California to Toronto

[SunnyDay]

Hi there, I'm working here in California and planning to drive to Toronto in one of my vacation. Any suggestions i.e. how long, what to bring. I'm planning to get a new car by the way

[jww]

Make sure you budget for winter tires if you are coming between December and March or April. In the summer, well, you'll want air conditioning (like, duh). Either time of year - bring a good pair of sunglasses (Serengetti's are the best driving glasses if you have the $$ to put out - the best prices are found at your local Costco optical department).

You are probably 5 days or more depending on how much mileage you put on every day as well as the route you decide to take.

Enjoy.

jww

[SunnyDay]

You are probably 5 days or more depending on how much mileage you put on every day as well as the route you decide to take.

Enjoy.

jww

wow, that's what i thought contrary to the maps.google's <2days.
As per mileage, I will surely take the legal maximum speed limit

[amorak]

It's got to be about 3 days driving 24 hours, 5-6 days driving 12 hr a day...

[jww]

Three years ago, we drove from Ottawa, Ontario Canada to Salt Lake City in August. It was 38 hours of driving at an average of about 70 MPH (Nebraska west, the speed limit is 75 but it's 65 east of Nebraska). We did it in 3 and a half days of driving. California coast is about another 12 hours from SLC - and Toronto is about 5 from Ottawa - so if you do the math, you are looking at about 45 hours of driving roughly. The most straight path is the the I-80 across from SLC - it's virtually straight through to Chicago, then you can skip up to Detroit, cross the boarder at Windsor and straight on to Toronto (about 5 hours).

jww

[Pritch]

Toronto Driving........ive been doing that quite a bit lately...and Im a northern boy so all of the signs and ramps and exits are very confusing to me.

Ive also got one of the worse senses of direction going. Seems when i get away from trees and rocks i find everything too distracting. If you happen to be like me, do like I do and bring a friend who can take a map and turn directions into

"Pritch, turn there, pritch turn here, pritch you missed the exit"
and so on


be sure to watch for winter weather in rush hour. The fearless toronto drivers weave back and forth like insects, cutting off multiple cars at a time, going left through red lights for at least 5 or 10 seconds after they turn red, but get a bit of snow falling and theyre all doing 40 under the limit in the slow lane with blinkers on

[SunnyDay]

Thank you all Guys, appreciate it, I'll be driving alone though, I'm planning to get the 6speed tranny fusion. I wonder what would it take to register the car to ontario from california coz I might not go back here again.

[jww]

Thank you all Guys, appreciate it, I'll be driving alone though, I'm planning to get the 6speed tranny fusion. I wonder what would it take to register the car to ontario from california coz I might not go back here again.
If the car is less than six months old - you'll be hit with 7% GST off the bat for the Canaidan equivalent price. Customs won't use the current favorable exchange rates, so be prepared to be hit with that. Also - there could be other import taxes as well.

You should connect with the Canada Customs Boarder Services Agency to get the goods before you embark on this one.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-e.html

Enjoy the trip - and like Pritch said - watch out for Toronto drivers :)

jww

[SunnyDay]

Thank you all Guys, appreciate it, I'll be driving alone though, I'm planning to get the 6speed tranny fusion. I wonder what would it take to register the car to ontario from california coz I might not go back here again.
If the car is less than six months old - you'll be hit with 7% GST off the bat for the Canaidan equivalent price. Customs won't use the current favorable exchange rates, so be prepared to be hit with that. Also - there could be other import taxes as well.

You should connect with the Canada Customs Boarder Services Agency to get the goods before you embark on this one.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-e.html

Enjoy the trip - and like Pritch said - watch out for Toronto drivers :)

jww

Thanks jww, guys, I'm familiar with toronto drivers, i used to work in downtonw before I came here and I found LA drivers more aggresive

[jww]

... I'm familiar with toronto drivers, i used to work in downtonw before I came here and I found LA drivers more aggresive
Ah - well then, enough said about Toronto drivers.

You should look very seriously as to whether it's cheaper to train or bus or fly to TO and buy the car in Canada. If I were in your shoes, I would make sure I had a good long discussion with one of their Officers via the toll-free line. I know 3 different couples who bought new cars in the US before they came to Canada for either lengthy or permanent residential stays and they got seriously fleeced by customs and taxes on bringing new cars into Canada. 2 of the 3 couples said the savings were so minimal, that they would have bought new in Canada had they realized what a hassle it was. And that's with a much more advantageous USD exchange rate than what we have now - which is, I believe, the lowest in several years.

My advice is to look very carefully at the numbers - get full written quotes from dealers in CA and TO as well make your full investigation with CBSA before you make your final decisions.

Good luck and cheers.

jww

[The General]

watch out for Toronto drivers :)

None of you have been to Montreal I reckon?

I think jww is on to something. I would suggest you contact the APA (Automobile Protection Association) www.apa.ca and get some pricing information on the Fusion you are interested in. You may find that the difference is so minimal that you will end spending more on the car if you buy it in LA vs. TO.

We, at auto123, also have a price quote system. You send a request a dealer and get some information: http://www.auto123.com/en/new/quote/


I do like the idea of the road trip though...

[jww]

watch out for Toronto drivers :)

None of you have been to Montreal I reckon? ...
I drive in and around Montreal usually once every 6 weeks or so - and yes, Montrealers are way more aggressive than Torontonians.

Given the choice of driving across Boston on the 93, around Washington DC on the 495 Beltway, south to Provo from Salt Lake City on the I-15, the 401 across the top of the GTA, or the 40 across Montreal island, Montreal would always be the last preference. I have learned that patience when driving is a virtue (a saving virtue that is) and this is particulalry true in Montreal ;)

jww

[The General]

Beware of the Metropolitain!!

It will eat you and the 8 cars behind you alive :twisted: :twisted:

I love driving regardless of where I am. I always see it as a challenge rather than a war...