Ultimate Road Trip Vehicle?

[gfh77665]

Minivan. No car can equal its interior space, and no truck/SUV equals it's ride + MPG's. The best Minivan is the Honda Odyssey. So, by conclusion, the Honda Odyssey is THE best overall road trip vehicle.

BTW, I have one sitting in my garage!

 

[hypervish]

I make monthly 2000 miles road trips in my RX, and it's very comfortable for the 13hr drive. I've driven it straight from NJ down to Florida a couple of times, and even then, I felt fine after arriving. And, this is with 5 people in the RX.

I think with anymore than 5 people, a minivan such as a Toyota Sienna would be needed. Although the Odyssey does offer more highway mpg, I would not even think about getting one till Honda fixes VCM.

 

[Bangaroo]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
We did a number of longish trips in our old Aerostar, including one to South Florida almost as long as your's.
While the Aerostar was not a ride or handling champ, it was fine on the typical interstate and fuel economy averaged around 23 mpg.
Not great, but not too bad.
The best features were the space, the really decent front seat comfort, the great HVAC (great heat and AC throughout the big box interior) as well as the outstanding reliability.
Reliability is a factor to consider when you take a vehicle way out of its local zone.
Nobody wants to be stuck by the side of the road, however nice the seats might be in a seven series or an S class.


I haven't seen an Aerostar on the road in ages..seriously I haven't.."outstanding reliability" LMAO

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: Bangaroo
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
We did a number of longish trips in our old Aerostar, including one to South Florida almost as long as your's.
While the Aerostar was not a ride or handling champ, it was fine on the typical interstate and fuel economy averaged around 23 mpg.
Not great, but not too bad.
The best features were the space, the really decent front seat comfort, the great HVAC (great heat and AC throughout the big box interior) as well as the outstanding reliability.
Reliability is a factor to consider when you take a vehicle way out of its local zone.
Nobody wants to be stuck by the side of the road, however nice the seats might be in a seven series or an S class.


I haven't seen an Aerostar on the road in ages..seriously I haven't.."outstanding reliability" LMAO


Probably due to rust.

Here Aerostars are still pretty common for a vehicle that hasn't been produced since 1997. There is a daily driven one just down the road, and I typically see at least a few over the course of a work day with lots of city driving.

 

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: VicVinegar
S350 Bluetec 4Matic. Luxury, range, all-season capabilities.

Starting at $92k and you still have to pony up an extra $3k for heated rear seats.


Any S class.

Mercedes engineered it that way, your heart beats slightly slower in an S class on the highway than in any other car.

If your not stuck with 4 people an Aston Martin is a great GT car as well.

 

[MrHorspwer]

"Ultimate" you say?

Any large German sedan: S-class, A8, 7-series.

Any world-class GT car: Aston Martin DB9, Bently Continental GT

If I had to pick only one, something that could cruise on the highway in supreme comfort, tackle some twisty roads, and be ready if it snows?

Porsche Panamera Turbo S

 

[sciphi]

Ultimate affordable sedan for four people? I'd say a Buick Park Avenue. It's a rolling couch, with massive, comfy seats, loads of room, and still will knock down about 30 mpg on the road.

I have to agree, a minivan is pretty darned close to ideal with space, ride, and okay fuel economy. For four or more with bulky ski gear, it's awesome to fit everybody, luggage, and skis/boards without the rear seat occupants fighting the gear for seat space.

 

[dwcopple]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Crown Vic (or Grand Marquis/Town Car). Ridiculously roomy,
MYTH. I owned a MGM. I am 6'2" and where I positioned the driver's seat, I once tried to sit in the backseat and couldn't get my size 13 feet on the floorboard due to encroachment of the driver seat. They are WIDE not "leg-roomy"

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted By: Fredric_Flod
Volvo wagon a V70R.

Making a road trip right now.

Los Angeles to Napa, Napa to Bend, Bend to Seattle, Seattle to Newport, Newport to Los Angeles


This - My Volvo wagon has orthopedic seats that are exceptionally comfortable after 14 hours behind the wheel, gets good MPG, and has room for lots of stuff, including that stuff that you "acquire" while on a road trip...

I should add that several times a year, I drive from Virginia Beach to Vermont, 750 miles each way, mix of state highways (Eastern Shore) and interstate, go through NYC, I go up in a day, and back in a day. The Volvo excels on that trip.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I rode many miles in the back seat of a 1992 Crown Victoria (the first year of the bubble style). Even as a kid, there was not a lot of room in the back seat. A modern small or mid-size car has more legroom in the back seat than a Panther.

Now, for driver comfort? A Panther is a great choice. As is a Cadillac DeVille/DTS, Buick Park Avenue, etc. Minivans are also exceedingly comfortable all around. For that matter, most car-based SUVs share similar platforms as minivans, so they're nearly the same except for 3rd row room. Our 2005 Acura MDX is about the best road-tripper I've owned. The cars are nice, but I prefer sitting a little more upright, and minivans and SUVs give that to me.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
I rode many miles in the back seat of a 1992 Crown Victoria (the first year of the bubble style). Even as a kid, there was not a lot of room in the back seat. A modern small or mid-size car has more legroom in the back seat than a Panther.

Now, for driver comfort? A Panther is a great choice. As is a Cadillac DeVille/DTS, Buick Park Avenue, etc. Minivans are also exceedingly comfortable all around. For that matter, most car-based SUVs share similar platforms as minivans, so they're nearly the same except for 3rd row room. Our 2005 Acura MDX is about the best road-tripper I've owned. The cars are nice, but I prefer sitting a little more upright, and minivans and SUVs give that to me.


Additional rear leg room was what the "L" version of the townie was for.

 

[FADEC]

Loaded Suburban LTZ...You won't win any gas mileage awards, but everything else will be awesome.

 

[2James1]

The Jetta TDI/Audi A3 TDI wagon maybe.[/quote]

+1

 

[mrsilv04]

1989 Ford Taurus wagon with the 3.0 engine.

I had one, and this is what we used it for. Road Trips.

The 3.0 was easy on gas, and the seats were comfortable enough to stay in for 16 hours at a time. Plenty of room for everything in the back.

Plus, it was invisible to cops on the interstate. Virtually undetectable in speed traps.

 

[SLCraig]

It's a tough call, one that is roomy, comfy, and yet gets good MPG too. They are hard to cross. I gotta say though for a small car the Civic is pretty good on all fronts. Tons of rear seat room, good size trunk, great front seats for long drive comfort, and great MPG. If they still made it as a hatch it would be ideal.

 

[InhalingBullets]

In years past we took my buddy's Expedition on our road trips...1 person would drive while the others watched movies or played video games and drank, non-alcoholic beverages of course.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: InhalingBullets
In years past we took my buddy's Expedition on our road trips...1 person would drive while the others watched movies or played video games and drank, non-alcoholic beverages of course.


Yup, that's how we've put 100,000Km's on ours in the last couple of years, doing just that: Road trips. It is big, stable, comfortable, and will tow a trailer at a reasonable speed in O/D without puking its transmission all over the highway.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: Bangaroo
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
We did a number of longish trips in our old Aerostar, including one to South Florida almost as long as your's.
While the Aerostar was not a ride or handling champ, it was fine on the typical interstate and fuel economy averaged around 23 mpg.
Not great, but not too bad.
The best features were the space, the really decent front seat comfort, the great HVAC (great heat and AC throughout the big box interior) as well as the outstanding reliability.
Reliability is a factor to consider when you take a vehicle way out of its local zone.
Nobody wants to be stuck by the side of the road, however nice the seats might be in a seven series or an S class.


I haven't seen an Aerostar on the road in ages..seriously I haven't.."outstanding reliability" LMAO


Well, in thirteen years and 176K, I replaced the starter and the tie rod ends and that was it other than wear items like battery, tires and brakes.
The AC still worked great with no service ever and the interior and paint still looked good.
In my book, this makes the Aerostar a durable and reliable vehicle.
I still see them every day, even though the last one left the line in St. Louis fifteen years ago.
Not sure what you've owned, but I'd doubt that it could do any better.
No Mercedes, BMW, Honda or Subaru we've ever had has bettered the Aerostar in either reliability or durability, although all have been pretty good.

 

[carwreck]

Originally Posted By: cp3
What is the ultimate road trip vehicle for the real world? ...

Waddaya think....


1970's VW Combi van with Pistol Annies.

 

[gfh77665]

I like big cars. 1991 Cadillac Brougham. 1995 Chevy Caprice. 1997 Chrysler LHS. 2002 Lincoln Continental. Having owned all those, the best overall road trip ride is the Honda Odyssey. Period.