Need conseils for Usa.

[Stefanel1]

I'm going to Boston next week and will rent a car there. I've already rent car in the Usa but never found a rental agency with manual cars. Does it exist arround Boston ? (in the middle range, like VW Passat, Honda Accord, Pontiac G6, etc.).

Then for driving, what are the exact tolerances for speed limits : 5 to 10% like here (and sometimes more) or less than that ?
Radars are easy to see ? What are the fines for little overpassing of the speed limits (like untill +20mhp) ?
The other time, to respect the speed limits was quite boring and difficult so, if you can help me, it'd be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[doberman_52]

Not sure bout the rental car question, but for speed limits, most allow 5 to 10 miles over, Ive never had a problem with 5 over. Radar, I wouldnt suggest it too much because a lot of cops are now using laser, not able to be detected till its to late. for 15 over 40 (55), i got a $99 ticket, 28 over 65 (93), I got a $200 ticket

[Cl0ak]

1.Rental cars with manuals are rare just because it'll sit on the lot, not too many americans are into driving stick shifts. Around Boston i'm not sure but unless you rent either a sports car or a cheap economy car you aren't going to find too many manuals.

2.Tolerances I wouldn't exceed 10mph over so in a 25mph you may get away with 30mph and 35mph is going to push it in alot of city areas.

3.Fines vary in each area and sometimes by each officer, I got one ticket for 20mph over and it was $200USD, however I got out of that one because the cop was really just out to get me and I proved it in court.

4.You can spot the cops alot of them drive Ford Crown Victorias, if you see them parked anywhere slow down quick, they are pretty good at hiding behind bushes and other areas and "sniping" you with radar.

Just be careful in the residential areas, slow down for the sake of saving yourself the hassle of a fine and getting into an accident. Most of the highways here are 65mph or higher, i'd save your speed for those areas. 35mph is a decent city speed limit to me so I try to obey it as much as possible. With the weather nice as it is theres too many kids running around to be speeding too much.

[fredjacksonsan]

Sounds about right; 10mph on the highway will usually not get a ticket, more than that though is likely.

Most Americans want boring automatics for their rentals, so stick is hard to find.

[Steel]

Lets see. You will most likely NOT find a car in stick shift for rent in the US, especially an american made car. I dont think G6's even have that as an option.

Boston: Inner city, the traffic flow will determine the speed, but it wont be fast.

Storrow Drive: its 35 mph, but you can get away easily with doing 50-60mph, as long as theres traffic and other cars moving along. That means don't speed on Storrow Drive at night.

Mass Ave: again, traffic will determine the pace, but it generally wont be too fast.

Jamacia way: much like storrow, except BE CAREFUL! There are so many accidents here because people speed and the road is very narrow and very twisty.

I93 and I95: 85-90 MPH is ok as long as theres traffic.

I90: I wouldnt speed much past 80 on the pike.

That's about it i suppose. I guess generally follow the flow of traffic and you'll be ok.

[KustmAce]

Driving in Boston fucking sucks.

[vinnym86]

Originally Posted by KustmAce

Driving in Boston fucking sucks.

+1,000,000 ... I thought NYC sucked, but Boston is all sorts of messed up. Atleast NYC makes sense, Boston is just an un-organized mess. I suggest public transportation (although, even that is messed up... basically, i really don't like Boston...)

good luck in your endeavor. Kudo's if you find a manual.

[Stefanel1]

Thank you for the answers.
For the mess in Boston, I live near Paris and lived in Turin for quasi 1 year, so I think I won't be shocked.
Fines seem to be quite similar as here, maybe a little bit higher. But the overpassing of the speed limit is to avoid in a general way if i've undertood well...
For a red light, is the fine high too ?

For the manual shift, i've to forget.... ! I rent a G6 last year in Montréal, not too bad, I think I'll remain on this kind of car. Let's see....

[turtlecrxsi]

Running a redlight here is a 4 point violation, which is equivalent to careless driving offense ie. expensive fine and highly frowned upon by authorities. I'm not sure if this is state dependent though.

[doberman_52]

No clue here. Never ran a red light and never plan to. When I was younger I remember an accident where a foreign dude who was color blind ran a red light and hit us, luckily we were ok, but I think my ex-step dad did something to his neck. This was also right in front of a fire station too. He hit us pretty hard, and both cars were totaled. This was his second accident from running a red light, or at least thats what the insurance company said. To risky for injury/death to even think about running a red light.

[Damien]

Flow of traffice my friend. just go with that on the highway...unless everyone is going 15 over or more, then to be ont he safe side go a little slower. If the limit is under 40, i wouldn't go more than 5 over if that. Some place are really crackin' down.

I hate it though here on I-4 at night or the occasional day cars will go 15-25 over, like all of them so we're flying down I-4 at 85mph and heck ive past cops and they just sat there. Eceryone was doing it. Freaked me out but I figure, flow of traffic.

[Stefanel1]

Pouh ! Mhhhhh, they are not kidding ! I should find some diplomatic plates

[Stefanel1]

Doberman : if you ran a red light, you look before of course, and you can do it for not main red lights. For example in Italy (less in France), a red light not too important is considered like a stop... and there are not more accidents than in the Us or other European countries.

[doberman_52]

I guess I do know a few people who do that, but I don't like to. Last thing I need though is another ticket, and with my luck, I would wind up getting one. 5 is enough. But I do remember one that I did because the light would stay red for 5 minutes, literally, and if there was no traffic I would go, otherwise, I would try to remember to go around, but that light has been removed, and was on a street basically out of town.

[Stefanel1]

I understand