08-05-2010, 10:12 PM
Ok, i'll split this up -
Car prep - $500 car, no problem. Prep is probably going to be another $1000. A $500 car that you expect to drive to NYC and then to MSY is going to need some stuff. Tires ($300-400), brakes ($200), some engine maintenance - fluids, gaskets, water pump, belts ($200-300). Thats assuming you start with something decent and there are no other surprises. $1500 in and you might want a buffer there... its gotta go 2000 miles.
Travel costs - 2,000 miles of driving - assuming 30mpg thats $200 in gas. I'm assuming 5 or 6 nights in a hotel, thats $600. Gotta eat, figure $20/day. If you donat the car and fly home, its about $200-250 from MSY to IAD. If there's 4 people, $2000 in travel costs.
So we're almost $4k in if everything goes according to plan. Prepping for a road trip is not a huge task but a little money spent up front on the car will keep you from needing an expensive tow in the middle of nowhere.
I'm not trying to discourage anything, I think its a cool idea. Just gotta be realistic about adding up the costs up front. I made the same mistake when I wanted to start racing...
Car prep - $500 car, no problem. Prep is probably going to be another $1000. A $500 car that you expect to drive to NYC and then to MSY is going to need some stuff. Tires ($300-400), brakes ($200), some engine maintenance - fluids, gaskets, water pump, belts ($200-300). Thats assuming you start with something decent and there are no other surprises. $1500 in and you might want a buffer there... its gotta go 2000 miles.
Travel costs - 2,000 miles of driving - assuming 30mpg thats $200 in gas. I'm assuming 5 or 6 nights in a hotel, thats $600. Gotta eat, figure $20/day. If you donat the car and fly home, its about $200-250 from MSY to IAD. If there's 4 people, $2000 in travel costs.
So we're almost $4k in if everything goes according to plan. Prepping for a road trip is not a huge task but a little money spent up front on the car will keep you from needing an expensive tow in the middle of nowhere.
I'm not trying to discourage anything, I think its a cool idea. Just gotta be realistic about adding up the costs up front. I made the same mistake when I wanted to start racing...