Well, it's time to roll up the sleeves, scout out the few places I've identified I would live and go look for a job (since I finished this night time degree just before the summer). Monday, I leave for Atlanta and Florida via plane. If I get the vibe and it's a go, I was thinking of taking my car down first (since that's the diciest) and then move myself down and job hunt (can't do that from Portland).

Ok, so, what about the car...my Regal 3800 coupe some of you like to rag on? At 238,000 miles, I'm thinking of bringing her, or actually, having her cart my ass down to Atlanta. New stuff (within the last year to 6 months): all brakes, all tires, all struts, spark plug wires.

Tonight, for the hell of it, I checked the mpg to tell me how "tight" the engine is. I gassed up in Eugene OR (don't get me started), had him round up to the nearest 25 cents. I did the same in Portland 97.7 miles later. This was the most unruffled trip: set cruise at 60 mph, that's 1700 rpm, no A/C and never stepped on the brake once, plus it's pancake flat on I-5 in that stretch. It took 2.67 gallons, as rounded up to the nearest 25 cents. That's 36 mpg. Can that be real? Unbelievable. Thus, I will NOT be doing the tune-up as I had planned.

So, would you do it with the car? Any advice or caveats? Help me out. What would concern you?

The proposed route:

1 - Portland to SLC

2 - SLC to Denver

3 - Denver to KC

4 - KC to Champaign, IL (to see my alma mater)

5 - Champaign, IL to Indianapolis

6 - Indianapolis to Atlanta

I would like to think your car is up to it, but god forbid something goes, I hope you have a contingency plan.

The proposed route:

1 - Portland to SLC

2 - SLC to Denver

3 - Denver to KC

4 - KC to Champaign, IL (to see my alma mater)

5 - Champaign, IL to Indianapolis

6 - Indianapolis to Atlanta

My proposed route:

Delta Airlines....PDX to ATL...

LOL

Ship the car.....

nah, drive it. then post your mpg and tell those prius drivers that get less mpg to GFT.

I would like to think your car is up to it, but god forbid something goes, I hope you have a contingency plan.

Thanks for the response.

The thing that sickens me in the gut is a repair in the middle of nowhere. I've driven a Cutlass Supreme in the mid 100's back and forth across the US to go to school and only had (1) a flat, and (2) a busted radiator hose between Las Vegas, NV and Saint George UT, and it was hot outside.

My proposed route:

Delta Airlines....PDX to ATL...

LOL

Ship the car.....

It's not being financed by a company. I'm on my own, and that's expensive. Plus, I don't have AV type money (!)...I was in SD last week and thought about you, bud!

It's not being financed by a company. I'm on my own, and that's expensive. Plus, I don't have AV type money (!)...I was in SD last week and thought about you, bud!

Awwwww.....thanks bud....

I was being facitious about flying.....if anyone loves a road trip, it's me.

I still remember a few years' ago when my parents moved from Dallas to Tampa......I flew to TX and helped them drive their cars to Florida. Dad drove his '99 Corvette, Mom drove the Reatta coupe (now replaced by a 330ci Convertible) and I drove the '00 Regal GS.

Surprisingly, all three cars were quite equal in mpg......the Corvette did surprisingly well.

They still have the Corvette and Regal GS.......and they are trying to figure out what to replace the Regal with. They want a crossover....to have some utility. They are leaning towards an RX350. I'm trying to convince them into an Enclave.....but Mom's over Buicks....thinks the Enclave looks good....but wants "...a luxury SUV....not a Buick....." if that tells you anything. She just turned 65 and said "old people" drive Buicks and she doesn't want to feel old yet.....lol.

I'm surprised....she LOVES her BMW convertible.....and it's got the sport package and 18-inch wheels. I thought she'd think it's too rough and harsh....but she doesn't....she loves it. Maybe if she won't do Enclave, I can get her to consider a modestly-equiped (cause they are expensive) BMW X5 3.0is.....the new model.....to replace the Regal.