My first FRS road trip- let's hear about yours too!

[Crashdummy]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

Schedule a lot of time to go down PCH, especially through northern CA. It can get very slow and winding. When you're going LA to LV, take a detour in LA to La Canada/Flintridge, and take CA Hwy 2 through Angeles Forest. It's about 60 miles of medium speed winding road. It joins up on the north end with Hwy 138 about 10 miles from I-15, so it's easy to cut back over once you're done.

Yep it takes time, I drove up it from LA to Portland in my cousins Legacy a few yrs ago. We got delayed a few hrs cause a car went over the cliff. .

Thanks, I will give that a look on the map.

[KnightRyderx2]

Did my first road trip with the FRS, Kansas City to Colorado Springs, 1200 miles round trip or 3 days. Car did great and ran without a hick-up. Got about 34 miles to the gallon for the trip. I was surprised how my back did not hurt after that drive. I thought the seat was going to do a number on my back. Car definitely needed a wash when I got back, look like I drove through a jungle and managed to hit every bug there.

It was a good but long and boring drive along 70 through Kansas. Once I left Kansas City going through Kansas its all flat farm land with hay, corn and cows. I was pretty happy when I got to Colorado and could see mountains in the distance. Once I got the Colorado Spring I was happy to get there and start relaxing.

[guybo]

Originally Posted by KnightRyderx2

I was surprised how my back did not hurt after that drive. I thought the seat was going to do a number on my back.

Car definitely needed a wash when I got back, look like I drove through a jungle and managed to hit every bug there.

These seats are great. At work I drive a Silverado all day and it KILLS my back. But the FRS seats wrap around and have good lower back support. I had very little back or legs problems. That was my main concern on the drive and being the only driver (my wife doesn't drive a stick and it too scared to learn).

I hear you on the bug thing. I could have written a dissertation on the insect population of Florida if I saved the run off from the car wash when I got back.

[gravitylover]

I've done a few 500+ mile days in my car and every time I'm surprised at just how good the seat is. It looks so simple and has so few adjustments I didn't expect it when I bought it. I wouldn't mind if the lower leg bolster was adjustable though.

[ToySub1946]

Sorry I was not here to respond to any who asked questions.

I was on another trip, past 6 days. 1457 miles total for this trip.
Eureka, Ca to Walla Walla, Wa...going diagonally across Oregon from southwest to northeast Oregon. Mostly secondary roads. Some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen on any trip. Great variance in scenery and roads.

What I've learned from this trip: The car got about 34mpg average. Best mileage ever, due to slower driving speeds, despite many uphill climbs, high altitudes, and revving engine for tons of curves, downshifting often.

Way more fun to drive than to fly it is. For a short trip like this one, cheaper to drive. For any long trip, certainly, with a ticket bought in advance, much cheaper to fly. It's the motels and restaurants that add up on a driving trip.

I'll be 70 years old in 6 days from now. 38,298 miles on the odometer of this car which is just over two years old. This car rocks ! Like it more and more as the miles add up.

Had a nice car to car race through winding roads in a gorge in Oregon yesterday, kid with a Prius plug in...with two electric motors...I was very surprised how well the Prius did in the twisties.

Long distance gas mileage notes: On a trip coast to coast this car averages about 31.5mpg. Why is that ? Well the speeds I drive are 72mph east coast and 87mph west coast inland areas. That's averaging much higher rpms for the engine over long periods, thus worse mileage than lower speeds. Contrary to what one other has stated in a post somewhere, high rpms equals worse mileage for this car. I wonder how the 2017 model will do ?...certainly not as well in mpg as this 2015 car. Wish they'd have changed the gear ratios of the transmission for the 2017 rather than the final drive ratio...well surely they did what was cheaper.

After reading everything I can find about the 2017 model, only reason I can now see for me to upgrade would be the strengthened internals of the 2017's engine.
Are they making way for a, dare I say, turbo for 2018 ? Time will tell.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by ToySub1946

...............
I was on another trip, past 6 days. 1457 miles total for this trip.
Eureka, Ca to Walla Walla, Wa...I'll be 70 years old in 6 days from now. .

Happy birthday, old timer ........

Did you happen to visit the Fort Walla museum .... ??

If not, I suggest you go there the next time you are in the area ..... a very impressive museum.


humfrz

[ToySub1946]

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.

Tried the north entrance yesterday, it was closed early (they normally close Nov 1st) due to early snow.

Since it's a National Park, requires a pass or $15. fee. No pass required yesterday, as there was nothing to see...LOL. But oh, the miles I wasted trying to get to see it.

Note: there is no sign saying 'Crater lake' at it's north entrance...easy to drive past it...gov't states they don't own the land outside of entrance so are not allowed to put up a sign. And no signs on roads within many miles of entrance stating entrance is closed...Typical govt. ! We waste tons of fuel trying to drive to a place which is closed because they don't alert us with signs on neighboring roads.

Was able to go to south entrance (which they state is open year round). Guess what, rain/sleet on the way up to and back from. Could not see the lake at all from it's edge due to intense fog. 36 degrees there yesterday afternoon and about 18 inches of snow on the ground.

Last time I was there, June 2005. Did see the lake then, but could not drive around it due to snow from previous winter.

What I've now learned...if you want to see it, plan in advance and go to their website for current updates.

https://www.nps.gov/CRLA/planyourvisit/index.htm

Or since their webcams don't always work...(and the only one working currently is of their parking lot...thanks a lot) https://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/photo...ia/webcams.htm call them before you go..(541) 594-3000

[darthpnoy1984]

Originally Posted by ToySub1946

Sorry I was not here to respond to any who asked questions.

I was on another trip, past 6 days. 1457 miles total for this trip.
Eureka, Ca to Walla Walla, Wa...going diagonally across Oregon from southwest to northeast Oregon. Mostly secondary roads. Some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen on any trip. Great variance in scenery and roads.

What I've learned from this trip: The car got about 34mpg average. Best mileage ever, due to slower driving speeds, despite many uphill climbs, high altitudes, and revving engine for tons of curves, downshifting often.

Way more fun to drive than to fly it is. For a short trip like this one, cheaper to drive. For any long trip, certainly, with a ticket bought in advance, much cheaper to fly. It's the motels and restaurants that add up on a driving trip.

I'll be 70 years old in 6 days from now. 38,298 miles on the odometer of this car which is just over two years old. This car rocks ! Like it more and more as the miles add up.

Had a nice car to car race through winding roads in a gorge in Oregon yesterday, kid with a Prius plug in...with two electric motors...I was very surprised how well the Prius did in the twisties.

Long distance gas mileage notes: On a trip coast to coast this car averages about 31.5mpg. Why is that ? Well the speeds I drive are 72mph east coast and 87mph west coast inland areas. That's averaging much higher rpms for the engine over long periods, thus worse mileage than lower speeds. Contrary to what one other has stated in a post somewhere, high rpms equals worse mileage for this car. I wonder how the 2017 model will do ?...certainly not as well in mpg as this 2015 car. Wish they'd have changed the gear ratios of the transmission for the 2017 rather than the final drive ratio...well surely they did what was cheaper.

After reading everything I can find about the 2017 model, only reason I can now see for me to upgrade would be the strengthened internals of the 2017's engine.
Are they making way for a, dare I say, turbo for 2018 ? Time will tell.

Happy to hear that Richard, I also recently did a road trip LA to Fresno and SF on my 15 Twins and yes it's bit more than flying but the driving experience and memories driving it lasts a lifetime. I also did manage to get 34-35 on the highway as well even with the I-5 uphill climb. You should do the Highway 1 Big Sur to Morro Bay


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[humfrz]

Originally Posted by ToySub1946

..................Since it's a National Park, requires a pass or $15. fee. ...........

FYI ...... just in case you don't have one......

"America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass - Senior Pass - Cost $10. The Senior Pass replaces the Golden Age Passport."

(good for a lifetime).


humfrz

[paolo_86]

I did 1905 miles on a Euro road trip through 9 countries.... starting in the UK just north of London, through the Channel Tunnel and then onto France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Italy and back to the UK again.

The highlight was driving in the Italian Alps and the car was fantastic blasting over the Stelvio Pass. I was hoping to max it out on the autobahn in Germany, but as it wasn't clear enough, I only managed 132mph.

Surprised that it still managed 33mpg despite my lead foot, and that the seats are so comfortable on long trips. Can't wait to do it all again!

[Magyarman]

Yesterday and today I did a roadtrip to circumnavigate the lower Chesapeake bay. Down the western shore,overnight at Cape Charles,then back up the eastern shore to home in Baltimore , 448 miles,39.1mpg.

I did this as a test for longer trips. Comfort,just fine. The only drawback was the boredom at the hotel waiting to get back on the road again.

[NOHOME]

Had to laugh at the FL Hwy 19 stuff. They also have world class red-light runners. Mix that in with the senior demographic that seems to dominate a lot of the population, and it gets fun.

Seen this go from bad to much worse over the last 25 years. I don't mind it so much, but I have to agree that the FRS is not a great car for the cut and thrust of high speedbumper-to-bumper commuting. The FRS has too much blind spot to deal with the guys cutting in on the right from two lanes over and 20 miles faster. The motorcycles make this even more fun.

[Capt Spaulding]

The wife and I drove the Blue Streak from McAllen, TX to Reston VA and mostly back in June of '17.

Here's the Reader's Digest Condensed Version of the trip. I have a boatload of pics, but the report would be far longer than anyone in their right minds would read. I've included the route for anyone interested in following along on Google Maps.

6/16 McAllen to Houston approx 400 miles of mixed two lane and interstate.

6/18 Houston to Jackson MS. North on US 59 to Livingston TX US 190 to TX 63 to LA 28 to Alexandria LA, east to Natchez MS - Natchez Trace PKWY to I-20 to Jackson.

6/19 Jackson to Chattanooga - Natchez Trace PKWY to TN state line, back tracked to Florence AL, east on US 72 through Huntsville north to I-24 in TN east to Chattanooga.


6/20 Chattanooga to Asheville NC. - I-75 North to Cleveland TN - east on US 74 to Ducktown TN. North on TN 68 to Telico Plains TN, East (more or less) on Cherohala Skyway to Robbinsville NC. north on US 129 to Deal's Gap. Up and down the Tail of the Dragon. Stopped at dragon store restaurant to allow wife to recover her lunch. NC 28 to US 74 to I-40 to Asheville. These roads are amazing. The car was perfect. Need to bring Dramamine for passenger.

6/21 Asheville - Toured Biltmore.

6/22 Asheville to Reston. First rain of the trip. North on I-28 to I-81. Shitloads of truck traffic on 81. Interesting dicing with them in the rain in a BRZ. East on I-66 to Reston.

6/23,24,25,26 - Farting around in DC area - hanging with No.2 son - toured Manassas, Gettysburg and DC area. He has a Mazda 3. It's a nice car.

6/27 Reston to Lynchburg VA. US 15 to US 29 to Charlottesville. 6 Hours at Monticello, south on 29 to Lynchburg.

6-28 Lynchburg VA to Lexington KY. US 501 west to I-81 North to I-64 east to Lexington. There are NOT many roads over the mountains in West Virginia.

6-29 Lexington to Memphis (almost) Bluegrass PKWY to I-65 to White House TN. Approx 1:30pm Moron in Nissan Armada cuts the apex on a left turn at a traffic light and head-ons the Streak. #$*(&@!@))&&&.

6-30 After frank and open discussions with idiot's insurance adjuster, punctuated by a call to my agent in TX (idiot and I were insured with same carrier) finally got a rent car (Chev Impala - what a buzz kill) and drove to Shreveport.

7-1 Shreveport to Houston

7-2 Houston to McAllen

All in all the BRZ was a joy on the road. It was more comfortable than my wife's '12 Camry SE. It was a LOT more comfortable than the Impala (What a POS). Not too noisy, not too firm - the Goldilocks GT. I tried to limit the daily mileage to just over 400. A few days were longer - one (6/20) a bit shorter. It was just about perfect. We had no problems space wise, it held all we needed and some things we took up for No.2 son in VA. with nary a complaint.

Man - I LOVE this car.

EDIT: The total trip length was a shade over 4000 miles. Of that the BRZ covered about 3000. Doing so it got just over 33 mpg and didn't use a drop of oil. A transporter brought her home in August. A body shop in Hendersonville TN got her close to sorted out and a local shop tied up some loose ends. She seems back in fighting shape.

For a two person "driving" vacation I can't imagine a better car. I was comfy, my wife was comfy, and the car was happy. To borrow a line from the MC in Caberet "Everysing vas beautiful" until the idiot interrupted the reveries. Sure, if I had 150k to spend on a car a 911 might be nice, but not 6 times as nice. At 6'6" I don't fit in a Cayman and, even if I did, I still love what the BRZ is and does. I just hope Subi keeps making it long enough for me to wear this one out and buy a new one.

[MurderousPandas]

No great roadtrips for me, but i did take one. Evacuating from Marathon, Fl due to Irma, i went to Detroit to see old friends and family (i moved from one peninsula to another). About 2400 miles back and forth, my car started with roughly 95k miles. I drove the whole trip in two sittings(one north, one south) only making stops for gas, and food and restroom for my dog and i. And a chainsaw on the way back down. The car held up great, no problems but a CEL because i forgot to disable an O2 sensor code due to headers. With all the modifications and miles, the fact that it was an early '13 model, i wasn't sure that i would make it, especially with my luck, but the car literally performed flawlessly. I met up with friends, went shooting, did some skids, and had some spirited driving with all the cars in between. A boring roadtrip for the most part, bits of fun here and there, but a true test of this car's reliablilty and endurance.
I have to say, of every car i owned, this might be the most reliable, the most fun, the easiest to modify, and the cheapest. My car has been through hell, it even got 2 to 3 feet of air once, but guess what? It's still on the road. I've been thinking about trading it in, but the longer this car keeps going, the more and more i tell myself i have to keep it.

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