vmx128

I am planning on visiting a friend in Phoenix in a couple of weeks, and I can't make up my mind whether I should fly or drive.

Would you drive 400 miles (one way) on I-10 to Phoenix if you were in my position? Flying is not that much more expensive ($300 vs. $180 for gas), and it would save me the wear and tear of a 800 mile round trip.

Has anyone done that drive from SoCal? Is it a fun drive? My service advisor at the dealership told me to be careful in Arizona because the cops like to pull over AMGs. I also noticed that it would be 100+ degrees in the desert. How do our cars hold up in that kind of heat?

Das Geld 2

Drive

_AMG_

I would drive, but would hate to be stuck in traffic.
These cars have been tested in blistering heat in Death Valley, CA with no problem so you will be fine.

I am Jeff

I would say Drive! If you fly, you'll be packed into those tin cans like sardines! My work has me flying all the time, so any opportunity that I have where I don't have to be packed into a plane, I'll take it. Find a patch of road and see what your car tops out at.

Mort

Newzchspy

Mathematically, a 400 mile flight will take about 1.5 hours PLUS the time in the aeropuerto before and after, so lets say 3.5- 4.0 hours. 400 mile drive at 75 MPH average about 5.5. Plane will save you about an hour and a half. On the fun side; Car : 100 Airplane: 0 (unless its your own).

IAA-C63

I logged more than 1,000 miles in my C63 last week due to a couple of out of state trips, one of which was a round trip of more than 500 miles in one day. I found the car more comfortable than I expected, partly because I'd get out and walk around for a few minutes every couple of hours, plus I also played around a lot with the lumbar adjustments to get that just right.

My trip included over 150 miles through winding mountain roads in Virginia (Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive), which was a fabulous experience. Taught me the huge value of M mode and paddle shifters for this kind of driving -- vastly more control of the car than with S or C mode.

So my vote is for driving.

I am Jeff

Out of curiosity, what kind of gas mileage did you out of that 500 mile drive? I'm planning a 1k mile trip soon. I'm also thinking about going to deals gap this summer with a bunch of friends.

MNL ICE

not sure but from what Ive heard there's a lot "speed cameras" going to/in Arizona so be careful

CZ55

I don't know how the roads are between OC and Phoenix but assuming it's 90 percent straight highway, I would recommend you to fly. I drove from NY to FL it wasn't fun at all. On the other hand, road trips in Europe are so much fun you don't want to stop driving.

IAA-C63

I recall it being around 18 mpg, with mostly highway driving around 80 mph, though the average through the mountains was about 50 mph. The best I've seen with this car, driving like a granny, is a little over 19 mpg.

AlphaSRT-8

Drive. You will be fine. The cameras have been shut down for about a year now so the freeways are clear, and I don't know really know what that service advisor is talking about.

I never have any trouble in my AMG or any of my cars for that matter. AZ cops don't care about "tint" or "dot legal" aftermarket. You could roll around on slicks out here.....lol.

JCH

Hiway 10 is a basically straight somewhat boring interstate although I personally like the desert landscape. If I remember correctly the speed limit is 75 which means you can safely go 78 or so without a ticket. I always find that there are enough speed freaks going 90+ mph that I don't worry too much about it. I do think that the Az highway patrol is more stringent about speeding than the CHP and sneakier (radar, airplanes, etc.). Definitely don't speed through any towns. There are speed cameras on the 10 about 20 miles west of Phoenix by the 210 (?) loop so be careful as the speed limit reduces the closer you get to Phx. The only place you might get stuck in traffic is in Phx itself no matter how you chose to get there. Just use common sense. Having said all this I'd prefer driving to flying since the overall time difference is relatively minor, you save $120 and get to bond with your AMG - priceless! You will still have opportunities to "punch it" on the highway for brief periods - just be alert, keep it brief and well away from towns.

vmx128

Thanks for the great thoughts and tips everyone! I am leaning towards driving after reading your opinions. I have only put 3800 miles on the car over the first 8.5 months of ownership, so it would be nice to drive the car on a nice stretch of open road. Don't feel adventurous enough to find the top end though .

Got Service A done today a lot sooner than it was due thanks to the $100 off coupon I got from mbusa (started another thread for that here).

Looking forward to "bonding" with my AMG!

SMP

I went to Phoenix a couple of month ago and drove instead of flying. I took my M6 and had lots of fun stretching her legs all the way. I choose the M6 for that trip to make that V10 scream in every gear to 8200. It's mostly straight, but there are some nice high speed sweepers after you pass Palm Springs. There was some heat from the law, but not too bad.

On the way home I came up on a Porsche and we did some top speed runs for a while. However, you have to kind of pace yourself because of the relative far distance between gas stations. The M6 has a small tank like my CLK and is pretty thirsty when you have your foot in it

Jae Duk

Wouldn't radar detector help that?
I know there's no camera on the way to Vegas but it helped out quite a bit with the cops

vmx128

I have an Escort 8500 radar detector that works with X, K and Ka bands. Wonder what bands the speed cameras use. I have also heard that the speed cameras were taken down. Not sure if they were taken down everywhere, or on certain stretches of the highway.

envyxc350

I did this drive last thanksgiving, LA to tucson though and its great, once your in the dessert just haul *** the whole way lol. And once your in AZ the hwy limit is 70/75 in most areas. But unfortunately I had to take the GF's lancer because my car was in the shop -_-


Oh and we saw no cameras or speed traps at all cruising at 80+ but still be careful!

GHAZAN

drive fast and set records

Jycke

True that Drove from Finland to Italy march 2010. It was so much fun. Got to go to affalterbach and meet the guy who assembled my engine, lamborghini and pagani. Autobahn wasn't too bad either

SonnyakaPig

I've logged 25.2 mpg. Admittedly, I haven't duplicated that but I haven't really tried either. I see 21-22 mpg on hwy usually.

I say drive just because Airports are not fun. The heat is a non issue.

Newzchspy

FWIW, the AZ speed cameras were shut down I believe last year?? You AZ people can correct me.

As far as the "speed cameras" are concerned, if they DO have them , the beam is virtually non-detectable until you're upon it since its more vertical axis than a horizontal shot to the car approaching. Very few units, the V-1 and Belscort Redline included , can detect it UNTIL its too late.

RXBENZ

If you can youtube TopGear America with Tanner Foust they had a show with the exact scenario...the car (Ferrari) won but this was due to a delay with the flight...Otherwise flight woulda cleaned his clock...but nothing beats open roads, good tunes and great weather!

LowestFrequency

Just re-iterating everything already said. I've driven that path half a dozen times and it can get super boring because its so straight. However, pushing your beast a couple times over 100 every so often is a good idea to release said boredom. Also, one of the cities between LA and Phoenix is a bad cop magnet with the speed limit around 50. Be careful. I remember it has a lot of palm trees littered next to the freeway.
It'll be hot but you got yourself a new car. It'll be fine.

DuaneC63

Step one. Install Valentine 1
Step two. Install Laser Interceptor
Step three. Get up early to avoid OC traffic
Step four. Have fun

I did the Sacto to San Diego drive late in the afternoon I picked up the car (so most of it was at night) no problems.