650 miles in a Porsche 944

"Master Cylinder" (mastercylinder28)
07/22/2016 at 20:00 • Filed to: None

In about a week, I am being sent to Alabama for a couple weeks for work and I have to option to drive or fly. Of course, my route taking me over and through the Appalachians, I chose to drive. I will be taking my ‘87 Porsche 944S on the trip and while this won’t be the old P-car’s first long trip, it will be its longest. And hottest. And most I’m-actually-in-trouble-if-I-break-down-and-don’t-make-it-to-my-destination-in-time-est.

My car, despite its age and Teutonic heritage, has been quite reliable for me. But I am growing more concerned as the departure date grows more near. I’ve been prepping it steadily over the last few weeks, slowed by a back injury, but I am nearly at the point where I can call it “ready as she’ll ever be.” I need to change the oil, give her an alignment, and a good wash and wax for luck, then I’m set.

If all goes well, it’ll be a great road trip in a car I love through some of the best driving roads in the American east.

If not, I get stranded in the middle of nowhere, get yelled at by my boss, and spend a bunch of money to extract a broken German sportscar from Hickville, Ohio/Kentucky/Tennessee/Alabama.

The stakes are high, so, Oppo, regale me with stories of your most successful trips in vintage vehicles to soothe my nerves.

My sweet, sweet German baby. I hope she’s ready! Did I mention she has over 200,000 miles on her?

DISCUSSION (14)

mazda616 > Master Cylinder
07/22/2016 at 20:03

Good luck! You sir, are brave.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Master Cylinder
07/22/2016 at 20:04

Dude you should take the blue Ridge parkway the whole way there and then cut through the tail of the Dragon and go south through Tennessee into Alabama. Might not be the fastest route but it will certainly be more fun than the freeway!

Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud > Master Cylinder
07/22/2016 at 20:11

Sounds like an awesome time!

smobgirl > Master Cylinder
07/22/2016 at 20:18

I had to do a less scenic (and higher speed limit) route than planned, but my broken Tercel made it 766 miles in almost a straight shot from Flagstaff to Denver. I'd stocked up on supplies for a possible catastrophic failure that didn't happen but was stuck at 20mph below the speed limit due to other issues.

Master Cylinder > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
07/22/2016 at 20:19

I think I will take the direct route there, but on the way back I am definitely considering making it a two-day return trip and hitting up some great driving roads on the way back.

shop-teacher > Master Cylinder
07/22/2016 at 21:11

That’s awesome!

The biggest trip I took in my ‘74 Buick Apollo was a 240 mile round trip on a summer day/evening. I did zero prep, and it didn’t miss a beat.

Since you have to get there in a certain amount of time, I suggest a AAA membership just in case.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Master Cylinder
07/22/2016 at 21:39

Where in Alabama? I’m from there, and am currently here visiting. Apparently there are some good roads near BHam, and in Northeastern Alabama..

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Master Cylinder
07/23/2016 at 15:56

I drove my Celica that had been sitting in a barn for 16 years, with a minimal amount of maintenance done to it, to the nurburgring (450 km), I did a lap on the Nurburgring in my barnfound car, and drove back all in 4 days. It was a great experience I will not forget.

So what im saying is, do it!

Master Cylinder > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
07/24/2016 at 08:42

I’ll be up in northern Alabama, in Huntsville.

Master Cylinder > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
07/24/2016 at 08:43

Awesome, I’ll bet that was a really great trip!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Master Cylinder
07/24/2016 at 11:58

1. If you have time, go to Nashville(1.5 hours away) and go to the Frist and the Lane Motor Museum.

2. There are a couple of decent roads to the east of Huntsville.

3. Go to the Space and Rocket Center

4. Get a BBQ sandwich from Whitt’s in Ardmore. It won’t look like much, but it tastes amazing.

If you need to know anything specific, let me know.

Master Cylinder > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
07/24/2016 at 12:23

Thanks! I’ve been to Huntsville once before but only for 2 days and didn’t have time to visit the Space center. I’ll be there over a weekend this time so I’ll definitely be checking it out.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Master Cylinder
07/24/2016 at 16:46

I grew up around the area, so I know a bit about it.

arl > Master Cylinder
05/19/2017 at 15:54

I drove my old rusty, crusty, 1965 Buick Wildcat back and forth from college a few times - 600 miles each way. It never broke down on me, which is totally amazing given what a giant turd it was. The drivers’ side window gears were stripped and the window would slowly drop as you went over bumps and undulations in the road.Every few hundred miles when you stopped for gas you would also pull the window up to reset again. I paid $300 for that POS. The shocks were shot, oil leaked everywhere, it was rusty, the AC never worked, the tires were bald. And yet it just kept running. I miss that old tank.