What's up everybody,

I bought my 8 about 6 months ago. Please don't flame on me for not joining earlier
First of all I bought a used sunlight silver 2005 6mt with the GT package, it had 7,700 miles and now has 10,500. I love my car and every second I drive it, I love a little less when I'm in typical Chicago traffic which is constantly. Thanks to everybody on this forum for all the info and especially to the people who made great DIY's. I've already rewired my foglights, changed all my front bulbs to piaas, changed my oil, and installed clear corners.

Anyways, in a month I'm driving from Chicago to Cali and back. I know the most important thing is to bring spare oil and check it regularly. But is there anybody else who has taken their 8 cross country? How was it, and is there anything else I should keep in mind while on my trip.

Thanks,
Nick

 

You won't have a problem.

All cars are reliable nowadays.

Be prepared for a flat. If you have a spare, check it to make sure it has enough air. If no spare make other plans. You need two cans of tire flat not one.

 

make sure there are gas stations around... enjoy your trip, drive safely

 

My 8 came with the spare, so thanks for telling me to check the pressure I probably wouldn't have done that. Also I want to drive in some good twisties, any suggestions? I heard route 1 is nice.

 

As a motorcyclist, you learn to trust your trip odometer more than your fuel light. I do the same with the car, just first understand your highway and city tank ranges. I also carry spare bulbs with me, nothing worse than a night ride/drive where you loose a light at 2am.

Welcome to the board.

 

Make sure to take your wallet out of your back pocket. Put it in the center console, or some other place. Your *** and back will thank you a couple hours down the road.

I cant really think of anything the 8 would really need.

 

You can do the Mapquest thingy, or if you have Navi youre good to go, but it is always a good idea to have a road atlas in the trunk as abackup just in case.

I don't advocate eating in the car, but carying a light snack and water is always a good idea on long trips.
Plan your trip in detail (to include possible rest stops and overnight stays) and make note of the places where you could get help if you needed it (mechanical breakdowns, or medical emergencies etc. Also let someone know your schedule and planned route before you leave.

 

Wow. I just did Pennsylvania to Colorado this Spring in an Xterra. Sorta just threw a bunch of **** in the car and left, including one pair of skis, three snowboards, a santa claus outfit, about 500 CDs, radar detector, mapquest directions, a sticky pad you suction to the windshield to take notes while driving (this was another kids accessory, which came in handy for recording interesting quotes and trivia, the "rumble strip" talley was a favorite). But I guess being prepared is always better than not. We stopped at a Cracker Barrel on the way there in Kansas City, got our waitress's phone number, and stayed at her place on the way home (I guess you could call that planning an overnight stop). Anyway, have a blast, waiting to do a cross-country in the 8 myself (get up in to those mountains)

 

you too?

 

i think mazdamaniac did a recent cross country trip (plus he's turboed) and didn't run into any problems.

 

you'll need enough funds for gas!!!!!!Being a car that is not the greatest in MPG, who knows what kind of prices you'll run against cross-country....

 

He won't have to worry about higher gas prices, Chicago has the highest in the nation.

I also know what you mean about the Chicago driving, it drives me nuts because you just want to open the car up but the traffic keeps you limited to quick stop and go driving. Not to mention the horrible gas mileage that accompanies this driving 11 to 12.5 mpg gallon is no fun.

I've driven a 500 mile trip and found the car very comfortable, not fatiguing at all. Enjoy the ride.

 

Did your mileage improve on your long trip? I know you do mainly short city trips with the mileage you reported above so I was curious if you did better with the long trip, which I am assuming was majority highway since I can't imagine anywhere you could put on 500 miles in city driving. LOL

 

Yeah Chicago does have crazy gas prices. After the BP pipeline shutdown premium by my dad's house close to downtown was $3.85, now I still pay around $3.49. Anyways It'll be worth every penny driving my baby on the open road, mountains, and twisties.

 

Wow! I paid $3.11 for premium at the closest Chevron to my house on Saturday. Today on my way into work it was still $3.11. I will be needing gas again on Thursday on the way home from work, so that means the 24-hour Chevron and that one is currently $3.17, although it is usually the same price to 2 cents cheaper.

 

I don't want make this thread into gas price thread, but Chicago is ridiculous. There are 2 seasons in Chicago winter and road construction, I guess they gotta pay for it somehow... by **** raping us at the pump. AND THE ROADS STILL SUCK!

Sorry, had to vent.

 

You would think all the damn tolls would pay for the construction.

 

I don't have my front plate on, never got a ticket for that not even in my old SE-R. I also have the clear corners with clear bulbs, does anybody think I would get pulled over for these things, especially because I would be an out of stater. Cops love to pull over people from other states, easy money.

 

Hard to say, just don't attract the cops with any aggressive driving in urban areas. I've been running with out the front plate for a bout 9 months, so far so good.

I envy you that mountain driving. I was up in Wisconsin a few weeks back and really enjoyed some of those back roads.

 

Yeah Wisconsin has some fun roads. I snowboard and usually go to Chestnut Mtn., mainly because of the road right before the resort. Right after I got my 8 drove there and had a blast doing 80-90 mph on this really twisty road with dips, it was kind of scary because you can't see which way the road turns over these hills. I highly recommend it