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| Would you attempt this; a 3600 kilometer (2250 miles) road trip | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 22 2011, 11:42 AM (1,928 Views) | |
| WJK | Jan 22 2011, 11:42 AM Post #1 |
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Elite Member
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Debating taking a 3600 km road trip this summer in my 93 Geo Metro. I figure with a tune up and new tires it should be totally do able. Any words of wisdom? |
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| BillHoo | Jan 22 2011, 11:53 AM Post #2 |
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Bring this with you: - Basic tools wrenches, socket set, screwdriver, flashlight, jack / stands - spark plug puller - Compression tester - backup battery / jump starter - voltage / battery tester - carburator cleaner / starter fluid - Can of WD-40 - Seafoam? - Fuses - motor oil - Fix-A-Flat or other tire fixing kit - Coolant - Spare timing belt from: http://geometroforum.com/topic/4074877/1/#new Edited by BillHoo, Jan 22 2011, 11:54 AM.
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| dayle1960 | Jan 22 2011, 12:09 PM Post #3 |
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Fastest Hampster EVER
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I would, but in MY car. I don't know about your car, but my car is just fine. I am confident that I could fix anything that might break on my car, within reason. It might take a day or two to fix a tranny or engine but everything else would be very easy to fix. |
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| Spock | Jan 22 2011, 12:10 PM Post #4 |
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Live Long and Prosper.
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Compression tester? Timing belt? If you think your engine is going to loose compression or puke a timing belt 3600km from now, maybe you should rethink this road trip. |
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| Coche Blanco | Jan 22 2011, 12:30 PM Post #5 |
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Troll Certified
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Bring spare belts. Compression tester isn't needed. |
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| ironman752 | Jan 22 2011, 12:45 PM Post #6 |
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Advanced Member
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I did a NY NY To LA CA in 10/09 even slep in the car on night and I'm 6' 2'' so if your car is in good shape it should be np |
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| metroschultz | Jan 22 2011, 12:54 PM Post #7 |
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Please just call me; "Schultz"
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Yeah, the comp tester and t. belt are a bit much. If you have any doubts about the belt(s) at all, change them now. Easy, peasy, cheesy. Basic tool kit, check, spark plug puller, in tool kit, ?backup battery? just a set of cables, Battery tester, check, DVOM, check, (they are not the same, one can load the battery up so you can tell if there is any amperage left. Then you can tell if it will turn the starter) ?chemicals? good idea, can we keep them from causing trouble in the car? yes, secure them under the spare tire, Fuses, check, extra oil, check, extra coolant, check, fix-a-flat, check, (put it with the other chemicals) Common sense, check, Patience, check, Have a safe and enjoyable trip. Keep us in the loop as you tear up the asphalt. |
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| WJK | Jan 22 2011, 12:54 PM Post #8 |
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Elite Member
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At the moment, I believe in my car, runs great, still pulling in 53 mpg. Just did the seafoam not even a month ago and made what I believed was a great running car even better. Put in new plugs after the oil change, replaced alternator and belt. Only iffy thing is my exhaust pipe (although my patch job did the trick) and I think I will replace that before the trip along with new tires. PO says he'd do the trip in my car no problem with of course new tires. Going to build a little trailer that hauls the car top carrier myself, I think I can make it more cost effective than what they are charging for them here. I do take good care of it, and the PO took really good care of it, as did the guy who had it from new. Looking forward to the trip. Once I do that you might see me down your way, have some folk to see and things I'd like to do down the Missouri way. I figured it would cost me approx $250 CAD for my venture to Nova Scotia. Gotta Love Geo's!!!! |
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| billy508 | Jan 22 2011, 01:34 PM Post #9 |
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billy508
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I carry a timing and alt belt, alt, dist cap/rotor extra keys zipped tied in bumper. spare hoses for radiator. quart of oil, gallon of water brake fluid, duct tape. Volt/ohm meter and enough tools to do the job. I admit I carry too much. But it is a hang over from latter years when parts stores were hard to find and closed early. I lost a alternator in a Porsche 944 so I went to a Walmart and got a hot battery and waited until day light and drove on in, No light no fan nothing elec on. Made it over 200 miles to home. If you starter craps out you can just push start till you can fix it. I change my fuel filter every 2 years, cheap insurance. good luck and travel save.
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| nerys | Jan 22 2011, 01:48 PM Post #10 |
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Grr
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Listen to me. what is wrong with you people? (I am trying to be funny in case anyone misses that :-) OK if your driving a rusted out on its last legs hulk that you have to baby step every day to keep running OK you have a problem and maybe you should be concerned with such a trip. otherwise a geo metro is a MODERN NORMAL AUTOMOBILE. It can handle a longer trip than YOU CAN. you will NOT outlast that car on a road trip. Period. its not going to fall apart. its not more likely to fail you (unless its ALREADY in shape to fail you at which point its as likely as ANY OTHER CAR to give you trouble) there is nothing intrinsically unsafe or unreliable about these cars. Would I make a 2250 mile trip in my geo metro if I did not have to? HELL NO but thats because I am, 6'3" 400 pounds. the size of the car and the type of seats just DON'T jive with people my size on trips that long. the car itself would not even hesitate to make such a trip. I put 700-800 miles PER WEEK on my geo and it has a bad tranny and a bad clutch. as far as ability to traverse distances and reliability these cars are no better or worse than any other car save for your comfort and creature comforts. if your car is in decent shape not falling apart and in good repair (like ANY OTHER CAR) it will have ANY higher probability of "breaking down" than my 88 cherokee or an 03 caliber or a ford van or a Maserati. its just a car. IN FACT because of how SIMPLE these cars are I would even wadger they are LESS LIKELY to give you any grief on a road trip. less to go wrong. SO pick a car you would not even question going 2250 miles in. is your geo in as good a state of repair and maintenance as this car? if yes THEN GO. if not. FIX IT and then go. people always come on here as if these are golf carts not designed to actually be used as cars that they are unreliable on long trips. why? whats the thinking here? timming belts? no less likely to fail than any other car. fuel filter? no less likely to fail than any other car. tires? no less likely to fail than any other car. its just a car :-) ENJOY IT and enjoy the gas savings. if your back can tolerate those seats for 2250 miles GO FOR IT. :-) Edited by nerys, Jan 22 2011, 01:49 PM.
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| nerys | Jan 22 2011, 01:54 PM Post #11 |
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Grr
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BTW there is one way that your 93 geo is EVEN MORE reliable than even a new car. a simple Socket set thats $10-$15 and a $20-$30 wrench set that goes to 30mm a jack and tire iron a torch and a few odd tools in a small bag (some deep sockets plyers cutters vicegrips screw drivers etc..) will let you fix ALMOST ANYTHING ON YOUR ENTIRE CAR RIGHT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. These cars are SO SIMPLE they are SCARY SIMPLE. I am dumbfounded as to how easy these things are to fix and how FEW tools you need to fix them. and parts are not only common but CHEAP (relative to other cars) These cars REALLY express how intentionally over complex manufacturers make cars today. They are so simple its a DUH yeah of course that would work fine kind of simple :-) |
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| WJK | Jan 22 2011, 03:19 PM Post #12 |
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Elite Member
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Well that certainly clears the air. My hesitation was purely the age of the car not the condition, as I said she is well taken care of, and runs great. It has a few rusty places but nothing that will interfere with the structural ability of it. Unless something drastic happens between now and then, I guess it is a go. Pending my Sister does relocate, at present she is in the west coast, which i would not drive in a brand new vehicle, to far for my old bones, but I can do a 17 hour drive in two days. Thanks Everyone. |
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| nerys | Jan 22 2011, 04:02 PM Post #13 |
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Grr
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yes. old as in ford model A ok maybe have to rethink a 2250 mile trip. old as in anything 1950 or newer I would not have much problem with a 2250 mile trip as long as its well maintained and in good running conditions. anything fuel injected in decent repair and condition I would not even hesitate at any distance (from a mechanical reliability viewpoint) hell your Geo is probably more mechanically sound than a lot of the new "crap" floating around now that I think about it :-) Just watch out for the mechanical reliability of YOU. your not doing 2250 miles in 17 hours buddy. more like 40-50 hours. with an average speed of 45mph thats 50 hours with an average speed (assuming mostly interstates) of 60mph your looking at around 38 hours. You would hace to average 132mph to do that in 17 hours not even a rocket engine will get a geo to 132mph safely :-) or do you mean 2250 round trip? so 17 hours each way? (still too short more like 19 hours each way) taking 2 days is a good idea. I have gotten as far as chicago (19057 PA to just outside chicago) without stopping but thats about my max without getting dangerous to myself and the others on the road even with caf pills. thats 800 miles in about 13-14 hours. and thats really about as good as it gets. so think carefully about your driving plans. have you driven that kind of distance before (I assume you have) I learned the hard way after 10 years. its WELL WORTH IT to pay $40 to $60 for a room to overnight on a trip that long. WELL worth it. you feel so much better you have more energy your more rested and you can actually go further and your not destroyed when you get to the other end (twice out to colorado non stop except to sleep on the side of the road and once to central texas) very very long 30+ hours one way trips :-) hehe never again. this year we stopped at a hotel half way home. WOW what a difference. well worth the cash. its how I will be doing 25+hours trips from now on :-) 17 hours each way I would do in one shot. ie drive 12-14 hours (I have done as much as 18 hours it was not fun and is hard to repeat) sleep for 3 or 4 hours and do the last few hours. but thats me. for whatever reason I seem to be good at long haul driving. was thinking about being a trucker once just because of that. Edited by nerys, Jan 22 2011, 04:10 PM.
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| metro_fiend | Jan 22 2011, 04:04 PM Post #14 |
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where Geos come to die
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In the summer mine went from nova scoita to ohio and back with no troubles. Wasent the best of shape body wise but the motor and trans were awesome |
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| WJK | Jan 22 2011, 05:24 PM Post #15 |
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Elite Member
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Sorry that is round trip. I have driven cross the country a few times in my younger years. Back then I would do this trip in one shot no stop overs. Now I take my time enjoy the scenery, take photos. Taking a small tent for the over nights and rest of necessary camp gear. The only one traveling with me is my dog, he doesn't talk back or back seat drive either. As far as mileage, I am going by what the GPS has posted, I take that with a grain of salt. I get there when I get there. Not a race. How ever most people make the trip in two days with a stop over for sleep and eating. |
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