Setting out on a road trip without the right car for the job would be like running a marathon in a pair of basketball shoes. Technically you can do it, but it wouldn’t be anywhere near as fun. We decided to put together a short list of our ultimate road trip cars for different styles of travel.
Classic
When going on the classic wandering and rambling road trip there is no vehicle better than the VW Bus. They truly represent the quintessential road trip machine. They are roomy, fit lots of people, and can be used as a camper when needed. On top of that these things have style! You can’t see a VW bus and help but feel the itch to get out on the open road. One of these are high on our list of cars to own.
Sporty
There are tons of sports cars out there and this was a hard choice to make. For the sporty category I have to say Lauren and I both agreed that the best all around package is the Audi A5. Now before you call me crazy for leaving out super cars from brands Ferrari and Lambo, I want to add in that we consider a road trip to be anything well over 1000 Miles. Now I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t even imagine the gas bill for a road trip in something like that! We may be biased (full disclosure here we owned an A5 for about 18 months ) but we really felt that the A5 was the most well rounded sports car for a long trip. We drove ours for thousands of miles and it had the ride comfort, speed, and power to handle anything we ever ran into on the road. It’s a tough choice versus a BMW 335, but I really feel like the Audi is a more mature vehicle and better suited for grand touring. On top of that, it’s one of the prettiest cars on the road these days.
Off-Road
When I think of off-road vehicles one brand comes to mind first, Jeep. If your planning on camping, hiking, and driving through the back country you can’t go wrong with a Jeep. Whether you want to go on a road-trip with a full SUV like their Grand Cherokee or something much more rugged like the Wrangler, you’re guaranteed a great ride that’ll handle almost anything you can throw at it.
Hybrid
I’ll be the first to tell you that the most painful part of every road trip we take occurs over and over every single day. No, it’s not when the dog farts and fills the car with the stench of rotting kibble, although that is a close second. It occurs when we see the fuel gauge needle drop to “E” and have to pull up to a gas station and fill up. Hybrids have come a long way since that very first Toyota Prius, and surprisingly Ford has just released one that Lauren and I both actually like! The C-Max successfully combines the fuel efficiency of a hybrid, with the power of a traditional mid-sized sedan. This thing isn’t the prettiest buy out there, but form does meet function at a reasonable price.
Luxury SUV
If you are looking for one all purpose luxury road trip machine look no further than this Mercedes SUV. The Mercedes AMG G63 has got all the bases covered. With a long standing 34-year german military heritage and 550 horsepower it can handle anything that is thrown it’s way. Some may deride the G-Wagen for it’s poor handling on the road, but it’s designed as a military vehicle and has some of the best off road capabilities on the market. Still don’t think it’s worth it? Take a look at these stats from kbb and maybe you’ll change your tune :-)
Ultimate Dream Machine!
For our last selection, we pulled out all the stops and did a little dreaming. If money was no object, and you wanted to drive around the world with every modern convenience at your finger tips, this baby is for you! The Marchi Mobile EleMMent RV carries a price tag upwards of 3 Million Dollars and is completely customizable! When parked it can open up to 430 SQFt of living space so you and your family can take all the comforts of home with you. If that wasn’t enough to convince you of how amazing this thing is take one look at this crazy future styled design and then consider the fact that it’s also available in a GLOW IN THE DARK FINISH! Yes I said Glow in the Dark!
AAA reports that over 90% of american travel will be via the Automobile in 2013. So get yourself an awesome road trip machine and take a rambling ride across the US! Have YOUR own favorite car?? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Drool… I love the Dream Machine…
Wow – love these cars! Well, maybe not all of them! We own both a hybrid and a gas-guzzling SUV, and have road tripped in both. Despite the gas price, the SUV is just way more spacious and comfortable for our family. And the aroma of boys trapped in a car for long hours, which can rival your doggie odors, has more air-space to spread out and diffuse! lol
We are contemplating a long road trip again this summer – we’ve done one five years’ running now – but with the recent gas price rise, not sure we will. But if we do, I sure wish I could rent that dream machine! Then nobody would complain. Oh wait, I’d be traveling with a teenager and 9 year old – sure to be complaints no matter what we drive.
Happy trails!
Love the Marchi Mobile! Dream on, dream on……
Wow, I could want ALL of those!!
I know everything about travelling/camping. And can say with total authority, that the VW bus is infact the only road-trip car worth having. But not that old/lowered thing you posted, get yourself a T3 or vanagon as you yanks call it!! If your gonna go, go right!! Peace out dudes! ;)
Nice info!! It is vital to choose a car that suit travel destinations.Choosing a right car for travelling do need lot of hard work, understand the requirements and then keep a close eye out for the best car and you can get best car for your money.