What's your railfan ride?

[Damaged]

1999 Dodge Avenger the wife drove it the first few years of its life. 68500 miles most of them stop and go city miles. New oil every 3000 or 3 months. I'm hoping to pass it down to my daughter in a year or two.

[Rich K]

2008 Chevrolet Impala LT. Just got it 3 weeks ago.

[JRMDC]

Subaru Outback. A bit more ground clearance than the average sedan/wagon - good for dirt roads including the Magnolia (WV) cut-off, fuel economy, room in the back for some gear and a cooler to plug into the outlet back there.

[MichaelJ]

Originally Posted by ottergoose

Depends on how many people are coming with you...

If you're going by yourself or one other person, I'd look at the G6 or Vibe... if you're going to have 3 or more, I'd look at the Uplander.

I would probably say that three people will be going. The plan so far is to go around the world stopping at LA and NY in the USA, then onto Europe and Asia. We may even need some space for luggage.

It looks like an SUV is similar to what we call a 4WD here in Australia. Why can't you fit up to four people in the car?

Originally Posted by JimThias

Whatever gets the best gas mileage!

I'm not worried about that so much. It costs me around AUD $90 (USD $82) to fill my 70 Litre (18 Gallon) tank every week, so I'm used to paying an arm and a leg for fuel.

In Europe is was EUR €1.48/litre (AUD $2.53 or USD $2.32) but three people were sharing the cost, so it was actually equivilent to less than the cost of one tank of fuel each in Australia. We got about 1100km (685mi) because the car was diesel.

[ottergoose]

Originally Posted by MichaelJ

I would probably say that three people will be going. The plan so far is to go around the world stopping at LA and NY in the USA, then onto Europe and Asia. We may even need some space for luggage.

You're making LA and NY two separate stops, right? As in, you're not going to drive between them?

A lot of folks from outside the US don't seem to have a grasp on how long it'd take to drive from LA to New York. On the other hand, Australian's might enjoy that kind of thing (40 hours+ nonstop).

Sounds like a fun trip.

[MichaelJ]

I know driving Los Angeles to New York is like driving Brisbane to Perth (about 6000km/3750mi) - its a bloody long way. Only difference is - if you break down in Australia, you've got a long walk ahead.

I'm hoping to do an around the world trip; Brisbane, LA, New York, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Brisbane. So flying between LA and New York.

It is strange converting things to yards and miles. If a sign says the exit is 1km ahead, I know how far that is, but tell me its 1mi ahead and I'm lost! Thank God for the GPS doing a conversion in England!

I think I will probably hire an SUV or similar in the USA. Peter and I hired one in Gladstone when the clutch in my car failed. Granted, it didn't have the same acceleration and top speed as my Commodore, but driving on dirt roads was a dream. It was a Toyota Prado Turbo Diesel.

[LT1Caprice57L]

Well I'm a n00b to both railfanning and this forum, always liked trains but never managed to do much more than just watch one at a crossing if we crossed paths.

This would be my 'official railfan ride':



1995 Chevy Caprice. Yeah, that's what my goofy-ass handle is derived from.

And geez, I think I might have the only RWD car on the list except MichaelJ's. Seems the Aussies know their real cars, FWD doesn't appear to be liked very much there.

[Kenster102.5]

Originally Posted by LT1Caprice57L

Well I'm a n00b to both railfanning and this forum, always liked trains but never managed to do much more than just watch one at a crossing if we crossed paths.

This would be my 'official railfan ride':



1995 Chevy Caprice. Yeah, that's what my goofy-ass handle is derived from.

And geez, I think I might have the only RWD car on the list except MichaelJ's. Seems the Aussies know their real cars, FWD doesn't appear to be liked very much there.

Wow, that is my dream car, except with a 9C1.
For me once I get my G1 in the summer, is my mom 2005 Pontiac Montana SV6 Extended Version, and only 5000 miles since August 2005. My mom TTC's it.

[molinematt]

I drive either a '04 Olds Alero or a '01 Chevy S10. The Alero is mine and the S10 is/was my grandpa's truck. The Alero is what I use most of the time and it was not made for going through/to some of the places I have taken it.

[LT1Caprice57L]

Originally Posted by Kenster102.5

Wow, that is my dream car, except with a 9C1.
For me once I get my G1 in the summer, is my mom 2005 Pontiac Montana SV6 Extended Version, and only 5000 miles since August 2005. My mom TTC's it.

It's a B4U with a towing package; it's got everything you want in the 9C1 - LT1, upgraded suspension, shorter rear end, but it has a full civilian interior (meaning all cloth seats, carpeted floor, etc) and lacks the excessive wear and tear associated with a former police vehicle. IMHO, it's better than a 9C1.

[Kenster102.5]

Originally Posted by LT1Caprice57L

It's a B4U with a towing package; it's got everything you want in the 9C1 - LT1, upgraded suspension, shorter rear end, but it has a full civilian interior (meaning all cloth seats, carpeted floor, etc) and lacks the excessive wear and tear associated with a former police vehicle. IMHO, it's better than a 9C1.

True, very true.

[cfquinlan]

1993 Toyota 4Runner... 215,000+ and still running strong!

[strikefour]

Originally Posted by LT1Caprice57L

1995 Chevy Caprice. Yeah, that's what my goofy-ass handle is derived from.

And geez, I think I might have the only RWD car on the list except MichaelJ's. Seems the Aussies know their real cars, FWD doesn't appear to be liked very much there.

best car chevy made in 90's, i had one ('91) until i got too close to a trailer hitch on a chevy suburban. i like the new G8 from pontiac.

[Switched out]

My ride hasn't change so here's a picture of one of my works company trucks that I get to hoon around in every now and again.

• Toyota HiLux 3.0 Litre turbo diesel.

Cheers,

Christine.

[Watain]

i use my 2006 Mustang GT sometimes if the weather permits and has been dry for a while(dont want mud in my interior dony ya know) beleive me with 300hp you will never miss out on a train chase most trips though since its always wet and muddy around here i just use a 1989 dodge dually and i can just bang it around as much as i want to

a pic of my car on my rp profile
http://www.railpictures.net/members/...e.php?id=25350

sorry dont have a pic of ole' bessy

[Andrew Blaszczyk (2)]

Originally Posted by Watain

a pic of my car on my rp profile
http://www.railpictures.net/members/...e.php?id=25350

SAWEEEEEEET!!!

[Watain]

thanks andrew!

[Christopher Muller]

Originally Posted by Rich K

2008 Chevrolet Impala LT. Just got it 3 weeks ago.

Great car! I got an '07 about a year ago. Had 8 miles on it when I got it, now its up to nearly 18000... almost all railfan related!

[UNDPilot]

Black 2005 F-150 FX-4, because sometimes in North Dakota the fields are easier to go through than the wet minimum maintenance roads, and they never plow the snow off 'em either. The cooler in the bed provides a nice step up, a tailgate for sitting on nice days, oh and the paint helps keep the temperature up when its -40 outside too. I got it a year ago and I'll probably never buy another brand truck.

[DAKIBSRR]

I use my VERY reliable Jeep Cherokee.

[MichaelJ]

Christine, a Hilux would be a pretty decent ride. I'd like to get one of the new ones - I think they're a 4.0L Turbo Diesel now.

[crazyro]

When I go, I go in style.

[milwman]

Slowly rebilding a 1992 JEEP one part at a time

[Tgranville]

2005 Dodge Neon. been on some questionable roads with it, but haven't gotten stuck. yet....

[Kenster102.5]

Originally Posted by crazyro

When I go, I go in style.

Don't you worry about large paint chips occuring from pebbles, and gravel.
Nice car though.