When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
A quick update... Seems that time is not on my side on this trip. I had to cut out the back half of the trip in order to get back to Chicago by Saturday night. Bummer. I have done close to 2,000 miles so far and have loved it. The miles were hard though in that GT3 seat. At 6'3" and 215 pounds, they are quite a torture device for my body. I rolled the dice on that one and knew that I would have trouble on the 11 hour days. I was prepared I guess since I have done long tours on sport bikes and suffered mightily and got through it. Compared to that, the GT3 seats aren't so bad. I haven't had much time to drive and stop to shoot pics so this thread has been kind of pointless. Here are a few shots anyway.
The backyard of my friend's place in West Asheville.My friend testing gear at his company.Rusty vehicles that are probably more comfortable than mine.
Last edited by XavierLaFlamme; 04-13-2016 at 09:18 AM.
Looks like your friend has one of the newer places built in west asheville. Amazing how west side keeps blowing up.Hope you grab a tasty burger at u-joint before you leave!
The road trip is in the books! I am glad to be home.
Here are the stats:
Miles: 2710
Total Days: 9
Driving Days: 5
Longest Day: 12 hours(twice)
Shortest Day: 6 hours(twice)
Highest speed: 100
Roads: All types but no gravel/dirt
Weather: From 28 Degrees and snow/sleet/freezing rain to Sunny and 85 degrees
Records Bought: 9(as follows)
Black Sabbath: Never Say Die, Technical Ecstasy, Born Again
Wire: Silk Skin Paws
That Petrol Emotion: Babble
Danzig: Lucifuge
Guided By Voices: Bee Thousand
Peter Gabriel: Self Titled
Ozzy: The Ultimate Sin
Times I listened to Ozzy, Diary of a Madman: 4
Worst Traffic: Leaving/Entering Chicago
Technical Problems: 2
1. Stuck Sunroof : I got it unstuck.
2. Alarm Problem: Kept going off. I solved it by fishing around under the dash for the wire that used to go to the glove box door sensor. I need to work on this one. It is a hassle.
Oil: 3/4s of a liter
Hockey Games Played: 3 Wins, 1 Loss
Regrets: None
Other Notes:
This drive was intended to be a shake down for a longer trip out west this summer. I will cover around 6,000 miles on that one.
I always learn a lot when I take the car for long runs. This time was no different. It was in fact kind of challenging. I wanted to touch base on a few things that occurred to me after I did all the work on the car and then tested it out.
996 GT3 Seats:
1. Oh my. They grip me very well. Too well. At 6'3" and 215, I am not small.
2. They are hard as hell after one hour. In traffic, they are miserable if you have been in them for a while already.
3. The fact that the pedals angle in towards the transmission tunnel only makes them more cramped.
4. I was able to mount them far back and that is one area where I give them a big thumbs up. Head clearance is perfect. Thanks Martin S. for selling them to me!!!!!
5. They are not touring seats!! Duh. You knew that. I knew that. But my dumb *** must test everything.
6. 12 hours in those seats at a time is ROUGH. As bad as touring on a vintage cafe racer.
7. I was hating life at the end of each day but oddly my back and legs were fine once I moved around and walked. I am thankful for that.
8. Those of you who have them or will get them probably will not use them in the way that I did. It isn't really that bad but be prepared if you do.
AWD-RWD Conversion: I am in no way any kind of real mechanic or expert. My observations about the conversion thus are not technical really. All feelings. I am good at feelings. I am an artist after all.
1. Front feels much lighter especially accelerating or on irregular pavement when turning.
2. Front transmits more feedback through the wheel now. So much so that I really want to be paying attention at all times gripping with two hands.
3. Front needs to be placed more carefully when cornering. In lower speed tight cornering it excels. At high speed sweepers it is a little lazier in getting to the point of turning. Could be my set up obviously. I am running RS tie rods, RS wheel carriers and BBS LMs(8.5s). It all feels different.
4. I can really notice how the engine and the driving wheels in the rear are pushing the car forward. I did not get that sensation very much before. It is freaking addictive. Wahoo!
BBS LMs:
1. Love them. No regrets at all. Not even a little.
RS Short Shifter and Golden Rod:
1. I didn't notice it. Not good, not bad. A little notcher but after this trip, the notchiness is less apparent.
Elephant Racing Bushings:
1. So much new stuff to pay attention to now, I can't really definitively say much. The suspension feels tight. That's all I got.
RS Ride Height:
1. Looks great.
2. No problems with speed bumps whatsoever. It seems to be perfect for my purposes. I drive everywhere without any hesitation.
If anyone has questions about anything, PM me.
--Michael
Last edited by XavierLaFlamme; 04-16-2016 at 05:37 PM.
Really enjoyed your trip report, Michael. That must have been amazing to play on Predator ice. Too bad about your loss to the Canucks. Also too bad you can't get a seat that works for you. My 993 was the most comfortable car I ever drove.
My other seats are plenty comfortable. I am just stubborn and stupid. Haha.
--Michael
04-12-2016, 08:57 PM
