1st cross country trip/ Am I crazy?

[vath2001]

Sign up for AAA - get the Gold service, it allows up to 100 miles in towing. The basic only allows 3 miles. Buy or borrow a XM radio. Its worth it for this long of a road trip. I would also recomend a Netbook (TigerDirect for $220) with Steets and Trips installed and the GPS locator. No need for maps. Have a power invertor to recharge the netbook.

Memphis BBQ... go down a street, turn down an alley... go downstairs. Great dry rubbed ribs and cold beer. Don't know the name or which street.... but ask at the hotel and mention my directions and they'll know where I'm talking about.

Update found it: Rendezvous, If you’re riding the Main Street Trolley, get off at the Union Avenue stop and head east (away from the river) down Union. Use the sidewalk on the north side. Cross Second Street, then turn left into our alley just before you get to the Holiday Inn Select. Our door is on the left

Oh, you won't see any Troopers until you hit the Ohio line... but you should know that.

[tonycarreon]

when you get back post an update and let everyone know how it went.

going to make my first trip in the boxster from DC to Dallas next month, which I do once or twice a year in the escape.

:dance:

[mptoledo]

Wow, thanks for the overwhelming support. I booked my flight for tues 23rd(tomorrow) I get in san fran @ 11 am by 1pm I plan to be standing on my car on the golden gate bridge,mooning Nancy palosi (nothing political, I just hate that biatch), then its off to Reno(anybody know where the chicken ranch is(just kiddin)). I figure I would only drive it 3 hours the first day just to see how she runs. Then I need to find the worlds largest ball of twine!!(running joke with my friend)

I have planned the general out line and plan to let the details fall into place as I go. After talking to the owner of my soon to be new car(on phone), I feel a lot more at ease. You just never know what you get on ebay. I went with geikos road side and bumped up my theft coverage, just in case she breaks down.

A couple of questions:
1.)I read the 285 page online manual last night. quick questions. The manual makes the batter sound real weak. How is the battery?
2.) What gas stations do guys think have the best quality and what ones to avoid? Or does it even matter?
3.) How long can one usually drive in a day without going batty?

[cas951]

I've never gone on a long trip with the Boxster but should be fun. Where is the car located in the Bay Area? Should you need any assistance feel free to send me a PM.

My daughter is doing just the opposite. She's about to drive from Columbus to Bay Area on June 30.

[tonycarreon]

Originally Posted by mptoledo

A couple of questions:
1.)I read the 285 page online manual last night. quick questions. The manual makes the batter sound real weak. How is the battery?
2.) What gas stations do guys think have the best quality and what ones to avoid? Or does it even matter?
3.) How long can one usually drive in a day without going batty?

1 - i think the battery is "weak" if it's not checked and filled when necessary. check the fluid and refill if necessary ( distilled water, not tap ) and keep an eye on it. if you notice the car seems hesitant to start, get a new one before getting to far.

2 - keep the 93. i tend to favor exxon ( greedy bastards ) and dislike texaco, but that's personal preferences. i have not noticed anything between using my local ( get-go ) station, shell or others. used to really like sunoco, but none local.

a few points i've read:
- refill when you have a major change in altitude to reset the computer and adapt to the new altitude, otherwise CEL might come on.
- if 93 is unavailable, 90 is okay but will reduce mileage.
- don't run too close to empty.

3. i found out that when you have to ask a passenger ( who may or not actually be there ) if an elephant really ran across the road, it's time to stop ( true story ).

dereck posted his road-trip blog from dallas, tx to san francisco, ca here : http://www.normalizeapp.com/WWDC_2009_Road_Trip_Blog/Trip_Blog/Archive.html

most people seem to say stop every 3-5 hours and just walk around for a few minutes. i found that about 4 hours ( in the box ) is the most i can do without starting to get squirmy and wanting to stop for a few. course that might have to do with crawling in 5 mph traffic for 3 hours. this is also when i learned the value of sunscreen ( GET IT ) because after 3 hours in mid-day sun with the top down i was quite crispy.

learn the "boxster chop".

above all, have fun.

[timothy]

Originally Posted by tonycarreon

going to make my first trip in the boxster from DC to Dallas next month, which I do once or twice a year in the escape.

There are a number of Dallas member if you have time to meet for eats or drinks.

[mptoledo]

Originally Posted by vath2001

Sign up for AAA - get the Gold service, it allows up to 100 miles in towing. The basic only allows 3 miles. Buy or borrow a XM radio. Its worth it for this long of a road trip. I would also recomend a Netbook (TigerDirect for $220) with Steets and Trips installed and the GPS locator. No need for maps. Have a power invertor to recharge the netbook.

Memphis BBQ... go down a street, turn down an alley... go downstairs. Great dry rubbed ribs and cold beer. Don't know the name or which street.... but ask at the hotel and mention my directions and they'll know where I'm talking about.

Update found it: Rendezvous, If you’re riding the Main Street Trolley, get off at the Union Avenue stop and head east (away from the river) down Union. Use the sidewalk on the north side. Cross Second Street, then turn left into our alley just before you get to the Holiday Inn Select. Our door is on the left

Oh, you won't see any Troopers until you hit the Ohio line... but you should know that.

You gotta love/hate those ohio troopers. I swear they clone those boys without a soul. No sense of humor either. I got my camera batteries charged up and ready to go. I just upped my geiko roadside and theft coverage.

Now if I can just find the worlds largest ball of twine I will be set. I hope I can sleep tonight as I gotta get up at 4:30 am to catch a plane out of Dayton.

The worst thing so far is the fact the boxster still has the original cassete player I think i would be better off it had an 8track.

[tonycarreon]

Originally Posted by mptoledo

Now if I can just find the worlds largest ball of twine I will be set.

cawker city, ks

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/8543

Originally Posted by mptoledo

The worst thing so far is the fact the boxster still has the original cassete player I think i would be better off it had an 8track.

stop off in alameda ( just across the bay ) and pick up one of this guy's kits. takes 20 minutes to install and you can use your ipod. ( assuming it's the 220 ). i have one and it works just fine.

http://www.iwirep.com/products/iwirep-220-ipod

[schnellman]

I envy you the trip. It's gonna be a blast. But, no matter what you do, follow L'il Bastard's advice. Oh yeah, and get that Triple A Gold thingy, too.

[RaisedOnPorsches]

stop off in alameda ( just across the bay ) and pick up one of this guy's kits. takes 20 minutes to install and you can use your ipod. ( assuming it's the 220 ). i have one and it works just fine.

http://www.iwirep.com/products/iwirep-220-ipod

Its always nice to see another pleased customer...

I'm the guy selling these cables. I'd be happy to arrange a meeting to help you get it installed while you're in the Bay Area. Having an iPod full of your favorite music will make that drive a lot more enjoyable. Since it is a 2001 with a tape deck, I'm guessing it has the CR-220 head unit which my cables are compatible with. The cable will keep the battery charging the during the whole trip. I might even have my iPhone friendly cable ready by then.

As others have recommended, have your car serviced before taking it on the trip. My rather new to me 1999 Boxster had the fuel pump fail on me at about 29.5k miles (about 4k miles after buying it). Since the car has such low milage I doubt the fuel filter was ever changed. It is rather early milage wise (not so much age wise), but you might just want to get a 60k service done (or at least the important parts) for peace of mind. Oil & oil filter, fuel filter, spark plugs, serpentine belt, etc.

Let me know when you'll be in the Bay Area. cas951 here helped me perform my 30k service not that long ago. Order parts in advance from Sunset Imports in Portland, OR. Cheapest new factory parts around.

-Jeremy

[944boy]

Your right, Nebraska. I remember stopping way back when.

Maybe I should respond to posts when I'm awake

[husker boxster]

Originally Posted by 944boy

Your right, Nebraska. I remember stopping way back when.

Maybe I should respond to posts when I'm awake

No problem. The corn, soybeans, and cattle all look the same whether you're in Kansas or Nebraska. We have so few attractions, I didn't want to give Kansas credit for it.

[Paul]

I've driven my 01 to the last 8 Parades the longest was Milwaukee to San Diego and back.

The biggest issue I've had is tires. I have had to replace the rear tires twice while on a Parade trip, once for unexpected wear and once due to a puncture that shredded a tire.