Should I drive my NSX near Tahoe and Reno?

[mattfish]

I'm sorry that I have not contributed much to the forum, I have been recovering from neck surgery. I'm just getting back to driving again after three months.

My question is, Should I be afraid to drive near Tahoe and Reno with the NSX? I'm not sure if there is road salt residue, or the roads are too rough from snow chains etc. I'm planning on taking Hwy 88 out of Lodi, and then 395 to Reno. What do you think?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Newman]

Why not? I was just up in South Lake Tahoe during the 4th of July weekend and I was going to take my NSX with me but 2 things kept me from taking it.... 1) didn't feel comfortable leaving it with the Caesar's Tahoe valet (during that busy weekend), and 2) my damn suitcase wouldn't fit into the trunk

. However, even with the rental car, we drove back to So Cal taking 395 all the way back down and there weren't any signs of salt or any debris on the road. Besides not feeling comfortable with leaving your car at a hotel or valet anywhere, or worrying about it getting vandalized or stolen, I'd take the NSX as it's very nice to drive with for long distances

 

[mattfish]

Also worried about the valet garage parking at the Nugget in Reno. I really want to drive it though, as you said it's comfortable to drive a long distance. Thanks for the info.

 

[Vegas Boy]

There is absolutely no reason not to drive around Tahoe.
Secondly (maybe because Im in the gaming biz) I will tell you that the safest place to park your car for the night is the valet lot at a major casino. The valets are running around the lot all hours, most valet lots are small and up front, many are covered by video, and, most importantly, the valets make so much $$$ at the major casinos that there is no way they are going to jeopardize a job over hot rodding in a guest's car- rarely happens.

Now, keep in mind I am talking about a major casino or similar high end resort. Do not confuse professional valets at these joints with the pimply faced kid at your local steakhouse. Unfortunately, if you dont live in a resort town, you develop an opinon of valets in general from said pimply faced kid. I know I never let valets drive my cars before I moved to Vegas. Now, I have no reservations whatsoever.

You would be suprised what a valet at a major strip casino takes home; at a hot property this is easily $90-100K a year, and remember this is mostly cash. They want to screw around with your NSX and lose this job like they want a hole in the head

 

[DonD]

I was up there for a week vacation last month. The roads are great. There are some great roads out of Markleville for spirited driving and beautiful sceenery.
At the casinos I tiped $5 dropping off and picking up the car. They thought I was a big wig asking if I was a platinum, gold member at Harrahs. Cesars parked my car right out front with a new Lambo. I think the casino are the safest public place to park up there.
At restaurants I would make the extra pass through the parking lot, usually parking up front where the public will be watching thwarting anyone from keying etc. Otherwise I park it at the the end of the parking lot by itself, only one side exposed in case a car parks next to it.

 

[Hrant]

That Lambo was still there last weekend next to a newer RR

Also, if you drive by Markleville, make sure you stop at the only corner saloon/bar in the town, and check the artistry on the ceiling ......

As the others said, the road conditions this time of the year are great. But don't even think about when it has snowed.

 

[na14yu]

I took two trips to Reno/Tahoe at the beginning of May in my NSX. No problems with roads at all.

Only thing was that back then there were a lot of bugs out. On the way back on one trip, I pulled into a gas station to clean off my windshield, and no more than 5 miles after I get underway I ran into a huge (and I mean HUGE) swarm of nats that literally covered my windshield. I think I wiped out a couple hundred in one shot

Aside from that the drive was great, loved zooming up and down the mountains leaving all the slowpokes in the dust

 

[Vegas Boy]

If you ever have to leave your high-end car in a situation where there is no valet, another trick is to find the night manager and give the guy/gal a $20 to let you park up front and keep an eye on it. Use the international language- $$$$$$$ !

I did this once on a road trip with a Ferarri, stayed overnight in a smallish town at a Hampton Inn. Believe me, in those situations $20 goes a long way for those folks.

 

[Newman]

There is absolutely no reason not to drive around Tahoe.
Secondly (maybe because Im in the gaming biz) I will tell you that the safest place to park your car for the night is the valet lot at a major casino. The valets are running around the lot all hours, most valet lots are small and up front, many are covered by video, and, most importantly, the valets make so much $$$ at the major casinos that there is no way they are going to jeopardize a job over hot rodding in a guest's car- rarely happens.

You would be suprised what a valet at a major strip casino takes home; at a hot property this is easily $90-100K a year, and remember this is mostly cash. They want to screw around with your NSX and lose this job like they want a hole in the head

I did this once on a road trip with a Ferarri, stayed overnight in a smallish town at a Hampton Inn. Believe me, in those situations $20 goes a long way for those folks.

Hmm, interesting. I would've thought they would want to hotrod the cars around but at least that's a little more piece of mind the next time I go to a "big name" hotel/casino/resort. Not saying that it happens, but the other thing I worry about is theft & vandalism. I've suspected sometimes there are people who work "inside" when it comes to cars getting stolen, especially a lot of Hondas in the Vegas areas in "secure" hotel parking lots..... a few of my friends have had the unfortunate pleasure of seeing their car gone from a locked, secure parking garage with a guard booth to the only entrance/exit, with a car completely disabled (no steering wheel, no ECU, kill switches, distributor removed, etc) so the only way to get it out of there is to tow it, and those guards have to log all tow trucks coming in & out of there yet has no record when their cars were stolen, but these were all "modified" Integras or Civics, not a NSX.

I've thought about the thing you said about the $20 to have the car parked up front (especially something as eye-pleasing as a NSX ) but I'd assume that the person you're tipping would think for a "baller" driving a NSX, or Ferrari, or any exotic or expensive luxary car, they'd expect more than $20 from you. Eitherway, the facts that you brought up about the valets kind of gives me more assurance

 

[Vegas Boy]

Hmm, interesting. I would've thought they would want to hotrod the cars around but at least that's a little more piece of mind the next time I go to a "big name" hotel/casino/resort. Not saying that it happens, but the other thing I worry about is theft & vandalism. I've suspected sometimes there are people who work "inside" when it comes to cars getting stolen, especially a lot of Hondas in the Vegas areas in "secure" hotel parking lots..... .

Im not giving a blanket endorsement to all valets mind you, really my comments were regarding major high-end resorts, casinos, etc. And that is true about how much scratch they make- these jobs are too lucrative to piss away. Once you move downmarket, the quality drops way, way off, granted. Have to watch yourself. ALso, no matter where I valet, I NEVER leave my house key on my ring.

On the $20, I was referring to being out in the boonies at a roadside motel. Of course, in Vegas you can add a zero to that...

 

[ERICKGS3]

i also dont see why you shouldnt drive it up..the roads to tahoe are made for the nsx..just pack lightly..ive had no problems parking out there..ive taken the x up there 3 times this year

the last time i was driving up there a mustang gt was trying to keep up with me..after placerville when the roads got twisted, i layed it on him..when a straight away came up id wait for him only to lose him again in the twisties...it was fun!! i cant wait till my next trip up there.


erick

 

[mattfish]

Just wanted to thank everyone again for their input. The trip was great! Took Hwy 88, to 395. Next time I think I will turn left at Hwy 89, and drive around Tahoe. The valet was full but after talking with the attendent he told me that they actually keep a few spaces for high-end cars. I gave him $40. The car was returned in great condition without any additional mileage added. I gave the retrieving attendent $20, and he was thrilled! Hwy 88 was my favorite part of the trip.