Help me plan cross country drive, 914 or boxster? Options

[boxster914]

This is the best forum in the car world!

Thank you for all of your advice. Keep it coming!

While I'd like to drive as much of Route 66 as possible, I will avoid the dirt roads and bad bridges. (Thanks for the tip @ClayPerrine )

I'm using this guide to plan my route:

https://independenttravelcats.com/2-week-ro...ican-road-trip/

I plan to drive only 5 hours max per day between 6am-12 noon.

I'm leaning toward driving the 914 and using the ice bucket and hand towel advice.

I'll do a test run of each car around NC/VA in the coming weeks and decide after that.

[willieg]

I lived in the outback of Wester Australia(redundant?) for two years and learned never to refuse A/C if offered. Take the Boxster!

[Arkady]

Drove across the Mojave and Sonoran deserts several times in my Chevy Tracker 2 door soft top with no air conditioning. On the first trip I learned that it feels more tolerable with the windows up. Otherwise it felt like constantly sitting in front of a heat gun.

I know it doesn't seem intuitive but at least for me it was more comfortable.

Also, take lots of water along for hydration. There's plenty of movies where some poor guy with sweat salt stuck on his face is crawling over the sandy landscape. Don't be that guy...

[Lockwodo]

I was driving a Buick on I 40 west of Needles and the ambient temp was 117 F. The automatic transmission seals failed - ATF everywhere and the tranny was toast. Had the car towed back to Needles where the mechanic told me that because of heat radiated from the asphalt road, the actual temp under the car was more like 150 F.

Seems like a sure fire way to kill an air cooled engine.

[Rob-O]

Take the Boxster. That trip will give you the experience to know if making the trip a second time…in a 914…would be a good idea.

[wonkipop]

I lived in the outback of Wester Australia(redundant?) for two years and learned never to refuse A/C if offered. Take the Boxster!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

oh yeah its hot out there up north in WA.
been there when i lived for a few years in perth.

funny thing is 25 years ago no-one had auto AC much here.
especially out there. just toyota land cruisers. land cruisers, land cruisers and land cruisers.

there was a school of thought you were better to travel without AC.
that way you are conditioned to the environment. just stay shaded and out of the sun.
driving a car fitted that requirement. but not an open topped car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
better to be in that state than step out of the refridgerated car if you bog in sand, or break down. just drink plenty of water.

old saying in australia. "only mad dogs and englishmen go out in the midday sun". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


doesn't apply anymore as average aussie is now more stoopid than an englisman.
post covid there have been repeated rescues of city folk in the outback bogging their lux 4 wheel drives towing vast caravans. guess what color the cars and vans are.
black.

everyone, no exceptions only used to drive white cars out in the outback.
car doesn't turn into a broiler oven when you break down.
there are no trees for shade. there is only your car. and your hat!

i drove the nullabor back in jan 93 to go to perth.
the treeless plain.
did it in high summer, had to get over there for an academic position to ride out the recession of the early 90s. i did it in the old type 3. no problems.
no shade.

if any of you ever want to take the ultimate highway - thats the one.
highway 1 across australia from east to west along the bottom.
back then the highway had two sorts of vehicles on it.
convoys of road trains travelling nose to tail with rubber buffers on the roo bars.
fuel economy. they took it in turns to take the lead position and cut the wind.
you got right off the highway when you saw them coming because a rolling hail of rocks followed them. the others were holden station wagons with 4 to 5 japanese 20 year old males. and a motorbike. they took it in turns to ride banzai with headbands on with red dots and no helmet. at flat tilt. the station wagon was the support vehicle.
what a time!!!!! i stopped and talked to the japs at quite a few places.
real interesting. they were there for the samurai breakout before they went back and "conformed". great guys. beah drinkers.

look closely and you can spot my variant parked at edge of it all.
nothing left except antarctica somwhere south.
and a sh%tload of 25 foot white pointers swimming around in the water at the bottom of the cliffs.



if an old squareback can drive right across australia in a treeless desert where its real hot a 914 can make it across the USA desert.
its just how comfortable do you want to be. and can you make it.

[wonkipop]

I was driving a Buick on I 40 west of Needles and the ambient temp was 117 F. The automatic transmission seals failed - ATF everywhere and the tranny was toast. Had the car towed back to Needles where the mechanic told me that because of heat radiated from the asphalt road, the actual temp under the car was more like 150 F.

Seems like a sure fire way to kill an air cooled engine.

you'd be surprised.
so long as you don't flog it.
just take it nice and easy. 50-55 mph.
VW air cooled motor can take it.
probably wouldn't do it in the middle of the day.
keep to the cool morning and evenings just to be sure.
but they can cope with it.
thats what sold them in australia. no snow here. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
its real hot.

they used to use VW beetles to round up cattle on some outback cattle stations.
they can do it.

[mlindner]

Yup Boxster. My wife and I went to the Porsche Parade 30 years ago To Colorado Spring from Madison WI. Driving 90 mph in temps of 90 plus. Wife was sick for two days. A week later we purchased a 928.

[vitamin914]

I can see the attraction to taking either car, provided they are equally reliable.

Something to factor in is age of both the car and yourself. If you are older (55+) you may want to error on the side of caution and go with the A/C. These will be extreme conditions.

The other consideration is are you going solo or traveling with someone?

As for the cell phone service - that is important - as anything can break down.

Seriously consider getting an iPhone 14 Pro that has the emergency satellite feature (not sure if lesser models have that ability) and learn how it works. It has already saved lives. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...

No one needs the anxiety of breaking down and not being able to contact assistance. God knows how often another vehicle will drive by and actually stop to help.

[Minerva's 914]

Good luck Bill!

I will be following your trip all the way buddy.

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Beers are onn me when you return

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/drunk.gif)

[Shivers]

It has been hot in the Coachella valley. If you come this way I suggest staying in the high desert. Go through Joshua tree it is cooler

[930cabman]

It has been hot in the Coachella valley. If you come this way I suggest staying in the high desert. Go through Joshua tree it is cooler

In the shade!!

No thanks, I will stay right here in the blizzard capital of the US, Buffalo, NY

The winter months give me (us) plenty of time for our projects

[Shivers]

It has been hot in the Coachella valley. If you come this way I suggest staying in the high desert. Go through Joshua tree it is cooler

In the shade!!

No thanks, I will stay right here in the blizzard capital of the US, Buffalo, NY

The winter months give me (us) plenty of time for our projects

I’ve got family in NJ, I have considered your (and their) argument and find it solid. It would be nice to have a few months planned for the car only. With 9 months to collect parts it seems like a lot of good work would be possible.

[second wind]

No offense to 914 voters but I think it is INSANE to take the 914 over hot territory. I was just thinking of the air temperature but that last post regarding the asphalt temperature really convinced me that any car but a 914....especially a four. Jus' sayin'....
gg

[SKL1]

As much as I love my 914's, and remembering many a trip in the summer back from Road America to eastern Iowa in the heat and humidity, please take the Boxster- and make sure you've got an updated IMS bearing!!


(and as I type this in north Scottsdale, it is currently 112 with no end in sight)

[VaccaRabite]

I've done a recent, several hours drive in 98-101 degree heat and humidity in my 914. After 4 hours when I got home I was DONE. It wasn't fun. 2 years later there are still white stains on the door vinyl where sweat and sunscreen were pouring off my arm and into the vinyl.

Every early June I drive to Texas, a little over 1400 miles. I think "I should do this in the 914." Until I get west of the Appalachians and start the LONG leg through Tennessee where traffic is doing 90, its 90*+, and there are thunderstorms up ahead. And then I'm happy I'm in a modern car, with working AC, and dry on the inside w/o a fogged up windshield.

Yes, folks used to drive cars without A/C all over. Yes the car itself will likely be fine. But back in the day, cars broke down a good bit more, road speeds were slower, traffic was lighter, and people were accustomed to being much warmer all the time. The heat right now down in Texas is literally killing people.

Take the Boxster.

Zach

[914_teener]

Biggest dangers having done the i-40 many times.

Traffic/Trucks-Heat-Wind. In that order.

Longest grade and highest heat will be the grade up from the Colorado River from Needles. I've driven it at 125 ambient. While your car might make it, I'd be more concerned about your physical health. There aren't many cell holes along the I-40. When you hit the I-15 and if you get stuck in traffic there....that's where'd I'd get concerned about a air cooled engine at high temps. It's not a very fun drive that way and you might consider the 395 cut off, the HWY 2 is closed over the top indefinitely and sadly or I'd suggest that.

BTDT....if you are under 55 and have never done it....take the 914 and take plenty of water and a AAA card.

At my age and having don it before but in a Type 1....Boxster hands down.

[windforfun]

Perhaps OT. Don't drive either one. Hop on a plane & fly first class. Driving cross country, especially in a little car with a stick, can be hard on the physiology. Whatever.

[jim_hoyland]

Stay cool and comfy…

[ctc911ctc]

I did Chicago to LA in May '79 in a 75-914 2.0, Copper with a big dent on the left rear quarter panel as if a light pole fell onto the car.....strangest dent I have ever seen - just in case you have seen this car.......

It was HOT outside, and across Utah it was very difficult, I had AC (undercharged) and remember 2 things.

1. Came down with FLU like symptoms that had me laid up in a motel for 48hours. Not sure why.
2. Felt every pebble from Indiana to Ontario CA.

My kidneys are still recovering......

Great drive once I got to CO,

C