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do u take your FD on road trips?

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Old Jul 2, 2008 | 11:40 PM
  #1  
Kyle Engelsmeier's Avatar
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do u take your FD on road trips?

Just wondering... do any of you guys trust your FD's enough to take them on road trips of say 400 to 1000 miles in the course of a day or two?

if so, do you do any pre-trip inspections?
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Old Jul 2, 2008 | 11:55 PM
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I take mine on road trips.

Just the tuning road trips. I make sure the FD is secure on the trailer and make sure the ebrake is there and also it's in first gear. then I'll make sure I have enough gas. I usually carry a spare can of gas.
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 12:15 AM
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http://www.cardomain.com/ride/737431/4


Drove cross country once..... CA-PA and then from FL to NYC...
fresh oil change and new clutch.... thats about it ......Should of checked the tires
Just the usual meets..across florida... havent made it down to south florida yet but wit todays gas prices.....
not that serious...
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 12:22 AM
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apeiron
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I just got back from a road trip... A package I was expecting accidentally was sent to an address I haven't resided at in 6 years.

The trip was from Austin, TX to Houston, TX and then back to my place in Austin...

Basically 400 miles round trip.

I trust my FD 100% --- the part I do not trust is my heavy foot made of lead.

I feel much more comfortable with my car now that I have done some of the basic mods; water temp gauge, boost gauge, oil pressure, alum. rad + PFC.

Keeping an eye on the coolant level weekly is the only thing that I worry about... everything else is manageable as long as you are routine about the maintenance.

The real test of the FD will be the drive I have to do at the end of the summer... Austin, TX to Boulder, CO (roughly 1,100 miles)
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 12:36 AM
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The FD is awesome on road trips, assuming your luggage fits.

I have taken my FD on road trips up to 2500 miles.

It is a GREAT cruising car
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 01:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Kyle Engelsmeier
Just wondering... do any of you guys trust your FD's enough to take them on road trips of say 400 to 1000 miles in the course of a day or two?

Absolutely! It's when I like the car the best.

As for inspections, I always keep the car in good shape, so except for making sure the tire pressures and the oil level are where they should be, I don't do much that's special before a trip. I will put a qt. of oil and a roll of paper towels in one of the storage bins if I'm driving more than 300 miles or so.
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 01:39 AM
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I drove my car to las vegas and back its about 600 miles each way... Pretty much just got it all together with my new single and it was my shake down trip lol... Tons of fun and it cruised like a champ at 90mph. I usually try to drive at night less traffic lower visability coming my way and cooler temps... Drove there at night no problems... Drove back during the day against my code girlfreind wanted to leave and got a damn speeding ticket... Car... had no problems at all.

Chris
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 01:40 AM
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I trust my FD 100% but just incase, I do take water/coolant (my FD has a weird coolant leak, but still would either way) and sometimes extra oil depending on the distance... but other than that, its all good. As mentioned previously, with an aftermarket temp gauge to monitor your temp is great and a Power FC excellent too!

Dennis,
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 01:50 AM
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Florida to michigan then michigan to arizona... a lot of uncomfortable miles.
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 02:49 AM
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From: san diego, ca
from atlanta,ga to san diego,ca with no problems but like its been sad keep extra oil and water near by.
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 06:58 AM
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i would take it on a long trip if i had ac lol
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 07:06 AM
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New Orleans to CT not one problem.
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 07:27 AM
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SF to LA 3 times in one summer.
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 09:45 AM
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Drove mine from Ohio to Tampa, Florida when I bought it.

I wouldn't hesitate to take it anywhere now with the LS1.
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 09:48 AM
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For short road trips, yes. Fuel consumption and general comfort are my only reasons for not doing longer trips more often.

Dave
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 09:52 AM
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Gas is too much. NOPE!
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 10:09 AM
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I would.

But i hate driving in hot weather (FD has no AC), i hate traffic and i dont trust the car.

So i just do road trips in my DD.
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 10:24 AM
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I've made at least 4 trips between New Orleans and Dallas, 2 to Houston, and 2 to Deals Gap Rotary Rally in North Carolina. I'd have no quams jumping in and heading to California for 7stock if I could spare the time off from work.

Jack
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 10:34 AM
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I've driven my FD as far as 1500 miles on two days on about six occasions over the years. Never gave me one hint of trouble, best gas mileage I've gotten with the single turbo setup was around 22-23 mpg.
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 11:42 AM
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When I picked my car up, I drove from north NJ to NC. No problems whatsoever. For long trips now I just make sure the fluids are topped off and I bring a quart of oil and a bottle of water just in case.
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 11:45 AM
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The FD is a great touring car and if you are just cruising along the highway gas mileage is actually quite good.
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 12:42 PM
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i used to drive mine out to Buffalo on a fairly regular basis, never had a problem. Even drove home to Tennessee from CT in it, never had a problem.
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 01:52 PM
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i´ve taken mine for a trip on a bout 300 km one way and then back again. I´m going to Nurburgring in about a week and thats about 1200 km one way, so yes i trust my fd
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 02:07 PM
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Just completed 1,360 mile drive from Seattle to Denver. Company relocation forced me to make the drive as I wasn't about to give the car to a car mover (turns out they wouldn't take a modified car anyway).

The drive was brutal at some points. GAB type R's and RSR down springs made some of the choppier sections of interstate very tiresome.

Didn't really let her run for fear of breaking down out in the desolate wilds of Idaho or Wyoming. Plus the Wife and kids were convoying with me as she had to pull our camping trailer.

I averaged 28mpg early on when I was cruise controlling at 70MPH with the A/C off. Later when we picked it up to 75 and I ran the A/C (it was hot in Utah!) it dropped to 26MPH. I gotta to say I am really stunned at this kind of mileage. I NEVER got above 16 driving it as a DD around Seattle area. NEVER.

If I ever do that again, I'm wearing my kidney belt.
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Old Jul 3, 2008 | 02:33 PM
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Absolutely.. just pack light. Ride is a little harsh; R2 w/ GAB’s, bushings etc. and a littler noisy but My wife and I have driven on 300 to 600 mile one way trips (San Antonio, New Orleans, Houston, Hot Springs …) in it when we can ditch the kids (even made it back home in the 7; rarely w/o a ticket)
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