amamba
Engineer
I never mentioned lunch, I used your own conservative estimates for breakfast and dinner and hotel. Although I'm still not sure where I can get a nice sit down breakfast for $15. Seriously, the last time I went to IHOP I spent more like $25 or $30 for breakfast with tip for me and my husband (coffee, orange juice, and an entree for both of us, that is all, and comparable to the diner breakfast on amtrak).dlagrua, those estimates are all very well and good for you, someone who can do their own car maintainence. But for the average American who does not, let's use the IRS mileage rate of $0.50/mile. 817 miles of driving x $0.50 mile = $408.50.Now add in your (very conservative) hotel cost ($100) and food costs ($53) and the total cost of doing the trip, one way via car = $561.50. That makes that AT a pretty good buy for the averageAmerican
Those IRS mileage numbers are average, not factual or actual for more people. If you drive a nice used car as I do the per mile rates are less. Factoring in not doing my own work would have brought what was required on the car up only about $480.00 in the required repairs and maintenance over 40,000 miles or less than .02 per mile. So over 817 miles the cost of reapir and maintenance goes up about $16.50 thats insignificant.
As for lunch, you don't get lunch on the AutoTrain so that cost doesn't factor into the equation.
Additionally, the IRS rate takes into account the depreciating value of your car - and it does depreciate with every mile that you drive it. I think the IRS rate is pretty spot on for my vehicular costs.