Overview of my 1500 mile road trip

Punisher · 01-06-2006, 07:57 AM

Ladies and gentlemen,
I just returned from making a long road trip which I was reluctant to do due to the mileage add on to my car ('02 w/28,000 miles) After long deliberation and speculation, I decided it might be a good time to bond with the car, and what better than a 12 hour drive? Here are some observations:

1) Comfort-Believe it or not, I really was not all that uncomfortable while DRIVING. However, once I tried to SLEEP in th car at a rest stop, things took a bit of a turn in the comfort department!!

2) Handling-I was VERY pleased with the handling over the whole trip. My major observation in this department is that the car CLEARLY prefers to be revving at a higher RPM and also performs much more smoothly when it is thouroughly warm. Yes, these are obvious things, but I never knew just how apparent they would be in this particular car. One thing that I was concerned about was that while I was at an rest stop or exit after I had been driving for several hours at a high and the engine was pretty hot, I had to rev the car much higher while driving in 1st gear. For instance when taking off, I would really have to rev much higher than normal to get the clutch to grab the gear.

Any insight????

3) Steering- I did notice that at times, while driving on rougher roads, the steering would pull the car in whatever direction the pot hole might have pull it. It would feel for a brief second that there was no power steering. I suppose it just all comes down to the same bottom line: This is a race car, and race cars will always perform best on smooth pavement at higher RPM's.

4) Oil Level- I did stop to add oil at one point during my trip also. The level was one rivet above the "L" line, so I added a little less than half a quart, which brought me right in between LOW and HIGH. What is the best level to keep? Closer to low or closer to high? The manual talks about the possibility of damaging teh engine from having too high a level.....I suppose right in between makes the most sense.....

Thanks for your time, anyone who is able to invest it. I'm just looking for some feedback/explanations on my observations..

I really hated adding all those miles, though!! Aaaaarrrrrghh!

wowowox · 01-06-2006, 10:56 AM

since you got the oil add the whole 1qt is ok, and anywhere between L or H is good. Some people beleive that near the H is better because of lower oil temp during endurance trip. So nothing to worry! to me i think over fill by alittle bit is fine because their is the room for little mistake so nothing to worry!

beaver · 01-06-2006, 06:58 PM

Gave your report to my "Bride of 45 years".......I want to take a LONG trip next Summer....( btw, why worry about the miles??? why do you have the toy if not to use and enjoy it...we all will be "@ room temperature too damm soon ( do I need to explain?)")

My big issue with the "bride" is that there isn't "room for the kitchen sink in the trunk!!!!!" ie, she packs the whole house when we go away and I have a real education challenge on my hands....both the AMOUNT of STUFF she wants to take and the WEIGHT limit suggestions on the car LOAD...

any cool suggestions would be appeciated

01-06-2006, 07:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
Punisher Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 36	Overview of my 1500 mile road trip Ladies and gentlemen, I just returned from making a long road trip which I was reluctant to do due to the mileage add on to my car ('02 w/28,000 miles) After long deliberation and speculation, I decided it might be a good time to bond with the car, and what better than a 12 hour drive? Here are some observations: 1) Comfort-Believe it or not, I really was not all that uncomfortable while DRIVING. However, once I tried to SLEEP in th car at a rest stop, things took a bit of a turn in the comfort department!! 2) Handling-I was VERY pleased with the handling over the whole trip. My major observation in this department is that the car CLEARLY prefers to be revving at a higher RPM and also performs much more smoothly when it is thouroughly warm. Yes, these are obvious things, but I never knew just how apparent they would be in this particular car. One thing that I was concerned about was that while I was at an rest stop or exit after I had been driving for several hours at a high and the engine was pretty hot, I had to rev the car much higher while driving in 1st gear. For instance when taking off, I would really have to rev much higher than normal to get the clutch to grab the gear. Any insight???? 3) Steering- I did notice that at times, while driving on rougher roads, the steering would pull the car in whatever direction the pot hole might have pull it. It would feel for a brief second that there was no power steering. I suppose it just all comes down to the same bottom line: This is a race car, and race cars will always perform best on smooth pavement at higher RPM's. 4) Oil Level- I did stop to add oil at one point during my trip also. The level was one rivet above the "L" line, so I added a little less than half a quart, which brought me right in between LOW and HIGH. What is the best level to keep? Closer to low or closer to high? The manual talks about the possibility of damaging teh engine from having too high a level.....I suppose right in between makes the most sense..... Thanks for your time, anyone who is able to invest it. I'm just looking for some feedback/explanations on my observations.. I really hated adding all those miles, though!! Aaaaarrrrrghh!

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01-06-2006, 10:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
wowowox Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 309	since you got the oil add the whole 1qt is ok, and anywhere between L or H is good. Some people beleive that near the H is better because of lower oil temp during endurance trip. So nothing to worry! to me i think over fill by alittle bit is fine because their is the room for little mistake so nothing to worry!

01-06-2006, 06:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
beaver Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 12	Gave your report to my "Bride of 45 years".......I want to take a LONG trip next Summer....( btw, why worry about the miles??? why do you have the toy if not to use and enjoy it...we all will be "@ room temperature too damm soon ( do I need to explain?)") My big issue with the "bride" is that there isn't "room for the kitchen sink in the trunk!!!!!" ie, she packs the whole house when we go away and I have a real education challenge on my hands....both the AMOUNT of STUFF she wants to take and the WEIGHT limit suggestions on the car LOAD... any cool suggestions would be appeciated