Drive or Fly

[nissangirl74]

This may sound like a stupid question on a car forum, but if you had a choice between driving and flying, which would you choose?

For the most part, if you want to get somewhere in a hurry, it's much more convenient to fly. However, amidst all the scrutiny (and danger) surrounding the airlines right now, would you be willing to sacrifice more of your time and money to get from Point A to Point B without the worry and hassle?

On a long trip, the cost of gas, food, and lodging will most likely cost more than your plane ticket. However, you get to leave and come back on your own time table, you get to stop and eat / stretch / take pictures / sightsee / go pee whenever you want. No one is scanning you, going through your belongings, the entire privacy issue. To me, that freedom is worth a lot of cash.Unfortunately, our schedule doesn't always allow the extra travel time, especially if the kids are in school, so we don't have much of a choice but to fly when we are traveling long distances.

However, when you break it down, some small trips are actually quicker by car. Take for instance, from our house to Vegas. It's +/- 270 miles. By the speed limit, , it's just over 4 hours in a car.If we want to fly, the flight itself is right at an hour. However, it's 1 hour to the airport (with decent traffic), you have to get there 2 hours early, it's an hour flight, and a long wait at both the baggage claim and the rental car counter. Time wise, it's pretty much a wash. Enjoyment of your trip? Well, there's no question there, the car wins hands down.

How far would you be willing to travel by car to avoid the BS at the airports? Personally, if I had the time, I'd drive til I ran out of road.

[hitbychance]

if i had the time and money i would drive everywhere.

[93coupe]

If I had the money I would always choose to drive. I don't mind flying at all but I would rather have control of the vehicle that I am traveling in. Plus, you get to see and experience so much more when you drive.

[drksolest]

anything over 5 hours... fly!

[car nut]

SCC ran an article a few years ago about driving to Vegas vs. flying from LA. The car won (although they were in an R32 GTR with a professional driver and traveled over 100 miles per hour at some points during the trip).

Anything less then 400 miles, it's absolutely the car. Anything more and I gotta be with a bunch of people I enjoy.

I really hate flying.

[rc1honda]

I used to love to fly, but after being through a emergency landing, a emregency climing alltitude manuever after catching a tail wind and turning the plane almost compleltly sideways during landing. And also the worst turbulence i have ever heard of, much worsew then movies, i am much happier driving anywhere now.

Sad part is a really wanna go over seas. I would drive to Europe if there was a bridge over the Atlantic.

If there were parachutes on the jet for everyone I still wouldn't mind flying. But untill that happens i would rather drive anywhere.

[93coupe]

Buy a parachute and keep it in the over head compartment

[colies97~240sx]

I would drive all the time if I could but for me the decision to drive or fly is based upon a five part equation; purpose of the trip, distance traveled, destination, travel time required and travel cost.

If it's a 7 day or less vacation and it is more than a one day drive then I will opt to fly. I hate nothing more than losing two days of being on a beach. For 10 day or longer vacations, driving is a must. The places on the way become as much a part of the vacation as the destination. The only exception to this is if it's is a 10+ hr drive and I don't have a co-pilot.

[breadbox]

I'm used to driving up and down the east coast, I'm pretty comfy doing that but I'd fly if I was heading west to something that is not related to my cars.

[Ace2cool]

Drive, hands down. Definitely not practical going home CA to TN, so there I am forced to fly, that being a 28 odd hour trip in a car. But anywhere from here to Colorado I will drive, just so I have the luxury of having my own vehicle where I am.

[Rex]

Wow, look who stumbled back onto NICO. I just saw Evan thread as well.

As to the OP, 4-5 hours (plus the duration of the stay) is the decision point. I find myself feeling so rushed to either get there or get back, it takes all the fun out of the drive.

[sldewyz]

anything over 15-20 hours id fly. love roadtrips with friends...

by myself tho anything over id say 8 id fly. drove from indianapolis to pittsburgh a few times during school alone and it sucked when i hit hour 4.

[PEZi]

i love flying... but its not for the same reasons as most people...

i love being in BIG airports full of hot chicks... flirting and that sorta thing... driving all you ever see are truckers and cows... not all that exciting

now the one issue i do have is that my car isn't there for me to drive wherever it is i'm going... so that sucks

[krash]

Definitely driving. Especially if friends are coming and theyre driving too. I love caravanning

[gnvarnadore]

driving is my only choice, ive never taken a flight anywhere. if i were to fly i would have one of my grandpa's friends fly me in one of their planes. my grandpa used to teach aircraft maintenance and repair and knows alot of people that own planes.

[PoorManQ45]

It depends on two things.

1: How long are you going to be there.2: Where are you coming from and where are you going to.

1: If you are only going to be there at the destination for a weekend or even 5 days I personally would fly as this would maximize time.

2: If the trip will have many scenic opportunities I would drive.

Also, do you want to use your vacation time traveling, or do you just want to get there as quickly as possible to maximize your time.

[Bubba1]

For me, it really depends on the circumstances. For pleasure trips, I'm more likely to drive longer distances like 6-8 hours one eay. For work, I'll more likely fly than drive 8 hrs in each direction. But living in the northeast corridor has its advantages. Trains are a great alternative here.

[nissangirl74]

For me, it really depends on the circumstances. For pleasure trips, I'm more likely to drive longer distances like 6-8 hours one eay. For work, I'll more likely fly than drive 8 hrs in each direction. But living in the northeast corridor has its advantages. Trains are a great alternative here.

I'd like to drive the Northeast corner one day, preferably in the fall when all the leaves are changing color.

[Mr1der]

drive.

I recently got a Garmin Nuvi...it's bizarre...but having that with me and just randomly hitting backroads is one of the greatest feelings of freedom I've ever had. (blasting the hell out of something with a gun and letting my hands fly on someone are the other two)

I'd love nothing more than to be able to just hop in a car and drive across the country coast to coast about 50 different ways hitting up any odd or historic stop in between.

I think it'd make for an amusing tv show depending on who's with me.

[Red coupe]

Buy a parachute and keep it in the over head compartment

They ARE basically a backpack aren't they?

Would just suck if security stopped you and asked you to empty it.

[nissangirl74]

drive.

I recently got a Garmin Nuvi...it's bizarre...but having that with me and just randomly hitting backroads is one of the greatest feelings of freedom I've ever had. (blasting the hell out of something with a gun and letting my hands fly on someone are the other two)

I'd love nothing more than to be able to just hop in a car and drive across the country coast to coast about 50 different ways hitting up any odd or historic stop in between.

I think it'd make for an amusing tv show depending on who's with me.

They ARE basically a backpack aren't they?

Would just suck if security stopped you and asked you to empty it.

[PoorManQ45]

I recently got a Garmin Nuvi...it's bizarre...but having that with me and just randomly hitting backroads is one of the greatest feelings of freedom I've ever had. (blasting the hell out of something with a gun and letting my hands fly on someone are the other two)

In Tennessee last summer while driving to Wisconsin I set my MIO to show the shortest route, not the fastest. This took us on some awesome back roads!

[Red coupe]

drive.

I recently got a Garmin Nuvi...it's bizarre...but having that with me and just randomly hitting backroads is one of the greatest feelings of freedom I've ever had.

Yeah, it really is crazy. When we were in Boston we were trying to get rid of fireworks, so we would just head down random back roads and shoot roman candles at each other (two rental vans full of people). We got pretty deep on some random back roads... Was cool to be able to just hope off the freeway and drive down the most random rural back roads with out worrying about it.

[nissangirl74]

I wish we could drive to Carlisle.

[Jesda]

DRIVE, unless there's an ocean involved.

[krimsonviper]

I'd drive it time weren't an issue. You have a chance to see some shxt, when you drive.

[93coupe]

I wish we could drive to Carlisle.

You aren't?! I don't get to see any of your cars?

[ADDirishboy]

Drive. Anywhere. I hate flying. While driving long distance sucks, (and by long distance I mean anything 25 hours or more) I would much rather drive. Flying is stupid.

[nissangirl74]

Not this trip. The kids will still be in school so leaving an additional two days ahead of time is out of the question.

[ADDirishboy]

Not this trip. The kids will still be in school so leaving an additional two days ahead of time is out of the question.

I'll drive one!