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will be driving to zion national park in a few days, leaving from L.A. area, stopping at vegas for the night. so 270 + 160 = 430 miles one way.
would you take your own vehicle or rent one? my car is a 2008 mazda5 with 138k miles, bought from original owner 8 months ago, has every maintenance record, well maintained. No issues except when going over bumps, it makes some minor clunking sound. already had front and rear shocks replaced as well as the front lower control arms, plus 4 new tires.
So would you take it on this road trip? (family of 4 plus couple luggages.)
I don't buy vehicles so I can let them sit at home while I drive a rental. I see no reason why you couldn't drive your own car, especially since it's been well maintained and you just put all that money into it. A buddy of mine drove up to Alaska this past summer in a minivan that had 197,000 miles. People do it all the time. Enjoy the trip.
No reason to rent in that scenario presuming you all fit with luggage.
Rentals for road trips generally fall in different categories. A convertible for fun, a big van/suv/truck for utility, or just a basic one if you don't have a car or yours is not reliable.
I have done it both ways, but mostly in my Jeep Wrangler owning days. The Jeep was noisy and uncomfortable on long highway drives, and if it was windy out, batting the steering wheel would actually leave my arms and shoulders sore after a few hours. So I typically rented then for comfort on long distances.
Its totally up to you. You either have some concern about your car and want the piece of mind of the rental... or you have confidence in your car and see no reason to rent.
That said, I'd get that clunk checked out before taking your own car. You don't want to be away from home and have it become more of a concern.
I'd think this decision would be pretty straightforward. Not simple, but straightforward:
Does your car lack functionality you'd need during the trip that you could get with a rental?
Extra storage space,
Enough of a better riding-comfort to make the extra cost worthwhile?
Enough of better MPG?
Better reliability than your own car for a long trip?
Keep in mind that driving your own car costs a LOT more than the $53.5/mile that the IRS says. When you add devaluation from age and mileage, plus maintenance and insurance, it's more like $1/mile.
Heck yes I'd take it. That's nothing in terms of miles (either on the vehicle or for the trip), why would you NOT drive it?
BTW, the sound is almost certainly a sway-bar bushing. I have to replace mine about every 100k miles...
It's a toss up for me. I enjoy driving the BRAND new cars on trips. (roadside assistance is a must either way) Also, mine doesn't get the great gas mileage that new cars get but the Mazda 5 sounds better than mine.
I had a Mazda 626 that had that clunking and I was just trying to remember what it was. ding ding ding
For trips over 100 miles, I'll rent a car. I like to keep mileage low and reduce wear & tear on my car.
What for? You'll end up losing money in the end anyway.
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