Trains, Planes and two Mercedes

[Seahawk]

I know, I know, first world problem.

I was in San Diego last week speaking at a mapping and geospacial information conference. The stuff I am doing with commercial unmanned systems directly impacts manned aerial and terrestrial companies engaged in surveying, contruction, mapping, etc.

The conference was at the Lodge in Torry Pines and was great. I also had multiple other meetings in the afternoon and evening.

Snow storm hits the east coast. My early Thursday morning flight out is cancelled. The next available flight out is Sunday. Yikes.

So I work out a flight from Las Vegas Friday morning. I head to Hertz to get a car.

This is where my love of cars and driving through the desert becomes important. I decide, since I have all day, to upgrade to a Mercedes 320. I rent a lot with Hertz so it cost only ten dollars more a day.

After breakfast at a really neat diner in Rainbow, California, I head back roads to the desert. The drive through Trona, into Death Valley was great. I take some odd roads in and around DV and then take Old Spanish Train into Vegas.

Great day in a really nice car. The scenery is, as always this time of year, stunning. But, after a week away, I am ready to head home.

At 3am Friday morning, I get another call from United. Friday flight cancelled, the earliest they can get me out is Sunday night, the red eye into Dulles that arrives Monday morning, the 17th. Today, in other words.

I spent the next 45 minutes with a United rep looking for other flight from other airports and other carriers. Zippy luck. A plan begins to form.

Since I was planning on picking up a 1988 Mercedes 560 from Chocoholic, who lives near Atlanta next week, perhaps...

I ask the United folks if there is a flight from Atlanta to Dulles Sunday evening. Yep.

I call Hertz. Can I drop the Mercedes off in Atlanta on Sunday evening? Yes, the drop charge is $150.

The plan, as formed, is to drive across the country, work picking up the 560 in Georgia Sunday or, failing that, hop a flight home.

It is now 4am. I am packed and in the car by 0415 Friday morning, Vegas time: Nothing happened in Vegas and I ain't staying

Friday's drive is great. I make Amarillo Texas. Setting the cruise control at 85mph will chew up some freeway. The sat radio helped.

Saturday's drive is a little less enjoyable. I make Tupelo, Mississippi.

By now, Choc (Mike) and I have arranged for me to pick his 560 up Sunday at around 1100am at his house on the GA/SC border.

In order to pul this off, I depart Tupelo at 0400. I did get 8 hours the night before. There was no partying for me at the Tupelo Marriott.

Mike meets me at "Dad's" just off I85 and I follow him to his hootch. Beautiful place, terrific wife and a phalanx of neat dogs. We do the deal (sort of, the USAA check has not arrived, but Mike is gracious enough to let the deal play out) and I follow Mike to the GSP airport, drop of the CL 320, shake hands, and I'm off in the 560 by 1230. Here is the 560, just as Mike advertised:



I wasn't sure if I was going to make it home that evening or not. A lot depended on the car. No worries. It ran flawlessly with the big dogs at 75/80 mph. At a gas stop in South Hill, Va, a lady begs me for the keys. Not enough time to make a deal

I make it home by 815pm. Three days from Vegas to Leonardtown, Maryland.

So, thanks, Mike and Cathy! The check really is in the mail!

[widgeon13]

Things always have a way of working themselves out.

Great story and beautiful car.

Did you have to drive that over any snowy roads on the way home??

[Baz]

Where's the dog pics?



Congrats Paul, and Mike - great story and beautiful Benz.....

(you can post the dog pics over here)

[porsche4life]

Sounds like one heck of an adventure Paul!

So I take it you have up on finding a 2002?

[HardDrive]

Wow! Great story Paul.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Sounds like one heck of an adventure Paul!

So I take it you have up on finding a 2002?

Not really.

The market for 2002's is crazy right now: The values are all over the place, which as you know is the absolute worst time to buy. After looking at over 20 cars and PPI'ing three, I am going to find or build a "Franken2002", save an old tub (so as not to offend the BMW Cognescenti) and put a more modern drive train in it.

The 560 is in excellent nick, my first Mercedes and my first convertible. I'll enjoy it for a few years while I built the 2002.

[BRPORSCHE]

Paul,

You work with ArcGIS?

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

Paul,

You work with ArcGIS?

We do, also other ESRI products.

We also use PIX4D when appropriate.

We do a lot f different sensors, not just photogammetry: Air quality sniffers, Multi-spectral stuff, etc. Working on integrating small, pulse LiDAR as well.

Very interesting times!

[Jim Richards]

Great car, Paul. And a cross country road trip to boot. Nice work.

[pete3799]

Trains and planes..........we don't need no stink'n trains and planes.

[Chocaholic]

Glad it went well Paul. Let's call it a 9 hour test drive! Was great to meet you as well. Haven't had an opportunity to meet but a few Pelicans, but every time, it's been a pleasure. Heck...would I hand over the keys to my Benz for a 9 hour drive to a total stranger?

Yes, the pups took a bit longer than usual to relax, I suspect because you're a big guy and they're, well....more fond of the ladies. In any case, here's pics of the welcoming committee:







Enjoy the 560. As you found out, it's a solid car and seems to run better the more its driven. Top down is the best way!

Will call you on Wednesday and coordinate getting you the title, extra key, cc, etc...and will need to get my plate back, but no hurry on that.

Enjoy! It was a pleasure.

[Aragorn]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Not really.

The market for 2002's is crazy right now: The values are all over the place, which as you know is the absolute worst time to buy. After looking at over 20 cars and PPI'ing three, I am going to find or build a "Franken2002", save an old tub (so as not to offend the BMW Cognescenti) and put a more modern drive train in it.

The 560 is in excellent nick, my first Mercedes and my first convertible. I'll enjoy it for a few years while I built the 2002.

Just a link you may or may not be aware of:

Not an e30 but still a bmw - R3VLimited Forums

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Great car, Paul. And a cross country road trip to boot. Nice work.

The most interesting thing about the car is that, compared to the CL320, it is on the cusp of the analog to digital age whereas the 320 is fully enveloped...I got to look at 25 years of human factors car design from the same manufacturer.

I did a lot of operational flight testing in the '80s and '90s and I spent the rest of yesterday cataloging the differences between the two cars. Listen, I had a log way to go and well into day three od the drive I needed the mental exercise.

The 560 is, as most would guess, a bit clumsy in the cockpit...the gauge clusters are good but the rest of the, "what to do" switches are scattered about and/or displayed without much thought. The turn signal indicator, for instance, can't be seen even though there are two of them, one for left, one for right. A/C or vents? Nevermind.

The one thing I love from the analog age is the drivers side mirror: It is controlled by a lever just inside the door. It is igneous and requires not electricity to move. I love it.

There is more but the most important aspect of the car is that it loves the pavement. It is more boatish in handling than a 911, but once you set an edge, it tracks. Mike did a great job with the rubber all around, including tires so, it drove quiet and professionally. In a bit of irony, I passed a 2002 that was struggling a bit outside of Charlotte. I was at 80 mph and the tach read 2700 or so. I'm not going back, so the Frankin 2002 is the only option.

CL 320, meanwhile, averaged near 30MPG and I drove aggressively. The steering is too twitchy but the car plants like a rice patty, predictable and cultivated.. It also had some of the best, most intuitive human interfaces I have dealt with.

There is a wheel right under the end of the arm rest that I had a Vulcan mind meld with: It works.

So. Enjoy your 320's, I get it. Pardon me while I figure out the 560

Up at the barn:

[MBAtarga]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Chocaholic - what breed(s) is that dog please? My wife appears to have "adopted" a brother and sister pup - and the brother definitely resembles your dog.

[Chocaholic]

Mark...he's a pure-bred mutt. We adopted him 4 years ago from animal rescue. Did a DNA swab on him to find out what's in there. He's about 70% American Lab, 20% Boxer and the rest is Chow (or similar)...he has a curly tail. Barks too much but fortunately (and literally) has no balls to back it up!

[Seahawk]

I just got back from a two hundred mile run, on the heels of the 600 mile or so drive from Georgia here. I have, in four days, put a third of the yearly miles this car has been driven over the 26 years it has been on the road.

Not that anyone particularly cares, but a few observations:

Choc did a great job with the rubber bits, suspension and tires. The Car handles and corners very well, rides like a cloud over the road. It is a boat, but not a large one.

The engine is terrific: My goodness they figured this out. The pull from zero is as predictable as it is enjoyable...the torque curve is excellent. The 50 to 80 curve is even better. The V8 is smooth and capable.

The tranny is modern and without guile. No clunks, sounds, hesitation or hint of not being in the right gear at the right time.

The top comes off this weekend. My wife and I took a cruise Monday and she drove the entire route, smiles all around.

So, this is a simple car, really, no apparent vices electronic or otherwise. This is my first and probably last Mercedes but what a joy. I think I'll go bug Azzarule for a date with her and Steve's cab.

[Tobra]

So the 2002 went by the wayside?

[Rusty914s]

What a great story based solely on relationships based on the net.

Having figured out that an old business partner of mine has been bad mouthing me all over town after he stole 30k from me...it warms the heart a bit to know that there are guys like you out there.

Anyhow, maybe is the bourbon talking. Great story and thanks for sharing.

[HHI944]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Mark...he's a pure-bred mutt. We adopted him 4 years ago from animal rescue. Did a DNA swab on him to find out what's in there. He's about 70% American Lab, 20% Boxer and the rest is Chow (or similar)...he has a curly tail. Barks too much but fortunately (and literally) has no balls to back it up!

Did one of those DNA tests on my pup.....the results really made things make sense. She's almost perfect 50/50 American Staffy and Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

Paul, that is an awesome looking ol Benz!

[speeder]

The Germans build a good car!