limits of grip, slide around, or generally haul ass. All of which I don't plan on doing on PCH. Its a giant speedtrap from what I've heard.

The only real issue is lack of AC in the grapevine. Its 96 today. If we left early we may be able to miss a lot of that heat...

The headphone radio issue is easily resolved. Hell the car lulles her to sleep in 5th. She slept all the way from Palm Desert to CA...

The rental car is a POS Chevy Cobalt with no power windows, no power locks, 4 door. Driving this thing, I'm reminded why the general public drives like crap. Cars these days dont require you to pay attention or actually drive the car. :hand:

Take the Camaro and have fun. Failing anything else, you can play while in the two lane sections of PCH. This is tourist season and you'll spend a fair amount of time behind big RV's driven by Cobalt drivers. Second gear at about 40 mph ought to give you a good launch to pass the lumbering beasts.

[cornfed]

Fill the gas tank before you leave Carmel. In March of this year I had to fill up at the Gorda Springs Resort. . . 87 octane was ~$4.87/gl! when normal prices were around $3.50/gl.
17mile drive is an easy place to burn a couple hours if you're not pressed for time. I also think it would be pretty neat to get an oceanfront room at the Lucia Lodge. . . just have to be careful during the midnight strolls.

[Tig]

Camaro, hands down.
I had a cobalt rental 3 days ago. That thing couldnt get out of its own way, never mind everyone elses way.

[1badchevelle]

Take the Camaro. The drive back on PCH hwy 1 will be great.

[Flash68]

Def take the Camaro... might be interesting driving it in SF depending where you are staying and how much you are trekking around thru the city? Streets are no bueno as I am sure you know!

[class67]

Sounds like a fun trip with the exception of the I-5 part, hot, long and boring (but you can make it fun, just keep an eye peeled)....

[Rod]

ROAD TRIP!!!!!! :bananna2: let me know when! we can zip out to the coast and get lunch a Duartes on your way out! the ride back is awesome1!!

[zbugger]

I would only recommend to take 101 and not 5. It's a MUCH better drive. And you avoid that cow stench too.

[shortrack]

thats one helluva' long drive without stopping....we just did the PCH from Monterey to LA last May.....I would say the avg speed on the PCH from Monterey to the Hearst Castle would be somewhere around 45 mph

[SLO_Z28]

As someone that has driven this 6 times in the past 3 months, I will say that the PCH gets really boring just a little bit north of Santa Barbara, but not any less boring than I5.

One BIG warning is does your car bottom out at all? Mine does on that road and its about as low as yours, hitting those really big bumps on the 101NB north of Ventura from the crappy roadwork bottoms out my frame every time, I was just doing that drive today and I took out a rather large chunk of asphalt. Im thinking of welding a thick piece of steel to my skid plate.

The drive from Malibu to Santa Barbara on the PCH is one of the most beautiful drives in this state. Just make sure to hit 101NB in Oxnard where the 1 takes its weird little detour.

[tazzz25906112]

Take the Camaro and don't worry about the R888's I did Toronto to Pigeon Forge, then Pigeon Forge to Vegas and then back to Toronto on mine and had no issues what so ever with the tire wear... That's about 5,500 miles round trip btw....

[Gitter Dun]

R888's will be fine. Dont forget to drop by Buttonwillow on the 31st.

[ArtosDracon]

Take the camaro, I've driven the base cobalts and you'll be on edge and annoyed the whole drive, which will suck the fun right out of it.

[buickfunnycar.com]

PM me when you're in Monterey if you want to hook up for drinks Todd...or just wave as you cruise on by...:drive1:

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

youre joking right?

make that trip memorable.

[mpozzi]

Agree ... Camaro. James , Steve and I (with spouses) took 1 from Carmel to San Simeon for a short vacation and had a most fun trip with the cars. Definitely fuel up before you leave Carmel and if you stay at nice places, he car should be fine.

Bring camera and enjoy some cool scenery. And as MCJ said earlier, PM us when you get around Monterey and we'll get together.

Cheers,
Mary P.

[89 RS]

Dane, I'd take the Camaro and enjoy the ride man. You have put alot of work and money into it, take it and have fun. Good to hear from ya.

[tiznodd]

Where do you plan to park the car in SF? Unless you have a friend with a secure garage, I would strongly reconsider any other possible options you may be considering, like paid parking (hotel or city) or street parking. People in SF have very little consideration for other people's cars, and when you start looking around at the condition of most SF cars, you will understand. As a claims adjuster for a major insurance company that works in SF, I can tell you that the likelihood of something bad happening goes up exponentially in SF. I certainly don't want to discourage what could be a very memorable trip, but want to give you an opinion from someone who has lived in and currently works in SF.

Good luck!

[Chevy Kid]

I've done the same trip with my Camaro when my wife and I were dating. We had a blast. She was concerned about no AC, but going down 101, it's cooler. She even got to drive it a bit!(4-speed!) Do it! You won't regret it.

Tim

[Rhino]

Let me be the first to say I'm envious.

My first road trip when my Camaro hits the ground will be to LA, up to SF, and back home. I've driven bits and pieces of 1 / 101, but never at the same time, and never in anything hotter than an Altima. :)

[406 Q-ship]

ApsoFreakinLutly take the Camaro. I have done that drive a few times and it is some of the most beautiful scenery you will see anywhere (never in my Chevelle thought....hmmmm). Being tourist season (too bad it isn't season like hunting) it will be between 25 and 45 MPH, so it does keep the corner speeds down a bit. Hell I drove the Malibu from LA to Tampa FL just two years ago and may do that again this X-mas.

[ill steez]

i had my daily driven Z06 on R888 for 2 sets of tires. they'll work perfectly fine as long as you aren't driving through puddles at speed.

[Steve Chryssos]

Road trip a 69 Camaro on PCH wearing R Triple 8's?

#$%@ Yeah!

I just replaced my R888's. They are sitting in a shelf with lots of tread life remaining. The ONLY reason I did it was to comply with silly tire eligibility rules. Other than that, I love those tires. I now run Nitto NT-05's which are also a great tire.

Enjoy!

[ROBS6T8]

Camaro...fo sho! Personally I'd do the 101. The 5 is boring and smelly this time of the year. There's nothing to look at. Heaven forbid, if anything happens on the 5, there's no one around to help out. I had to drive 30 minutes out of my way to get a new ball when I lost mine to the jet ski trailer. Luckily the trailer and ski were still there when I returned!
And if you take the 101 and need anything, I'm just 4 miles off of it, on the beautiful Central Coast.
Have fun. I'm jealous.

Robert