What am I missing?

Come on Leon Group hug.

Its not just American cars mate,
It would take me hours to write all the completely unsuitable cars over
here, but the special mentions are go to:

99% of the Hyundai range (the V6 coupe drives well),
ALL the Kia range,
ALL Ssangyong's,
99% of Rovers idea of a car range.

But the worst how about VW Beetle?
Can you imagine doing the trip in a beetle?
I'm sure crazy driven around the world in one , I would love to shake that
guys hand, if it has stopped shaking yet!!!!\





"Leon van Dommelen" > wrote in message
...
> (Natman) wrote:
>
>>Challenge: Name a car produced since 1990, with comprable equipment,
>>that would be LESS suitable for long distance freeway driving than the
>>Miata.
>
> 1) Go to www.edmunds.com.
> 2) Select manufacturer; use US type for best results.
> 3) Select model.
> 4) Repeat 2 and 3 10 times.
> You now have at least 9 examples.
>
> I would rather drive marathon freeways in my Miata than take a
> passenger plane cross country, if I can manage the additional
> three days.
>
> Never thought I would completely agree with Mark on anything.
>
> Leon
>
> --
> Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
> http://www.dommelen.net/miata
> EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

On 2005-02-25, gixer > wrote:

> I trust your judgement on the health insurance Grant as we
> have a very different system over here, & I don't think there
> are many people that can afford to lose 2 weeks pay, me
> included.

I should add that I probably would choose to take time off and
drive, but I can very easily imagine situations where somebody
couldn't or wouldn't.

I once drove my Alfa Spyder on a business trip from Minneapolis
to Phoenix and back (about 4000 miles round-trip). I added two
weeks of vacation to the trip and visited some friends and
relatives along the way. My employer reimbursed me for the
price of a round-trip airfare. It would have been cheaper to
fly, but driving through the mountains was a lot of fun.
Sometimes I miss the Alfa's bigger trunk and behind-seat
storage (there wasn't a "shelf -- space behind the seats went
all the way to the floor).

It sure is a long way across Nebraska.

--
Grant Edwards grante Yow! I guess you guys got
at BIG MUSCLES from doing too
visi.com much STUDYING!

On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 19:49:22 +0200, "gixer" > wrote:

>Come on Leon Group hug.
>
>Its not just American cars mate,
>It would take me hours to write all the completely unsuitable cars over
>here, but the special mentions are go to:
>
>99% of the Hyundai range (the V6 coupe drives well),
>ALL the Kia range,
>ALL Ssangyong's,
>99% of Rovers idea of a car range.
>
>But the worst how about VW Beetle?
>Can you imagine doing the trip in a beetle?
>I'm sure crazy driven around the world in one , I would love to shake that
>guys hand, if it has stopped shaking yet!!!!\
>
>
>
>
What exactly are the qualities of a VW Beetle that make it unsuitable
for a long freeway trip?

"Natman" > wrote
> What exactly are the qualities of a VW Beetle that make it unsuitable
> for a long freeway trip?

I guess that depends on whether Mark was referring to the "real" Beetle or
the gussified VW Golf. Lack of horsepower, lack of air conditioning, poor
heating and constant rattle from corroded exhaust extensions are a few of
the reasons I can think of for the real Beetle.
--
Ken Lyons '97 Brilliant Black/'90 Classic Red
Inside the Beltway

The real Beetle was what ran through my mind,
And I think you have it covered thanks Ken.
I would just like to add, extremely bad seats, position, material and
support.
And I don't know if it was just the few I drove, but the vibrations were
enough to shake your fillings out.

Cheers Mark.



"Ken Lyons" > wrote in message
news:7AMTd.46753$uc.37453@trnddc03...
> "Natman" > wrote
>> What exactly are the qualities of a VW Beetle that make it unsuitable
>> for a long freeway trip?
>
> I guess that depends on whether Mark was referring to the "real" Beetle or
> the gussified VW Golf. Lack of horsepower, lack of air conditioning, poor
> heating and constant rattle from corroded exhaust extensions are a few of
> the reasons I can think of for the real Beetle.
> --
> Ken Lyons '97 Brilliant Black/'90 Classic Red
> Inside the Beltway
>
>

Grant Edwards > wrote:

>On 2005-02-25, gixer > wrote:
>
>> I trust your judgement on the health insurance Grant as we
>> have a very different system over here, & I don't think there
>> are many people that can afford to lose 2 weeks pay, me
>> included.
>
>I should add that I probably would choose to take time off and
>drive, but I can very easily imagine situations where somebody
>couldn't or wouldn't.
>
>I once drove my Alfa Spyder on a business trip from Minneapolis
>to Phoenix and back (about 4000 miles round-trip). I added two
>weeks of vacation to the trip and visited some friends and
>relatives along the way. My employer reimbursed me for the
>price of a round-trip airfare. It would have been cheaper to
>fly, but driving through the mountains was a lot of fun.
>Sometimes I miss the Alfa's bigger trunk and behind-seat
>storage (there wasn't a "shelf -- space behind the seats went
>all the way to the floor).
>
>It sure is a long way across Nebraska.

You needn't have gone over Nebraska. I recently found Kansas
is not that bad if you stay *far* away from the Interstate.

Leon

--
Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

Scott Hughes > wrote:

wrote in
:
>
>> Lest see: - The Movahe prety much sucks, Meander North to Vegas
>> Take the Hoover Dam tour. Narly curvy roads round lake mead.
>>
>> On to the Grand Canyon - a religious experience. Then pick amongst
>>
>> Momunemt Valley, The Painted Desert, See the Pueblo/ Anastasy ruins.
>>
>> Choose El Paso and a quick run to San Antone, stop at Tombstone, or
>> Langry (pretty godforsaken) and Remember the Alamo in San Antone.
>> (Ybut you will go through the Sonoran Desert and will hit West Texas
>> when the spring flowers are out.)
>>
>> Or stay on 1-20 and move to I-10 accross the Texas back state roads
>> thought the panhandle onto the Texas Hill country. Time it to see the
>> Blue Bonnets and truly gorgeous country. That gets you down to
>> Housnton. Great Tex Mex - Papasitos, Great Stakes - A Taste of Texas
>> off I-10.
>>
>> In Houston,detour to San Jacinto, where Sam Houston routed the Mexican
>> Army and created the Republic, and haul accross the Sabine. Lunch in
>> Lafayette (some good Cajun Cuisine). Cross the Atchafalaya onto Baton
>> Rouge, or go down I-90 to Morgan City past the sugar cane fields and
>> enter New Orleans from the Houma side. A beautiful ride that takes
>> you on the edge of the Delta - you must have some cajun music to play
>> along the way, I guarantee!.
>>
>> Hurricane at Pat O'Briens, dinner at Commander's Palace (reservations
>> strongly recommended) Or Chez Paul, wander the quarter for the evening
>> and cest le bons temps roulez.
>>
>> On to Biloxi and Mobile cross the bay and you are in Florida. haul
>> all the way to Jacksonville its a long binrg drive.
>>
>> It's a beautiful contry and you only live once or put the car in the
>> trailer and regret it.
>>
>> - 2004 Titanium Mazdaspeed.
>>
>
>SD, CA to Datona Beach, FL : ~2500mi / 36hr (MS Mappoint estimate)
>
>Following the "scenic" route: ~3125mi / 56hr (Mappoint estimate)

Mileage is not really that relevant. Interstates do not have
all the delays. I invariably find that the scenic routes are
*much* more time consuming than mileage would indicate.

>Unfortunately, since the OP didn't specify wether he had the option to
>take some extra time to enjoy the trip, the discussion has digressed into
>arguing about wether that's feasable. I think the point is, if you have
>to get to point B in 48hrs, shipping is probably your best option.

To go San Diego to Daytona Beach in 48 hours may get you into
trouble with law enforcement, if you drive and live.

> Otoh,
>IF YOU HAVE TIME, take it, enjoy it.
>
>Adding just an extra 600mi, this sounds like a pretty colorfull road-
>trip. Of course, the gap between the Painted Desert and Houston is
>1300mi (roughly 22hrs). Probably would need another point of interest
>for that section. One option would be Carlsbad Caverns (adding another ~
>100mi), otherwise, I'm sure there's something worth looking at going thru
>Albuquerque and Amarillo on your way to Dallas, where you could tour
>Kennedy assasination tourist stuff. The other long stretch along the FL
>panhandle could be prettied up a bit by detouring on HWY 98 to run along
>the Gulf coast for a bit.

Yes, 98 is very pretty. It is my favorite route if I have to be
in Panama City. However, it does triple the 2 hour drive time.
And that two hours includes imbecilic cops who think the posted
speed limit is the speed *limit*.

> -Scott
> -94 Black
> (and drooling over a friends 04 Ti MS)

Leon, needs to get a MS.

--
Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

On 2005-02-26, Leon van Dommelen > wrote:

>>It sure is a long way across Nebraska.
>
> You needn't have gone over Nebraska. I recently found Kansas
> is not that bad if you stay *far* away from the Interstate.

I was heading for Ft. Collins, and going across Nebraska on
80 and then angling down on 76 cuts quite a few hours off that
leg of the trip. I've been through Kansas as well, and there's
not much there there either.

Driving across South Dakota and then down through the Black
Hills into Colorado is definitely a nicer drive, but I wouldn't
have made it to Ft. Collins in time for dinner.

--
Grant Edwards grante Yow! The PINK SOCKS were
at ORIGINALLY from 1952!! But
visi.com they went to MARS around
1953!!

My chief complaint on a long trip is the engine "drone". Since my 99 was/is
used for 500 mile or more (one way) trips, I decided that short of earplugs,
something was needed. First, I installed the noise damping kit in the trunk.
(Some minor improvement) Then since my 99 is turbocharged, I changed the
tranny fifth gear ratio. (Noticeable improvement.)
The final and most effective thing is to stuff Coats and similar soft items
in the sides of the soft-top well next to the driver and passenger. (Very
noticeable difference) A source of subsonic (usually) noise is the flapping
of the glass rear window. I have no effective simple solution for this--
everything I've tried blocks part of the view thru the rear window.

..
"gixer" > wrote in message
...
> The real Beetle was what ran through my mind,
> And I think you have it covered thanks Ken.
> I would just like to add, extremely bad seats, position, material and
> support.
> And I don't know if it was just the few I drove, but the vibrations were
> enough to shake your fillings out.
>
> Cheers Mark.
>
>
>
> "Ken Lyons" > wrote in message
> news:7AMTd.46753$uc.37453@trnddc03...
>> "Natman" > wrote
>>> What exactly are the qualities of a VW Beetle that make it unsuitable
>>> for a long freeway trip?
>>
>> I guess that depends on whether Mark was referring to the "real" Beetle
>> or
>> the gussified VW Golf. Lack of horsepower, lack of air conditioning, poor
>> heating and constant rattle from corroded exhaust extensions are a few of
>> the reasons I can think of for the real Beetle.
>> --
>> Ken Lyons '97 Brilliant Black/'90 Classic Red
>> Inside the Beltway
>>
>>
>
>

On 2005-02-26, Chuck > wrote:

> My chief complaint on a long trip is the engine "drone". Since
> my 99 was/is used for 500 mile or more (one way) trips, I
> decided that short of earplugs, something was needed. First, I
> installed the noise damping kit in the trunk.
[...]

Earplugs are a lot less work.

I always wear earplugs for extended top-down driving, and
usually for extended cloth-top-up driving as well. The
hard-top is queit enough that it doesn't bother me.

You do have to turn the stereo up pretty high to hear it
through the earplugs...

--
Grant Edwards grante Yow! YOW!!! I am having
at fun!!!
visi.com