My Holiday in America

[csv8]

Hi guys, after 3 weeks away, I'm back !!!
Missus and I had 3 weeks in America/Canada. What an experience.!!!
Province of Ontario,Canada, no speed cameras. They have a Fast Lane on major motorways. ie you travel at the speed of the car in front of you. I was doing 140km/hr in a Chevvy Montana. Petrol 85cl after aus conversion. Drivers are mad !! just indicate and change lanes, fast !!!.
In America, drove a PT Cruiser, nice car, but gutless !!! needs a V6.
Petrol, 65cl after aus conversion.
Went to the Harley Davidson plant in Pensylvania. That plant is amazing !! a bike rolls of the assembly line every 2 hours. The one assembly line builds bikes for the world, military etc. Workers follow the work order. The top yoke is pressed out of a round steel rod, heated to red hot and pressed with 300 tons of pressure to the flat shape. Watching the robots make parts is amazing.
Request : FORD BRING IN THE LINCOLN !!! IT JUST MIGHT SAVE THE FAIRLANE/LTD. Very impressed with it.
Car prices made me me cry into my JD's. Base Lincoln $29k!!!!!! Top model $40k !!! Buick Lucerne (VE) $20K for Omega, $25K for Berlina !!!
Interest rates from 0% to 5.95% 300C NO deposit, 5.95%..$422 a month !!!
Even allowing the exchange rate, those cars are still cheaper than what we can buy them for here...
If you ever get the chance to go to America..do it !!!

[GXL078]

They actually exported cars made in Australia to America and sell them much cheaper than here. Eg: FOrd Capri and Holden Monaro. I would love to go to the States one day. Do the drive from SF to LA, visit New York and Washington (esp. the Smithsonian air and space museum) . Go to the Boeing factory in seattle, visit Graceland, lol. Las vegas,. The Crand Canyon..... The list is endless. (I think I have been watching too many travel shows)

[rodderz]

Yes I would love to go there one day

What is it like on th hip pocket after conversion and what you pay for things over there?

[Kobayashi]

Some things are cheaper, some are more expensive when it comes to conversion. Eating out can KILL you i found, lol. Groceries are pretty good tho. Hell, on special at walmart, when i was there, we were getting a 24 pack of coke cans for 4.98 u.s

I remember my first trip over there, the dollar was only at .48, so when it went over 70c, i was REALLY happy, lol. Except of course when sending money back from my job, it wasnt worth as much!

[Falcon_Phill]

I went to america 3 weeks ago. If i see one more hummer ill kick it.

[GXL078]

Originally Posted by Kobayashi

Some things are cheaper, some are more expensive when it comes to conversion. Eating out can KILL you i found, lol. !

Especially at certain McDonalds, lol. A word of advice: don't buy anything that comes in a bucket!

[Kobayashi]

Originally Posted by xcgxl

Especially at certain McDonalds, lol. A word of advice: don't buy anything that comes in a bucket!

Or taco bell at 4am :p

[Sourbastard]

wow petrol under 90 cents a litre! wowee! now let me tell you about how much it costs to insure & register a car in canada buddy, lets see how much change you get out of 3k for a second hand dodge neon... ill count the nickles, you count the quarters.

[Outbackjack]

I would love to go to the USA for a holiday. I only ever get to do work there..... One day.

[Kobayashi]

I work there too when i go on holiday, of course, that involves driving cars around like new mustangs, vettes and everything else with 4 wheels over there, so i dont see it as work :p When i go back in 4 weeks, going to see if i can get video of me testdriving a new z06 ;) ALthough the auction usually takes a dim view of cameras, let alone video cameras, but being an aussie definately gets you somewhere ;)

[XR Martin]

Buick Lucerne is not a VE, its FWD for starters.

[pauly85]

when i went over there about 3 months ago i drove from hollywood to las vegas in a brand new pontiac grand prix, ugly as sin but a very comfy nice car to drive and a great stereo from stock,

also got to drive from hollywood to san diego in a buick lacrose, wat a bucket of puss, couldnt wait to get out of it, good stereo tho and it had a sun roof!

[George1861]

Originally Posted by Kobayashi

I work there too when i go on holiday, of course, that involves driving cars around like new mustangs, vettes and everything else with 4 wheels over there, so i dont see it as work :p When i go back in 4 weeks, going to see if i can get video of me testdriving a new z06 ;) ALtho

Besides the new Shelby, don't forget the Viper!

[Ryan]

Sounds like you had a awesome time mate.

I would love to visit the ole U S of A one day.

[csv8]

Originally Posted by Ryan

Sounds like you had a awesome time mate.

I would love to visit the ole U S of A one day.

The missus and I had a real good time. Cann't wait until we can afford it again.

[csv8]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Buick Lucerne is not a VE, its FWD for starters.

XR6 MARTIN. The Buick Lucerne and VE are built on the same global platform of GM. Thats why the Monaro was killed off and no VE station wagons for 12 months, until the platform architecture is modified for wagons. Wagons aren't in GM's global plan. Plus the V6 in the VE was originally from Buick and Holden changed it too rear wheel drive. The Lucerne is comparable to the VE apart from FWD.

[kyro_02]

so how much you generally saved (inc your tickets to go to the us of a) ? if you don't mind me ask'n

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by csv8

XR6 MARTIN. The Buick Lucerne and VE are built on the same global platform of GM. Thats why the Monaro was killed off and no VE station wagons for 12 months, until the platform architecture is modified for wagons. Wagons aren't in GM's global plan. Plus the V6 in the VE was originally from Buick and Holden changed it too rear wheel drive. The Lucerne is comparable to the VE apart from FWD.

Incorrect, originally the Lucerne was going to be on the Zeta platform, but was changed to the G-body platform.
Also the Lucerne uses the old 3.8L V6, not the Alloytech.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_G_platform_%28FWD%29

With the demise of the Bonneville, Park Avenue, and LeSabre after 2005, the only remaining G-body car will be the Buick Lucerne. This vehicle again shares a platform which is similar to the K-body. The K-body cars were replaced by a single ongoing model, the Cadillac DTS.

Also the Commodore is the only car using the Zeta platform at the moment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Zeta_platform

[csv8]

Originally Posted by kyro_02

so how much you generally saved (inc your tickets to go to the us of a) ? if you don't mind me ask'n

We flew QANTAS booked the tickets when they had a special deal last august. QANTAS flies direct to New York from Brisbane, changed planes in LA.
Stayed with Best Western Chain, as they have free continental breakfast and shuttles to airports, subways and shopping centres,Average $150aus a night.
Meals are big, coffee cheap. Thrifty car rental was the cheapest. We came home $2500 under budget. Which suprised us. So, all up around $12k for 3 weeks. Next time will go in spring not start of winter !!!

[GXL078]

I prefer to travel in the northern summer, even if it costs more, its much better for the optic nerve.