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Will my car make it?

4K views 53 replies 16 participants last post by  cdvyas 
#1 ·
So we are going to take a trip to Lake Tahoe, CA from LA which are around 450 miles apart. My car is well maintained, I just looked at everything under the hood like the fluids, air filter etc, and everything is well. I have never traveled out of town with this thing, the water pump, belt, idler pulley, and shocks were changed recently. The brakes and tires are good. So what else should I check for to make it a nice, problem free and a safe journey? Will this car make it there and back, which is a total of around 900 miles!! Has anyone done this much driving on theirs with over 200k? share your experience and advice me pls! Thanks
 
#39 · (Edited)
As you start climbing the first hills, I'm three miles away off the El dorado Hills(next exit after costco) exit an a hour from Tahoe. You can PM me if you want my phone to get you out of a jam...

Do not speed after you past Sunrise Blvd on Hwy 50 The Highway Patrol is vigilant every three or so miles from there to the end of Placerville(30 or so miles), and they pop-a-lot of people both directions of the highway....

Once you get to the very steep areas shift in 4th gear and leave it there, so the transmission is not going back in forth from 4th to 5th...

Cheapest places to fill up the car on Hwy 5 and Hw99 are Loves Stations. Once you past the maze of freeways in Sacramento, and you are on Hwy50,(16miles from the maze) Sunrise blvd-like three or so miles is the Hazel exit. Go over the Freeway(left turn), and over the freeway at the next light make a left, and the cheapest gas on the highway is the Arco there. Hop back on the freeway in the reverse order.. If you are a costco member, six or so miles is a exit called
East Bidwell /Scott Rd(go over the freeway-make a left).At the second light make a right, and go up the road to the next light and make a right. Gas is at the back of the store. Again, go backwards to get on the freeway...Both of these places are right off the highway. If you are looking to buy munchies/food, have a good meal. Let me know. I can point you in the direction...

All the best, and safe travels..

Martin
 
#40 ·
As you start climbing the first hills, I'm three miles away off the El dorado Hills exit an a hour from Tahoe. You can PM me if you want my phone...

Do not speed after you past Sunrise Blvd on Hwy 50 The Highway Patrol is vigilant every three or so miles, and they pop-a- lot of people both directions....

Once you get to the very steep areas shift in 4th gear and leave it there, so the transmission is not going back in forth from 4th to 5th...

All the best, and safe travels..

Martin
Thank you so much Martin for your advice! I will definitely keep it in mind! By the time we hit areas with a lot of cops, I will hand over the car to my dad! I am really scared of cops and don't want to get in trouble! Btw are the hills steep uphill? Are they rough on the cars?
 
#41 ·
Once you see the river on the right. The road winds up, and it turns into a two lane road, The danger is there for everything.. Watch you temperature....

From the town of Strawberry to Eco Summit it is super steep, and you are climbing.. Just stay in 4th once the hwy turns into a two lane road...

Martin
 
#44 ·
You are going into High Sierra. Make no mistake about it.
It might not be a big deal for people living here and going this direction few times a year, but sure can be a deal for people first time taking highway into 8000' elevations.
In case you guys take back trip on Sonora Pass, be prepared to go downhill on 2nd if not 1st gear.
 
#47 ·
Update: Alright guys the decision is made by my dad! We are taking a rental!! He said that 1000 miles is too much for a car over 200k miles and he trusts it but only upto 250 miles! I trust the car as I drive it so I know that it can do it, but my dad just wants a rental so he could have a peace of mind. I do agree with him, what if after we come back home and the check engine light or something comes and there is another problem. Anyways, I love cars and I welcome something new to drive, and I will have fun in whatever new car we take there! My benz can rest till then lol
 
#48 · (Edited)
Frankly, it would take expensive rental to match comfort and performance of 430, but fact that in case of car trouble you can just call and get another sure makes easy mind.
This way or the other, you are for exiting trip and take it from the guy who has visited several continents and tens of countries.
 
#49 · (Edited)
Frankly, it would take expensive rental to mach comfort and performance of 430, but fact that in case of car trouble you can just call and get another sure makes easy mind.
This way or the other, you are for exiting trip and take it from the guy who has visited several continents and tens of countries.
Haha I kept telling him the same, "Dad these Mercedes cars are made for long trips on freeways! Nothing can beat the comfort and smoothness of this thing!"

Him:"nah son, I don't want any trowel on the road, 200k is 200k, we will take it 200 miles away not on a 1000 trip. Rentals are newer and if something happens we get another one with just one phone call."

We are taking one of those little nissan versa or something like that, maybe an altima or a fusion. Either way I will let you guys know and take a pic of it too! So later we can compare it to the 430 lol.

I guess he is right and why use up my car that much? I just cleaned it and it will be a mess after we come back home from the trip so rather take a rental, we can just drive it, and return it with a peace of mind without worrying about anything.
 
#50 ·
I drive my 02' E430 700-800 miles every week in Atlanta traffic doing sales and consultations with my company. It's got 186K on it now and I don't baby it but I do maintain it well. Just yesterday I gave it about a mile at 120mph...no problem for these cars. A 1000 mile trip would be a piece of cake.

But if you aren't comfortable with it the rental will do the job too.

Have a good trip!
 
#51 ·
Thanks! I am comfortable with the car and I know it can do it no problems, but I don't want to add 1000 miles on the car and use it up that much, if I was alone I would take it, but my little brother and my mom carry a LOT of food and snacks in the car and eat in the back seat and ruin it by the end of the day! I keep my car super clean so I just don't want to get it messy. But I will use it for an other trip but not a 1000 mile one.
 
#52 ·
Alright guys, how are you all? So we are in Tahoe right now and we took a rental, a Corolla!! This thing is super slow, small for us, and the MPG we gotten in the 500 miles is like 25 mpg!! I bet the 430 would have been way more comfortable, faster on hills and would have gotten like 27 mpg!
 
#54 · (Edited)
Casinos will be tomorrow when we head to Reno! This is the time I am in room relaxing after a long day going around town with family and checking out nice destinations! About to go to sleep so thought why not log on to Benzworld and say Hi! Yes you are right, 27 is like the best in the 430, this is a hill station with hilly terrain so maybe 21 or 20 in the town and on freeway like 26.
 
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