dom240sx

iTrader: (1)

Ok me and some friends want to do Quebec - Miami (South Beach) next summer... They have 3 Mr2 GT in good shape and some people says that the FD is not a good car for a road trip like this. I want your opinion, my car is in good shape and I never add a problem with it (engine, tranny, suspension, brakes... NOTHING) So do you think I can follow them in this trip???
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&saddr...e=UTF8&t=h&z=5

Delicious

no. leave your exotic sport car parked in the garage.

make sure not to take it on any fun trips or drives

edit: on second thought, thats a long trip

dom240sx

iTrader: (1)

Yeah for a trip or for fun/track events I'm not scared but for a 6000km ride it's different... I like the idea of driving my car down there and have fun, I'm just asking 'cause I never ride my car that much (the longest I remember is a 600km ride in Quebec)

Ka Kui

iTrader: (36)

That's too much, keep it in Quebec....

Sizzlenut

Just go and do it. If it breaks, fix it.

Buggy

iTrader: (8)

Just keep a rebuild kit in the trunk, you'll be fine Personally, I wouldn't be worried about that kind of a trip, but I also daily drive my FC in the summer. My car isn't mint by any means either. It's up to you really if you feel comfortable taking the car or not. I've never really had anything to do with FDs, so I have no idea what their reliability is like. You'd better listen to the guys who own them.

the_saint

I took my FD on many 1000+ MILE road trips.

No issues.

Highway driving is quite easy on the car and the gas mileage is respectable

Plus the intermittent episodes of 'spirited driving' are always nice.

Pack lightly, and duffle bags make it easier

I brought extra oil just to be safe, and didn't have any issues.


Cheers

thesaint

classicauto

iTrader: (3)

DRIVE IT YOU WIMP!!!



Naw you'll be fine. If you get stuck and blow an engine like I did - just rebuild it. **** only takes two days! haha Seriously though, thats not that far man. We drove further then that last year - and will go EVEN further this year.

Checklist:

ANYTHING rubber (belts, hoses, tires)
Spare tire (trust me....no, trust JINX00)
A good luck apex seal

IAN

iTrader: (3)

Drive it Like ClassicAuto said not big deal. I drove around 7000km last year and this year will be even further!

Thewird will be doing the cruise in an FD too....................

thewird

iTrader: (8)

I drove my FD down to Pensacola Florida in the summer of 2007 and was there for 2.5 months. The A/C stopped working on the second day down and which I had recharged the week before and a new condenser too. The car was fine for about a month and then one day my stock radiator cracked. I took it to Fighters Garage and got a Koyo installed by Dale and also got their AST while I was at it, and an oil change. That was the only thing that happened while I was down there. I often went out at night and drove to different places exploring or getting a bite to eat. Often doing 260 km/h on the interstate in the middle of nowhere (American interstates are so damn good and smooth). Drove back home and no other issues.

I also went to the Deals Gap last year (2008) with the caravan on the same motor with a bunch of modifications and had no issues at all. This year I'm going to the Gap again with the caravan and some of us are going to the FLorida keys afterwards.

Don't worry about it, just make sure everything is working right and do the basic maintenance to get it ready to go.

thewird

JDK

iTrader: (8)

It scares me to think some people believe these cars can’t do a 2000km trip, I do more then that at track events through out the summer and that’s mostly at red line..... Don't live in a shell, drive the thing.

notveryhappyjack

iTrader: (4)

go for it, if it breaks then you upgrade the weak link.
I would be more worried about flats or breaking belts and getting stuck in the boonies somewhere

thewird

iTrader: (8)

That has always been my philosophy, if it breaks upgrade it.

thewird

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

I didnt see you at Deals Gap I don't think.....a blue FD? Where were ya hiding?

Also, I've taken my FD on no less than ten 1500+ mile (that's about 2400 clicks for you canucks ) trips over the years and it hasn't let me down ONCE. Don't be a *****

userjh5174

Prepare your car for such long trips. Do the following: 1) AST, replace with aluminum; 2) change fuel filter; 3) upgrade rad and hoses; 4) never run your fuel tank below 1/4 tank; 5) first sign of over heating or low coolant buzzer...STOP! and check coolant.

dj55b

iTrader: (2)

what nobody told him to get a hitch and trailler and get a honda just incase!!! lol ... jk ... I drive mine all the time in all kinds of weather (mind you its an FB, we are more reliable :P)

thewird

iTrader: (8)

I was parked with the FC's because we came a little later after a Gap run and all the FD's were already set up for the show and shine. Even so my car supposedly placed 3rd and I got a T-shirt

http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/Orde...U000453&po=453

thewird

Terrh

iTrader: (7)

I'd drive it. I took my GTR to georgia and back last spring, and to northern MI last fall. If it breaks down idk what I'd do for parts, but I don't worry about it, it hasn't let me down yet.

I'd drive an FB across the country before just about any other car, they NEVER break.

anyways

You don't need to be afraid, and if you are living in fear of your car its time to get something different, wheres the fun in that?

Snrub

iTrader: (1)

It's all about the amount of risk that you are willing to take. There is a certain degree of risk in driving any car far away from home where it's not reasonable to tow it back. With older cars there is a greater risk. It's like buying mutual funds, what's your risk tolerance? (time, money, etc) Additionally you'll have to decide how confident you are in the car.

Much of the time a bandaid solution can be applied. Other times you can simply drive through problems. For instance, I a few years ago I drove my car for 3 months every day on a blown engine. Terrh mentioned that he once didn't turn off his truck for months because it woudln't restart (LOL! ). In your case highway driving is low stress on the car. The rad has lots of airflow, you aren't changing gears, you're not really using the brakes.

thewird

iTrader: (8)

If your paranoid, you can avoid boost lol. But really if there is nothing wrong with your car, it should be fine.

thewird

orion84gsl

iTrader: (5)

I don't know why 3 guys with MR2's are trying to tell you what an FD can and can't do. Last I checked an MR2 is quite different from an FD. They must have the same mentality that V8 drivers have. Rotarys are unreliable and blow all the time but also spin to 16K RPM. Gotta love the ignorance in it all.

It's a car, like any other car it has strong and weak points. Like any other car it was built to be driven. That's what they are for, that's why they have wheels. If cars were meant to sit they would come with those stands that bolt right to the hubs. A car is just as likely to break sitting in traffic on your way to work as it is on a 6000KM trip. It's just more inconvenient when your that far from home. Just be smart about it, and PREPARE your car for the journey. Replace what needs to be replaced, upgrade what is known to break, and bring the tools and parts you might need on the side of the road. Oh, get CAA too. It's a cheap enough insurance plan.

dom240sx

iTrader: (1)

I think like that too, I'm not scared of it and I'll do it for fun... If something breaks I'll fix it that's it like on every track days I've been Thanks boys to support me in this and clear my mind a little So who's in for a big trip with us??? :p

Feds

Just buy the super-deluxe CAA before you go. You can gang tows up (switch trucks every 500 kms), so you're never too far from home.

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

I don't get it.You are willing to take the car on to a track and drive at Excess Speed,and you don't worry a bit when you are doing that.
Now,you are gonna drive it from here to say,The grocery Store and back,and you want to leave it at home?
If you bought the car to Drive it,Drive it.Other wise put it on a trailer and Stare at it,and be some one's passenger.
What a waste of Money!...Signed Grumpy!

R-R-Rx7

iTrader: (24)

the car on the highway will be stressed a lot less than in city travelling.