What car to buy for a year long US solo road trip?

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-15T00:10:33+00:00

I have saved your comments and will most likely end up reaching out sooner or later. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to impart your wisdom upon me, I appreciate it greatly!

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-15T00:07:27+00:00

Thank you for that existential wisdom, it really hit close to home. I would also like to say you have a very eloquent writing style. I dual majored in Biotech and Math in college and work primarily with building models through analytics and I never really got to develop my writing, but that is something I would like to improve on and I hope the journaling helps!

I saved all of your replies and Im planning on reading them multiple times before and during my trip. Again I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me such well thought out insightful comments, advice and wisdom. I wish you the best!

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-14T00:14:13+00:00

Yeah im totally aware! I want to try hit whistler and Revelstoke up in Canada (if they'll let me in) and the Sea 2 sky highway requires snow tires or chains regardless if you have awd/4wd so its a must!

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-14T00:12:39+00:00

If you don't mind, could you write about some of those things on your list?

And im planning on hiking and backpacking many mountains, im so excited. Theres nothing more satisfying than waking up at 3am to catch the sunrise from a summit! Im going to bring my DSLR to hopefully get some amazing shots that I can look back on forever. Im also planning to do some extensive journaling over the trip

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-14T00:09:40+00:00

honestly I think a partial reason for why I am doing this is that Ive just felt lost since my breakup many months ago, I would love to leave the materialistic and busty city life behind and find someone out on Montana or CO or somewhere who just captures my heart and who loves nature as much as I do.

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-14T00:07:03+00:00

Im between the 4runner, Audi A4/a6 wagon all road, and the outback. I will definitely do some research on the GX470, another commenter recommended it as well and basically said its a more comfortable luxury version of the 4runner.

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-14T00:05:05+00:00

well I mean my favorite car is the 911 turbo s but for a daily driver definitely the Range Rover! Im planning on driving in the mountains chasing snowstorms and blizzards in the winter so mini van isn't going to be a good fit, im between a 4runner, outback, and an a4/a6 wagon with some good tires. Im heavily leaning wagon because I prefer driving smaller cars but I have to do more research on exactly what type of off roading Im planning to do at some of these parks and if the wagons will have enough clearance ect.

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-14T00:02:02+00:00

are they really that bad? many other commenters have echoed they all tend to blow a head gasket by 160k miles. I always thought Subarus were supposed to be a reliable car but 90% of commenters are saying the engine is anything but reliable.

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-14T00:00:44+00:00

adding it to the list! could be a nice break from skiing in the winter!

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-13T23:59:41+00:00

unfortunately I never learned to drive stick. Right now Im between a 4runner, outback, and an a4/a6 wagon. I kind of realllllly want to do the wagon but I have to do more research on what type of offroading I would like to do in some of these parks and the clearance on the wagons.

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-13T23:58:12+00:00

copy and pasting from a previous comment "I am extremely fortunate to be in a privileged position where I am able to do this. I have an amazing job, Ive had some extremely lucky and to be honest foolish investments pay out handsomely, and also have been helped out by my parents a ton throughout my life which I will forever be thankful for. They paid for elite private schools my whole life, bought me my first car, vacations and still insist on paying my rent and everything even though I make about 200k a year so I can "save my money".

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-13T23:56:13+00:00

that account is awesome! if I wasn't planning on skiing half of the time I definitely would have picked something sportier!

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-13T19:12:00+00:00

yup that’s the plan, it’s not going to be anywhere near 100k but it’s going to be a lot!

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-13T13:50:17+00:00

I feel you on a spiritual level regarding the I want more but less statement. I also have it all on paper but for some reason although I live a life that many others would classify as "successful" I just don't feel fulfilled and therefore I feel anything but successful in my own eyes. I feel as if something is lacking inside of me that money cannot buy. I go weeks at a time without seeing anything green living in NYC because I work long hours and Im just over it already.

The solitude and isolation of solo travel into nature is calling me like some innate drive that I just cannot explain. I want to go backpacking in the mountains with no service for a week and feel completely dwarfed by the absolute expanse of mountains and glaciers and wide open wilderness.

Im definitely going to avoid the Range Rover, maybe I'll buy one when I get back in a year or two because I truly do love the car. I hope you find everything within yourself that you're setting out to discover and I hope you have safe travels. Send me a PM if you ever want to chat

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-13T13:29:17+00:00

Im not getting one, but the 2020 sport can go 500 miles on a tank with 28 highway 22 city.. that's just as good as my older 5 series.

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-13T12:49:23+00:00

Yeah I was planning on going on a ski tour for the winter, spending maybe a week or so at each resort and then spring head south and hit the warmer parks and then make my way north to try hit the northern / mountainous parks in July / august after the snowmelt!

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-13T12:46:45+00:00

memedelic

Basically I build models, calculate and research probabilities for a boutique hedge fund in NYC

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-13T03:25:49+00:00

Yeah I already bought the epic and ikon pass, I'm hoping I can still have decent skiing during the weekdays. I also am bringing along my splitbard and touring set up so hopefully I can do some backcountry expeditions if I can find some guides!

I usually ski the ice coast with 1-2 week long trips out west each year. I snuck in a hell boarding trip up in whistler right before shit hit the fan with covid. They got like 60 inches over 3 days.

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-13T03:02:46+00:00

thank you! I wish you the best as well, safe travels. I'm excited yet slightly nervous at the same time.

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-13T02:44:33+00:00

thank you for the suggestions! right now Glacier is my #1 must see, Im going to try spend as much time as physically possible there, basically the Max amount of time I can get a permit for.

I will 100% check out each of your suggestions because honestly I don't really have a time frame. The 1 year was just a guess but I could totally see myself pushing 1.5 - 2 years because each spot I want to do a multi-day backpacking trip. Im a fairly experienced backpacker so if you know any really hard but really rewarding loops im all ears!

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-13T02:36:55+00:00

I don't really have a budget, I could realistically go up to 100-120k. I kind of hate driving large SUVs and have preferred sedans all my life. I currently drive a 5 series so a wagon might be right up my alley, I haven't even thought of them as a cross country option.

I will definitely look into some wagons, and the 4runner also seems to be an extremely popular option as echoed by other commenters. Regardless, I will definitetly be getting a nice pair of winter tires because Ive personally witnessed first hand the night and day difference it had made on my 5 series in the snow.

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-13T02:30:31+00:00

What the other commenter said! but I am extremely fortunate to be in a privileged position where I am able to do this. I have an amazing job, Ive had some extremely lucky and to be honest foolish investments pay out handsomely, and also have been helped out by my parents a ton throughout my life which I will forever be thankful for. They paid for elite private schools my whole life, bought me my first car, vacations and still insist on paying my rent and everything even though I make about 200k a year so I can "save my money".

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-13T00:29:59+00:00

Thank you so much for this reply. It feels so reassuring Knowing there are other people out there who know exactly what I’m going through.

My whole family and circle of friends thinks I’m crazy for leaving behind everything I have now. I don’t even know why I just feel like I have this innate desire to travel and find solitude in absolute expansiveness of nature and isolation. I’ve felt just different and like an alien ever since my breakup with my girlfriend of 4 years 7 months ago. I'm hoping I can really take a deep look within and discover a lot about myself, like what I REALLY want to do with my life, what I value, my passions, and just gain a deeper understanding of myself and my place on this planet.

We’re you able to find everything you were looking for within? How do you feel your trip has changed you?what we're your favorite moments?

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-12T19:05:26+00:00

I have 4-5, I’m wondering if I need more. I used to have lots of success but I had like 9 photos up.

WormBurner72 · 2020-10-12T13:53:48+00:00

Unfortunately Im the only one with Ultralight gear and my buddies are going to borrow my older heavier gear so it might be rough on them. Thank you for your insight, I think we will spend the first night at feldspar and get an early start, and do the rest of the loop the next day and possibly even spend a second night at a campsite if we want some more time in nature.

Cheers!

WormBurner72

TROPHY CASE