"nerd_racing" (nerd189)
01/24/2018 at 09:18 • Filed to: Autozam AZ-1, Autozam, Zoom
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"nerd_racing" (nerd189)
01/24/2018 at 09:18 • Filed to: Autozam AZ-1, Autozam, Zoom | 11
| 26 |
My AZ-1 just got picked up from port in Tacoma. It made the 2.5 hour trip to my buddy’s place without issue. Here is where the slightly crazy part comes in, I’m considering driving it home from Oregon to Western NY. I’m way overdue for a vacation, and what better way to spend a vacation than driving 2700 miles in a tiny classic car? What do you think fellow Opponauts?
someassemblyrequired
> nerd_racing
01/24/2018 at 09:59 |
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Weather will be a bit of an issue at the moment. I’ve done the drive twice in a Miata in summer, it’s doable, but I’d wait for better weather. There’s some extremely long stretches of nothing out west, if you have an issue (especially given you don’t have much experience with the car) you are going to be in to serious problems relatively quickly, especially if you drive some of the more spirited roads. I’d be very concerned about weather (snow and cold) for the next few months too. Driving really doesn’t save much either compared with shipping it. I’d suggest flying out to Seattle or Portland and run around the WA and OR coast, have decent weather, and then ship the car. You still get a vacation, get to drive some great roads, and then put the car on a truck and fly back. If you run into a problem, you’ve got a buddy relatively close.
Shoop
> nerd_racing
01/24/2018 at 09:59 |
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It will definitely be a test if you like it. Anx if theres anything wrong with it. I just imagine these things are horrible on the highway.
SmugAardvark
> nerd_racing
01/24/2018 at 10:05 |
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I would imagine that the AZ-1 is going to be howling at U.S. highway speeds. If I remember correctly, top speed is well south of 100, so I could imagine doing 70 or 75 for huge stretches of open road is going to be a loud and high strung affair.
With that said, do it.
Oh, and congrats on the purchase. Very cool.
HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> nerd_racing
01/24/2018 at 10:06 |
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As long as you take the back roads the whole way. I can’t imagine 65-75mph in a straight line for 25 hours would be fun in a Kie sportscar
Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
> nerd_racing
01/24/2018 at 10:17 |
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I’m gonna be boring here, and say that it’s probably a bad idea. If something breaks, where are you going to find parts? On top of that, Kei cars aren’t exactly highway cruisers, so it would be a great way to learn to hate your new car.
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nerd_racing
> SmugAardvark
01/24/2018 at 10:19 |
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Top speed is electronically limited to 87 mph but the car has much more RPM beyond that. I’ve been told it does around 4500 RPM at 70 mph, which is pretty standard for Mazda vehicles.
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nerd_racing
> HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
01/24/2018 at 10:20 |
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I looked into it and its about 39 hours straight highway, and 50 hours back roads. I might take a mix of both if I do it.
Tapas
> nerd_racing
01/24/2018 at 10:21 |
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Congratulations!
Please don’t drive it 2700 miles. You might start to dislike it just as soon as you bought it.
Go on a vacation to see it, drive it around and fly back.
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nerd_racing
> someassemblyrequired
01/24/2018 at 10:22 |
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I was thinking early March to drive it back. Should miss the extreme weather that way. But yeah I may have my buddy drive it around some to be sure. He drove it 2.5 hours from port to his place, along with 3 other cars that were imported and it was the best running of the bunch. One even ended up having to be flat bedded.
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nerd_racing
> Tapas
01/24/2018 at 10:23 |
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This is also a possibility, I didn’t think of it this way. Now I have some things to think about too.
Flavien Vidal
> nerd_racing
01/24/2018 at 10:26 |
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I think DSSCats might want to have a word with you lol
Takuro Spirit
> nerd_racing
01/24/2018 at 10:29 |
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Do it. Take lots of pictures/video. Write story. Become LEGEND.
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Flavien Vidal
> nerd_racing
01/24/2018 at 10:30 |
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IF the car is good and you’re fine doing Yoga with pedal that aren’t centered and will drive you crazy after a while, go for it! Those things are reliable and can take it without any problem...
But if you are in NY, know that shipping a car from Japan to Tacoma is usually a tiny bit more expensive that shipping a car to Baltimore or NY :)
Yep, distance doesn’t matter, how popular the line is, does...
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Flavien Vidal
> nerd_racing
01/24/2018 at 10:34 |
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Make that 5500rpm...
lone_liberal
> nerd_racing
01/24/2018 at 10:47 |
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I can’t imagine that going over a mountain pass through the Rockies in that particular car will be very enjoyable but life is an adventure.
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nerd_racing
> Flavien Vidal
01/24/2018 at 11:07 |
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Still not that bad when you have a 9500 RPM redline though?
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nerd_racing
> Flavien Vidal
01/24/2018 at 11:10 |
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The thing with Tacoma was that my friend was familiar with the customs process and helped me get through it. I didn’t want my first go around to be with my AZ1. In the future I am going to try and get a Kei truck through Baltimore on my own, just didn’t want to mess up this one.
He vouched that it ran really well and would do the trip if it was him driving it. Worst case I can rent a U haul and tow it if I get in a bind part way home.
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nerd_racing
> Takuro Spirit
01/24/2018 at 11:31 |
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That’s my logic right now. I may end up cramped and sore, but it will be an adventure.
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nerd_racing
> Flavien Vidal
01/24/2018 at 11:31 |
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That’s my AZ-1!
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someassemblyrequired
> nerd_racing
01/24/2018 at 11:35 |
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Yeah even then, you can get surprised. I had to drive through a few inches of ice pellets in June on I-90 in Wyoming. On summer tires. It is a great drive, up until Chicago, then it’s just a slog. But a lot of the really good roads and sites won’t be open in March due to snow. You’d have to stick to the interstates, and even then they can be dodgy. You’d probably need winter tires and chains, even that late.
I don’t want to pour cold water on things, but it could be a dicey trip if the weather is bad, or something lets go and you need to be back at work quick. Go out to the PNW, enjoy the you know what out of the car, and then for less than $1000 it gets home safe and sound without hassles and you save a few days of interstate driving.
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HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> nerd_racing
01/24/2018 at 11:52 |
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That sounds like a good idea.
facw
> nerd_racing
01/24/2018 at 12:32 |
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Forget towing it, just load it in the back of the U-haul.
Just remember not to turn when pulling it in.
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facw
> nerd_racing
01/24/2018 at 12:34 |
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This seems like fun to me. Might be nicer to do it when you could visit parks along the way, but it could still be fun.
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nerd_racing
> facw
01/24/2018 at 13:51 |
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I recounted this to a “T” earlier today with a co worker.
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nerd_racing
> someassemblyrequired
01/24/2018 at 14:29 |
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That is kind of low compared to the shipping prices I looked at. I based my quotes on a 93 Ford Festiva for similar weight and size, mainly because they were vehicle specific quoting tools.
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someassemblyrequired
> nerd_racing
01/24/2018 at 14:39 |
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I just shipped two cars (Dodge Charger & Miata) from WA State to VA for $1700 last summer. I probably could have done better if I didn’t need to use a broker to do it - mind you that was just on an open carrier. Closed carrier is a lot more (double), but given the size someone may have space on a load. It’s usually cheaper outside the summer months too.