Driving across the country today for the first time! tips?
 

California to virginia! Had my car for about a week now wish me luck and toss some tips my way!

That is going to be one gorgeous ride.

make sure you change the oil before you start this journey!

I drove mine Delaware to Vegas within a week of purchase, then Vegas to Wichita Falls and back to Vegas shortly afterwards. This car is GREAT for road trips. Position your seat properly so you won't get fatigued and you're good to go. @CSG Mike said a bit about that in his beginner track prep thread.

Things to do:
- Carry quick detailer, window cleaner, and a stack of microfiber towels. Use the quick detailer when you get something on it that might damage the paint. Clean ALL of your windows, every single morning, before you start to drive. There are a lot of stupid reasons to crash your car that you can't control; your visibility is not one of them. Take the time.
- Carry extra water. Pick up a flat of water bottles or something and leave them in your trunk. In the western states there's a whole lot of nowhere to stop.
- Also in the western states, plan your fuel stops. That whole lot of nothing could bite you in the ass if you don't pay attention.
- When you stop for fuel, walk around for 10-15 minutes, stretch, etc...

Things I wish I had done:
- Wrap the front of the car (at least) with clear bra, or whatever. There are a lot of minor rock chips that could have been avoided. There are tumbleweeds in TX, NM, and AZ that you won't be able to avoid. They have some kind of homing technology; I'm not sure how it works.
- Have the front window tinted with Air 80 or similar (clear, but 99.9% UV blockage). I got all the other windows done before I left, but having the sun in your face for hours on end gets irritating.

If you're getting tired to the point that your blinks are lasting for a second or two, pull over and take a break. It's not a race, and the only person that loses if you fuck it up is you.

I wish I had clear bra'ed her right after purchase.

We drove the blue ridge parkway for a road trip and it was awesome. But damn my front bumper will never fully recover.

It's good to have the Subaru/Toyota trunk liner, or the Weathertech one. Makes keeping a cooler/etc back there less risky.

Watch out for wildlife! This happened 2.5 hours into an 11 hour trip. Those bastards come out of nowhere! :mad0259: Oh, and get a dash cam!

Tape up your bumper. it looks silly but is such a time saver in the long run.

Tape up your bumper. it looks silly but is such a time saver in the long run.

Don't freak out if you can't find 91 octane gas. No harm will be done.

-alex

GPS -> Avoid tolls -> Avoid highways

Watch out for speed traps. Personally saw quite a few of them when I was driving through Arizona. (driving from Cali to Missouri).

Have a plan for when you get tired. Awesome playlist, Energy drink, sunflower seeds, etc..

Know how to replace a tire with your spare. Have insurance/road side assistance phone handy.

Enjoy the experience. You'll be driving through some awesome views.