Picking up a new car and making a long drive back home, any advice?

[Shuie]

Im picking up a clean and well maintained '72 T this weekend and will be driving it ~750 miles back home.

This car has a clean bill of health from a reputable shop and a uneventful history with documented regular maintenance. The mechanic says he would not hesitate to do what Im doing with it, so I feel pretty good about the upcoming drive. Im not expecting any mechanical problems, but I want to make sure Im prepared if somehting goes to pot. My cell phone will be charged and my AAA membership is current, Im looking for recommendations for shops or dealerships that I can tow the car to if something happens.

The route will be from Louisville, KY to Baton Rouge, LA. I-65 South to Nashville, I-40 West to Memphis, I-55 South to Hammond, and then I-12 West into Baton Rouge.

Heres the list of shops I have noted along the major milestones of the route:

Louisville, KY - The Winning Formula
Nashville, TN - Renntag Motorwerks
Memphis, TN - Memphis Motorwerks
Jackson, MS - ????
Baton Rouge, LA - Loupe European

Does anyone know any good shops in between any of these cities along the route? Any other advice from those who have done somehting like this?

Any help is appreciated.

[Tim Walsh]

Sorry I can't help you with any shops but do you have any pics of the new car? I LOVE sepia brown cars.

[naparsei]

Would recommend getting a copy of the owner's manual if the PO isn't providing it, unless you've owned a early 911 before. It can be really useful to find things in a timely and unexperimental manner. Every car has its quirks... When I did the same thing in my '70T, gas poured out under the front fender while being filled up b/c there was an overflow tube... I was a little startled at first... I love point-to-point distance driving, and there nothing better than doing it in a Porsche! Enjoy

[304065]

My advice is to push the gas pedal all the way to the floor and hold it there.

[Paul Franssen]

... and, only if necessary, brake before bends.

[GrindingGears]

drive it like you stole it?

[Harlan Chinn]

Have the oil changed before leave

[Superman]

You're already overprepared. Forget the music tapes. You'll like the engine sound best. I'd say your chances of a breakdown are remote.

[TMH]

Get a fire extinguisher. One of your first stops as you point the car towards its new home is to stop at Walmart, etc. to pick up an extinguisher to leave in the car at all times (and you should have one for every car you own). It is amazing what a small (10ABC) extinguisher can do to save a car, as opposed to waiting for the local FD to show up. Even with a great sub-5 minute response time, your car is toast by the time they get there.

This post is not specific to Porsches or any specific year or model. Just a reminder to all to be safe and prepared for anything, especially for the cars we love so much.

Good luck on your trip, and congrats on your purchase.

Tom

[Rot 911]

Originally posted by Superman
You're already overprepared. Forget the music tapes. You'll like the engine sound best. I'd say your chances of a breakdown are remote.

Oh yes, hour after blissful hour of rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Take plenty of music with you. Personally I get books on tape.

[Lukesportsman]

Make sure you know where all the switches are and that the ancillaries work. I picked up a car once to have to drive back in a heavy storm. Didn't know how to get the defroster to work, it was a roadster so no interior lights, wipers were tempermental but did work. Ended up stopping under a gas station port and figuring these things out with minimal light. I know, lack of preparation, but it was sunny on the way to pick it up and was my first British roadster. Thanks to towels and the joy of a new toy made it home with a smile still on my face though out of adrenaline.

Good luck and just do a once over before heading out on the road like I did. Yes, I did inspect it previously but had focused on body, mechanicals and function not on how to actually drive it =). I'm obviously not a pilot.

[1982911sc]

As you really don't know the oil consumption on this car, carry a few quarts of whatever it takes with you. Have them on hand and check the oil every time you gas up. Make sure you know how to check the oil properly as well, on my SC it is engine warmed up AND running.

Take a camera and take time to smell the roses, I picked up my first 911 in Seattle 3 years ago and drove back home to Dallas. I have great pictures and memories. All the best on your trip.
Mark

[farleyd]

Been there. Just bought a 1978SC in Kansas and drove it back to Eastern Canada, Montreal to be exact. The trip went perfect. I even managed to install newly acquired Euro H4s in the middle of a corn field in Indiana..... Some suggestions:
1) try to get some roadside phone numbers from Pelicanheads along your travel
2) Get to know your car BEFORE and WHILE on trip
3) Bring the manuals, Haynes, Porsches, Bentley any you have.
4) Some small things can ruin your trip, ask me how i know... So bring some spares : fan belt, plugs, fuses, relay, a generic fuel pump if your not MFI, small tool kit, flashlight... and learn how to replace them. Read the manual at the hotel at night.
5) Dont run your car on a low fuel tank. You dont know the exactitude of the gauge and it may has debris in there.
6) I have stayed away from major highways
7) Cell phone of course..
8) Get a AAA member card
9) Dont trust gauges from a car you dont know

You will get to know your car the hard way, no time for guesses.

10) SHOT SOME PICTURES!!!!!! I am a dumb ass for not taking some. I have exactly NO pictures of my 3-day ride...

Good luck!

[carreradpt]

You can only be so prepared. Live the adventure, just get in the car and go. You'll get there.

[Harlan Chinn]

Mark, You made the round trip, took you the 3 years

[Rick Lee]

Get a good .45 and a box of Hydrashocks - just in case you can't dial 911.

[rcm]

Enjoy the ride. You may never get this chance again.