Well we are just going to valet the car, so it will be in a garage the entire time so I don't think we need to worry about parking tickets. It's $50/day for the hotel to take care of the car.

I guess I will plan on getting in by 3 or earlier before the afternoon rush. Didn't think about dropping the car off early and leaving the luggage with the hotel if the room wasn't ready yet.

How much is daily parking at Iselin? NVM... looks like it's $100 for two tickets in and $80 for two tickets out.

Thanks. GPS/Google has us going in through the LT but I will look into alternate routes as well. I'm definitely beginning to think that getting there before the afternoon rush is going to be best.

You did a quick pass -- I scanned and came up with $42 per person each way (reserved seats from Iselin). Depends on the time of day.

BUT !!! you gave up too early. Here's a $36 pp deal for going in Saturday and returning Sunday ... Phila to NYC:

Amtrak - Hot Deals - Advertised Specials

I don't know about parking in Phila, but you may find a different "hot deal" starting closer to home.

Remember, the valet wants to be tipped -- both when you drop the car, and when you collect it. Also, tolls or EZ-Pass will add another $30-40 to your driving expense. And make sure you gas up before you go into NYC!

I plan on hitting the city with a full tank! The Benz is horrifying on gas, that's for sure. 8-12 city and 20-23 highway. :icon18:

I'm thinking $250 total in travel expenses (including the parking). Not that bad. This trip means my exhaust will have to wait, though. Staying on W 44th between 5th and 6th.

Manhattan is not exactly MT friendly, and I don't think the valets there drive manual transmissions very often. Better be safe than sorry.

Hmmm so I guess instead of going up to the Lincoln Tunnel to enter straight into mid-town I'm going to take the Holland over and then take 6th avenue up to W 44th.

Or stay on the NJ turnpike (go local) hit the GW Bridge (stay lower) and .....bamn a big ol'pot hole...J/K

I wouldn't drive my Z into New York. I used to live in the Bronx. Traffic is nuts, people are crazy, especially if there's a home game, pot holes everywhere, unfamiliar terrain. If you take .25 seconds too long to react to a green light expect the next 5 cars behind you to honk in unison.

Looks like you are pretty set on taking one of the cars into town. Just don't try driving beyond the hotel to sight see. I've seen a few accidents from "tourist" looking more at the scenery than road.

Have Fun!

you got the 6mt so take the clk

I go to New York every year the weekend before Christmas. I have never had any problems driving to the hotel. I always stay in Times Square. I don't drive when I'm staying there. I usually walk or take a cab. You live in Northern VA, so I'm sure you visit DC quite a bit. I think New York is easier than DC. There is more traffic in New York, but everything is in a grid pattern, North, South, East and West. It's not like DC where a street just changes names all of the sudden, or you hit a circle and have to quickly find which exit is the street you want. Don't sweat it no matter what car you take and enjoy your trip.

Honestly the Holland is the better choice; however 6th Ave is a pain in the ***, and the drive all the way up to 44th St may become the longest and quite possibly the scariest drive of your life (Taxi's, pot holes, and various other a-holes).
Although I'd take the Z into the city (I drove into the meatpacking dist. last night @ around 7pm, and I'll be going out into the city again tomorrow night for restaurant week.), it's definitely a tiring affair for stick drivers, and if you're not really familiar with the city's streets and traffic, then it's almost a nightmare. That being said, I still voted for take the Z, haha, and best of luck to you tomorrow. Hope you enjoy your stay in the city.

Thanks for the advice, guys. We are going to take the CLK. We'll probably decide on which way we come in the closer we get. ETA is 3PM, so hopefully traffic isn't too much of an issue.

i live in bronx ny and i drive 2 school and in to manhattan (6speed manual) every day and trust me it isn't bad as it seems plus there isn't tolls every where. (that is if u know how 2 get around) people that don't live in new york make it seem horrifying experience to drive in and it is not even in rush hour sometimes its smooth (unless there is and accident) traffic isn't usually stop and go it flows slowly. plus i like the thumps up people give when they see my car :tup:

Hey guys... it wasn't that bad. We took the CLK which was definitely the better choice. We came in through the Lincoln Tunnel and into Hell's Kitchen at around 3PM. GPS crapped out on me but we made it to the hotel fine. The drive out on Sunday was even easier.