Cross country drive...which vehicle do you take?

[coleAK]

lol.

needs to be prepped for 10 minutes and needs to do it on a drag strip.

Teslas corner like garbage because they’re so heavy.

Obviously you haven’t driven a Tesla much and don’t follow motor sports. I raced cars for years had GT3, caterham, lotus, an insane 600hp s2000.

Model 3’s cleaned up last year at SCCA nationals. Including 1st in autocross, competing in the same class as 911 GT3, vett z06,... won pikes peak in the unlimited class, A VW EV set the all time record. I did an local autocross last summer in our Lr aWD 3 (not performance version) on the OEM all season tires. Took 2nd overall to a gutted caged Miata on slicks. Beat an Elise, M2, M3, a bunch of STi’s, LT1, RS audis, z06, more miatas, and a R8.

SCCA is now talking separate classes for EVs from ICE because Tesla’s are beating everything gas powered.

 

[Docboy]

OP, what does your wife say?

 

[LCtoLX]

OP, what does your wife say?

Best question so far (my signature ends with a saying)

 

[samster747]

OP, what does your wife say?

Best question so far (my signature ends with a saying)

So I talked to my wife the other day and mentioned it's still not too late to purchase plane tickets and fly (we'll be leaving 7/4, returning in 2 weeks). Clearly she's still not comfortable flying with the kids, especially with delta variant starting to spread. Anyway, her main concern was my comfort, since I'll be doing most of the driving, if not all. So she did leave it up to me mostly to decide which vehicle to take. Although she did mention that if I needed a break from driving, it would be easier and more comfortable for her to drive the RAV4 since it's her commuter vehicle and she's never driven the LC.

I will say I was leaning towards taking the RAV4 before I posted my initial question, but I wanted to see what most of you all would say. I was quite surprised a good number of the responses aligned with my thought process. I guess I just wanted some confirmation. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts.

 

[NYC570]

If you won't be driving on any unpaved roads, then the rav 4 would be the logical choice. From fuel economy to most likely safety, the rav 4 has more advantages for a trip like this. I'd still take the 200 though.

 

[NYC570]

Well this just happened. So can’t deny the dominance across the board. 0-60 <2 sec, 1/4 mile in low 9’s...

2021 Tesla Model S Plaid: Feel the Force—0-60 in 2 Seconds

Though largely unchanged on the outside, the new Model S is a technical tour de force: the fastest, hardest-accelerating, most aero-efficient production sedan ever. Dan Neil takes a road trip.

www.wsj.com

Having owned a Tesla for almost 7 years now (s for 4 now 3 for almost 3 years) I pretty much only drive the LX when towing our camper or going off road. Like others I can’t wait for the CT.

As per the original discussion. I’d take the RAV4. And even with my teens recently fully vax’ed I’d drive it as well. Similar experience to your wife, seen way to much morbidity and mortality first hand and getting flooded with post acute. That said it is a risk benefit calculation for each one to make and to each their own.

 

[swhme]

Funny you bring this up as I'm wavering on a similar situation. I have young kids not of vaccination age yet and we're not quite ready to fly. We're driving from San Diego to Sacramento multiple times later this summer to drop off the kids to spend time with grandparents. 500 miles each way x 4 trips = 2000 miles.

Normally this is the job of the LX. With an aux tank, don't even need to refuel en-route. Vying for the trip is my wife's Tesla Model 3.

LX570 - 15 MPG @ $4.50 for premium = $600
Tesla Model 3 - @ $0.05 mile home and supercharging = $100

Cost is not the primary issue and I'm also taking into consideration Autopilot, and the slog through LA traffic. Factoring in the more exclusive and premium Tesla only restrooms and convenience stops. Superior entertainment. I've driven this route probably 20+ times with the cruiser, and 2x with the Tesla, and the cruiser is not necessarily the clear winner. With as many of this specific trip that we do each year, if I can only combine the LX and Model 3 in one car.... Hrmmmmmmm.

RAV4 Hybrid has my vote. Right size tool for the job.

Tesla is such a great road trip car. If you are going to be staying on pavement, it’s the winner.

 

[Angelo1]

lol.

needs to be prepped for 10 minutes and needs to do it on a drag strip.

Teslas corner like garbage because they’re so heavy.

Tesla’s have a long ways to go.

Tesla quality also has a long ways to go. Some will be good(not great), while many will have constant issues and this is why they are now rated just above Land Rover for reliability. Building cars is not easy and they are still a very young company and have a ways to go to catch up in quality to the big 3. Tesla fanboys love to argue they have a superior product compared to Ford, GM, etc. What they leave out is comparing production numbers. Tesla crashes with autopilot on are very common on HWY 101 hitting the cement barrier in the Bay Area. The fancy auto pilot is not as good as many fanboys wil have you believe. I truly hope Tesla eventually makes a very reliable and well built vehicle, but it hasn’t happened yet.

 

[Angelo1]

Just walked past a RAV4 in a parking lot. I wouldn’t ever drive that tin can on more than a short drive, let alone put my entire family jam packed in it on a XC trip.

This is a kids car for getting to school. Maybe if I lived in Europe, the RAV4 would be an excellent touring vehicle but in America with so many big trucks and cars, it is a tin can. I couldn’t imagine driving a RAV4 for long distances packed with the family. Sounds absolutely miserable.

 

[Angelo1]

Tesla is such a great road trip car. If you are going to be staying on pavement, it’s the winner.

I can see the Model X being a pretty decent road tripper. It just depends on how quickly you want to get to your destination. I’m the type that wants to get to destination as quickly as possible and EVs are not going to do it if the trip is over 500mi.

 

[mooneywa]

The risk analysis on display these days is eye watering.

 

[bloc]

Pretty entertaining to see so many people calling a 5-star crash rated vehicle a tin can.

I’ve been to a number of serious wrecks involving rav4s and the occupants did spectacularly. I’ve been to a handful of wrecks involving cruisers of different generations and there was surprisingly little body damage, considering the involved speeds and damage to the other vehicle. Know what that means? Energy was transmitted to the occupants.

From a safety standpoint I’d have NO problem taking a rav4 cross country. In the US at least it is held to a higher safety standard in the first place, specifically because it is not body on frame. The fact that the cruiser is a world vehicle where BoF is held to higher standards than here helps it a lot, but it is still very difficult to get something of that design to protect occupants as well as unibody.. not just from intrusion, but from the forces of a collision.

Just two weeks ago we went to a ~6yr old rav4 that got rear ended by a 3/4-ton pickup doing ~40mph. I would have zero issues putting family into one.

 

[NYC570]

Pretty entertaining to see so many people calling a 5-star crash rated vehicle a tin can.

I’ve been to a number of serious wrecks involving rav4s and the occupants did spectacularly. I’ve been to a handful of wrecks involving cruisers of different generations and there was surprisingly little body damage, considering the involved speeds and damage to the other vehicle. Know what that means? Energy was transmitted to the occupants.

From a safety standpoint I’d have NO problem taking a rav4 cross country. In the US at least it is held to a higher safety standard in the first place, specifically because it is not body on frame. The fact that the cruiser is a world vehicle where BoF is held to higher standards than here helps it a lot, but it is still very difficult to get something of that design to protect occupants as well as univody.. not just from intrusion, but from the forces of a collision.

Just two weeks ago we went to a ~6yr old rav4 that got rear ended by a 3/4-ton pickup doing ~40mph. I would have zero issues putting family into one.

I didn't want to write about this because people get a bit touchy in this forum some times. Statistically, the rav 4 is safer than the 200. The "tank" built quality of the 200 series is actually a detriment to its safety.

 

[KLF]

I'm totally in agreement with @bloc on this one.

My daughter has a 2012 and a good friend just bought a 2019. They are nice cars, sturdy, well made.

Every car is a "tin can".

 

[Angelo1]

Pretty entertaining to see so many people calling a 5-star crash rated vehicle a tin can.

I’ve been to a number of serious wrecks involving rav4s and the occupants did spectacularly. I’ve been to a handful of wrecks involving cruisers of different generations and there was surprisingly little body damage, considering the involved speeds and damage to the other vehicle. Know what that means? Energy was transmitted to the occupants.

From a safety standpoint I’d have NO problem taking a rav4 cross country. In the US at least it is held to a higher safety standard in the first place, specifically because it is not body on frame. The fact that the cruiser is a world vehicle where BoF is held to higher standards than here helps it a lot, but it is still very difficult to get something of that design to protect occupants as well as univody.. not just from intrusion, but from the forces of a collision.

Just two weeks ago we went to a ~6yr old rav4 that got rear ended by a 3/4-ton pickup doing ~40mph. I would have zero issues putting family into one.

I don’t think they are unsafe. In fact, I wouldn’t have bought my daughter one if it was. However, I wouldn’t drive it across country as I prefer more room and luxury comfort.

 

[Wicked0ne18]

Just did a long trip from MN to Missouri and back. LC all the way.

cooler to keep drinks n milk cold. Rear entertainment for kids. 3 kids. Two older ones utilize the back row n one of the third row seat for their comfort.

during a hot day actually used the cool seat and that was freakin nice.

did lil off-roading at 3b off-road.

power, comfort, and no problem with high wind.

 

[04UZJ100]

Pretty entertaining to see so many people calling a 5-star crash rated vehicle a tin can.

I’ve been to a number of serious wrecks involving rav4s and the occupants did spectacularly. I’ve been to a handful of wrecks involving cruisers of different generations and there was surprisingly little body damage, considering the involved speeds and damage to the other vehicle. Know what that means? Energy was transmitted to the occupants.

From a safety standpoint I’d have NO problem taking a rav4 cross country. In the US at least it is held to a higher safety standard in the first place, specifically because it is not body on frame. The fact that the cruiser is a world vehicle where BoF is held to higher standards than here helps it a lot, but it is still very difficult to get something of that design to protect occupants as well as univody.. not just from intrusion, but from the forces of a collision.

Just two weeks ago we went to a ~6yr old rav4 that got rear ended by a 3/4-ton pickup doing ~40mph. I would have zero issues putting family into one.

Disagree partially. Crash ratings are based on the vehicles own weight and momentum. That’s it. Crash test energy transmitted and absorbed by the vehicle on the test run are identical.

Crash that same 3600# car into a 6000# cruiser in opposite directions and guess what, energy transferred between the two will NOT be the same.

 

[bloc]

I don’t think they are unsafe. In fact, I wouldn’t have bought my daughter one if it was. However, I wouldn’t drive it across country as I prefer more room and luxury comfort.

Good point, you did just say tin can and I assumed that was with respect to safety. But others in this thread are more directly saying that.



I’d also argue the rav is less likely to get into an accident in the first place, with the more car-biased platform and IRS being better at dynamic handling.

 

[slowride]

No replacement for displacement...

Barrier crashes are crashing into yourself...

Want to go head on with a full sized loaded dump truck at 35 MPH ?

Fun with physics... simple.

 

[bloc]

Disagree partially. Crash ratings are based on the vehicles own weight and momentum. That’s it. Crash test energy transmitted and absorbed by the vehicle on the test run are identical.

Crash that same 3600# car into a 6000# cruiser in opposite directions and guess what, energy transferred between the two will NOT be the same.

Due to different curb weights and construction types there is no direct comparison, I get that.

These are clearly very complex events. Due to my very anecdotal observations, but more real-world than many people out there get to see, I disagree with the bigger vehicle clearly being the safer option paradigm presented by many in this thread. I’ve seen plenty of VERY messed up occupants in vehicles the size and generation of a 200-series cruiser. Similar wrecks that other, much smaller vehicles, did a much better job of protecting their occupants in.

All of this isn’t to say that the 200 is a poor performer.. events have been posted in this section supporting it being a great vehicle in that regard. My point is merely that it isn’t as clear as some here are making it out to be.