2 weeks in california for xmas: convertible or too chilly?

[bcadou]

Hi gents

i ll be doing a road trip on the Californian coast from 15 dec to 1st of jan. Have only booked the flights, will probably drive from LA to San Diego, maybe Vegas etc... No real route plan.

Anyway, would you take a convertible (mustang)? Or i ll end up drive 90% of the time with the hood down as it will be too chilly? Any thoughts? thanks

price difference is about 1k for mustang v8 vs normal "premium car" like Merc CLA, for 15 days

[JulianHJ]

Not sure about the weather, but a 1k (£ or $?) premium for a Mustang over a Merc CLA seems quite steep - who are you booking with?

[bcadou]

thanks for the quick answer JulianHJ

1k gbp unfort, I use SIXT but I also used a couple of car rental comparison sites, same results so far. I averaged the price difference to 1k to make things simpler but here are the actual number for 16 days, LAX to LAX:

CLA = 850 gbp
Mustang ecoboost = 1500 gbp
Mustang gt = 2000 gbp

Also found a convertible beetle for 1k gbp with Europcar if I use my airline search engine (that probably uses a discount scheme since i book flights tickets there), could be sweet spot?

what would you do?

thanks again

Edited by bcadou on Sunday 4th November 09:29

Edited by bcadou on Sunday 4th November 09:42

[8.4L 154]

It depends which way the wind is blowing and where the jet stream decides to sit, could be anything to be honest, I've been in San Francisco in a T shirt and been too hot, and in a ski jacket and too cold, all in the same day.

Out in the deserts and with any altitude it can be brutally cold, Eg -25c in Ely Nevada so not much fun under a draughty canvas roof but if the jet stream heads to Canada and your sat in San Diego under a nice sunny high pressure then it will be toasty.

[bcadou]

thank you both for your quick replies, i ll make my mind up using them, cheers!

[8.4L 154]

If your staying south and to the coast then it shouldn't get really cold, Ely Nv is in the great basin so sits in a pool of cold air, but I used it to illustrate how very cold air is never far away in winter over there. On the coast if the jet-stream is bringing the pineapple express then your going to be getting wet rather than frozen on the southern coasts, your not going to see snow and frost in san diego but could be down in the 50 and 60's F or could be up in the 80s F. We found that out on an aborted canada ski trip, headed to the sun of San Diego to recover from injury as it was 80f there when we left vancouver, by the time we reached Ncal the jet-stream had shifted and SD was now mid 60's so not much fun around the pool. Turned east to go sightseeing instead only to find ourselves in -25c Ely NV.

Nb winter is rainy season in California, it can snow hard in the mountains too, Many Mountain passes close for the season so plan your routes carefully and the summer tires you will likely find on a San Diego soft top wont be legal without chains in the mountains.

But it can also be really warm and nice in CA in the winter.

Edited by 8.4L 154 on Sunday 4th November 10:19

[Jakg]

bcadou said:

thanks for the quick answer JulianHJ

1k gbp unfort, I use SIXT but I also used a couple of car rental comparison sites, same results so far. I averaged the price difference to 1k to make things simpler but here are the actual number for 16 days, LAX to LAX:

CLA = 850 gbp
Mustang ecoboost = 1500 gbp
Mustang gt = 2000 gbp

I had this Mustang Ecoboost convertible for £600 from Budget last month for 13 days. Picked up at SFO, returned at LAX. Budget's cheaper convertible class is either a Mustang or a Camaro - only two cars they have. Had no issue getting a Mustang when asked for one at the desk.



They do the GT, too, but no idea how much.

It wasn't really warm enough for roof down every day. Would you have the roof down in the UK now? If so then sure. But it probably won't be 25° C Tshirt weather.

[Polarbert]

If you can afford the GT go for that. It's quite an amazing car considering its a rental. Loved having the coupe for a few days.

[just me]

Hoods are not draughty, they seal up nicely and the heater will do its job well. If it's cold, you will be toasty in a convertible. And you will want the option of having a convertible for the nice weather--rainy spells don't last more than 2 days in San Diego. You'll be fine with a convertible

If the CLA has a sunroof, that would be a nice option too--I think all Mercs in the US have a sunroof, but I am not sure. It won't afford the same photo ops, though.

Definitely get the Mustang over the Beetle. I quite like the Beetle, but I would get the Mustang for street creds.

[Polarbert]

Hope your trip is going well! What did you end up going with?

[ReaperCushions]

Man I wish I'd have seen this thread earlier! I live on the route you are traveling (Wave as you go past South Orange County!)

A convertible would be fine this time of year in the day, it gets up to 17C-22C does get chilly when the sun goes down though (10-12C).

Enjoy it and make sure you take in the OC beaches rather than the LA ones :-)