Road Trip Essentials :: '04 CTT
06-30-2011, 07:24 PM
#16
Burning Brakes
there is a great documentary out there called 180 degrees south......it clearly states that the end goal is not the adventure but the process of getting there......I quote partially from memory.."thats what people today neglect to see. so you get *******'s who come in to climb everest and the sherpas set up their tents and even put mints on their pillows at night........and they still come out ********!!!" Yvon Chouinard founder of Patagonia.
Watch it before you go
...be safe.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1407927/
Watch it before you go
...be safe.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1407927/
06-30-2011, 08:48 PM
#17
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
I wouldn't talk to Pops like that if I were you...
For one, I love Chouinard. Haven't see the film, but I'll never forget a quote of his about how a lawsuit brought the original BlackDiamond the point of bankruptcy - he said something to the effect of, "Real climbers would never have filed this lawsuit." ((thinks to self about applicability to coolant pipes lawsuit...))
Actually not concerned for the trip beyond duration and small backseats. But for you road warriors, where on earth are all of you driving that many miles a week??
there is a great documentary out there called 180 degrees south......it clearly states that the end goal is not the adventure but the process of getting there......I quote partially from memory.."thats what people today neglect to see. so you get *******'s who come in to climb everest and the sherpas set up their tents and even put mints on their pillows at night........and they still come out ********!!!" Yvon Chouinard founder of Patagonia.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1407927/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1407927/
Actually not concerned for the trip beyond duration and small backseats. But for you road warriors, where on earth are all of you driving that many miles a week??
07-01-2011, 12:47 AM
#18
Rocky Mountain High
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Let me know when you're in the area. I'll buy you a beer from one of our local breweries.
07-01-2011, 06:44 AM
#20
I opted for not having a company car, as I don't like volvos so most of the miles are work related (meetings, presentations etc.) and I also do quite a lot of "leisure" trips around europe when I have time
07-12-2011, 08:52 PM
#25
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
She was a total champ the entire trip...with one small glitch.
When I turned the car off at a stop in Elko, NV, all power went completely dead - like there was no battery at all. I actually brought a jump box and stowed it in the rear secret compartment, but of course the rear was packed full of luggage. Of course, with no power, I couldn't open the rear hatch. So in 100 degree heat, I got to unpack the car through the folded-down back seat, into the parking lot to get to the little panel in the back. Of course the jump box didn't work the first 5 times I tried to restart, but after a good 15 minutes of just sitting reconnected to the battery wondering what to do next, it just magically started up on the next try. Then I thought I'd be dealing wth a dead battery at every stop, but never had a problem after that. Which makes me wonder (a) how to tell if my battery's dead or dying, and (b) how it suddenly charged up enough to hold a charge by the next stop. I suspect something else was at play.
But that one issue aside, it was a remarkable ride. Probably the most comfortable long road trip I've ever taken. And while the passenger's seat was a continual "SLOW DOWN!" reminder, there was one super-long and super-straight stretch of highway between the NV border and Salt Lake City (ironically, the Bonneville Salt Flats/Speedway) where I made a nice spirited pass of some slower trailer, and a blur of a 'Vette came out of nowhere and pulled up next to me and revved it up a little as if to say, "come out and play!" Right behind him were a handful of very nice MBs, then an M6 or M3, and one or two other souped-up toys.
For the next 30-40 miles, it was a game of who-wants-to-lead, who-wants-to-follow? And it was the first time I've ever really had a chance to stretch out the legs and push her hard and drive at high speeds for an extended period of time. A taste of Autobahn-like driving, stateside. At one point I was going something like 118 or 120, and one of the Benz's just rocketed past like I was stopped--glancing over and smiling while he went by. Kids and adults (i.e., older kids) alike were equally engaged in this little carefree jaunt of road-muscle flexing. I of course was the heavy SUV, full of luggage and a back row, trying not to kill anyone, but let's just say there was a lot left under the hood had I decided to let loose with reckless abandon. I truly believe my vehicle could not only push 150+ if I tried, but going quite fast did not feel reckless, nor really even fast for that matter... if that makes sense. That was the crazy realization for me - I was hauling some 6,000 lbs in a top-heavy SUV, but I was punching down the highway with some pretty juiced up sports cars. And the two-gear kickdown under load with the turbos spooling up was utterly phenomenal. Again, one of those I-forgot-I-was-the-heavy-SUV moments.
This little cannonball run ended just outside SLC when the lead car motioned out the window that this was their exit. Everyone else got off, and there was a nice exchange of waves as we went our separate ways. Great fun.
Again, this experience was the very embodiment of the reason I chose this SUV, and why I got the turbo engine. And to the latter point I will add that during some of this 15-20 minute sprint, while checking to see just who had what radar sitting on their dash (none that I could see), I deduced that in the event some over-ambitious Utah Trooper decided to pull us all over, only I would be able to gently slow down, raise the suspension, and glide off the highway shoulder onto the salt flats, and angle toward some side road somewhere in true off-road rallye style! (cut to sunset scene and roll credits)
When I turned the car off at a stop in Elko, NV, all power went completely dead - like there was no battery at all. I actually brought a jump box and stowed it in the rear secret compartment, but of course the rear was packed full of luggage. Of course, with no power, I couldn't open the rear hatch. So in 100 degree heat, I got to unpack the car through the folded-down back seat, into the parking lot to get to the little panel in the back. Of course the jump box didn't work the first 5 times I tried to restart, but after a good 15 minutes of just sitting reconnected to the battery wondering what to do next, it just magically started up on the next try. Then I thought I'd be dealing wth a dead battery at every stop, but never had a problem after that. Which makes me wonder (a) how to tell if my battery's dead or dying, and (b) how it suddenly charged up enough to hold a charge by the next stop. I suspect something else was at play.
But that one issue aside, it was a remarkable ride. Probably the most comfortable long road trip I've ever taken. And while the passenger's seat was a continual "SLOW DOWN!" reminder, there was one super-long and super-straight stretch of highway between the NV border and Salt Lake City (ironically, the Bonneville Salt Flats/Speedway) where I made a nice spirited pass of some slower trailer, and a blur of a 'Vette came out of nowhere and pulled up next to me and revved it up a little as if to say, "come out and play!" Right behind him were a handful of very nice MBs, then an M6 or M3, and one or two other souped-up toys.
For the next 30-40 miles, it was a game of who-wants-to-lead, who-wants-to-follow? And it was the first time I've ever really had a chance to stretch out the legs and push her hard and drive at high speeds for an extended period of time. A taste of Autobahn-like driving, stateside. At one point I was going something like 118 or 120, and one of the Benz's just rocketed past like I was stopped--glancing over and smiling while he went by. Kids and adults (i.e., older kids) alike were equally engaged in this little carefree jaunt of road-muscle flexing. I of course was the heavy SUV, full of luggage and a back row, trying not to kill anyone, but let's just say there was a lot left under the hood had I decided to let loose with reckless abandon. I truly believe my vehicle could not only push 150+ if I tried, but going quite fast did not feel reckless, nor really even fast for that matter... if that makes sense. That was the crazy realization for me - I was hauling some 6,000 lbs in a top-heavy SUV, but I was punching down the highway with some pretty juiced up sports cars. And the two-gear kickdown under load with the turbos spooling up was utterly phenomenal. Again, one of those I-forgot-I-was-the-heavy-SUV moments.
This little cannonball run ended just outside SLC when the lead car motioned out the window that this was their exit. Everyone else got off, and there was a nice exchange of waves as we went our separate ways. Great fun.
Again, this experience was the very embodiment of the reason I chose this SUV, and why I got the turbo engine. And to the latter point I will add that during some of this 15-20 minute sprint, while checking to see just who had what radar sitting on their dash (none that I could see), I deduced that in the event some over-ambitious Utah Trooper decided to pull us all over, only I would be able to gently slow down, raise the suspension, and glide off the highway shoulder onto the salt flats, and angle toward some side road somewhere in true off-road rallye style! (cut to sunset scene and roll credits)
07-13-2011, 12:19 AM
#26
Banned
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I've been on that stretch of road, with cruise control locked at 110MPH in SWMBO's '03 BMW 525i Touring.
Right now - in Boulder CO area on the trip cross country.. 1,950 miles so far.. only 800 to go to the half-way point..
Right now - in Boulder CO area on the trip cross country.. 1,950 miles so far.. only 800 to go to the half-way point..
07-13-2011, 07:55 AM
#27
Rennlist Member
I live in the Poconos and since buying the Cayenne in February I've racked up a trip to Kentucky (1300 miles), a trip to Jamestown, NY (550 miles) and a trip to Cape Cod (750 miles). This on top of my daily 20 mile commute-plus-kids' activities. Tomorrow, I'm off to Edinburgh, IN (1300 miles).
Throughout, the car has been flawless. Just superb!
In the shop now for an oil change and a detailing before the Indiana trip!
Throughout, the car has been flawless. Just superb!
In the shop now for an oil change and a detailing before the Indiana trip!
07-13-2011, 07:38 PM
#28
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In Grand Junction CO now.. boy is Rt 70 between Denver and Grand Junction spectacular! It's like driving down the center of the Grand Canyon - with the Colorado River only feet away for a lot of the drive. Very cool drive in a Cayenne.. recommended. Haven't checked the trip log- but my WAG (will check later) is about 2,300 miles so far. Above 5,000 feet you can really feel the power loss - 10,000 feet it's significant. The Tiptronic came in very handy for the 7% 15 mile long sections (both up and down) we drove through.
07-14-2011, 05:10 AM
#30
I'm also on a road trip with my CT-S right now, about 800miles so far, about 600 to go. flawless so far...
done about 40min of constant 140mph+ autobahn drive, been toying with a guy in E 63amg along the way - will definitely need more power in future
leaving munich today, crossing to austria with strict traffic rules (and really high fines), so it's going to be a little boring.
done about 40min of constant 140mph+ autobahn drive, been toying with a guy in E 63amg along the way - will definitely need more power in future
leaving munich today, crossing to austria with strict traffic rules (and really high fines), so it's going to be a little boring.