thanks for the diesel vote, kentucky fedex and/or random-sequence-of-consonants !
I seem to be thinking diesel-cruze for the longer-haul 8000 mile USA circuit this summer. For the drive to MN, I drove gasser stick Chevy SS Sedan "Caprice PPV". The Caprice is so immensely superior to 2017 cruze, it is not a fair comparison.
Roads this summer will probably be very hot and busy with many standing-wave traffic resonances aka traffic-jams and slowdowns. In summer slow & go traffic I prefer the diesel cruze to the caprice/PPV/SS stickshift V8. In summer diesel fuel price usually drops and gas price usually increases. Fwiw, seems diesel prices may increase at some point soon as the refineries & markets adjust to requirements for low-sulfur diesel to replace "bunker" fuel for boaty mcboatface overseas ships.
For this last springtime week, roads were E M P T Y , very convenient. Apparently it's not quite spring yet although I removed snow tires a month ago from 016 sonic and 017 cruze oil-burner.
Minnesota is expecting a few days and a few feet of snow !
Happy travels everyone ! Lane discipline and driving was impressive for the entire MN<->MA drive except in the obvious places like NY-thruway. There appears to be increasing awareness LLC-ism along with a decreasing number of LLCs across USA. Couple of real bad drivers, one had rickety illegal trailer disintegrate on I-39 (again), 42 after I predicted it, just as we passed he realized his trailer was coming apart and dragging. Another driver of a a specific-gender-not-to-be-named-here in left lane on I-90 west out of one of the many toll booths, doing 45 mph created a moving-hazard for many miles, multiple near-wrecks were caused by that one driver.
That you are able to recount only a small number of such memorable incidents over that drive indicates that it must have been, overall, a good experience! Almost shockingly uneventful!
Welcome back, and glad you made it home safely (assuming you are, indeed, home again).
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
I just drove back from Pahrump NV to San Diego, CA. Similar to driving Vegas to SD.
The 15S is like the SW Autobahn. However, you have your rare left lane camper at the 70 limit. You have your usual 10 over camper in the left lane that won't move over since they are going 80. You also have a lot of left lane campers at 20 over (90) that think that's fast enough. It isn't. There are a lot of people going 95+.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Well, camping is camping is camping. However, if I am passing and am going near the posted limit, I will make a point to get out of the way of someone going faster. If I am already over the limit, I'll alter speed a little to perform the maneuver faster. If I was going twenty over, I would likely not adjust my rate to speed up the process.
That said, I'm assuming that the "flow" is at or near the posted limit. If flow was already twenty over, then that is the de facto speed, and everything above adjusts from there.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
Not sure what a speed limit means sometimes. Highways are often so crowded that you either get in the fast lane or the slow lane and just blend in with what the other vehicles area doing in that lane.
Well, camping is camping is camping. However, if I am passing and am going near the posted limit, I will make a point to get out of the way of someone going faster. If I am already over the limit, I'll alter speed a little to perform the maneuver faster. If I was going twenty over, I would likely not adjust my rate to speed up the process.
That said, I'm assuming that the "flow" is at or near the posted limit. If flow was already twenty over, then that is the de facto speed, and everything above adjusts from there.
The flow is arguable. What isn't is "Slower Traffic Keep Right." Faster makes another slower, slower makes another faster. Pretty simple stuff.
I guarantee you most of the people "just going with the flow" are camping, in that they are not passing anyone for at least 1/2 mile or several minutes.
What ends up happening is you get a line of faster moving cars passing on the right in the 1/2 mile in between slower truckers, and then merging left again, only to hit another line of campers, and the next 1/2 mile gap allows another pass of 3 or 4 campers in a row. Just because you have 2 or 3 cars doing what you are doing, doesn't make it the flow or acceptable.
There is no reason or excuse for it. Plenty of room on the right; as I pointed out, 1/2 mile gaps were not unusual. Some are 1/4 mile, but either way, plenty to allow people to pass properly on the left instead of the right.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Go on a road trip to a real first world location like Germany, spend a few days on the Autobahn (even restricted areas), and observe the lane discipline. Base standards on that, as they know how to do it.
Ugh, a world being taken over by AI and lawyers, what a wonder future it will be. I was thinking an obscure German rap song would slip by, guess not. I will see about uploading it sans music.
It featured me innocently cruising down a 2 lane road, being cut off by an oblivious Odyssey (a plague on the eastside, they can be magnets for those who hate driving), a horn honk, and comments.
No doubt some entitlement there, certain vehicles have it.
Regarding Europcar, I suspect in Canada it is probably rebranded/co-branded with a local carrier, I've never seen signage in Canada for the company. They are widespread in Europe (of course).
Took a trip outside the I5 corridor yesterday. I5 traffic was nuts as usual for a Thursday, average speed on the drive was 37 mph on a 3.5 hour drive, and the last hour had the cruise set at 68 (as I was on smaller state highways). Stop and go brought mileage to 26.8 per the car. Not many annoyances on the trip as there's only so much you can do in gridlock, but the reactions of other "drivers" when an aid car was trying to get past were amusing and depressing.
362 hp and a sub 5 second 0-60, not bad numbers at all, unbelievable a generation ago for a car of this size and mass.
Oh yeah, saw only one speedtrap, a stater (I think) motorcycle cop, being nice and tolerant - left lane was cruising at maybe 8-10 over, he didn't bat an eye.
Back to the rat race, put maybe around 400 miles on the car. Nothing too remarkable on the way home - weather finally shaped up the day I left, not a cloud in the sky today, which always helps with traffic. Some random gridlock in Tacoma and Renton, as expected when the population triples and roads increase 5%. These gridlock situations are where the semi-autonomous functions of the car shine. Open roads and fast moving dense traffic can present quirks.
Maybe the most unusual scene was this - all those LEOs and a lone Cube, maybe they caught a wanted person:
Just got back from this year's epic road trip. Was to be in cruze diesel but I crossthreaded a stud and it took weeks to get replacement, so i took chevy SS Sedan again. Boston -> Minnesota -> Boulder for a week of work & two Dead&Co concerts. Then I-70 to I-15 to Vegas -> Newport Beach -> Santa Cruz -> San Jose -> San Ramon -> Minnesota&grandkids again -> Boston. 7500 miles solo. Out west the speeds are 80 mph and up, posted limit 80 mph. In some east coast states, 81 mph is reckless by definition, and 80 is not reckless by definition. The highlight of the driving was I-70 & I-15 through grand-canyon or Mars or whatever it was - W O W was it awesome. I would have stopped for scenic things if better-half was with me but solo all i did was d r i v e . gas prices as low as $2 in Seneca Reservation or $2.30 in midwest to $4.50 in california. SS Sedan returned reliable 25 mpg on low-octane fuel at any speed 70 to 90 . With "E0" pure gasoline at some points it returned 27 mpg. In terms of wrecks, not many sighted! Also zero small-trailers disintegrated in front of me on this drive, which was nice. It was becoming a pattern on recent "short roadtrips" from Boston to Minnesota or Florida - wife and I look at each trailer we approach now to see how rickety/reckless it is - tiny wheels on huge trailer doing 80 mph ! Lately each time we see a rickety one we try to pass it asap - and each time its wheel falls off as we pass it seconds later, causing serious wreck or nearly so.
Wow, @Steve Elias , 7500 miles solo! That is a haul. I dunno if could have done that even in my younger days. Glad you had a good trip and that the SS proved to be a quality choice.
Just got back from this year's epic road trip. Was to be in cruze diesel but I crossthreaded a stud and it took weeks to get replacement, so i took chevy SS Sedan again. Boston -> Minnesota -> Boulder for a week of work & two Dead&Co concerts. Then I-70 to I-15 to Vegas -> Newport Beach -> Santa Cruz -> San Jose -> San Ramon -> Minnesota&grandkids again -> Boston. 7500 miles solo. Out west the speeds are 80 mph and up, posted limit 80 mph. In some east coast states, 81 mph is reckless by definition, and 80 is not reckless by definition. The highlight of the driving was I-70 & I-15 through grand-canyon or Mars or whatever it was - W O W was it awesome. I would have stopped for scenic things if better-half was with me but solo all i did was d r i v e . gas prices as low as $2 in Seneca Reservation or $2.30 in midwest to $4.50 in california. SS Sedan returned reliable 25 mpg on low-octane fuel at any speed 70 to 90 . With "E0" pure gasoline at some points it returned 27 mpg. In terms of wrecks, not many sighted! Also zero small-trailers disintegrated in front of me on this drive, which was nice. It was becoming a pattern on recent "short roadtrips" from Boston to Minnesota or Florida - wife and I look at each trailer we approach now to see how rickety/reckless it is - tiny wheels on huge trailer doing 80 mph ! Lately each time we see a rickety one we try to pass it asap - and each time its wheel falls off as we pass it seconds later, causing serious wreck or nearly so.
Virgin River canyon on I-15, south of St George. Great trip! Thanks for the update.
Just returned from a ~1500 mile cruise mostly in eastern WA and OR, all over the place. Two observations - there was apparently a recent EMP event that disabled turn signals on maybe 60% of vehicles, and the amount of last second decisions on highways (cutting across multiple lanes to exit, or late exits cutting over gore points) was mind-boggling, must have seen dozens of them. Of course, when 98% of enforcement is laser-focused on speed, "anything goes" for the rest of driving.
Only honked twice, once at a woman on I5 who was dilly-dallying in the left lane, eyes on her phone (in her hand), and at a dolt stopping for an invisible stop sign. Many seemed to stay out of the way of the 'Slade.
Just returned from a ~1500 mile cruise mostly in eastern WA and OR, all over the place. Two observations - there was apparently a recent EMP event that disabled turn signals on maybe 60% of vehicles, and the amount of last second decisions on highways (cutting across multiple lanes to exit, or late exits cutting over gore points) was mind-boggling, must have seen dozens of them. Of course, when 98% of enforcement is laser-focused on speed, "anything goes" for the rest of driving.
Only honked twice, once at a woman on I5 who was dilly-dallying in the left lane, eyes on her phone (in her hand), and at a dolt stopping for an invisible stop sign. Many seemed to stay out of the way of the 'Slade.
Probably thought there was some sort of VIP in the back; phone usage may have increased to snap a pic to sell to TMZ.
It's funny, in the city, a significant amount of such vehicles I see are livery service, and I assume that's what they are when I see one. It must be different in less populated areas, as people seemed to notice it more on the trip - all of the family members I visited were pretty impressed by it.
On the road last night, saw a ~5 car pileup on 405 near 167. Virtually perfect road conditions at the time, no doubt distraction was the culprit.
Next week I embark on another 1000+ mile road trip, this time solo, so in the wagon. Looking forward to it, I'll keep an eye out for good dashcam views.
On the road last night, saw a ~5 car pileup on 405 near 167. Virtually perfect road conditions at the time, no doubt distraction was the culprit.
Next week I embark on another 1000+ mile road trip, this time solo, so in the wagon. Looking forward to it, I'll keep an eye out for good dashcam views.
Always appreciated! Have a great time and be safe, sir!
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
Going to Vancouver with the SO for a week starting Friday. Have a cheap rental (maybe I'll ask about an upgrade)?
CHP posted what was left of a Prius (fatal collision) slamming into the back of a big rig at full freeway speed when traffic apparently came to a stop.
Obviously a distracted Prius driver. Someone had the gall to say the truck should have better rear crash protection for idiots. At the speed they hit, I'm not sure better bumpers would work.
Others still, tried to say the truck shouldn't have been in the left lane. However, hitting an inamimate non-moving object, all these excuses seem like grasping for straws. Chances are, the Prius shouldn't have been in that lane either Others pointed out, correctly, that if the big rig wasn't there to absorb the hit, this negligent driver might have taken out other lives with their own since no signs of braking were present.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Armchair quarterbacks abound. I agree with the final sentiment: This one worked out well in that the person responsible for the issue paid the price without taking anyone around them down in the process. Sad it happened, but good outcome.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
Vancouver BC I assume, @andres3. I don't think anyone holidays in Vancouver WA Good luck with the rental, I've read sometimes Canadian fleets can be more diverse than in Murkaland.
Road trip doesn't start til early am Monday, but driving today was fun. I am in a hockey program , one of the meeting days Friday late afternoon. Got out of work late (a real gongshow that has me grasping at sanity, and losing) and it took me about an hour and a half to get to the rink. Almost exactly 20 minutes coming home - one crash here can have a domino effect just like in LA, all of the surrounding roads were a parking lot.
Vancouver BC I assume, @andres3. I don't think anyone holidays in Vancouver WA Good luck with the rental, I've read sometimes Canadian fleets can be more diverse than in Murkaland.
Road trip doesn't start til early am Monday, but driving today was fun. I am in a hockey program , one of the meeting days Friday late afternoon. Got out of work late (a real gongshow that has me grasping at sanity, and losing) and it took me about an hour and a half to get to the rink. Almost exactly 20 minutes coming home - one crash here can have a domino effect just like in LA, all of the surrounding roads were a parking lot.
The hotels in Vancouver, WA are a lot cheaper than Portland...
It seems a lot of people I know are having "special" times at work lately, myself included. I like to say "I can feel the magic" at the start of a day that will raise my blood pressure 100 points (yesterday was one of those days). "Magic" is a codeword for something else
Definitely more economical to visit the PNW as a whole in the offseason. Good deals can be had as there's a lot of supply, especially via bidding sites.
Drove a bit today, here's a snapshot from my first break. Not bad for 362hp and ~4300 lbs. This also included a mountain pass and winding slower state highways with slow speed cruises through small towns:
Haven't had a chance to sort through dashcam clips yet.
Time for some cam clips, all Columbia Basin-themed as there was almost zero traffic, which I like. I think music on the radio might avoid copyright strikes, although I am skeptical about one.
I've always liked the basalt outcroppings in many areas of the basin. I spent a fair bit of my childhood here, and the geology was interesting to me:
Wow, you’re way out there in Eastern Washington. Reminds me of my trip just south of there 15 years ago to visit the wine region in the Columbia Valley.
Definitely an area off the beaten path. My dad was a metal detectorist, and we visited all of those little towns when he was out "hunting" when I was a kid. I'll be driving a couple hundred miles tomorrow, none of it on interstates.
Maybe no copyright strike for Jerry Reed? That'd be cool.
Last day of the road trip, it'll be back to the rain by the end of the afternoon. It has been nice being on the road with some varied scenery, and the car couldn't have been more comfortable. Only one upload I've attempted got nixed for copyright. It seems most of the German and Russian material I listen to avoids the censors, maybe that's the answer along with classical.
I've always enjoyed the dramatic vista driving into Lewiston/Clarkston from the Idaho side:
My college roomate's mcmansion, which to build cost as much as a garden shed in my area (seriously half the price of the cheapest detached house here), shows the disparity in pricing in WA:
1) My Hertz rental (ended up not going with Eurocar due to bad reviews) was a Toyota Camry. Not bad actually. While the insides are decidedly cheap, the car actually handles and drives adequately, gets good gas mileage, though the 4-banger is course and loud when you ask it to work harder. This is a condemnation of Toyota Camry drivers that take turns they could do at 60 safely at 30 MPH, as it isn't the car that's at fault in modern Camry's!!!!
2) Canadian drivers are overall, pretty damn good at left lane is for passing discipline. Drove from Vancouver to Whistler up in the mountains, and it's almost the whole way 4-lanes (2 each side), and only a few LLC's, all likely tourists from the US (or so I assume). This was a pleasant surprise as I thought the unpleasantness of the PNW in the USA might infect and spread to Vancouver in Canada.
3) No one obeys the speed limit, or Canadians pretend KM/H is actually MPH. The speed limits only make some sense as MPH. They are absurdly low. Leaving the airport, I quickly learned 20-30 over was the standard pace in heavy traffic. The Camry had no issue handling at 100-120 kmh on twisty 80 or 90 kmh limited highway.
4) I didn't see any traffic enforcement occurring. Vancouver PD is well hidden in black vehicles (a bit of black and white going on). Didn't see a single patrol vehicle hiding out, or anyone with a radar gun at the ready.
5) Great restaurants in Vancouver, BC.
6) I love 50-60 degree highs all week.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Vancouver has a good number of speed and red light cameras (I believe with signage), hope you don't get a surprise in the mail.
Indeed BC drivers are faster on the highway than those in WA (doesn't take much), driving in the city itself or in certain suburbs (Richmond and Burnaby in particular) can be exciting for other reasons. Maybe nobody LLCs more than people in western WA, especially in the areas just south of Seattle. 167 is a LLC hotbed, 405 can be fun too.
Comments
I seem to be thinking diesel-cruze for the longer-haul 8000 mile USA circuit this summer. For the drive to MN, I drove gasser stick Chevy SS Sedan "Caprice PPV". The Caprice is so immensely superior to 2017 cruze, it is not a fair comparison.
Roads this summer will probably be very hot and busy with many standing-wave traffic resonances aka traffic-jams and slowdowns. In summer slow & go traffic I prefer the diesel cruze to the caprice/PPV/SS stickshift V8. In summer diesel fuel price usually drops and gas price usually increases. Fwiw, seems diesel prices may increase at some point soon as the refineries & markets adjust to requirements for low-sulfur diesel to replace "bunker" fuel for boaty mcboatface overseas ships.
For this last springtime week, roads were E M P T Y , very convenient. Apparently it's not quite spring yet although I removed snow tires a month ago from 016 sonic and 017 cruze oil-burner.
Minnesota is expecting a few days and a few feet of snow !
Happy travels everyone ! Lane discipline and driving was impressive for the entire MN<->MA drive except in the obvious places like NY-thruway. There appears to be increasing awareness LLC-ism along with a decreasing number of LLCs across USA. Couple of real bad drivers, one had rickety illegal trailer disintegrate on I-39 (again), 42 after I predicted it, just as we passed he realized his trailer was coming apart and dragging. Another driver of a a specific-gender-not-to-be-named-here in left lane on I-90 west out of one of the many toll booths, doing 45 mph created a moving-hazard for many miles, multiple near-wrecks were caused by that one driver.
Welcome back, and glad you made it home safely (assuming you are, indeed, home again).
The 15S is like the SW Autobahn. However, you have your rare left lane camper at the 70 limit. You have your usual 10 over camper in the left lane that won't move over since they are going 80. You also have a lot of left lane campers at 20 over (90) that think that's fast enough. It isn't. There are a lot of people going 95+.
That said, I'm assuming that the "flow" is at or near the posted limit. If flow was already twenty over, then that is the de facto speed, and everything above adjusts from there.
I guarantee you most of the people "just going with the flow" are camping, in that they are not passing anyone for at least 1/2 mile or several minutes.
What ends up happening is you get a line of faster moving cars passing on the right in the 1/2 mile in between slower truckers, and then merging left again, only to hit another line of campers, and the next 1/2 mile gap allows another pass of 3 or 4 campers in a row. Just because you have 2 or 3 cars doing what you are doing, doesn't make it the flow or acceptable.
There is no reason or excuse for it. Plenty of room on the right; as I pointed out, 1/2 mile gaps were not unusual. Some are 1/4 mile, but either way, plenty to allow people to pass properly on the left instead of the right.
I like how the camera angle captures the hood star, I missed seeing that after driving "sport" trim cars for ~5 years.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Big brother is watching.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
It featured me innocently cruising down a 2 lane road, being cut off by an oblivious Odyssey (a plague on the eastside, they can be magnets for those who hate driving), a horn honk, and comments.
Regarding Europcar, I suspect in Canada it is probably rebranded/co-branded with a local carrier, I've never seen signage in Canada for the company. They are widespread in Europe (of course).
Oh yeah, saw only one speedtrap, a stater (I think) motorcycle cop, being nice and tolerant - left lane was cruising at maybe 8-10 over, he didn't bat an eye.
Maybe the most unusual scene was this - all those LEOs and a lone Cube, maybe they caught a wanted person:
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and let us know! Post a pic of your new purchase or lease!
MODERATOR
2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
Truck had minimal damage and was definitely able to be driven. Elantra, well, I hope it had a good run.
Lots of LLCs out there today too, which seems to increase on 405 south of Bellevue then 167 until it ends, then fades out again.
(I wasn't LLCing, the 7er zoomed in from an on-ramp just behind the camera, and I was letting him pass rather than moving over and spooking him)
Only honked twice, once at a woman on I5 who was dilly-dallying in the left lane, eyes on her phone (in her hand), and at a dolt stopping for an invisible stop sign. Many seemed to stay out of the way of the 'Slade.
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and let us know! Post a pic of your new purchase or lease!
MODERATOR
2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
Next week I embark on another 1000+ mile road trip, this time solo, so in the wagon. Looking forward to it, I'll keep an eye out for good dashcam views.
CHP posted what was left of a Prius (fatal collision) slamming into the back of a big rig at full freeway speed when traffic apparently came to a stop.
Obviously a distracted Prius driver. Someone had the gall to say the truck should have better rear crash protection for idiots. At the speed they hit, I'm not sure better bumpers would work.
Others still, tried to say the truck shouldn't have been in the left lane. However, hitting an inamimate non-moving object, all these excuses seem like grasping for straws. Chances are, the Prius shouldn't have been in that lane either
Road trip doesn't start til early am Monday, but driving today was fun. I am in a hockey program , one of the meeting days Friday late afternoon. Got out of work late (a real gongshow that has me grasping at sanity, and losing) and it took me about an hour and a half to get to the rink. Almost exactly 20 minutes coming home - one crash here can have a domino effect just like in LA, all of the surrounding roads were a parking lot.
I’m going to use that one at my place. Some days are really “special”
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
Definitely more economical to visit the PNW as a whole in the offseason. Good deals can be had as there's a lot of supply, especially via bidding sites.
Haven't had a chance to sort through dashcam clips yet.
I've always liked the basalt outcroppings in many areas of the basin. I spent a fair bit of my childhood here, and the geology was interesting to me:
It can be pretty flat out there, scenery typical of Anywhere Middle America, not what many think of when they think about the PNW:
More rocks and irrigation:
Driving past a small town (Harrington):
Another small town (Odessa) which without the rocks could pass for generic town in the plains:
More flat, gently undulating road surface which the camera mildly detects, a rocking motion that is almost soothing:
Oh look, flatness:
A little terrain and rock:
Tomorrow on the road again to more hilly country.
Eastbound and Down was very appropriate.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Maybe no copyright strike for Jerry Reed? That'd be cool.
I've always enjoyed the dramatic vista driving into Lewiston/Clarkston from the Idaho side:
The view into the Kittitas Valley is also nice:
Snake River almost level with the road:
Rolling hills and light mostly ag/industrial traffic in the lower Palouse:
And more:
My college roomate's mcmansion, which to build cost as much as a garden shed in my area (seriously half the price of the cheapest detached house here), shows the disparity in pricing in WA:
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
1) My Hertz rental (ended up not going with Eurocar due to bad reviews) was a Toyota Camry. Not bad actually. While the insides are decidedly cheap, the car actually handles and drives adequately, gets good gas mileage, though the 4-banger is course and loud when you ask it to work harder. This is a condemnation of Toyota Camry drivers that take turns they could do at 60 safely at 30 MPH, as it isn't the car that's at fault in modern Camry's!!!!
2) Canadian drivers are overall, pretty damn good at left lane is for passing discipline. Drove from Vancouver to Whistler up in the mountains, and it's almost the whole way 4-lanes (2 each side), and only a few LLC's, all likely tourists from the US (or so I assume). This was a pleasant surprise as I thought the unpleasantness of the PNW in the USA might infect and spread to Vancouver in Canada.
3) No one obeys the speed limit, or Canadians pretend KM/H is actually MPH. The speed limits only make some sense as MPH. They are absurdly low. Leaving the airport, I quickly learned 20-30 over was the standard pace in heavy traffic. The Camry had no issue handling at 100-120 kmh on twisty 80 or 90 kmh limited highway.
4) I didn't see any traffic enforcement occurring. Vancouver PD is well hidden in black vehicles (a bit of black and white going on). Didn't see a single patrol vehicle hiding out, or anyone with a radar gun at the ready.
5) Great restaurants in Vancouver, BC.
6) I love 50-60 degree highs all week.
Indeed BC drivers are faster on the highway than those in WA (doesn't take much), driving in the city itself or in certain suburbs (Richmond and Burnaby in particular) can be exciting for other reasons. Maybe nobody LLCs more than people in western WA, especially in the areas just south of Seattle. 167 is a LLC hotbed, 405 can be fun too.