ROAD TRIP OR SHIP?

[Ziggy]

When I lived in Colorado, I bought one car from Salt Lake City, another from Washington DC, and one from Detroit. Drove them all back. One trip is a 14 year old memory, one a 7 year old memory and the last one a 4 year old memory. Will never forget any of them. Great times. Twice with my wife and once with my dad. Part of my car hobby experience. I recommend it.

 

[trackratZ]

Road trip, period! Love road trips. I really haven't seen most of the US, mostly up down the west coast to BC. So planning either via 10 or 40 across, ending in CA. Any preferences?

 

[bpeckham]

Road trip, period! Love road trips. I really haven't seen most of the US, mostly up down the west coast to BC. So planning either via 10 or 40 across, ending in CA. Any preferences?

The back roads are a lot more fun, IMO. They're often less crowded and more twisty. I'm more familiar with SoCal, AZ, NM, UT, and CO. There are plenty of non-interstate highways in those states.

One thing that's a little annoying is that its a little more difficult to plan your route to avoid freeways. If you just hop in the car and tell Google you want to drive to San Diego, it's going to take you via freeways. If you tell Google to avoid freeways, it'll do that at all costs, even when you might want to use a freeway to get to the next back road.

If I'm not familiar with an area, I typically plot my route on my computer ahead of time, adding enough stops to stay mostly off the freeways. Then I send the route to my phone, and off we go!

Avoiding freeways can take you to places like this:

https://public.nrao.edu/visit/very-large-array/

Or this:

https://www.google.com/search?gs_ss...rizon-us-rvc3&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

 

[trackratZ]

The back roads are a lot more fun, IMO. They're often less crowded and more twisty. I'm more familiar with SoCal, AZ, NM, UT, and CO. There are plenty of non-interstate highways in those states.

One thing that's a little annoying is that its a little more difficult to plan your route to avoid freeways. If you just hop in the car and tell Google you want to drive to San Diego, it's going to take you via freeways. If you tell Google to avoid freeways, it'll do that at all costs, even when you might want to use a freeway to get to the next back road.

If I'm not familiar with an area, I typically plot my route on my computer ahead of time, adding enough stops to stay mostly off the freeways. Then I send the route to my phone, and off we go!

Avoiding freeways can take you to places like this:

https://public.nrao.edu/visit/very-large-array/

Or this:

https://www.google.com/search?gs_ss...rizon-us-rvc3&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

Yep I plan on using fwys to offshoot from to get to the nice back roads. Great tips thanks!!

 

[Mr&Mrs]

I always ship my cars if long distance. All highway miles has proven to supply some early rock chips and bug damage. If you do trip it id 3m tape the front end and bring a good waterless wash or bug remover.

 

[jayhawk70]

So I have a deposit on a Yellow Performance Manual at MSRP just outside St. Louis. Thinking of flying out there and driving back to southern calfornia (1800 miles, 26 hour drive). This would obviously help me get through the 1200 mile break in period. Are there any other concerns you think I should have besides rock chips, weather, and dumbass drivers on a brand new car? Or would the smarter route be to just ship it back to California?

Road Trip! Road Trip! Road Trip! (and limit use of Interstate highways!)

Hopefully you have seen the thread about my new Z road trip from Kansas City to N. California (https://www.nissanzclub.com/forum/t...ur-new-z-kc-to-californa-no-interstates.1967/)

We followed US 50 to N. California, but you might follow historic Route 66 as much as you could.

I'd highly recommend adding PPF to the front of the car. Saved us from rock chips in the construction zones (Not to mention Mormon Crickets in Nevada ) Xpel brand has a pre-cut kit for the new Z their dealers can install. I've had no previous experience with PPF and have been amazed how invisible it is.

And you might want to add a 370Z space saver spare tire. Fits perfectly in the new Z.

So road trip it, take lots of pictures, and create a thread here for those who have not experienced that experience.

--Jayhawk70

to add the 370Z space saver spare, remove the foam section holding the subwoofer, then insert the tire. The subwoofer fits right in the spare, just like in the 370Z. You should also source a tire jack set from anywhere. The 370Z tire jack tool set (used ones on ebay) will fit nicely in the spaces for it in the foam sections around the spare.

That said, we never needed to actually use the spare (or the 2023 Z OEM tire pump and sealant kit)

 

[takemorepills]

I say road trip, mainly because I personally never buy PPF or ceramic coatings for my vehicles.

However, if you have decided the car needs those, shipping might be a better option. Modern paint is weak and you'll definitely get some chips along the way.

 

[KCZ]

Dammit, a road trip is a chance to drive the car. How can we even be discussing shipping it instead? You could ship it, and get a rock chip 2 miles from your house, while missing out on a great drive.

 

[socalAG2]

Dammit, a road trip is a chance to drive the car. How can we even be discussing shipping it instead? You could ship it, and get a rock chip 2 miles from your house, while missing out on a great drive.

yeah truthfully felt like a dummy 10 minutes after posting this hahah very obvious that the trip is the way. Extremely hyped to drive this home.

Delivery just got pushed back from 9/20 to 10/2 though. Second time the ETA has been pushed back now & still shows that its on the assembly line. Starting to get concerned they're having issues with ikazuchi paint at the factory right now, hope not.

 

[trackratZ]

Definitely PPF at least the front bumper if tripping, you'll be glad. I've taken several trips in my Model Y, definitely a bug catcher but PPF protects. Use only XPEL, don't skimp on quality.

 

[bpeckham]

yeah truthfully felt like a dummy 10 minutes after posting this hahah very obvious that the trip is the way. Extremely hyped to drive this home.

I think there are good reasons to ship: you don't have the time or option to do a road trip, etc. So I wouldn't beat yourself up.

But I do feel that the car might draw a road-trip orientated crowd (among other attributes).

Edit: plus this thread was hella fun.

 

[KCZ]

Definitely PPF at least the front bumper if tripping, you'll be glad. I've taken several trips in my Model Y, definitely a bug catcher but PPF protects. Use only XPEL, don't skimp on quality.

I just had Covrgard put on the front of my car. It looks a lot better than the XPel on my Porsche. I used an independent installer who selects the materials...he did an awesome job with this, wrapped all the edges, and ceramic-coated the back half of the car. IMHO, the choice of installer is more important than the brand name.

 

[Chokinzoku]

My take—ship it with an enclosed transport carrier that specializes in high-end exotics, has the insurance policy to cover anything, and provides 24/7 video surveillance of your car and a GPS tracking device. This way you can both watch your car on the way there and track its whereabouts while relaxing at home. For me, personally, the seats in the 23 Z would be too low and stiff for a long drive. 3-4 hours max for me in a Z, otherwise I would need a car with an air suspension to go for a long distance run. If the Z had an adjustable suspension like a GT-R, it would possibly be a different story for me. Another thing to consider, not everything that the our map apps tell us exists, actually does. Once I followed a map in my 03 NSX and there was no “functional” gas station in that town, which almost left me stranded…same thing happens w chargers on EVs…you get there and it’s been destroyed or vandalized…congrats on the car either way you decide to take delivery of it!

 

[therumblewagon]

I say trip, but plan accordingly like everyone else has been proposing. I shipped my EN from ABQ, and would say I regretted it but this was in January during a just, insane wet season here, and with PS4S tires and cold temps with the very real possibility of driving through snow/ice on the way home, I didn't want to tempt the universe.

Protect the front of the car and avoid freeways like others said, use something like this - https://roadcurvature.com/ (neat feature in C&D awhile back) and have a freakin' blast.

If you want a bit more low key of a place to sleep, an Airbnb/VRBO with a driveway or garage might not be a bad idea. The fees and whatnot are annoying, but peace of mind goes a long way for situations like this.

 

[jayhawk70]

My take—ship it with an enclosed transport carrier that specializes in high-end exotics, has the insurance policy to cover anything, and provides 24/7 video surveillance of your car and a GPS tracking device. This way you can both watch your car on the way there and track its whereabouts while relaxing at home. For me, personally, the seats in the 23 Z would be too low and stiff for a long drive. 3-4 hours max for me in a Z, otherwise I would need a car with an air suspension to go for a long distance run. If the Z had an adjustable suspension like a GT-R, it would possibly be a different story for me. Another thing to consider, not everything that the our map apps tell us exists, actually does. Once I followed a map in my 03 NSX and there was no “functional” gas station in that town, which almost left me stranded…same thing happens w chargers on EVs…you get there and it’s been destroyed or vandalized…congrats on the car either way you decide to take delivery of it!

We found the new Z and it’s seats to be very comfortable on our cross country trip in June.

Day 4 was an 852 mile leg from Ouray, Colorado to Carson City, NV. 13 hours of driving, 14 hours total. Got out feeling good. A little stiff, but we are old! (hint, I’m the original owner of our 1973 Datsun 240Z. Do the math.)

And that included no problems finding gas on the Loneliest Road in America. (US 50 from central Utah to western Nevada) The Zs almost 400 mile range on a full tank, and it’s range-to-go odometer, makes for no gas worries. No Tesla range anxiety syndrome With the new Z.

And shipping like it was a million dollar antique Ferrari? Wow, it’s just a Datsun by another name. And it’s not even Nissan’s Halo car, the GTR. Its a depreciating asset meant to be enjoyed by driving. It’s not a piece of art.

Drive it for the fun of it.