Cross country Road Trip in our new Z! KC to Californa. No Interstates!

[bpeckham]

The new Z has been rock solid. No odd noises (except when we forget to release the emergency brake...

My car's been very solid too. I love the way it drives. Your comment on the emergency brake made me think of something. When I park and set the brake, then get out of the car, I often hear a creaking noise. My 2012 G37 did the same thing. Back when I first got the G37, I remember asking the service department about it, and they said it's just the suspension unloading changing the tension on the emergency brake cable. That my Z does the same thing made me smile and think: "parts bin car."

 

[jayhawk70]

Took both the new Z and the 240Z to the local Car Show yesterday. (the orange 240Z is a friend's car) Lots of other interesting cars there. We were parked next to a V12 Aston Martin that is surprisingly similar in size and shape to a new 2023 Z. Form Follows Function again.

And just after the show ended, and we had started our engines to leave, a Rosewood Metallic 2023 Z (who was not at the show) drove by us! I jumped out of my car and flagged him down. He lives just a few miles from us. Was too dark to get a photo, but I invited him to the Z Owners of Northern California Car Show (this Saturday, Sep 10th) in Brisbane, CA. Hope he shows up!

Not counting ZCON (and our club president's Proto Spec), his is the first new Z I've seen "in the wild".

New and old Zs at the local car show.

 

[CPerdomo]

Just for fun. Interstate highways are too boring in a new sports car.

The picture of both your Z's in your driveway is epic.

 

[CPerdomo]

Day 4 and 5: all the way home

Day 4 was a long one: Ouray, Colorado to Carson City, NV. 852 miles. 14 hours trip time, 13 hours driving time.

Left Ouray at 6AM to beat tourist traffic out of town. Highway 50 joins up with I70 in Grand Junction, CO.

US 50 is co-resident with Interstate70 from Grand Junction to its terminus in central Utah. It is a beautiful gently winding super highway through the colorful rocky terrain of eastern Utah. Very little traffic as it ends in the middle of nowhere, Utah. Still felt the need when passing what few cars or trucks on this road to um, launch HARD! More catapult shots… Wheee!

Speed limit was 80MPH. Passed one of those curve ahead signs that recommend 75MPH! (Did not get a photo)

Highway 50 leaves I70 in central Utah and heads due west, becoming the Loneliest Road in America. (officially called that in Nevada)

Very Empty! A few years ago I drove it with my son and one stretch of 180 miles we saw 3 cars. This time we probably had about 10 cars per 100 miles. Make sure you have a good air pump and a full tire sealant canister in you new Z. (Or a spare tire from a 370Z, which fits just fine in the new 2023 Z.)

Services (Gas) are non existent for the 184 miles between Delta UT and Ely, NV. (there was a gas station at the Nevada border, but it appeared to be closed as we sped by.

Got into our intended destination of Ely, NV with so much daylight left (the day before the Summer Solstice) that after a scenic stop at the Nevada Northern Railroad museum, we pressed on.



Then, west of Ely, we started running into swarms of "mormon crickets" crossing the road. (https://www.msn.com/en-us/kids/anim...-swarms-of-smelly-mormon-crickets/ar-AA1cUXMp)
Our wide angle dash cam couldn't get a good photo, so I've included a news photo of what we were up against. (Another challenge for the PPF...)

Passed by the Fallon Naval Air Station where the Navy’s Top Gun school is now located. As we passed through the bombing ranges in the area, we carefully watched for Navy attack aircraft dropping practice bombs. Fortunately, there did not appear any planes in the air, so the PPF was not challenged.

Stopped for the night in Carson City and crashed immediately.


Day 4 stats: 852 miles in 14 hours. (13 hours driving time) Trip average up to 29 something.

Day 5: Carson City, NV to home in the SF Bay area. The Terminus of US Highway 50 is in Sacramento, 3073 miles from its other end in Ocean City, MD)

Lake Tahoe. At the Cave Rock boat ramp in Nevada, looking west.

Final stats: 2070 miles. Trip mpg average: 30 mpg (some sources indicate the Z’s computer is a couple of miles per gallon optimistic. I did not check against miles and gallons pumped) Average speed 44 mph. (this was not the Cannonball Baker Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash).

Manual Reset 2 was set in Kansas City.

Lots of bugs, on the front of the Z where we had the PPF. Some mormon crickets included...

Cleaned up beautifully with some proper car wash solution and a microfiber cloth.

The Xpel PPF took on miles of dirt highway, 2000+ miles of bugs, rocks, and dirt and remains beautiful. I'm impressed.

So now the new Z is with its great, great, great, great grandfather. Both purchased new 50 years apart. Taking both to ZCON.

I looooove this picture!

 

[Mellowyellow]

Great trip. I drove my '73 240 between Indiana and Louisiana (no A/C) a few Tim’s back in the day. Still had fun driving my Z. With you driving your new Z, it should be a whole lot of fun. Safe travels and keep on with the updates.

I had the twin to your car in the avatar many moons ago.