Good car to drive across country

[Alan A]

Nice. Enjoy.

If you do take it X country adaptive cruise is a godsend.

[KRLocke]

Originally Posted by Alan A

So - Panny or Audi?

I already said I thought the Porker drove like a bus. Owned an A8 (the 4.0 one with a little more oomph) and it drove smaller than its size, so I’m guessing the 7 is the same. Unreliable AF but a fabulous GT car when it was working.

I'm guessing you didn't drive an active suspension Panamera. If that's the case, you really should. It's what won me over.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by KRLocke

I'm guessing you didn't drive an active suspension Panamera. If that's the case, you really should. It's what won me over.

17 TT. I was kicking around the idea of trading the 911, selling my DD and using that as a daily instead - I have another toy car that I barely drive too. That idea died on the test drive. That’s when I bought the Audi instead.

[KRLocke]

Makes sense now. Very different car today.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by KRLocke

Short story short, the Panamera won the day. We are on the edge/past the edge for a build order right now and are making a decision this week on next steps.

That is indeed a lot of car if you are looking for a relatively large sedan. Congrats on deciding (and being able to afford a new one).

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by speeder

I’ve driven cross country more times than I can remember if you count in between WI and SoCal. Tons of trips up the west coast to the PNW as well. In more cars and trucks than I can remember. Nothing beats a nice PU truck on the open road, except maybe a Porsche.

Totally agree with you Denis.

My first choice out of all my vehicles for long trips is my Ram pickup. Even for a 3500 dually, it rides like a limo. Roomy, extremely comfortable seats and interior.

.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Lots of car sales stories and some of them are true. The classic one that goes around is about the guy in shabby or farm clothes that is carrying a bag and looks at a new car. The salespeople don't respond kindly (that in itself produces many variants on the story), but one guy does. The customer finds a car they like and pour the cash out of the bag.

It's a sales tale for sure, but it certainly has happened a few times.

My father in law did that with a bass boat. Went by the shop on the N side of Houston after work laying floors wth $20,000 in his pocket. Stood by the boat he was buying, nothing, could not even spot a salesman. Gets mad, drives to their main store walks into the showroom and asks what he has to do to buy a boat? Older guy comes up and talks to him, asks him what the problem is. Turns out it is Mr McHale, or whoever has his name in the sign. He was not happy, gave him the trailer and sold him the boat cheap. He stopped on his way home to relay the message that the boss was comibg to talk to y'all. Fast boat, why are they so fast?

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Zeke View Post
Lots of car sales stories and some of them are true. The classic one that goes around is about the guy in shabby or farm clothes that is carrying a bag and looks at a new car. The salespeople don't respond kindly (that in itself produces many variants on the story), but one guy does. The customer finds a car they like and pour the cash out of the bag.

It's a sales tale for sure, but it certainly has happened a few times.

That happened to me when I was ready to buy my 74 914 2.0 when I was 19 years old.

I had bought my 73 VW Super bug from the same dealership, but all the salesmen ignored me totally as I looked at the 914s they had in stock. I knew I did not want any of them as they were not just what I wanted. After 30 minutes I looked around and saw the oldest guy at a desk and walked into his office and sat down and stared at him. He finally looked up and asked if he could help me. I said is a slightly loud voice I am here to order a Porsche. Back in that era it was a VW Porsche and Audi dealership. He smiled and asked what I wanted. I went through my list as I had researched the options in the brochures I had picked up before. A 2.0 liter Olympia Blue, front and rear sway bars, appearance package with the center console, and a few other items. He had one of the mechanics drive my year old 73 super bug and it was pristine.

I did not pull out a wad of cash, but I already had a loan secured from my credit union, and handed him that paperwork. He of course said they did not have it in stock. I said I knew, that is why I want you to order it! They said it arrive in 6 weeks, and that was a lie. They just said to call back tomorrow. 277-1400. I called twice every day for months and they said maybe tomorrow. It took 6 months to arrive. Friday September the 13th 1974 it arrived. I drove it as my only car for 25 years.

[fintstone]

When I lived on the east side of Denver (Aurora CO), my wife and I drove to the west side to the Toyota dealership to buy our first new car. She picked out a new '81 Corolla with almost no options...no A/C or power anything (but an unusual color we liked) and we filled out the paperwork, got the bill of sale (or whatever the document was that they gave us to make the deal/obtain credit), gave them a deposit to return in two days after securing financing through our credit union.

We headed that way with financing in hand, fought our way through terrible traffic on the interstate and having to stop to provide some first aid/assistance at an accident (mini-bus crash with young kids from some sort of daycare) in an underpass/tunnel...so arrived worn out with a splitting headache.

We walked the huge lot looking for the car but could not find it. I told my wife they probably took it off the lot since it was sold. Eventually we got some help and found out they sold the car to someone else, and it was gone (despite taking our deposit). I was so angry! Especially when they acted like it was no big deal. They just thought that I should be fine with buying a different one (they did not have any that color or that price) and pay them more.

[Tobra]

They sold a truck out from under my wife that she ordered one time. She ended up buying a truck from them for less than they paid for it.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

Totally agree with you Denis.

My first choice out of all my vehicles for long trips is my Ram pickup. Even for a 3500 dually, it rides like a limo. Roomy, extremely comfortable seats and interior.

.

Not my '81 Chevy 3500 dually 454. With a dozen sheets of drywall in the bed it was much better. But our freeways can be rough.

Out on the asphalt highways it was better. 8 MPG uphill, downhill, tailwind or headwind. Didn't matter. One day the ball joint snapped and I slid across an intersection to a convenient bus stop. First tow truck couldn't load it so it went on the hook. The driver went too far too fast. 30 days later the trans quit because the drive shaft was not disconnected. I sold it within 2 weeks.

I have hated tow truck drivers ever since. And the way they drive reinforces my hate every time I see one.

[jyl]

I've done a couple 10-hour Portland-Bay Area runs in the W211 now, both on the superslab and on the smaller curvier routes, and it may be the best roadtrip car I've ever had. Cruises quietly at any reasonable speed which is typically 80 mph for me, plenty of power for passing on two-laners, super comfortable ride, good stereo with Apple Carplay, and - here's the key thing - the seats adjust every possible way, heat and cool, and massage. The usual lower back ache that emerges around hour four? Nope, start the gentle heat and massage from hour two and the back is happy all day.

[look 171]

I love my pick up truck and have driven my family from LA to Calgary twice. Once in middle of winter, once in the summer. Its a Duramax, crew cab with an 8' bed. It corners like if its on rails and turns like an aircraft carrier. When we use it for long trips, especially in the winter,I always have 300 lbs bags of gravel back there for a better ride and grip if needed in the snow. Those trucks are great hwy cruisers. I got 17 mph down hill, tail wind or vice versa, didn't matter much. It is more then comfortable enough for us but its no Benz. If I was going on a long one by myself, I would take the 4 runner. 19 mpg on long hwy runs. Until I grow up and buy one of them big fancy Benz or BMW, happy with what I have so far.

[Tobra]

^father in law has that same truck. GMC, single axle, 4 WD, 6 speed^ it is beautiful. Like a Cadillac in there. It does ride better with some weight in the back. Startlingly quick for a vehicle that size.

My brother and I made that run from Salem, OR to Sacramento in about 6 1/2 hours in a 733 BMW one time,stopped 30 minutes for dinner too. Averaged just a shade over 100. That was a fantastic road trip car, could really hustle through the corners for a big sedan. Maybe the best shifter in any car I have ever driven

[look 171]

Took the long way through DeathValley to a construction show in Vegas several years ago. AC in those full size truck rocks. At 117, I had the ac on with fan on low and it was freezing my butt offoff.

[CurtEgerer]

Good car to drive cross-country?? Hard to beat one of these. Just got back. 3200 miles.

[KRLocke]

Originally Posted by fintstone

That is indeed a lot of car if you are looking for a relatively large sedan. Congrats on deciding (and being able to afford a new one).

As long as it doesn't go the way of the Mercedes, we will have it a long time. Amortizing joy in driving over such a large expense pays dividends. Life's too short to not do what we both love.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by KRLocke

As long as it doesn't go the way of the Mercedes, we will have it a long time. Amortizing joy in driving over such a large expense pays dividends. Life's too short to not do what we both love.

Perfect attitude.

My 1996 Land Cruiser is the absolute antithesis of the Panamera in any metric you'd like to choose, but it makes me joyful.

Well done to both of you.

[Jim Bremner]

Out of all the cars that I've owned or driven

My C6 Corvette was the car that after driving all day in was the winner.

27 mpg at75-80.

NVH even with 255 30 Front and 305 30 rear tires

If I was going to do a long road trip with one other person and was going to carry a weeks worth of clothes in a large duffle bagIt would be my first choice

Joanna uses a wheelchair and we could fit her chair and duffle bagged luggage for a long weekend without an issue.

[911boost]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

Good car to drive cross-country?? Hard to beat one of these. Just got back. 3200 miles.

OH dang, I would have come said hi. You were in my neck of the woods.

I did 4,200 miles last April in my F350 to FL and back pulling my toy hauler and it was great, without something hooked up to it or weight in the bed in can be bouncy.

This is my favorite highway vehicle for now, I did Ft Collins>MN>Ft Collins leaving Friday night at 10pm and returning early Sunday. It just eats up the miles in comfort and quiet.