Honestly... I have never driven further than 500 miles on a trip.

Next week, I will be driving from New Jersey to Florida with the Elise I hope to purchase (provided everything is agreeable when I get there). I plan on breaking this up into two days of travel.

Since I will be traveling from mid-30's temps to mid-60's temps, and have limited cargo room (the Elise's trunk is about 1/6th the size of the 914's rear trunk), space and weight need to be conserved...

Here is what I am thinking of bringing....


Cell Phone, Charger, and Ear piece
Radar detector (and a list of the states they are illegal in)
PDA/GPS and accessories
Cigarette lighter splitter
Digital camera
Music preloaded on to flash card (car's radio has SD memory slot! cool!)
Ear plugs
Small towel
Hat
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Lotus Club membership card
AAA card
Cash

Car already has a tool kit in it

Leather jacket
Jeans
Shoes
T-shirts (two)
Pullover
Undies
Socks
toiletries

Printouts of…

Lotus dealerships
Hotel
Mapquest maps
Sales agreement

Directions to Mile's place
Aluminum foil for my head.

What else?

tooth brush and toothpaste.
sunscreen?
914.club hat (the other mid engine club
mini cooler(for road beverages)
organ donor card

I like to take a plug kit and air compressor when I do long drives like that.
You could also bring a pillow and sleep in your car at rest stops, rather than hotels. I love doing that. I just feels right. When you pick up a new car, the drive back is your honeymoon. Make it a drive to remember.

Try to cut through WV. When I went to pick up my Nissan from IN, my friend and I took a detour to this AWESOME road in WV. It was the ultimate twisty road. Just look on the WV map, and you'll see this crazy squiggle line. That's the one.

Cole

lose the jacket....mid 30's isn't cold...just wear a short sleeved tshirt under a long sleeved tshirt and you'll be fine.

don't forget:
cigarettes
mountain dew
starbuck's double shot (at the truck stop coolers)
bottle of water

stop at truck stops, they are usually decent and have tons of stuff,
pickup some knick-knacks for the wife and Hunter, too

have fun, maybe take the long way home Road Trips are a blast!
I'm thinking of planning one out west sometime this year.

ear plugs? comfy pants, comfy shoes, lotus hat , fleece pullover, shades, warm gloves, toiletries. that's it. this will take what? 3 days?

k

QUOTE

lose the jacket....mid 30's isn't cold...

ummm... I'm a skinny white boy from Florida.... 60 is cold for me!

Oh, I can't forget my sign for when I park at rest stops...



ha ha... somebody placed this sign one of the guys cars over in Elise forum...

. too funny. have fun. 500 road trip . that's like driving to parts obsolete to check out the swapmeet. without going back to the list... get some carmex or similar product to protect your lips (spf25-30). when the skin starts peeling off 2 days after you get home you'll understand. where does the top stow?

k

case of candybars

penthouse magazine

lotion

Larger towel

You already have the jacket listed

Ok, you already said sunscreen and sunglasses. Good. those are important. And water (like Seanery said). I think the only things missing are your carry permit* and a compact and reliable auto pistol.

-Ben M.

*check packing.org to verify what states have reciprocity agreements with Florida.

Bail money.

Canadian money, for that wrong turn.



M

postcards

Honestly Qarl in that car if you leave around breakfest time you can be at Miles pad for dinner.
It cant be more than 900 miles from nj to ga. easy

I don't have my CCW yet, so I won't be "packing" on this trip. I wishi I did, though.

Ear plugs... because it has the Stage II exhaust (i.e., louder) and it was recommended by somebody else with an Elise making a long trip. The drone gets old after awhile.

Chapstick... I thought of that after I posted. Got that.

No magazines... that's what pay-per-view porn is for.



Hard top stows in the garage. Lotus wasn't as clever as Porsche.

Actually the hard top is installed and stays there (secured with allen bolts). It's one of those, put it on and leave it for awhile deals.

The car comes with a soft top that folds up and stows in the trunk. (It sort of looks like a 914 targa top doesn't it?) Maybe I should add some sail panel vinyl and paint the rockers black.

1. rain-x!!! here is the map for wed.,

2. a flashlight, incase you need to find your small penis ....... sign.

3. a road map, take a trip through north georgia, near helen, also near jake, find the "dragon's back", (forget the road #), awesome road!! it's not that far out of the way and you may not get another chance to drive through there, wellllllllllllllll worth the trip!!!

3. don't forget to check your oil every fill up.

enjoy!!

GPS pre loaded with the twisty back roads. Crunch bars, sodas save the cans skip the rest stops. drive non stop other than for gas. If you here banjos get outa there quick and back to main roads.

Your 914 emergency list. We might come if you really needed us. Heck I love to see an Elise upclose.

MONEY

Hey Qarl I would have rung you up, As I ws just in Winter Park but it was two hella days of work a little else.

QUOTE (Qarl @ Feb 19 2005, 02:55 PM)

QUOTE lose the jacket....mid 30's isn't cold... ummm... I'm a skinny white boy from Florida.... 60 is cold for me!

Qarl.... come on,... We've met......A-hem... Were not skinny

I already have my spike strip out.



M

While in NJ, don't forget to stop in Atlantic City and check out the amazing new Borgota casino! Just to be helpful, I'll "watch" the Lotus for you while you lose a bunch of cash!

I think I'mp picking up the car at Union City, NJ. The dealership is Maplecrest. I think the Summit store is being renovated.

I'm flying into Newark airport and the salesman is picking me up at the hotel and bringing me to the airport.

Yes, I will need lots of Dr. Pepper and candy bars for energy.

You mean Union NJ? Spent quite a bit of time there:rolleyes:

Don't forget to maake the obiligtory South of the Border stop on 95 :mexican hat smilie:

BRING ME A BIG FOAM HAT!


M

LOTUS(Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious) Karl you won't have to worry if you have engine trouble just find the nearest Toyota dealer. Have fun, and get that thing up on jackstands as soon as you get back.
CCLINLOTUSBLOSSOM

Are there any parts of it that you guys would like to bid on, early?



I'll have a top, and some windshield trim, soon.



M

Anyone want to wager on the first part removed and powdercoated??
CCLINIFITAINTBROKEFIXITANYWAY

looks like you have packed evrything...

how about some fudge. make sure to pack some fudge for that sweet craving

Don't forget your bunny slippers like when you came to Seattle. You couldn't sleep without them!

Geoff

QUOTE (rdauenhauer @ Feb 19 2005, 05:38 PM)

You mean Union NJ? Spent quite   a bit of time there:rolleyes:

If you like Italian pastry, stop at Canca D'oro (sp?) on Stuyvesant (sp? again) Ave in Union, NJ. The best Canolis you'll find.

Other things for the long trip (and I think you are overpacking);
1) polar fleece is good for travel - keeps moisture away.
2) cigars to celebrate your purchase.
3) condoms (no comment- lol).
4) repost your trip and ask for a contact list for folks along your route.

Have fun.

Geoff Those are LOTUS driving shoes
CCLINPILOTOWITHEARS

These are what I normally drive in...

Aaron's 'sweet cravings' are grossing me out.

QUOTE (redshift @ Feb 19 2005, 09:32 PM)

Aaron's 'sweet cravings' are grossing me out.

twas a joke asspole....

Pack a rainsuit... the Elise is NOT watertight in the rain.
Be careful of the cigarette lighter splitter sometimes they can blow a fuse on newer cars.

Have fun, beautiful car.

If this list keeps growing you better install a trailer hitch

May your otter never squeek.


M

If you get tired near southwest Virginia, gimme a holler. I'm in Blacksburg, would be willing to trade you a place to nap for a ride in your new car....

We had great twisties out here....

Cole

credit card. remember to take time to eat well and look at interesting stuff on the way - and take lots of photos.

Snug hat.

GPS!

It changes everything. You can always get there.

You may want to roll up one of those t-shirts to have to put under a leg or behind your neck- something to change the load points.

the road mentioned is "Tail of the dragon"

googled this:

"The Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, with 318 curves in 11 miles, is America ’s number one motorcycle and sports car road. The nearby Cherohala Skyway is quickly becoming number two with its remote 60 miles of scenic mountain highway. The area also has other roads less traveled, but just as exciting.
Come and discover them all."
tail of the dragon

Are ya gonna take a laptop and post when you stop for the night?

Your original list is a good one. Flashlight was an excellent suggestion. I know you can't carry a pocket knife on the air plane, but you can buy one at the first place you stop for gas.

Enjoy the trip. Take your time and savor it. It will be exhausting while you are doing it, but after you are home you will think it was over to soon.

scott,

thanks for the correction, sorry for the confusion.

the road i was thinking of is, iirc, Hwy 348, only a few mile from helen, ga. now that i think of it, i believe jake called it blood mountian, super twisty mountian pass road. when i drove my 914 cross country, i wanted to visit helen, i missed my intended turn and found this road.

the "tale" sounds like an amazing raod.

Aaaron....

Sounds like you have lots of experience packing fudge... for cravings on roattrips, of course.

Care to explain the origin of this picture?



This must have been after you and MikeZ finished packing fudge.... in the trunk of the 914 for one of your road trips... in case you got a craving... you know... for some candy.



just kidding

QUOTE

look at my nice ass... come and get me Carl... rawr...

I hope you're talking about the car and not the cows!!!

handy feature with the top . sounds like you'll be driving a hardtop coupe. forget the lip balm, sunblock, and warm clothing.

k

Thought of something else this morning... a tire gauge and a can of fix-a-flat.

The Elise doesn't have a spre!

How many 914s are out there driving around without a spare, or one that has air in it?
CCLINRUNFLAT