my first fly and drive

So last day, chicago to home (PA).

Traffic is thick yet manageable. Little sister refuses to drive and I don't blame her. It takes a lot of concentration, this is not the ideal time to learn stick.

Because we piddled around all day, our next destination was obviously closed when we got there.

But it was still AMAZING.

What is in the window?

"Oh, look at that! Will you look at that? Isn't that glorious? It's... it's... it's indescribably beautiful! It reminds me of the Fourth of July!"

Christmas story house checked off, time to head home, to my home, my bed.

Ohio had been a miserable drive, countless speed traps, nothing to see. I was hoping to go to the summit store as well as the christmas story house, but it would be closed by the time we got there.

Cleveland is an absolute traffic mess right now with all the construction and closed roads. Little sister navigator was getting frusturated; GPS kept routing us in circles as it wanted us to take roads that were closed. Fortunately being from the east coast I was familar with some of the roads, so I just headed east and looked for "79." Little sister was grumpy, GPS says you have to go this way! I don't care what GPS says, we will get home. Hit 11, found 79, jumped on 422. That is it!

Back to the speed limit rant, this is where things get different.

Everyone drives the speed limit here. Maybe a little over (but not in ohio!). An overloaded exlporer on underinflated tires missing half the lug nuts can travel safely at these speeds. The limits no longer exist as limits, they are now speeds to be traveling.

When you are in PA, they warn you about construction 2 miles (!) in advance. If it takes you 2 miles to slow down from 55 to 45, you probably shouldn't be driving....

I wanted to be home. I was used to driving back country roads with tighter turns than here with speed limits of 65. Here it is 45, 35 etc. Highways 55. Seriously. Oh well, put the audio book back on and keep plugging away!

Yes, it is a straight away, with a passing lane, and hard shoulders, and divided highway, but if you go 62, we will pull you over for endangering all our lives!

Made it home, did not unpack, and slept. Work tomorrow!

Great thread, makes me think I'm due for another cross-country trip - it's been a little over 8 years since the last one. I think I'd like to do one with each of my children as they get older. Great way to spend time together, and solve the inevitable problems that will crop up.

So that sums up the trip!

After dropping of my little sister up north I logged about 4500 miles on the toyota.

The odometer worked almost perfectly. I think the trip odometer is sticky: some time after the world's largest truck stop it stopped running, I touched the trip reset and it started again. So there are probably 30-45 miles traveled that did not log.

The gas gauge mostly works, I bet there is alittle corrosion on the float somewhere near 3/4 of a tank, probably because that is where it sat for a while. When the actual fuel is at that level the gauge jumps around. Top it off or run it dry beyond that point and it works fine. oil pressure is not great, but it has some. Sometimes.

Best tank of fuel was 25mpg, loafing around in 5th 40-50mph. Driving 60-70 seemed to return 20ish mpg's. Step on it and maintain 80mph and you get 16mpg. Impressive economy for this rig!

The suspension is not in great shape, the ball joints are beyond dead. Explains the wonky highway wandering. The CV boots are fried, will replace those too.

But overall, this toyota is a great suv. Is it better than an xj? I don't know. But it is built to a higher price point. But I am also a toyota fan boy. The 'yota totally outclasses the xj in brakes though. This giant thing stops.

The ONLY thing that did not work on the toyota is the CD deck. Radio worked, power antenna, all power windows, odometer (mostly), engine etc. The internet predicted I would blow 12 headgaskets on this trip. I think they are okay. It did make oil dissapear, about a quart every 1200 miles, but I think it just sprayed it on the chassy.

Was it a trip of a lifetime? yes.

Did I plan it thoroughly? yes. But I should have planned more!

Was it a huge gamble? yes. I was constantly aware of how unpleasant things would be with a major break down. We were in many many places where my AAA 100 mile tow would not get us near anything. I booked most hotels based on price, so they were non refundable if we didn't make it. Things could have gone sour fast, with all options out costing $. Even being conservative and planning to not drive more than 10 hours a day, time management is difficult! Especially when you forget about crossing time zones! I did not sleep much on this trip.

Would I do it again? depends. Again, the whole trip was a gamble based on the toyota. We won. But it could have been bad.

Cruise control makes this possible for 1 driver. No cruise, you probably have to switch it up.

If I knew the vehicle, or vetted it better, I would do this every year! I just don't think its worth the risk if you don't know the vehicle.

But, I have a 21 year SUV with ZERO rust. This is truly unreal. So I want to keep buying used cars from the west coast. But I don't want to rebuild a cylinder head or find a rear diff in a junkyard somewhere in south Dakota (or wherever).

Anyways, my honda is in the body shop after a hit and run, the toyota is at the garage getting balljoints and cv boots (I honestly don't have time to work on it, I have to spend my time story telling on the internet!), at least it is miata weather finally! This is exactly why one person needs AT LEAST 3 cars.

This was an awesome thread! You are a great story teller too.

I've done 3 fly and drives in the last 3 years. Two worked out great, one not so much. My fault, I guess, for trusting the sellers description of the car. In the end I would still do all three again.

For next time, the best way to make sure you get a great nights sleep in SD is to spend it at casa de oldopelguy.

What a great experience!

I'm curious about your comments on speed limits. As a life-long West Coaster, I can think of only one highway where it felt like the speed limit was high, and that was a very seasonal mountain pass.

Come to think of it, I've never heard anyone else say that the speed limits out here are high either. Anyone else feel the same as daytonaer?

Well done sir. Well done.

Nicely done. Thanks.