gardyloo, you make a good point about the heat. However my line of thought was that as our desert driving would be much less if we do Yosemite post PCH, then we could put up with the heat for the sake of having a convertible. We really would like to have one for LA & PCH, changing cars mid way will cost time and money so with the top up for the best part hopefully a convertible will be fine for the drive to LV & GC.

darthbimmer, the LA-LC-GC-LA-PCH-SF/Yosemite route seems to be more so recommended. In my mind it is just as much driving doing LV/GC-Yosemite-LA-PCH-SF, and the Death Valley drive sounds like a good photo oppourtunity... however I will trust the advice from several you that it will be just too much driving in a not ideal climate. I agree that it is alot of driving, however it is fairly well spread out don't you think? Any 'desert driving' between LA-LV-GC (or YOSEMITE-LA) would be carried out non stop.

A few people have now suggested we are trying to do too much and should cut a leg off, with the GC being suggested first -however I just can not do that, we really want to see the GC and Yosemite and obviously LA-PCH-SF are fixed. It is alot to do however is it still easily manageable?

I feel like I am going around in circles here, I am just so concerned about getting the 'right' itinerary (with a bias of LA)