Adventure 993 roadtrip, from Ohio to Ohio

"SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman" (dasborgen)
11/26/2014 at 09:04 • Filed to: Porsche, Carrera, 911, roadtrip, Rockies, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Adventure 993

A few months ago, my friend started looking for an air-cooled 911. He wanted a 993 and after 5 months of looking, he found one in Boise, Idaho. I had completely forgotten about that when he made this bookface post. I simply said I’m in without even remembering that.

Day 1

The flight day was confirmed finally for the 20th instead. He confirmed our Southwest flights to Boise via Denver. So we rode to the airport early on Thursday

On our flight to Denver, we met this really nice redhead lady going to AZ on business. We both chatted with her all flight long about random things. She was very cool so we had lunch with her at the Denver airport during our layover

On our flight to Boise, we talked with this guy going there on business sitting by us. He was getting an Olds 442 convertible the next week, so we could tell he was also a gearhead. We landed in Boise and the salesman picked us up in a Mercedes GL. There was snow and ice on the ground. Maybe driving a RWD Porsche in late November was gonna be a bad idea?

PAPERWORK HAPPENED. During paperwork though, the salesman from Lyle Pearson dealership group and us talked about how they hold Cars n Coffee events and some other random car stories. He was cool. On the advice of the guy from the plane, we asked for Porsche swag and the salesman actually gave us both free Porsche hats (!!!!)

The car is a 1997 Carrera in black with black leather. RWD with the Varioram intake manifold making 282bhp

ready to hit the road

We decided while we were there that we wanted to see the blue football field at Boise St so we headed to the football field. traffic was heavy (for Idaho) because Trans Siberian Orchestra was playing in town, so we took photos in front of the stadium

We then took off for Salt Lake City. We quickly discovered that due to the proximity of 5th gear to the passenger legs, there would be occasional man touching we would have to deal with. Oh well :(

“Southern Idaho smells like a diverse bouquet of animal feces”, said my friend on the way to Utah

We went to get food and beer at Bayou in Salt Lake City

One problem though, the fan belt was loose and would squeal on acceleration under load. We needed to tension it... Google revealed the need for tools we didn’t have. We’d need to get the Porsche dealer to hook us up

Day 2

We hit up Strong Porsche in SLC and pleaded to fit us in for service, because we were about to do over 1500 miles to drive back to Ohio. They said come by ASAP and they could tighten the belt for us. SWEET! An hour later, they called us and said the car was ready...and the charge was free to do the belt tightening... SWEETER!!!! My friend gave the tech who did the work some $ as a token gesture.

During that hour though, my friend called up his wife’s uncle’s wife (I think I got that right?) and she picked us up and toured us around SLC in her van. We saw the Mormon Temple, which is literally the geographical center of SLC (it’s coordinates [0,0] on the street grid) and the Utah State Capital, and a bunch of other sights. SLC is gorgeous

On our way back to the dealer to get the 993 to keep going, a 918 was being unloaded there for delivery. I was freaking out, seriously

We jumped on 15 South and then US-50 East and then I-70 East into Colorado to traverse the Vail Pass. My friend freaked out a bit about the car not pulling in the mountains. I explained to him how power is reduced in the mountains due to air rarification.

We were going to go through Wyoming and South into Denver but the weather through the Vail Pass looked favorable. It ended up being the better decision for sights. CO through the mountains was beautiful

We stopped in Denver for food with some friends of mine. One of them had just moved there from Ohio under a month ago, and the other 2 I knew from car forums. We parked next to a random Noble M4o0 and my friend started looking for the engine in his car

We then hit the road and made it all the way to Hays, KS to spend the night. Our belt setback prevented us from making it to Topeka as previously planned, another 2hrs further. The 993 just racked up the miles effortlessly and comfortably

Day 3

We tore up through KS and MO

We saw the arch in St Louis

We made it to Indy for food with a friend of mine

Then we were home free and made it back to Ohio

The 911 was a champ on the road. One thing that surprised us pleasantly was the level of comfort in the seats. Not once did either of us bitch about comfort and support. The seats feel great in both categories, while looking just so plain and utilitarian. We easily got well over 22MPG.

This was one of the most fun trips I’ve ever been on. The 911 is a joy to drive. I understand completely why people love these. I must own one

DISCUSSION (21)

Brian Silvestro > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
11/26/2014 at 09:08

Kinja'd!!!

DAT NOBLE

505Turbeaux > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
11/26/2014 at 09:08

Hays Kansas is one of the strangest places I have ever been in my life. I used to go through that or Russell on my way from Denver to CT. Friend of mine is from Russell and I used to stay there and go out in Hays for drinks. Just a crazy mix of people, lets leave it at that.

Party-vi > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
11/26/2014 at 09:10

That looks like it was an awesome trip. One thing though - I would have expected way better fuel economy with the highway driving you guys did. Also, with the rising prices of aircooled Porsches your friend probably made a great investment.

extraspecialbitter > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
11/26/2014 at 09:21

Kinja'd!!!

"'**ck Yes'- said no one..."

That comment is grinding my gears for some reason.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > extraspecialbitter
11/26/2014 at 09:36

Never been to Idaho but I've been close. I'd love to go there.

Jonathan Harper > Party-vi
11/26/2014 at 09:40

Sounds like they weren't just cruising at 55 the whole time though..

E92M3 > Party-vi
11/26/2014 at 09:42

22MPG is actually good. These 911's are geared pretty low. Was probably at 3500 rpm doing 70 mph.

Rock Bottom > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
11/26/2014 at 09:43

Sports car road trips are the best kind of road trips!

Party-vi > E92M3
11/26/2014 at 09:43

Good lawd.

E92M3 > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
11/26/2014 at 09:55

Awesome story! That's a trip you guys will talk about 30 years from now. "Remember that time we flew to Idaho to drive that Porsche back in the snow". You guys were lucky going over Vail Pass. This time of year if can often be impassable in a RWD car without snow tires or chains.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > E92M3
11/26/2014 at 09:58

We were extremely lucky indeed.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > E92M3
11/26/2014 at 09:59

Naaa. It was like 80mph at that RPM I think from memory

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Party-vi
11/26/2014 at 10:00

We never exceeded the speed limit because that's illegal.

>.>

<.<

>.>

<.<

Illegal

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > extraspecialbitter
11/26/2014 at 10:01

Would you like a cookie to calm down?

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
11/26/2014 at 10:02

Boise was beautiful too actually. The mountains lining I84 were also quite nice

Party-vi > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
11/26/2014 at 10:04

"never"

Kinja'd!!!

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
11/26/2014 at 10:10

Yeah, its nice out there. I went to Montana two summers ago. We were ~60 miles from Idaho I think. Those mountains are so nice.

extraspecialbitter > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
11/26/2014 at 10:40

Oatmeal raisin?

HammerheadFistpunch > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
11/26/2014 at 11:45

The want for a 993 is strong. actually its my wife that really wants one, go figure. Glad you enjoyed SLC, I sure like it.

TxBrumski > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
11/26/2014 at 12:08

That was probably the wrong thing for me to read today. Now instead of mindlessly looking for cars in my area, I'm mindlessly looking for cars in areas several states away. Anything for a road trip.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > TxBrumski
11/26/2014 at 12:12

I'm considering your post a compliment.

Glad I can oblige :)