Choose the Best Car for Cross-country Road Trips
Nothing in this world can relive you from everyday stress like a road trip; whether it is with your friends, family, or even if you wish to go all on your own, driving into the unknown will help to completely cleanse your mind from everything that has been weighing you down.
Still, it will be all fun and games until your vehicle lets you down; until you realize it is not strong enough to endure a steep road, hot weather and what not. So, before you turn your key, roll down the windows and turn on the radio, make sure you have the right vehicle to take you to your destination.
Take gas mileage into consideration
We live in economically challenging times; gas prices fluctuate, sometimes even on a daily basis. They are quite unpredictable and can vary by state, sometimes even city. Thus, when you plan on taking a longer trip, you will surely want to get the best possible mileage.
Count on taking both highway and city tours; you realize it is not the same when you are driving at consistent speeds and when you are driving in a start-and-stop mode, from one intersection to another. Take 25.1 miles per gallon as an average point and calculate from there – why not save a few bucks for other commodities?
Think whether you have enough storage space
Depending on the length of your trip, the destination and the number of people in a car, the amount of luggage will vary. Think in advance whether you will be needing just one suitcase or will you be needing all your camping equipment. If you are traveling with the entire family, especially if you are taking your children, bear in mind you will have to take all of their toys, warmer and lighter clothes, as well as enough snacks and drinks to endure the road. Check whether the trunk of your car has enough space to fit everything. If not, you might want to think about alternative options, since keeping some stuff in your lap is a more uncomfortable option that can ruin the entire trip. One such option could be a pickup truck. For increased storage space, you can go for a truck like Chevrolet Silverado. It comes with a spacious truck bed that can be covered with a retractable tonneau cover from the likes of Peragon or similar companies. Having a cover would just ensure that all of your luggage and other extra items are protected from the weather or any other destructive factors throughout the duration of your travel. Another alternative is travelling in a van instead. You could buy a second-hand van for a low price and then compare van insurance quotes to get the best deal. All of this should mean you don’t pay too much and will give you ample space.
What about additional features
While some techy features are not a requirement, they can help make everything run smoothly. Does your car have GPS to help you navigate? Does it come with a Wi-Fi hotspot to keep you connected, enabling you to stream movies and TV series for your little ones? What about a high-end audio system to play your favorite road trip playlist? These are just some of the things we do not necessarily think about when purchasing the vehicle; however, if you plan on taking vacations like these more often, think twice about what you are going to look for in a car in the future, and remember to be careful when talking to a car salesman. Have your list of requirements and do not let anyone convince you to get something you do not want or need.
Ensure the utmost safety
All vehicles today are constructed in such way to create a cage around the passenger compartment to keep us safe in the event of an accident, but not when the scenarios get really bad. For that reason, it is highly recommended to opt for a vehicle that comes with an electronic warning system that will alert the driver if they zone out, what happens more often than you might expect, especially when driving long hours without a break.
Regardless of whether you are planning on driving for a few hours or several days, the right vehicle will certainly make the entire experience far more enjoyable and memorable. In the end, we recommend a test drive before the trip itself – that is really the only way to be sure you have made the right decision.