Road Trip Essentials
Above Auto: Aston Martin Rapide – A very unaffordable $260,000.
You’ll find a (much) cheaper option below.
Nothing like a long weekend of driving across the country to remind you of what works, and what doesn’t work while taking a road trip. Sometimes it’s about the journey, sometimes it’s about the destination, but feeling comfortable and looking better behind the wheel is always a good decision. Consider the following the next time you head out onto our interstate highway system and start burning up Octane 87 – 93.
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The Watch: Orient CTD0T004W Alarm Chrono – $230.00
You want a chronograph with an alarm. Why? Because not every hotel/motel/place to crash has a dependable alarm clock, and the chronograph comes in ridiculously handy when you’ve plugged a parking meter for lunch. Good thing Orient (a pretty well reviewed brand) makes a watch that’d work just as well with a suit as with a t-shirt and jeans. Great dial, nice trademark logo as always, and the orange chrono minute hand is perfect. Impressive.
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The Shoes: Polo Ralph Lauren Telly Driving Loafers – $89.00
You are driving right? The Telly Driving Moc from Ralph Lauren hits all the right points for a driving shoe. A slim but not tiny silhouette, a rounded (not chopped or pointy) moc toe, and enough details like the penny strap that you can dress them up easily. $89 from Endless. Should go extremely well with jeans and a cotton blazer.
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The Bag: London Fog Cambridge Hanging Garment Bag – $79.99
(reg $200)
Sure you’ll pack a duffel or two, but say your destination will require a suit. Get it there in one piece with a garment bag. Look for something sturdy that’s more than just a cover, and a bag that comes with it’s own arm to hang from is ideal. Lay it over the back seat or on top of your duffel/other bags in the trunk.
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The Drinks: Starbucks Gift Card
Ignore the coffee snobs who have labeled Starbucks as the Nickelback of the coffee world. They’re dependable, they’re everywhere, and their double shot espresso cans are the perfect amount of liquid (not much) and caffeine (enough) to keep you awake while behind the wheel. Plus, their edibles are pretty decent too, and they offer some healthier options than the standard processed gas station fare. And if you just so happen to need to get some work done while you’re motoring around the country (say, if you head up an Affordable Men’s Style website) Starbucks offers free wi-fi to everyone. No passwords, no nickle and dime charges, nothing. Can’t say that for a lot of hotels.
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The Camera: Pentax Optio H90 12.1 MP Digital Camera – $109.00
For those of us that aren’t photographers, and want something better than the camera that’s on our phone, a simple point and shoot digital with a decent screen is all we need. This one is inexpensive, plus… has a sweet retro look thanks to the ceramic colored white body.
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The Car: 2003 – 2006 Mazda RX-8 – Around $9,000 – $16,000
Getting only 22mpg on the highway is worth it. The RX delivers unbelievable handling, incredible style (poor man’s Aston Martin anyone?), and plenty of room for two or even three people to go motoring around the timezones. With the suicide doors you get spacious bucket back seats, and plenty of space in the trunk. The front driver’s and passenger’s seats are plenty supportive and won’t leave you with a road weary back. Just remember to take an extra quart of oil with you. The Mazda Renisis Rotary engine (no pistons, google “wankle”) is designed to burn a little oil. Make sure to get it checked by a certified Mazda dealer. The earlier models (03, 04, 05) had some issues with their computers. A few simple tests should tell you if you’ve got a dependable RX8 or a fussy one.
Got experience with what works on a road trip? Leave your additions in the comments section below