Take a road trip in a car that's been sitting? Options

[McLovin]

Hey guys,

My 914 has been sitting for over a year since I got it. I bought a "turn key" car, but it still needs brakes and an oil leak fixed. Otherwise, it's in pretty good shape. I know my fuel lines are good. But the car has been sitting. And before I bought it, I know it sat a couple years getting cosmetics. So essentially, when I get my car on the road, it will have decent rubber lines and tires, but it will have sat for a few years.

Assuming I change the oil , make sure my battery is up to par and adjust the valves, how worried should I be about taking it out of town on a 200 mile trip? My town is about 200 miles in three directions from interesting big cities, and I know I'll want to use it to go to events out of town. Are these gems reliable? I have a company truck, but I can use for personal stuff but I can't take it out of town.

Thanks!

[DRPHIL914]

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I have driven my car on a half dozen trips of 5 hours or more and 2 of 900 miles!!! - that was taking it from SC to Conn to Tangerine racing for work( I only stopped 2x for gas and stretch, drove thru night because it was cooler and less traffic) , then back home afew months later.

But before I did that I had replaced all of my suspension, brakes, bushings bearings etc. so all the safety issues were taken care of, and fuel lines etc all replaced. - SO the state of your car matters. my car has 150k miles on it now and I didn't hesitate to take it to Okteenerfest 5 hours away. but take the test drives etc as suggested, also have an extra petronix unit, points, coil, spare tire, jack, etc triple a AAA , I have Haggarty with roadside assistance and long distance towing , - flares , and take the car and have a great trip. 200 miles I would not hesitate at all , but with all the updating ive done the car is like new mechannicall except for the motor and it has good compression numbers , - sure things can happen but I thing I could have just as great a chance and having an issue with my 2000 BMW 528i that has 253k miles on it! - but again, my car is well maintained, so I would not hesitate with it either.

have a great trip!,

Phil

[McLovin]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

I have driven my car on a half dozen trips of 5 hours or more and 2 of 900 miles!!! - that was taking it from SC to Conn to Tangerine racing for work( I only stopped 2x for gas and stretch, drove thru night because it was cooler and less traffic) , then back home afew months later.

But before I did that I had replaced all of my suspension, brakes, bushings bearings etc. so all the safety issues were taken care of, and fuel lines etc all replaced. - SO the state of your car matters. my car has 150k miles on it now and I didn't hesitate to take it to Okteenerfest 5 hours away. but take the test drives etc as suggested, also have an extra petronix unit, points, coil, spare tire, jack, etc triple a AAA , I have Haggarty with roadside assistance and long distance towing , - flares , and take the car and have a great trip. 200 miles I would not hesitate at all , but with all the updating ive done the car is like new mechannicall except for the motor and it has good compression numbers , - sure things can happen but I thing I could have just as great a chance and having an issue with my 2000 BMW 528i that has 253k miles on it! - but again, my car is well maintained, so I would not hesitate with it either.

have a great trip!,

Phil

Thanks, that's good info. As a side note, you stopped every 200 miles or so? How was that? I mean, I can't decide if the car would be terribly uncomfortable because the seats are thin, or reasonably comfortable because you're practically lying down. Are long trips grueling, or just like other cars?

[Chris914n6]

Thanks, that's good info. As a side note, you stopped every 200 miles or so? How was that? I mean, I can't decide if the car would be terribly uncomfortable because the seats are thin, or reasonably comfortable because you're practically lying down. Are long trips grueling, or just like other cars?

That depends on your butt.

I can and have done 10-12 hours straight in my Nissan Pathfinder and before that in the Hardbody, the seating position works that well for me. On the other hand I can't do an hour in Moms Toyota Highlander before it pinches a nerve making my left leg numb.

I find the 914 seats with a 1.5" bottom pad (autox style) fine for road trips, the girl doesn't. I didn't find a stock pad all that comfortable.

You need to do some shake down runs - drive it to work everyday kind of stuff.