Cross-country drive - Am I nuts for thinking about it? | FerrariChat

Cross-country drive - Am I nuts for thinking about it?

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by bobafett, May 1, 2004.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. bobafett

    bobafett F1 Veteran

    Sep 28, 2002
    9,193
    I've been toying with this idea for a week or so now. Normally I'd just do this all by plane, as there are a few places I have to be, but I figured hey, a cross-country drive isn't such a bad idea.

    Obviously I'll have to change all fluids before taking off, and likely have to do it halfway through again.

    And of cours the 550, as Dale will attest, is THE car to do it in. So here's what I'm proposing:

    SF -> Vegas (2-3 days) -> Phoenix (1-2 days) -> Denver (4-5 days) -> San Antonio (1-2 Days) -> Houston (1 week) -> New Orleans (2 days?) -> Atlanta (1 week again, need to be there. Likely do the next oil change at this point) -> DC (3 days) -> NYC (5 days) -> Boston (4-5 days) -> Toronto (1 week).

    And then, after almsot 5k miles, I'll probably ship the car home, or possibly run up across the northern half of the country. I'd want to stop in Chicago, and also Jackson Hole, then make the long trek over to Vancouver and Seattle, and then run the coast back down to SF.

    So, am I absolutely out of my mind?

    Suggestions, comments, concerns - it's all welcome. It would be the first such undertaking for me. Not sure who the passenger will be (lots willing), or if I'd go solo (I have no problem driving like that).

    And of course, I can meet FCers all along the way!

    --Dan
     
  2. tako

    tako Rookie

    Nov 4, 2003
    42
    Cross-country-pimp!
     
  3. amenasce

    amenasce Three Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 17, 2001
    33,014
    Full Name:
    Joe Mansion
    GO GO GO !
     
  4. MarkPDX

    MarkPDX F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Apr 21, 2003
    15,111
    Gulf Coast
    Go for it. I drove from Oregon to Alabama a couple months ago and had a great time. Unless you are crunched for time drive the car home.
     
  5. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,252
    Answer 1::If you don't drive the car on that trip: why bother to own it in the first place?

    Answer 2:: If you don't take the car, I'm going to come over and whup your bu.......

    But at least drive it home. You will enjoy it, the car will enjoy it and run better at the end of the trip that it ever has up to this point.
     
  6. Sfumato

    Sfumato F1 World Champ

    Nov 1, 2003
    10,194
    Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey, Wales
    Full Name:
    Angus Podgorney
    Dan:
    Do it! Dealers pretty much at every stop of the legs. It's May, so weather shouldn't be bad even in mountains. Gumball! Have V1 and perhaps BCT-12 or BCT-7.
    Lee
     
  7. Casino Square

    Casino Square Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 21, 2004
    1,718
    Hong Kong / USA
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    ....you MUST drive from Calgary through the Rockies to Vancouver. Take the 'old' route, via Kamloops (not the new Coquohalla Hwy). One of the most 'perfect' drives in the world.
     
  8. ferrari_kid

    ferrari_kid Formula Junior

    Jul 5, 2003
    768
    that sounds like a great idea. unlike the gumball at least you'd be able to take in the sites. everyone's always talking about how these cars are meant to be driven, so why not take it across the country?
     
  9. G-force

    G-force F1 Rookie

    Aug 4, 2002
    3,053
    so california
    Full Name:
    wayne skiles
    So, am I absolutely out of my mind?

    Suggestions, comments, concerns - it's all welcome. It would be the first such undertaking for me. Not sure who the passenger will be (lots willing), or if I'd go solo (I have no problem driving like that).

    And of course, I can meet FCers all along the way!

    --Dan[/QUOTE]

    Just do it I've done it in Viper when I had the time.
    Half way in an early boxer..just don't breakdown in Ft. Stockton TEXAS

    "We don't work on those furin cars". I just need a 12 volt battery
    common to all cars..."didn't you hear me? We don't work on those damn furin cars!"
     
  10. malcolmb

    malcolmb Formula 3
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 17, 2002
    1,160
    San diego
    Full Name:
    Malcolm Barksdale
     
  11. 911Fan

    911Fan Formula 3

    Apr 15, 2004
    1,294
    Southern California
    Do it!

    Here's an idea: take plenty of pictures along the way, keep a diary of all the cool people you meet and their reactions to your Ferrari, write a coffee table book and sell it to the garage queeners! (As a bonus, you'll also be able to write off the trip!)
     
  12. TOM B

    TOM B Formula 3

    Jul 24, 2003
    1,038
    Orange County, NY
    Full Name:
    Thomas Buckley
    Go for it.

    When I bought my '88 Mondial Coupe 3 1/2 years ago, I flew down to San Antonio with a friend to pick it up. It was December and we drove back to New York. Hit an ice storm in Virginia and got to New York in the middle of a snowstorm. The best trip of my life and the Mondial never missed a beat. :)
     
  13. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 28, 2003
    75,396
    Texas!
    Dan, let me know when you plan to be in Houston so I can put on the calendar. But, you bet. Go for it.

    Dale

     
  14. GTB4NART

    GTB4NART Formula Junior

    Jan 17, 2004
    421
    Every time I go for a long trip in an exotic I have my insurer drop the comprehensive down from $1000 to $100 so I can have my cracked windshield replaced inexpensively when I return. Upon return, I re-adjust my comprehensive coverage back to $1000. I think it costs $45 or so for a month of adjustment, maybe less. My rates have never gone up because of a cracked windshield claim.

     
  15. 4i2fly

    4i2fly Formula 3

    Apr 16, 2004
    1,333
    SF, Bay Area
    Dan,

    Do it you'll never regret it. Are you traveling alone or with a co-pilot? When you have the fluids change have them wash the car too.

    Cheers,
    Matt
     
  16. jmiles360

    jmiles360 Karting

    Nov 2, 2003
    122
    Washington DC
    Full Name:
    J. Miles
    Car magazine has driven a 512TR to the Sahara desert, and a 550 to the "end of the world" (southern tip of argentina), so I see no problem with taking a ferrari across the country. Definitely go for it.
     
  17. jordan747_400

    jordan747_400 F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa

    Dec 9, 2002
    6,928
    Houston, TX
    Full Name:
    Jordan
    The idea about taking pictures and writing an article is a GREAT idea. You could submit it to Forza even. Im sure they would love to put something like that into the magazine. If you dont do it, I will :)
     
  18. Tyler

    Tyler F1 Rookie

    Dec 19, 2001
    4,274
    dusty old farm town
    Full Name:
    Tyler
    Do it. It would be a wonderful trip.
     
  19. WCH

    WCH F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Mar 16, 2003
    5,180
    I recently drove from Sebring to Rancho Mirage, then Rancho Mirage to DC. Made the return trip in 3 days, took my Excursion. Very interesting drive if you've never done it, though to do it in 3 days requires a strong commitment to seat time and no sightseeing stops at all. I chickened out of taking a fun car at the last minute - even went to the point of checking dealer locations.

    Lots of cattle, and some strange sights:
     
  20. WCH

    WCH F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Mar 16, 2003
    5,180
    Some folks go out of their way to make you feel welcome:
     
  21. WCH

    WCH F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Mar 16, 2003
    5,180
    My Stradale was three or four days old when I left for Sebring, and I just felt it was too new to take. I also needed to carry all my racing gear, and some of my wife's things. As suggested, I thought about taking the Stradale and my digital camera and writing it up. I may drive the Stradale to Monterey in August.
     
  22. Robin

    Robin F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    2,931
    Arlington, VA
    I think the only thing you'd have to be out of your mind to do would be to have the car shipped home. Once I get my Fcar I'm taking a month off of work and doing a long haul from FL to San Diego, then up the PCH to Seattle and then across the rockies, etc etc... It's a car... drive it!

    -R
     
  23. Z0RR0

    Z0RR0 F1 Rookie

    Apr 11, 2004
    3,470
    Montreal, Canada
    Full Name:
    Julien
    Yeah!! Do it (of course).
    Bring a laptop puter and digicam, and have a weekly report!! that would be awesome!!

    One detail ... I'd bring actual spare tires or have run-flats or PAX installed. Not sure about the availability of 18" (or 19"?) Z rated tires in the middle of nowhere ...

    Choose your co-pilot with care!!! This can be the trip of a lifetime, you don't want someone annoying besides you for hours everyday!! haha.
     
  24. maranelloman

    maranelloman Guest

    #24 maranelloman, May 1, 2004
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  25. chasking

    chasking Formula Junior

    Nov 27, 2003
    317
    Chicago, IL
    Full Name:
    Chuck King
    Never let it be forgotten that Ferrari is the only marque to win the Cannonball Baker Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash twice---once with a Daytona coupe, which is certainly your car's spiritual if not technological ancestor.

    That is going to be an epic journey. The periodic web reports are a good idea, and web site trip report would be great, but that story is too good to restrict to the web. My suggestion is, for your copilot you should bring a cameraman. Edited down and dressed up a bit, footage of that trip could absolutely get onto TV somewhere. And of course the coffee table book is a good idea too.
     

Share This Page