Coast-to-Coast in 5.5 Days. In a Miata.

"someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired)
10/02/2014 at 19:28 • Filed to: MIATA, TRANSCONTINENTAL TRAVEL

There's been a lot of Miata talk lately, so I, as a veteran of two coast to coast runs in an NA, figured I would share the experience of my latest 5 day trip from Connecticut to the Seattle in my NA Miata.

The Car:

Behold the paint flaws and door dings.

The Green Bastard is a 97 NA that I bought cheap to be a second car when I had no money and car #1 started breaking down a lot. Since then, it's been with me to 23 states. It looks like crap but has been a trusty friend for many years.

Prep:

Preparation is important when taking a 17 year old car on a nearly 3000 mile trip. Main thing is to exercise the car regularly around town and longer journeys if possible. Because the 97's have passenger airbags, it wasn't getting much use with two kids, so I started driving it whenever possible.

Usual mechanical items should be checked. Make sure there are no codes getting thrown, brakes are good, suspension is in good shape and clutch is working well.

Do a complete inspection of tires. Many western states have very high speed limits and corresponding summer temperatures. You do not want/need a high speed blowout in your life. I found a severe dry rot and a long crack in one of my treads, but I can't complain after 9 years. Tried to get a set of new BF Goodrich Comp T/As on super sale but they were out of stock, so I got a good deal on the new Dunlop Direzzas. $350 installed after rebate. Decent.

Inspect all hoses. I noticed some cracking in the brake booster lines. That was a quick swap, but I figured it would be prudent to replace the remaining hoses. They come as a kit now, and are pretty cheap (~$100 for OEM Mazda lines). HOWEVER THIS IS THE WORST JOB EVER ON A MIATA. Seriously, replacing the coolant lines sucks. Nearly a day of yoga later I had all but the lines that route to the pancake oil cooler done. These are much easier to deal with when changing the oil.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Change the oil. Just do it, even if it's not due. Also a great opportunity to swap the coolant lines to the oil cooler.

Miata owners know that the paint is adhered to the body using a patented process that ensures that there is very little adhesion to the surface underneath. If you have a pristine NA Miata, get the 1980s bra off eBay. Otherwise your front bumper will get sandblasted.

Packing the Car:

You should always keep a small toolset with you. Mine includes a couple of universal screwdrivers, small ratchet set, wrenches, pliers (locking, regular, needlenose), zip ties, hammer, electrical tape, wire and electrical connectors/crimper/fuses, multimeter, and my OBD II scanner. I always have a small air compressor, jumper cables, coolant, brake fluid and extra oil on hand. I use a small Craftsman chest that I store all the tools in, but they also have some great soft sided bags that are easier to pack.

Oh and no Miata roadtrip should take place without a copy of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on board.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

The Miata will hold an enormous amount of stuff if you pack it right. You can get everything in you need with two people (me and the wife used to use it for car camping), but having the passenger side available means you can be sloppy about packing.

I generally store all fluids upright behind the passenger seat. A rollerboard suitcase will generally sit in the front passenger footwell ( a duffel is easier). Cooler on passenger seat and comms/nav/tunes within easy reach. Toolchest is in the back.

Command center just after arrival in Seattle. Note extremely poor XM install, complete with vintage receiver.

The Trip:

Day 1 Eastern Connecticut to Clearfield, PA:

Wife left early in the Town and Country as movers screwed up the estimate, and needed to put some stuff on another truck. Oh well, stuff happens. Second set of movers pull away.

Friends offer lunch at a nearby Subway. I hop in the car and turn the key. No good. Weird as it started fine that morning. Charger on, 5 minutes later I try again. Off and running. Alternator pushing 14.7 volts, so I'm good there.

No problems as I leave from lunch and enjoy one last blast down the Merritt Parkway. As I am about to leave Connecticut the Eagles come on the radio. Which is appropriate, as I %$#%ing hate the Eagles.

Time to go through White Plains and over the Tappan Zee. Yeah, it's getting to rush hour, but it's not the GW. Boy am I wrong. Three hours to go from White Plains to the 287/87 split (24 miles). Ominous start. Oh well, over the Del Water Gap and into Pennsylvania on 80.

Go to start the car the next morning and the car screeches to life like some sort of wounded animal. Thanks to the Harley guys for only laughing a little bit, and apologies to the other hotel guests you if you were trying to sleep in that morning.

Day 2: Clearfield, PA to Madison, WI

Headed out in the morning for the Midwest. Stayed on 80 into Ohio (the turnpike is even more boring than people give it credit for). On into Indiana, where I hit my first real rainstorm and the wipers aren't keeping up – time to pull in for some gas. Hop back in. Nothing. Damn. Hop out to check battery voltage, and find the battery cable dangling. Must have been loose and the stupid pothole had knocked off the cable. Reconnect – it's not enough. Wife is now twenty miles down the road as she has an extra 200 miles of range.

Travel plaza, so I go in to the station knowing they won't be able to help, but it's always worth a try. No good. I look for the hooptiest car at the gas station to try and get a jump. Hope – in the form off a local university student topping off the oil in her second gen Odyssey. I apparently look pathetic or threatening as she agrees to help out. In any case, success and on to the Windy City.

Head into Chicago at full speed. Smooth sailing until I get to the Dan Ryan/Stevenson expressway merge. Turns out the wife got routed around thanks to satellite traffic in the van, so I got a great view of the Sears Tower (I'm not calling it anything different ever) for about an hour and a half. Stopped in to see a friend north of the city and he took us to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . That place is awesome and well worth checking out.

Belly full we hit the road for Madison.

Day 3: Madison, WI to Mitchell, SD

Had to jump the car again – will crank forever but won't catch. Still thinking I need a battery, but it starts no problem all day. Annoying. Well shouldn't be too much of a problem as I can always jump it. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! time! Went to dinner. Saw three guys in mullets and trucker caps trying to resuscitate a late 80s F-250 in the parking lot. Day made.

Day 4: Mitchell, SD to Buffalo, WY

Another day, another trunk opening of shame. Still cranking, but won't catch in the morning. Chrysler Town and Country is performing admirably as a portable power unit and kid isolation system. It's go time. South Dakota is awesome. Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to save it for themselves. We hop off at the Badlands and do a quick tour (buy a parks pass if you are heading west, you'll use it). Buffalo taco on Indian bread at a restaurant in the park which is fantastic (the restaurants in the national parks are generally reasonably priced and decent). Exit the park and head into Wall.

If you've never been to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , it is quite the experience. You'll see signs for hundreds of miles, and it really is worth a stop for 5 cent coffee, free water, and unlimited kitsch. The kids love it too.

Push on into Wyoming. Sitting in Gilette at dinner the sky is looking super crappy. Hotel is in Buffalo, which is across a pass, so it's time to make a break for it. It starts raining ice pellets. Lots of them. It gets to a point where there are only two tracks through and the bottom of the car is scraping on the ice pellets in between. Direzzas are doing well in the conditions (and I'm glad the Comp T/As were sold out), but I wish I had all seasons at a minimum. Not something I expected and it turns out the road was closed shortly after left Gillette.

Day 5: Buffalo, WY to Missoula, MT

Another day, another morning jumpstart. Left Buffalo and headed for Missoula. Wyoming and Montana are stunning and it's a great drive, even on the interstate. Arrive in Missoula, which appears to be a special hippie/hipster paradise that makes Burlington, Vermont look like Dallas, Texas. Grab some great food at a local Mexican place downtown, and take the kids down to the waterfront to a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . There is an idiot with a surfboard in the river. People do not seem surprised by this.

Day 5.5: Missoula, MT to Seattle

Got smart and parked the Miata with the T&C right behind for an easy morning jumpstart. Driving through the rest of Montana was enjoyable, save for some junior varsity NHRA team that blew by me doing 85 hauling a trailer in a 50 construction zone with loose gravel. Thanks for the paint and windshield chips asshole. Up the pass and over into Idaho which is a fun drive, though one should always be careful with out of state plates in Idaho's panhandle. Into Washington State, it's a quick and painless drive across the state and down Snoqualmie Pass and into the Seattle suburbs.

The Cold Start Fix:

Since the car would crank but wouldn't start cold, I began trying to diagnose the problem. If you feathered the throttle, it would go. This pointed to a fuel injection problem, but after replacing the start relay and the fuel pressure regulator, things didn't improve. Then I remembered Rule #1 of Miata repair. IT'S ALWAYS THE DAMN BATTERY. Even though it wasn't a year old, it wasn't pushing enough amps to cold start. Luckily now that I was in Seattle, we had an O'Reilly's close by with a proper Miata AGM battery at a reasonable price. I now keep it hooked up to a trickle charger whenever it's not in use.

Are you able to walk again?

Yeah even without functional A/C or cruise, the Miata is pretty comfy and not a bad way to cross the continent. It is definitely better if you have more time, as you can get off the interstate and onto better driving roads, but this trip was still a blast.

DISCUSSION (73)

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > someassemblyrequired
10/02/2014 at 20:16

Surprised earplugs or self-amputation wasn't mentioned.

someassemblyrequired > RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire
10/02/2014 at 23:54

Your ears do stop ringing after a while. And it's not like it's a new Miata - it's the 70s Oldsmobile of Miatas. Acres of room.

ddavidn > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 12:46

Welcome to Washington!

For Sweden > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 12:50

Have been to Missoula, can confirm description.

Kickaha > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 13:02

when you were stuck at the gas station did you think about push starting the car?mita perty light should be able to do a one man push start.had a 78 camaro that I was able to push start myself when needed.

Ike B > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 13:09

My 90 Miata didn't fare quite as well from Miami to Orlando, eating an AC compressor clutch bearing midway. It's great for helping these cars' weak torque, but running 4,000-4,500rpm on a freeway cruise does the accessory bearings no favors whatsoever.

Interesting note from many freeway drives: These cars lose 2-3mpg in the rain. They seriously have to push harder through the water.

mtdrift > For Sweden
10/03/2014 at 13:10

I live in Missoula, can also confirm.

Hammerdown > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 13:10

Appreciate the kind words about South Dakota. And you're right. Those of us who are from there don't talk much about it so we can keep it for ourselves.

Matt8484 > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 13:11

Every time I thought it was "ALWAYS THE DAMN BATTERY", it was inevitably a slightly loose belt. Seriously - tighten it and you'll likely be straightened out.

Tohru > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 13:15

Hello from Wisconsin!

grounder3 > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 13:16

Isn't the record like 29.5 hours? five days is a terrible cannonball run time, even for a Miata.

Santa Kimi > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 13:24

I really admire your bravery in driving a 20-ish year old car across the country! Not sure I could do that.

I've got a 96 NA Miata which I've had for the last three years or so, and it's in pretty good shape for an 18-year old car. Being that it's lived its life on the west coast, it hasn't had to endure things like road salt and snow, so no rust! Thing is - and this is almost certainly a psychological thing - I'm kind of afraid to drive it on a regular basis. My confidence was shaken slightly when the timing belt broke while driving on I-5 (Seattle Miatas FTW!), and a leaking CAS O-ring lead to the steamy death of one of my heater hoses.

The issues I have fall pretty firmly into the "standard ~20 year-old car stuff" category, but they did spook me a little. Anyone have advice for getting over this?

Raphael MB > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 13:25

I've owned my NA for almost ten years as a third car and it's been my goto long distance car. The interstates are torture but if you can find a curvy traffic free road it's all worth it right. However I'm 6'2" and when I was younger the Miata's size didn't bother me. I would even stop and snooze by the side of the road when I had to. Now I'm approaching 40 and 2 years ago I drove down the West Coast from Vancouver BC to San Diego and I could really feel it in my bones. The few curves that I got to carve couldn't make up for all the miles spent stuck behind traffic and listening to the droning and wind buffeting. I finished my trip sore and deaf. I think what might be contributing to my attitude shift in addition to getting older is that a few years ago I bought a W140 S-Class. Basically the opposite experience. After a long drive in that car I feel energized and refreshed. Sadly this year the Miata sat in the garage plugged into the trickle charger and not driven once. It might be time to finally sell.

Thunder > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 13:31

so I got a good deal on the new Dunlop Direzzas.

Direzzas, huh?

I needed new tires on my last car, an '07 Civic Si. Was going to get Sumitomo HTZ III's (if I recall correctly) but the local place said the Direzza DZ-1's were just as good, and if I disagreed, I could bring them back, no charge.

They put 'em on... and my car turned into my Dad's old 1994 Mercury Grand Marquis. Wobbling around like it was drunk, turn the wheel then wait for the car to respond, it was horrible. I increased the pressure a bit, then again, but it was still crap.

Took 'em back, had them order those Sumitomos, and ultimately went away happy. Should have gone with what my research had pointed to in the first place.

newgalactic > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 13:35

Steve?

Malforus > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 13:40

One thing I did with my car was just buy a bigger battery. Make sure you don't up the voltage but something designed for an AutoMatic version or similar car usually will last a bit longer and save you the need for a jump.

YourGoodTimes > For Sweden
10/03/2014 at 13:41

I'm happy your Miata never fully screwed the pooch. Your trip is exactly what I want to do when I get a ND Miata. Have you relocated to WA? If so you should check out bscc.net I'm involved in the group and have a 94 Miata myself. Please do message me if you plan on coming out, I'd be happy to introduce you to some great folks.

David E. Davis > For Sweden
10/03/2014 at 13:41

It's the land of Moose Drool. Only a hippyster could have come up with that.

For Sweden > YourGoodTimes
10/03/2014 at 13:42

Why are you telling me this?

For Sweden > David E. Davis
10/03/2014 at 13:42

Missoula is hippie, not hipster

Ted Ladue > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 13:56

Miata's are pretty great for long trips! Drove mine from Atlanta to up-near-Burlington, VT and back a couple years back. I was deaf for days.

Kinja'd!!!

coconut > Thunder
10/03/2014 at 14:10

I just did nearly the same damn thing. It feels like Dunlop forgot a ply or two with all the sidewall flex. E46 suddenly became an Eldorado :(

stubbornidealist > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 14:20

I just drove around the country (Washington, DC to Seattle, then down the pacific coast highway to LA, then across the south and back to DC) this past summer. By far my favorite part was the couple of days between South Dakota and Seattle.

YourGoodTimes > For Sweden
10/03/2014 at 14:21

Sorry wrong person, but I have 2 Volvo's and a sick love for classic 900's so yeah.

YourGoodTimes > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 14:21

miataisme > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 14:22

You must be a smaller guy than me. I love my 94 Miata, but after 3 hours of driving I always have to unfold myself to get out and stretch for a bit.

adacla > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 14:45

Dude, you hate the Eagles?

SolamenteDave > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 14:58

Kinja'd!!!

Is that a SkyFi? I had something like it when I first got XM, back in the dark ages.

Green Mountain Car Guy > For Sweden
10/03/2014 at 15:00

Sitting at work in Burlington, VT....thank you for the heads up about Missoula! Not sure if I should avoid it or go just to see how much more there can be!

For Sweden > Green Mountain Car Guy
10/03/2014 at 15:02

Stay home. Missoula already has too many transplants looking to find themselves in the woods.

melikecars > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 15:23

Fun read, but why didn't you just buy a new battery somewhere?

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 15:32

mmmm now you made me want portillos for lunch...but chipotle is down the street vs portillos which is a 20 minute drive so guess which one wins

philaDLJ > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 15:43

Two Day 4s?

someassemblyrequired > YourGoodTimes
10/03/2014 at 15:59

Cool I have been a PSMC member for a long time. Mostly because then you get way less hassle when you go down to Coop's to get something complicated fixed.

someassemblyrequired > Thunder
10/03/2014 at 16:01

Yeah these were the new DZ102s . They aren't perfect, but they are better than the DZ101s they replaced and they were the right price.

someassemblyrequired > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
10/03/2014 at 16:01

20 minute drive?

someassemblyrequired > ddavidn
10/03/2014 at 16:01

Thanks!

someassemblyrequired > philaDLJ
10/03/2014 at 16:02

Yeah I suck - technically 5 days and a little door to door, but I fixed my obvious counting fail. Thanks!

someassemblyrequired > Malforus
10/03/2014 at 16:04

Yeah I just throw it on a tender now. Should have been doing that for a long time. I just couldn't believe it was totally dead in 11 months. And I bought it off some internet place, so getting a warranty replacement was as much as a new one (and a couple of weeks for shipping back and forth).

someassemblyrequired > SolamenteDave
10/03/2014 at 16:07

Yeah it's a MyFi, circa 2003, still going strong.

someassemblyrequired > philaDLJ
10/03/2014 at 16:08

And accounted for 3 hr time difference.

someassemblyrequired > Tohru
10/03/2014 at 16:08

This was my first trip into Wisconsin. Should probably spend more time there. Looked good from the road.

Tohru > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 16:12

Come on back. I live about 60 miles from Road America - my roommate's an Opponaut too.

someassemblyrequired > melikecars
10/03/2014 at 16:12

I had a bad experience with a conventional lead acid spilling all over the trunk - had to neutralize the acid and repaint the inside of the trunk. It was a crappy job, so I only put AGM batteries in it now. I knew once I got west it was just a matter of running over to the local parts store for a new one. I figured I'd just chance it, especially seeing as I usually had the other car nearby, the alternator was ok, and the morning start was the only problem.

Malforus > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 16:13

I always worry about trickle charging a battery like that, always makes me nervous. Though if it works for you, no harm.

someassemblyrequired > Malforus
10/03/2014 at 16:14

I actually have one of the CTEK AGM specific chargers/trickle chargers now. It has a quick disconnect and it is super compact. Should have bought one years ago.

someassemblyrequired > Ted Ladue
10/03/2014 at 16:20

What is the towing capacity of a fully laden Miata?

Malforus > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 16:21

Well if it is a product you trust than its great, had a friend who had a really cheap one short out and partially blow up his battery. 14 years on I still am leary.

someassemblyrequired > Malforus
10/03/2014 at 16:24

Yeah you do have to be careful as the stock AGM batteries charge at a lower voltage. So far, so good. But yeah - definitely not something to skimp on.

someassemblyrequired > Tohru
10/03/2014 at 16:27

I do have to do a proper Midwest trip at some point. My friend from Minnesota tells me I need to head to White Bear Lake, and my old office neighbor went to UW-Madison and says the lakefront is great.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 16:35

nope don't have the patience to fight traffic on cicero or Harlem so the Chipotle was fantastic

someassemblyrequired > YourGoodTimes
10/03/2014 at 16:39

Order your ND out east and drive it back. The toughest part of the drive is out east, then it gets fun once you're west of Chicago. The last time I went, I went south to visit a friend in SLC, then met up with the family in Jackson Hole, and did the Grand Tetons and around Yellowstone, down through Cody, and over the Bighorn Scenic Byway (which is amazing). There are so many good options out west for fun roads.

Tohru > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 16:39

Madison is 50 square miles surrounded by reality. The rural parts of the state is where it's at. The twisty "alphabet" county roads, small-town bars and supper clubs, little lakes scattered around, the Mindoro Cut, the Baraboo Bluffs, it just goes on.

This is Highway 95, outside Arcadia.

Kinja'd!!!

http://www.wisconsinmotorcycling.com/maps/sw/index.…

someassemblyrequired > Tohru
10/03/2014 at 16:43

Damn. Was going to make a joke about lettered highways, but I'm glad I didn't. Why are you on the internet? High price of gas?

Tohru > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 16:45

I'm not sure I follow.

someassemblyrequired > Tohru
10/03/2014 at 16:46

That looks like an awesome drive - I would be in my car all the time if that was close.

Tohru > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 16:49

Oh, okay. I'm an on-the-road salesman, so I'm usually out driving these roads. My turf this month includes Baraboo, so I'm runnin' through the Bluffs every day. I'm only online because I'm being lazy and avoiding work.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 17:21

Road trips are always fun! I enjoyed reading, man!

someassemblyrequired > Tohru
10/03/2014 at 18:31

That's awesome - well at least until the snow flies. Then super awesome as it's powersliding season.

thegregorius > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 18:34

"[...] a couple of universal screwdrivers, small ratchet set, wrenches, pliers (locking, regular, needlenose), zip ties, hammer, electrical tape, wire and electrical connectors/crimper/fuses, multimeter, and my OBD II scanner. I always have a small air compressor, jumper cables, coolant, brake fluid and extra oil on hand."

How the fuck fuckington fuck (third lord of fuchswick, England) do you fit that in a Miata? Me and my gf drove through Europe in an NA this summer. We had one small suitcase for my stuff, one small sportbag for her stuff, one spare wheel, a couple of screwdrivers, a wrench and a box of spare fuses. Fitting that into the trunk seemed like a challenge. An air compressor and fluids? Wow.

Tohru > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 18:36

I still gotta get a winter car. Can't DD the TinyTohruTruck in the winter - with the liquid ice melt they spray on the roads now it would dissolve the frail Nippon sheet metal.

Kinja'd!!!

someassemblyrequired > Tohru
10/03/2014 at 18:45

Yeah you need to preserve that one for future generations. That cannot be a WI truck from new. If it is there's a great story behind it.

someassemblyrequired > thegregorius
10/03/2014 at 18:53

Yeah luckily I didn't have a passenger (the compressor is just a small 12V jobbie) and fits with fluids behind the passenger seat. I cheated and used the passenger footwell as well. If you're taking a freind there is a smugglers notch behind the spare and you can get creative and throw jumper cables and electrical inside the spare, stuff like that.

Tohru > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 19:28

According to the sticker inside the door frame, it was purchased new by Robert M. Elsner of Stoughton, WI. He bought it at Don Miller Dodge of Madison, and took delivery December 10th, 1988.

When I search "Robert Elsner Stoughton", I found an obituary for him. He died June 1996, at age 64, of heart disease. It said in there that he was a Korean War vet, had retired from Oscar Mayer in 1982, and retired from being a Stoughton School District bus driver in 1988. One could assume the Ram 50 was a retirement present to himself. He was survived by his wife, Betty. A cursory search reveals that she is still alive and (presumably) well.

I bought the truck at the Copart auto auction in Madison in July 2014 for $1510 (after taxes, gate fee, and registration). The title paperwork I got for it was the original 1988 title in Robert's name, and on the back it was signed over to an auto liquidation company based in Washington State. They paid $300 for it, and it was dated June 2014. So I'm only the second registered owner from new. The only thing I can imagine is that the truck spent 8 years just sitting in the Elsner garage, not being driven.

I drove it home from the Copart auction, and she was in a bad way. The exhaust from the downpipe back was sitting in the bed (along with a set of GM 5-bolt 15's), it refused to idle, and the radio & jack equpiment was gone. I gave her new exhaust (cat delete, with muffler), tinkered with the carb to help it idle (it still dies sometimes), and put my 12 year old Clarion into it. Oh, and took the topper off.

I bought it with 86k miles on it. She's currently got 90,240 miles.

When she's laid up this winter, she's getting new BFGoodrich Radial T/A's and some repairs. The boxed frame has rust holes in it, like they do. The front fenders are also starting to get fat at the bottom, and there's a hole in the RR wheel tub. Plus I need to get the vinyl on the front seat repaired, and it needs a carb rebuild.

Kinja'd!!!

soundman98 > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 22:25

Kinja'd!!!

but now you can't hear the speaker, and all audio is skewed to the left!

HiwattScott > someassemblyrequired
10/03/2014 at 22:34

Kinja'd!!!

Bought one of these Harbor Freight portable jump starters a while back. Worth it's weight in gold for saving yourself from parking lot shame. Added bonus: it has a built in air compressor.

someassemblyrequired > soundman98
10/03/2014 at 23:24

Actually works out good due to road noise.

someassemblyrequired > Tohru
10/03/2014 at 23:30

Wow. Modern barn find. Cool - I salute you sir for grabbing this, giving it the attention it deserves and saving what is probably one of a nearly extinct species. There are very few of these left, even out west. Definitely time to find a winter car. What will it be? Subaru or Maxima?

Tohru > someassemblyrequired
10/04/2014 at 00:49

The winter car option list: http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/tohru-wants-a-…

Not on list: I know a steel scrapper who has a running driving 80's Chrysler V8 RWD he might sell cheap, so I might go with that just for no fucks given.

Miata2016GT > someassemblyrequired
10/04/2014 at 15:15

Agreed... from another Wisconsinite... and there are a LOT of Miata enthusiasts!

Racer-Ex > someassemblyrequired
10/06/2014 at 09:00

Just did DC>Laguna Seca>DC in 2 weeks in an NA (with similar pre-trip prep.) Only issue was the cruise switch. I guess YMMV!

someassemblyrequired > Racer-Ex
10/06/2014 at 11:57

At least yours HAS cruise, even if it doesn't work... Hope you had as much fun as I did.

The Artist Formerly Known As... > someassemblyrequired
10/07/2014 at 14:55

Glad you liked Wyoming and Montana. I had a girlfriend from Buffalo. I loved visiting her family in Wyoming. The state is amazing.