Road trip

[ZuluEcho]

I am heading to the coast (Santa Barbara), a 1,800 mile roundtrip. REALLY looking forward to spending time in the car (only has 600 some miles on it). Will post some pics by the ocean.

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[ConspicuousConsumption]

I am heading to the coast (Santa Barbara), a 1,800 mile roundtrip. REALLY looking forward to spending time in the car (only has 600 some miles on it). Will post some pics by the ocean.

That sounds like an awesome trip. I bet you have some nice open roads around New Mexico. My uncle lives in Sante Fe, and I really need to get back out there (mostly for some desert long range rifle shooting - let me know if you have any open land area recommendations for such activities). Must be a nice trip planned!

 

[ZuluEcho]

That sounds like an awesome trip. I bet you have some nice open roads around New Mexico. My uncle lives in Sante Fe, and I really need to get back out there (mostly for some desert long range rifle shooting - let me know if you have any open land area recommendations for such activities). Must be a nice trip planned!

The city range is good to 750 yards, but I guess it depends on one's definition of "long distance"

As for places where you can go shoot out in the desert, I am sure there are plenty, but I am new around here and have not yet explored that option.

Santa Barbara has some excellent (and fun) mountain roads, so that part will be fun. There cars are very comfortable and quiet, so this will be indeed a fun trip.

Over here you have some great roads, both out in the desert, and into the mountains. The road up the Sandia Crest (10,000) is one CRAZY windy road SO you get the best of both works. As I tell my friends, New Mexico, Mars to the right, the Swiss Alps to the left".

Photo attached is the "open road" variety, which was useful to test if the adjustments I had made to the hood stops worked (hood would move at speed). I am glad to report that at a, hmm, acceptable test speed, nothing moved

 

[ForTheHordeKT]

Don't get this, took my S197 on two 3 thousand mile trips all over Europe, all weather, stony roads, and not a mark on the bumper, why should this be so different?

Lucky. Out here there's so many little rocks and gravel pieces all over the road. I couldn't even last one week of just driving to work and back (10 miles a day) without getting a couple before I could make the schedule of getting a clearbra on mine. I completely avoided the freeway until I got my clearbra. Damn UT roads. Back in CA they regularly ran street sweepers, but out here it seems like they purposely dump the crap all over the place.

 

[mrblanche]

As a truck driver, I am frequently amazed how close behind me people will drive. Those tires pick up all sorts of debris, and I have straddled numerous foreign objects that a car close behind me would come to grief on.

 

[ForTheHordeKT]

As a truck driver, I am frequently amazed how close behind me people will drive. Those tires pick up all sorts of debris, and I have straddled numerous foreign objects that a car close behind me would come to grief on.

Oh hell yeah. Most people don't even stop to think or educate themselves about semi trucks. I was always wary around them, but even I never fully appreciated the dynamics of one on the road until I started working in this industry. I load up our tanker trucks at our terminal with gas and oil and after sitting through a few orientation videos when I was hired about trucking down the road (don't ask me why when all I do is load these guys up at the terminal, but it was informative), and talking to these guys while we load up... I have a whole new appreciation for drivers and semis on the road. You guys stop about as effectively as a freight train, have to slow down much slower than what the speed limit indicates to take turns or bends on the road due to the weight of the load being hauled. It's even worse for anyone hauling a tanker with liquid because liquid likes to freely shift its weight and balance point vs. having a solid load of freight, pallets, etc. in a trailer. Trucks have a nice big blind spot just behind them. Yeah if there's one thing I've learned about the semis on the road, you give them plenty of damn space. I always mutter "Good luck with that, idiot." every time I see someone clinging to your guys' ass.

 

[Alejandro_v6]

Need I say more? lol sounds like a great plan to get pulled over or cause an accident.

I see where you might think that I do, but the time I will be getting on the road & the road ill be on ( I-87N) the only thing I have to worry about is getting pulled over, there is zero cars on the road and its an amazing straight road. Im using the Escort Passport 95000ix so hopefully that keeps me from getting pulled over

 

[ZuluEcho]

trucks, speeds and such

This brings up two good points: semi trucks. I give them WIDE berth, not only because they need it, but because I don't want to be hit by gravel, a blown tire, or worse. Those guys are working hard. In traffic, when passing a semi, I will make sure there is space ahead of the truck before I pass it. I will stay behind, where the driver can see me, and wait until the cars ahead have cleared enough space so I don't have to drive ALONGSIDE the truck for more than a few seconds (with the Mustang, fewer seconds than before :-). That way I don't stay on their blind spot, don't linger alongside a massive machine more than i need to, and I ensure there is space ahead.

Speed limits: I don't have a problem with 75 mph, 65 mph, 30 mph. They make sense on their own, and save lives. The problem is when you get to roads in some states (like out here), where you probably could drive a jet car and you would be fine. New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, you name it, 75 mph is a ridiculous slow speed for the modern cars we have. You know as well as I do that a car like the Mustang, you are doing 100 before you notice it, and you DON'T notice it because it is so smooth.

THis is why the Germans have variable speed limits, to accomodate traffic and in accordance with road and conditions.

When I drive to California, there are long stretches where it is you, the sky, and the odd car or truck going by. 90-95 would be a good start out there, 100 would be perfect.

Am I crazy?:headbonk:

 

[Lukasha]

Back in March I drove back to my hometown of Ft. Walton Beach, FL from Austin, TX (a little over 700 miles) and then drove back a week later. First long road trip in my car and it was smooth and comfortable.

Anyone going to go on the Hot Rod Power Tour in June? I'll be joining up with them in Baytown, TX on 6/12 and staying with it to Grand Prairie, TX on 6/14.

Jeff

 

[Alejandro_v6]

This brings up two good points: semi trucks. I give them WIDE berth, not only because they need it, but because I don't want to be hit by gravel, a blown tire, or worse. Those guys are working hard. In traffic, when passing a semi, I will make sure there is space ahead of the truck before I pass it. I will stay behind, where the driver can see me, and wait until the cars ahead have cleared enough space so I don't have to drive ALONGSIDE the truck for more than a few seconds (with the Mustang, fewer seconds than before :-). That way I don't stay on their blind spot, don't linger alongside a massive machine more than i need to, and I ensure there is space ahead.

Speed limits: I don't have a problem with 75 mph, 65 mph, 30 mph. They make sense on their own, and save lives. The problem is when you get to roads in some states (like out here), where you probably could drive a jet car and you would be fine. New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, you name it, 75 mph is a ridiculous slow speed for the modern cars we have. You know as well as I do that a car like the Mustang, you are doing 100 before you notice it, and you DON'T notice it because it is so smooth.

THis is why the Germans have variable speed limits, to accomodate traffic and in accordance with road and conditions.

When I drive to California, there are long stretches where it is you, the sky, and the odd car or truck going by. 90-95 would be a good start out there, 100 would be perfect.

Am I crazy?:headbonk:

AMEN TO THAT! 100mph limits would make everything better! Plus you know that only a small number of people would take advantage of it.

 

[JasonBecker]

Back in September I went from Long Island, NY to Gettysburg PA, about 260 miles each way and it was a breeze. I have two herniated discs but when I arrived I jumped out of the car like it was nothing. Those seats are really great. The only negative was that I had just gotten my first ever speeding ticket after having my license for over 20 years, so I was a bit gun shy. I kept it under 75 pretty much the whole way. On the bright side though I got 29 mpg during the trip. Not bad for 8 cylinders!

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