Different Approach...
- Thread starter MattScott
- Start date
BKCowGod
Automotive ADHD is fun!
I just finished reading Cannonball! for the third time.
Anyway, I love my Z3 for the cross country road trip idea - warm in winter, watertight but ready for top-down in seconds, a somewhat useful trunk, and a delicious 31mpg on regular gas. The only downsides are the somewhat cramped quarters and the 12gal gas tank.
So 1988 Porsche 911, Audi TT, and 1996 BMW M3 all top my backup list.
Or if you wanna have even more fun, get a 1999 Porsche 911 C4 and then you are snow-able too.
Anyway, I love my Z3 for the cross country road trip idea - warm in winter, watertight but ready for top-down in seconds, a somewhat useful trunk, and a delicious 31mpg on regular gas. The only downsides are the somewhat cramped quarters and the 12gal gas tank.
So 1988 Porsche 911, Audi TT, and 1996 BMW M3 all top my backup list.
Or if you wanna have even more fun, get a 1999 Porsche 911 C4 and then you are snow-able too.
upcruiser
Perpetual Transient
You don't need a Carrera 4 to have fun in the snow with a 911. 911's have GREAT traction with rwd and are an absolute blast with the proper tires. I only drove my old '69 911 a couple of times in the snow but it was memorable.
I've done multiple cross country trips in my Porsche 944 and it is a fantastic car in a bunch of ways, thus the reason I kept it and sold the 911. I've lived out of it for multiple weeks at a time and used it as a base camp for some backpacking and 14'er climbs in the San Juans. Its probably been on more 4wd only roads in CO then any other Porsche, haha. I could pack two mountain bikes and gear with carefull packing in the back and managed 30mpg on the highway. Any suffering with the cramp space was paid for 100fold on the twisty bits of road sampled along the way. 944's are some of the best handling cars ever built, though not the most powerful,
The purist in me says do the Elise, primarily because it is a proper sports car and is on the top of the list of dream sports cars for me. It will require sacrifice in packing and planning but good mpg, and nothing will be more fun in the twisties. Sure you could do that trip in an M5 with more comfort but there is no denying the same trip in an Elise would be WAY more memorable. Plus, that's the best autocross/track car off the showroom with the exception the 997 GT3 RS of course. (my absolute dream car)
Anyway, heres my last road trip with the 944 from last spring, since I've stripped it of any creature comforts, ha ha
Here's me with it back in '95 just outside of Lake City, CO.
I had a couple of memorable fun road trip experiences last winter via fun cars.
Vermont last March with a Porsche 996 Carrera 2
And January in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, and Lichtenstein in an S line A6 avant TDI, absolutely transformed my perceptions of diesel and sporty.
You can tell I dig road tripping no matter what the method, haha.
I've done multiple cross country trips in my Porsche 944 and it is a fantastic car in a bunch of ways, thus the reason I kept it and sold the 911. I've lived out of it for multiple weeks at a time and used it as a base camp for some backpacking and 14'er climbs in the San Juans. Its probably been on more 4wd only roads in CO then any other Porsche, haha. I could pack two mountain bikes and gear with carefull packing in the back and managed 30mpg on the highway. Any suffering with the cramp space was paid for 100fold on the twisty bits of road sampled along the way. 944's are some of the best handling cars ever built, though not the most powerful,
The purist in me says do the Elise, primarily because it is a proper sports car and is on the top of the list of dream sports cars for me. It will require sacrifice in packing and planning but good mpg, and nothing will be more fun in the twisties. Sure you could do that trip in an M5 with more comfort but there is no denying the same trip in an Elise would be WAY more memorable. Plus, that's the best autocross/track car off the showroom with the exception the 997 GT3 RS of course.
(my absolute dream car)Anyway, heres my last road trip with the 944 from last spring, since I've stripped it of any creature comforts, ha ha
Here's me with it back in '95 just outside of Lake City, CO.
I had a couple of memorable fun road trip experiences last winter via fun cars.
Vermont last March with a Porsche 996 Carrera 2
And January in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, and Lichtenstein in an S line A6 avant TDI, absolutely transformed my perceptions of diesel and sporty.
You can tell I dig road tripping no matter what the method, haha.
Rallyroo
Expedition Leader
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/31/the-story-of-the-vantage-that-crossed-asia-finally-finished/
(more photos in the above link)
upcruiser
Perpetual Transient
MattScott said:
Matt, if you are asking that to me, it was great. It had great lowend thrust and really long legs. My company has a fleet of them in Munich, unfortunately they are all Tiptronics but even with that tranny it was enjoyable. You honestly couldn't tell you were in a diesel from the inside of the car with its smooth revving and refinement. When the engine was cold you could hear it just a bit but quieted down once warmed up. It lacks the high revving visceral growl of the B5 S4s that I've driven but makes up for it with a wall of torque down low. For a big heavy, diesel wagon, on snow tires, it was quite tossable in the twisties and pretty much on par with the S4. I think the highlight for me were some of the roads in the French Alps between Morzine and Evian. Perfect pavement, endless twists and switchbacks made it quite memorable!
Last edited:
CSG
Explorer
One of our current rides is a 2008 Miata. As a kid (early 20's) I had a '66 MG Midget that I used to drive up and down California in while I was in college. If I were traveling alone, I *think* I could do a pretty good trip with the Miata but honestly, I'd rather go on roads that my truck or van are better suited for. Great fantasy though to do the Buzz and Todd in a Corvette thing.
MUSBJIM
Observer
Matt - sounds like a GREAT idea. The Lotus would be a blast because it handles like a slot car. Like many on this thread, we've done our share of road trips in sports cars (various Porsches and back when gas was cheaper, in fact, when everything was cheaper).
Our most recent road trip was the 'old folks' version of said road trip. My wife and I trailered our Speedster from SoCal to Colorado to visit some friends and tour the Colorado Rockies. One of our stopovers heading to Colorado was Moab UT (during the Land Rover 60th Anniversary event). There we did a sunset cruise through Arches National Park. Awesome! In Colorado we toured through Vail, Breckenridge, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Estes Park and a few other points of interest.
My wife is a pretty good sport, but at this stage in our lives (sometimes referred to as Golden Years) we defer our camping to trips with our '91 RRC when we can haul all the necessary amenities.
Whatever car you decide on, I would enjoy seeing pics of your roadtrip so that I (and others on this thread) can enjoy the trip vicariously!
Happy Trails!
Attachments
Last edited:
MattScott
Approved Vendor
I actually decided on a 2004 Porsche Cayenne S, in addition to the rover. It had everything I wanted, my last road trip in the rover made me decide, it does not have enough power for 4000+ miles of highway driving.
Pictures to come monday.
It has center, and rear lockers, and low range. No air suspension, and 17" wheels. I'm interested to see its capabilities off road. It's not going to be like my DI, but I think it will be sufficient as in reality I would't venture from the highway very far.
Pictures to come monday.
It has center, and rear lockers, and low range. No air suspension, and 17" wheels. I'm interested to see its capabilities off road. It's not going to be like my DI, but I think it will be sufficient as in reality I would't venture from the highway very far.
vengeful
Explorer
I've always wanted to do this, too!
I drove the Pathfinder almost cross-country from Phoenix to DC, but the thing is just so underpowered it's no good for that much freeway. 48mph over the continental divide while being passed by big-rigs is unacceptable, and frankly, unsafe. 168HP in a 4300lb vehicle with brakes designed for a 3000lb car. Pathetic.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Pathfinder, but the 96-00 were poorly executed.
Personally, my vehicle of choice for a trip like this would probably be the Honda S2000. Amazing performance, tame enough looks to not attract unneccessary attention, fun-to-drive factor through the roof. They're also very efficient and impeccably reliable.
I drove the Pathfinder almost cross-country from Phoenix to DC, but the thing is just so underpowered it's no good for that much freeway. 48mph over the continental divide while being passed by big-rigs is unacceptable, and frankly, unsafe. 168HP in a 4300lb vehicle with brakes designed for a 3000lb car. Pathetic.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Pathfinder, but the 96-00 were poorly executed.
Personally, my vehicle of choice for a trip like this would probably be the Honda S2000. Amazing performance, tame enough looks to not attract unneccessary attention, fun-to-drive factor through the roof. They're also very efficient and impeccably reliable.