I was suppose to be in LA right now! but the flight got canceled, they bumped me to a 12:30 flight... the guys I needed to meet with for work get off work at 2:00. meaning I would get to the job site as the were closing the gates. F that! I'll be driving down on Sunday. my friend will put me up for the night and then I will go to the job site early Monday. I should get my work done in time to be back for dinner on Monday night.

I'd rather fly the SD down instead of Southwest. the old Mercedes is more reliable.


Plane trip
2 hours at airport before flight (thanks TSA)
1hr 15min in the air
1 hour to get a rental car and get to the job site.
30 min traffic and fudge factor

Total Time one way 4hr 45min

Plane tickets $319
Car rental $37

Total Cost $356

Driving the SD
6hr drive time
30 min traffic and fudge factor

Total time one way 6hr 30min

Diesel cost $85 (3.20 per gallon with 30MPG and 800 miles)
extra diesel $15 for fudge factor

Total Cost to drive the SD $100


Not driving a rental car in LA traffic... PRICELESS

__________________

If you are self-employed (as I am) the deductions using the IRS per mile allowed on the SD AND the $75.00 per day (or so) for meals while on business travel - puts you way ahead of the plane trip. Especially since you are staying with a friend instead of a hotel.

I have a large construction project going on in a small community on the Mississippi River between Vicksburg, Mississippi and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I will likely be on the jobsite for perhaps up to 10 days - maybe requiring two trips, all to be certain/ensure the installation is being done properly. (There are extremely large dollars at stake after months of architectural work.) I can stay right on the jobsite, versus small southern towns where there are oft times some of the crappiest motel rooms this side of h*** - were I not to have my own diesel motorcoach to stay in on-the-road.

Plus you can see the country - especially if you can get off the Interstate highways on alternate scenic routes - instead of looking at the back of 18-wheelers all day on the Interstate...

Sounds like fun. Based on going back and forth from Sacramento to there and back, over and over, - about 47,000 miles last year!!! --- I can tell you this:

Either I-5 or highway 99 will work, as they both come together at the Grapevine.

However, the 18 wheelers are everywhere, and things get messed up every time one of them with a top speed of 71 mph decides to pass one that is going 70 mph.



Fill up with diesel BEFORE you leave, as the prices along I 5 and 99 are insane, but once in LA, they are really cheap.


If you take I 5, there is only ONE place to stop to eat. The Harris Ranch, at the Coalinga 198 exit.


More choices abound on Highway 99 with all those little towns. I especially enjoy Little Sweeden, the town of Kingsburg. The Dala House restaurant on the main street, downtown and the ice cream store across the street are wonderful, and the place at the back of the mini mall down the main street downtown is authentic and great too, all of it is real cheap but good!!

Sometimes I stop and meet Justin on the way if he is in school at the Dennys near the freeway in Stockton.

There are CHP cops all over the place so don't speed, they like to hide under flyovers and on the median, wherever/whenever they can, and they are merciless because they are trying to get money for the budget shortfall in California. Over the grapevine they are around a lot, hiding, and especially near the 138 exit to Lancaster....

Take a GPS to help get from here to there, it is tough without one.

The LA drivers use to be good, but NOW assume *every* other driver is yakking on the cell phone down there, or texting, as they drive, I even saw cement truck drivers doing it.

The percentage of females 18-25 that do it, is about 99%. If they are looking down, going abnormally slow in the lane, or drifting in their lane or over it, that is a 100% tip off they (or anyone) are doing it.


Canter's in DTLA, or Jerry's in Woodland Hills or Studio City, are FABULOUS bets for reasonably priced Jewish deli lunches, and POQUITO MAS is the best prced and most delicious Mex food you can get, they are in Studio City (where I saw the entire PD and FD in full dress blues come in there) - these are all tips from mercedes benz driving locals, on these fora, that I used.

Hope that helps you, Nik.

If you have ANY extra time, check the showroom of Beverly Hills Mercedes on Beverly Drive, right off Santa Monica Blvd in BH. It's awesome.

It sounds like a turnaround trip, but if you have the time, (call first to be sure they are open) visit the Mercedes Benz Classic Center at 9 Watney, Irvine. Totally worth it. Down in the OC though, maybe an hour and fifteen minutes from DTLA, take the 405 then the 5.


Don't overdo it though. If you are tired and going back on 5 or 99, grab a hotel off the freeway. Watch the signs: you can get a room, nothing fancy, for $33 on up per night, places like the EZ8, Motel 6, and so forth, in some place like Kettleman City, Escalon, and on 99, the Sleep Inn off the freeway at Olive Drive, in Bakersfield is absolutely first class for about $55.

Enjoy it, I love LA, you will too. I am going back again in early May - can't wait!!

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I have to admit that I was confused by the title "SD to LA" could have meant San Diego to Los Angeles . . . or Louisiana . . .

By coincidence, next month I'm picking up my 2..3-16 in Long Beach, CA and driving it over to Phoenix, AZ. Going to do an overnight stop over in Palm Springs at a Motel 6 since they'll let me bring the dog.

Did you buy a new car or did you send yours from HI to Long Beach?

If you have any free time when you're in So. Cal., give me a shout and we'll meet for lunch or something.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I never fly if I have time to drive; I'm currently driving home from chattanogga to denver.

Hate the I5 going that way.. what a miserable drive. Ugly scenery, idiot drivers who cut you off because they think they're somehow going to get to their destination quicker (during the 2 lane part of the journey, which is most of it) and like Jim said, big rigs that take forever to pass trucks going 2 mph slower than them. Make sure you have your thermostat and cooling system sorted out because you can easily overheat on the way up the grapevine. Definitely turn the A/C off during that portion of the drive.

__________________
1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

I saw a Cobra radar detctor at radio shack on clerance (last year model) for $ 55.00 it detects x, k, ka and ku (european band not here yet) and laser it works great !!! I NEVER drive the freeways anymore without it. When the cops are trying to entrap people (uh.... generate revenue, uh.....protect the public) the cobra sniffs them out everytime. I had two close calls on the 5 and the dectector saved me. Oddly enought when purchasing the detector I thought well if this can help avoid a ticket it's worth $55. (understatement of the year)

That is true, I need one, but never saw one that cheap. The Cobra ones can be found at the TA truck stops for sale up and down I 5 and 99 but not that cheap. There is even a shop at the base of the LA side of the Grapevine (I looked in there a couple of weeks ago, it's in Castiac) that has nothing but
CB, and radar detector impedimentia for sale...

The Valentine V-1 radar detector units are supposed to be the best of the best, and I was gonna buy one last year from the factory for $400 and get it custom installed (hidden) at Harbor Motorsports in Westminster in the OC) but a friend tipped me off to one that was for sale on a Mercedes forum new for $300, but the guy ripped me off, from Canada, he sold it apparently about 30 more times there and on Roadfly and other places and never shipped it, and ripped off a huge bunch of people.

Then I got radar based speeding tickets from the CHP one after another, so I REALLY need to get one from the factory.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I made it there and back. here are some pics.

__________________

THE BAD NEWS

The poor old SD sprung a leak!
its always leaked oil, but never a troubling amount. in the last 2 months I thought I had stopped almost all the leaks, only one leak remained, and it was a slight drip only when the car was running.... 900 miles later... my car is hemorrhaging oil! at a rate of 1 quart ever 100 miles! i had 1 quart in my car for emergencies... and before i left i picked up 1 gallon at the walmart because i had a bad dream that i blew the engine up. and I had a fortune cookie tell me the night before the trip that "A new pair of shoes will bring you success" not wanting to walk down the interstate i grabbed some extra oil. It was all used up by the time i got to Chatsworth, so I got another gallon. all told I poured 9 quarts into the old lady.

The engine still runs like a top... but I'm worried about her.

__________________

I did this for sure... that nice guy bought me the Grand Slamwitch.

Thanks Justin!

__________________

Did you have fun in LA? Did the trip go uneventfully in the car?

Your car really looks cool!! ESPECIALLY with about 400,000 miles on it.

I love your euro lights and bumpers. What's cool also, is that the 300SD like yours was never sold in Germany to new car buyers.

I am glad my old Lorinser knockoffs found such a good home. You made them look as perfect as they were when I bought the car at the Mercedes Benz dealer near Disneyland, 14-15 years ago.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

At least you are home safe.

You check the valve cover gaskets and oil pan drain plugs yet?

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Before I hit the grapevine i did a once over on the oil, cause of the leak, and the water, got half way up and she was getting too hot! so i pulled over, checked the oil again, 1 quart low... in all of 2 miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! put in another quart, and she was fine the rest of the way... actually she held her oil the whole time i was in LA. I checked it every time i stopped. then before going home over the grapevine i checked it again, only had to add about half a quart. and she went back over the grapevine with no problems. but she needed another 3 quarts between the grapevine and Stockton.

__________________