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Will my car make it?

4K views 53 replies 16 participants last post by  cdvyas 
#1 ·
So we are going to take a trip to Lake Tahoe, CA from LA which are around 450 miles apart. My car is well maintained, I just looked at everything under the hood like the fluids, air filter etc, and everything is well. I have never traveled out of town with this thing, the water pump, belt, idler pulley, and shocks were changed recently. The brakes and tires are good. So what else should I check for to make it a nice, problem free and a safe journey? Will this car make it there and back, which is a total of around 900 miles!! Has anyone done this much driving on theirs with over 200k? share your experience and advice me pls! Thanks
 
#2 ·
only time my 1998 430 stranded me was due to a fuel pump failure. luckily, it was at the bottom of my driveway...

would i recommend replacing that as preventative maintenance? probably not. perhaps some beefy roadside assistance might provide piece of mind though.
 
#5 ·
I've only had my 2000 E320 a little over a year but in that time, I have taken it to Port Canaveral (550 miles), Orangeburg SC (150 miles) 3 times; Charleston 2x (210 miles); Myrtle Beach (190 miles) once. I drive it daily and the only real issue I had was the Brake light switch and the dry headlight wire surrounds almost melted my Headlight harness. I re-wrapped the wires and its fine. It should make it if it's reasonably well cared for. Matter of fact I may drive it to a wedding in Charleston this weekend
 
#8 ·
If properly maintained these cars last a long, long time. So if you're maintaining it, I wouldn't be concerned about this little walk in the park. People think long trips are hard on cars, when it's actually very easy. The engine is loping along, the systems are stable, it's just cruising. Things are more likely to break in the short trip, stop and start, stop and go driving in the typical cities when you're more likely to strain components.

Now if you're driving at 90 or 100 mph, that's probably not true, but if you're going to do that you'll have bigger issues anyway. ;)

Have a fun time. Tahoe's beautiful this time of year.

Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
 
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#12 ·
450 is like a half day trip, My E 430 does 4400 mile RT (Ft Laud FL to Avon, CO) @ 750+ miles per day, no problem, and like Greg said the highway is light duty. So if your car drives straight has good tires, belts, shifts smooth and can hack stop and go traffic in the city without overheating you should be good. I would have no problem going coast to coast. BTW love west Texas, speed limit 80 but they run 95-100
 
#14 · (Edited)
My E430 is good in everything you said! It drives straight all day long, shifts fine as the trans was serviced less than 10k miles ago, and I drive in a lot of stop and go traffic, and no matter how hot it is out and with the AC on, my car NEVER goes over 86-87 degree. So it has never ever touched the 90 degree mark since 1 year of me owning it and driving it in stop and go CA traffic. And it doesn't seem to burn any oil as well! I guess all these miles on my car are easy freeway miles! So it should be used to driving as much...
 
#15 · (Edited)
I bought a (new-to-me) 99 E320 last Tuesday... 150k on the odometer, but in pretty solid shape overall. Brought it home, swapped the tranny fluid, rear diff fluid, and serpentine belt along with the idler and tensioner.

2 days later on Thursday, I decided to hop in the car with the girlfriend and drive to Charleston SC. About 500 miles each way, for a total of about 1100 miles total in 3 days. I figured, what better way to fall in love with a new car? (I even knocked down 29.4 mpg on the highway averaging 80 mph :D:D )

I guess my point is... how much do you trust it and maintain it? I gave my new ride a solid look over for a full day, checking items, replacing things, etc. I think it truly needed the tensioner and belt, but the fluids were peace of mind. It's all in how well you treat it.
 
#23 ·
It's all in how well you treat it.
Amen to that brother, if you take a good care of her, she`ll do the same in return, if not, well you know.... you`ll wait for the tow truck on the side of the road.

I just left 2008 Infiniti G35x with 74K miles in the garage about a month ago to go to WY for the July 4th weekend, 490ish one way, wife and our 3 month old son in the back seat, AC on for the majority of the both ways, some areas on I-80 was limited at 80MPH, seemed like nobody was doing less than 90 so I just set the CC at 90 and Benny was stretching his legs effortlessly and purring like a kitten while still averaging more than 27MPG.

Believe me, you will really enjoy that car on the long trips, after 8 hour drive you will still walk out the car and feel like you only driven an hour, same for your passengers. Only one bad side effect thou, after coming back home from the trip you will always itch for another one until the next one comes:D:D
 
#28 · (Edited)
With all the stop and go driving you seem to do, treat your 430 to an extended road trip. In the long term it will run better for it. Enjoy your trip and let us know how the benz did.
My 1st trip I bought a bottle of Lucas Oil Fuel injector cleaner and let it run through. Excellent mileage and like "Rich" said it's a treat for your car. Take the Benz

EDIT: Just saw your Pops Got a rental. THAT SUX!! But have a nice and safe trip either way.
 
#21 ·
I can only hope you will NOT follow most of Lake Tahoe visitors and end the days in casinos?
I heard Ponderosa Ranch is closed, but take your time to walk down Emerald Bay.
Go there in the morning as small parking is always overflowing, take good lunch and eat on the beach.
I had my own boat there, but taking a trip on steam boat should give you something to remember for years.
 
#22 · (Edited)
I won't hit casinos! Reason is that I am only 19! My parents hate casinos too, though my dad has won $4k in New york New York, Las Vegas the first time we came here and $2k in morongo casino on slot machines! Now they say that why not spend it on food, or the steamboat tour? So thanks guys and wish me luck and hope everything goes well next week!
 
#26 ·
One more tip on the trip - on the way back you can consider going back via Sacramento and spend quality time stuck in traffic or you can consider driving via breathtaking Sonora Pass. The pass will be also good practice for your driving skills.
There is casino right before CA border, where restaurant with lake view was serving $3.60 steaks even for breakfast. At least it did 2 years ago.
 
#27 ·
Idk if it is a good thing or not, but to avoid any risks, and to have a peace of mind, my dad decided to getting a rental! Good thing is that I won't have to add a bunch of mileage on my car, and have a change by driving a new rental.

BTW to Kajtek, I do hate traffic so I would rather drive from the Sonora pass!
 
#29 ·
Thanks! I know rentals suck. They are those sucky 4 cylinder altimas or something like that with those new CVT transmission, F*** that haha! anyways I atleast don't have to worry about them eating In My car and making it dirty! But I will still try to convince him into taking the Benz. Btw I I had the exact same idea as you!! About adding in a bottle of injector cleaner! That would have gotten me like 28 mpg or a bit more in the V8!
 
#35 · (Edited)
He is the typical dad, kinda reckless in driving at times but still being bossy and jacking my keys out of ignorance because he says I don't have as much "EXPERIENCE" in driving but for a fact, I am not bragging at all but I am more safer than him in driving and drive straight and consistently, he goes out of lane because he HAS to check ebay all the times, and he brakes real hard at the last moment at a stoplight! But if we take my car, I won't let him drive as much at all because we are taking MY car lol. Though I am sure he will jack my keys and start driving and I won't be able to argue with him! :(
 
#34 ·
Thanks everyone!! I will let you guys know how it turned out! BTW I just washed my car yesterday and spent like 30 mins restoring my headlamp lens! They were not really foggy but I just wanted to make them look newer! They shine now like new. Will take a pic of them and share with you guys later today... Stay tuned.
 
#36 · (Edited)
I'd say the car is built for it, so do it.

Are you ready to get out from driving around the block?

Come on, take it to the open road!

PS: you should have seen that old VW bus I drove through Europe with... thousands of miles in a dedicated wreck, held together by rust and sticky tape, and a dual-carburator engine with 66 HP getting only fifteen miles per gallon.
 
#37 ·
Dad used to own one, I think it was a 74 or 75, literally I grew up in that trunk:D I liked that it was sitting higher than the rest of the cabin so you got the best front view from the trunk, plus the side view but one has to listen to that engine screaming all the time, sometimes the rear cover taken off so the engine breathes better and yup it was school bus yellow. So many long trips around Europe and wonderful memories with the yellow bus.:thumbsup:
 
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