Breaking down
 

What do people do if they break down more than a couple hundred miles from their house and it’s not a side of the road fix. Like on a weekend, where do you tow the car to? I’m about to drive 1k miles with an older car that I haven’t actually driven but have only seen receipts and putting trust in seller.
Any advice.

I’m using sellers plates so not even sure I can use my AAA.

This forum isn't what it used to be, but use it. Do you have a route, known contacts, etc.? I did a 500 mile drive before I joined here ... but I had been here reading quite some time ... and knew I had help ... here ;).

Or I wouldn't have even been doing it ....

Good luck!

Stick to interstates if you are not comfortable with the reliability of the car. Maybe look up what common issues are for that vehicle, and buy some spare parts to bring along.

For me .... Hey Pelicans ... help, where do I tow this thing ... prolly even for a flat ;).

Or a DME relay and a spare belt :D?

I think you can use your AAA for any vehicle you're driving, but check. I've found it useless anyway, usually I can get a tow faster using Google and calling around. Yeah, you have to pay but I have towing insurance.
I have two experiences, both involving my 911. First it cooked an alternator 150mi from home, found a tow and asked the driver where he'd go, and the guy sent me to a German car wizard working out of a barn in middle of nowhere-the guy had maybe 50 MB's in various states of repair on the property. Second was on the BRP 2 yrs ago, came out of a turn and the car shut off. Luckily had a couple bars of service. Googled, found a tow company in Roanoke, like 2hrs to get me. Dropped them a pin, Googled again and found a German car indy in Roanoke. 20 minutes later it occured to me that I had an uninstalled new solid state DME relay in the glovebox, and voila, was on my way. Called and cancelled the tow before they were on the road.

You'll find a way.

BTW, most states allow you to purchase a "trip permit" so that you don't have to use sellers plates, but sometimes they're distance restricted. Check with your and seller's states dmv online.

No way to know the details of your purchase(?) or planned route but as a reminder, there was a time when Bring-a-Trailer was both a website (featuring 'see where they rust') and sound advice.

Also, we need pics!!

You didn't note the model of car, but if it's an old British or Italian model put it on a trailer. :-)

LOL ... which car, which route, and do ya feel lucky ;).

Don't overthink it ... a cell phone, a Duck, and a Pelican will be your backup plan ... and wings ...

I fly like a turkey :)

Good luck and post a pic!

No way on earth I would put myself in that situation. When I bought the old E, I had it transported. Glad I did too. One axle was missing two bolts.

Ahhh, this has the makings of a fine adventure if you ask me.

Unknown mechanical reliability, miles from home, what more excitement could you ask for?

If I'm taking a long road trip, I plot out likely repair shops along the route (spaced along the lines of my insurance towing limits) and keep that list handy. However, I'm also taking enough stuff/tools with me and validating the vehicle is in good shape before the trip such that a full break-down situation is not likely...

Giving and receiving help in an unfortunate situation is a wonderful thing. Off-loading foreseeable problems onto others isn't reasonable.

It’s a 83 944. Car seems pretty well maintained. Timing belt is a year old, relatively new fuel pump, suspension refresh just over a year ago. I think the Waterpump was done with belt. I honestly don’t no much about these but seems like owner was up on maintence. I’ll be going up 81 from TN to PA snd then make way to mass. Maybe I don’t do the tail of the dragon,

I'm not far from 81 if you need anything.

That info and a cell phone... get home via the direct route and folks like Greg .... If Fred is along the way (where is Fred?), ditto ....have a plan.

Then drive it home ... safely :).

You driving this in how many days ;)?

Check the age of the tires, and make sure they are at recommended pressure. It is a Porsche, not a British car. You will be fine. Relax and enjoy the trip.

Yep. I'm in SW Ohio. If you're going to be through here and you have trouble, contact me through PPOT.

I've been around here long enough to remember Jack Olsen's story of bringing BB1 home. If you have a few resources so you are never completely boned, a little adversity makes for a memorable experience.

Have a great trip.

If you feel comfortable, post some details of your trip -- route, dates, vehicle, etc. I'm in Las Vegas and am happy to lend a hand if you need it.

Friend of mine's lady friend who is very wealthy has a ranch in Utah. She was driving her Bimmer somewhere remote headed home through NV when the dash lights came on. She doesn't know jack about cars so calls him. He says (after hearing the symptoms) to park it where she is. Which is 40 miles from anywhere.

Of course she doesn't like the idea and he tells her well it's either right there and save an engine, or maybe get to civilization with a terminally broken car. She obeys and gets on the phone. Lucky she did have cell coverage. Tow took her and the car to a town that had an almost too small airport for the company jet that was sent for her. I guess the driver sh his pants when they rolled out to the strip and there was a twin jet sitting there. She says just drive over there to the ramp.

Anyway, boyfriend in the meantime puts a trailer on the back of his Ford PU and goes up and gets the car. They are a pair to draw to.

Thanks all for the help,
Car comes with spare DME and maintenance book.
New water pump recently too. Appears sorted.
I’ll post some pictures.

I suppose you checked the tire dates. I've never had a problem with out dated tires to an extent. I don't do triple digits on old rubber but a problem at 50MPH can be bad. Tires are a main concern. You know why.

Last time this happened I was 500 miles from home in Roanoake.

I paid the tow truck driver to drive me to the airport. Rented an SUV one way. Then went to U-Haul and rented a flatbed one way. Then he rolled the car from the flatbed on to the trailer. I then drove home and he left - well tipped.

Having a bunch of cash on hand fixes many problems…

Never heard that one before. Brilliant!!

It’s a 1983 944. Tires are like five years old so fine. The owner has done a lot of work in the year or so he’s owned.
In the past year or so:
Timing belts and pulleys
Water pump
Air filter
Front and rear struts
Clutch master cylinder
Clutch slave cylinder
Hydraulic hose
Brake flush
Fuel pump
Fuel filter
Cap and rotor
Seller bought a 911 so selling due to space. Seems like an honest dude.
I believe I’m good, thanks all. Great advice. Case closed.

I think my friend just bought a VW truck powered by a 3.6L complete with turbo brakes and all the suspension stuff...some of you may know the truck(?).

he drove it from FL to CA. or maybe Austin to CA. the dude is crazy, but he lives so chill with zero worries. nobody goes with the flow like my bud. nobody.

I've driven from Texas to California twice in old cars. Once about ten years ago in an unrestored 66 Shelby Mustang and again a couple years ago with the same buddy in a restored 67 Corvette coupe. Neither car had been driven any more then a regular test drive when we hit the road.

I packed a basic tool kit and hit the road. The Shelby we had absolutely zero issues with. The Corvette had an issue with the headlights, which I was able to diagnose as the high beam switch. Went to a Napa and fixed that in the parking lot. We drove both cars at about 75- 80 the whole way.

If we would've had a problem, we would've handled it. That may have meant getting it towed someplace for a quick fix or maybe getting it towed someplace where we we end up renting a truck and trailer and towing it home. If it's an old car, they are pretty simple to keep running. It's all an adventure and wouldn't faze me at all.


I've thought about the issues of break downs alot because I do a ton of motorcycle trips off the beaten path. Including a 6 week 11K mile solo moto trip back east and back last October.


I say have fun and go for it.


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As long as you’re not taking your better half*, you’ll be good to go!

* I can’t imagine a road trip with Ms. Rocket after buying a car.

The 901/Lucky Dawg VW? If so, that's beyond amazing!

Sounds fun, I would 100% drive it! I drove a newly purchased 2004 SL55 from Boise to Wichita earlier this year, I mapped out European independent shops on my route just in case but didn’t have any issues. I always prefer to fly in and drive home, lots of memorable drives over the years.

You are a good man Mike! Do you still have that Cobra?

Hey David, Nah I sold the Cobra quite awhile ago. That was a fun little car though!

Well the car purchase never went through. I flew to Knoxville from Boston with cash ready to go but I just wasn’t that excited when I actually saw it. Fortunately, the Seller was great about the whole thing. My biggest issue was not having a plane B to get home. I couldn’t get a Flight out of Knoxville until Saturday (2 days later). Well I ended up renting a car and driving to Charleston SC where my daughter lives. I fly home Monday. Travel and time cost me but I think I’ve sort of lost my desire to find another car. Probably saved me a bunch in the long run. The ride aLao gave me a chance to see some areas I hadn’t seen. NH has nothing on NC and TN for mountain driving.

The low down on car was the rims and tires were just to small for the car and I think the motor mounts needed replacing. To get right, with the money spent I could buy a nicer car.
Now This might sound petty but when I got picked up, I noticed leaves on the passenger floor. Not a great first vibe. I’m thinking, that is weird for a car up for sale. Next, when I opened the hood, there were wet leaves at the firewall on both sides. I get that it gets dirty in there but when selling, I would spend 5 minutes with wet vac and clean. That’s not patina related to age.
Overall, the engine was strong and everything worked as should. Solid rust free Car that presented okay except for rims and tires. Ties were from 2019. End of day, I just asked myself that if I was to sell the car the next day, would I get the money back. I felt likely not. Overpriced by a couple thousand. Seller was great guy, I wish him luck selling.

Being able to walk away is one of the greatest skills we can have.

Sorry it didn’t work out this time.

I really don't understand how people can sell a car without cleaning it as clean as possible within a reasonable amount of money being spent to do it. Wet leaves in cowl area? Really?
It's amazing to me some of what I see on BaT.
Are people really that lazy or do they just not care?

Glad you could walk away even after a plane ride. Hope you enjoyed your visit with your daughter.

Thanks, if anything; I feel I’ve matured in my car hunting.
I needed a vacation so all is good.

All I can say is that the older I get, the less risk I wish to take.
When I was 18 I would drive a beat up old car 3-500 miles without a care in the world and this was before cell phones and I didn't have AAA. 50+ years later I wouldn't drive that same car down the street.

Yeah, when I didn’t buy the car I had no plan B for getting home. Sort of important. Thank god wife said rent a car and head east. I’d still be sitting there. Instead I spent the day giving my Box a little TLC on a man 80 degree day.