Picking up my 996 - Trip Advice

After lurking for 2 years on Rennlist, I'm finally joining the ranks of P-car owners. I picked up a 2002 996 black/black C2 well maintained w/ 33K miles for $39.9K in North Haven, CT. From looking on Autotrader, it seems to be a fair deal. I looked into having it trucked back, but the reputable companies were wanting $2500 and it would take 5-6 weeks. I live about 2.5 hours North of Grand Forks, ND, so it's not a regular route. I decided to fly into Hartford, CT and drive the car back. Shouldn't cost me more than $600 and will take about 2.5 days. I think the overnight stops will be Bloomsburg PA and Rockford, WI. As I've never been to this part of the States, does anyone have any suggestions on the route (that's different than Google Maps)? Any places to avoid, or not stop? Thanks, Joe

I can't help on the directions other than to watch the roads and the temps if the weather is still foul. Being from where you are you already know about black ice. I bought my car from Greenwich CT and drove it back to Texas due to the cost/wait time. It was a decision that I was happy to make. Going to get the car versus waiting 2-3 weeks. Have a safe trip!

Weather Forecasts: Saturday - New Haven, CT 57/42 degrees 10% pop Sunday - Chicago, IL 64/51 degrees 30% pop Sunday - Grand Forks, ND 53/41 degrees 40% pop So it may get a little wet, but I hear they're waterproof.

Wouldn't the northern route be shorter for you versus coming around south side of lake Michigan thru Chicago?

take the long route!!! You wont regret it, get a map at a gas station (mapquest suck sometimes) as backup. I would look at a map and try to hit one of the national parks along the way. Try and take some smallers roads so that you can appreciate the scenery along with the new ride... Your gonna pass through some pretty country, you might not get to experience this again. Have fun and use good judgement. PS: dont leave anything in the car while your asleep in your hotel.

Going around the North side of the great lakes would be another 5 or 6 hours. PLUS if I have a breakdown for some reason, there isn't nearly the resources you'd find on the major interstate routes. I don't have enough time to take the long route. I'm taking a day off work to do this and am just too busy to sacrifice more.

I would do the same... but take a camera and pics of your trip... be safe and congrats

u meant to say: sleep in the car? do it, u won't regret. if u worried about break down, do the following: 1. AAA prime member ship (free tow up to 100 miles) 2. go to pca.org find info. about pca regions in your route, get some ref. from them. (in most cases, they have their recommaded indys, dealers listed on their website)

Joe, If you time this just right you could be passing through Brainerd MN a week from friday. You could take the novice DE class at BIR and break in your car properly. Seriously, if it fits in your schedule, stop in. It's right on the way and we will be there all weekend. I'd be glad to give you a ride. It's fun to see what these cars can do and BIR is a very fun track. As for your trip, I assume you mean Rockford IL. It's right on the WI border. There's not a whole lot there but after getting through Chicago traffic you might be ready for a beer anyway. If you still have some strength left when you reach Rockford you should continue on to Madison. It's a great college town and a very cool little city. Between there and the Twin Cities every exit has the normal chain hotels and restaurants. Jim

As I recall from a trip a few years ago, the freeways/turnpikes in PA were terrible (I have M030 and 18s)....we had to get off before we were pounded to pieces. I don't know if they've been improved. Enjoy the ride!

Here is my two cents. I have driven to the midwest from Connecticut many times. Your biggest challenge (in my opinion) is avoiding NYCity and environs. The good news is that it is easy to avoid. From New Haven you need to get to I84 west (I suggest CT route 34). Take I84 west to Wilkesbarre Scranton area. Then southbound on I81. I81 south to I80 west to Chicago. Go around the outside of Chicago and eventually collect I94 westbound. At this point I have no more experience so you will have to find someone else for guidance. With good luck you should be able to average about 60mph including refueling etc. Good Luck.

Buy a portable GPS and set your route to avoid highways! Enjoy the drive home!

If you're an AAA member, you can get a Trip Tik done either online or at an AAA center. You can also get maps. If you're not a member, it might not be a bad idea to join and get the benefit of membership just in case you need it. (towing, etc.) Enjoy the ride!

Welcome to the fold! I must say you are brave. buying a car sight unseen, and then driving it through the hinterlands. That is faith! Be sure to bring a cell phone, a camera, and winter provisions! I'm sure we will all expect a full trip report and pictures when you get home!

Comfort Inn/Suites, Hampton Inn Hotels are pretty safe. Park in the well lit part of their lot and near their lobby entrance. Oh, and bring a V1.

Joe - contrats on getting what sounds to be a very nice P-car. As others have stared we WILL expect pics of the car... and the trip! You are going to enjoy the experience!

From 94 the easy answer is to kick back and relax for about 9 or 10 hours. When you hit Fargo, turn right on I29 and go back to sleep until you see the Welcome to Canada signs. At that point you are on your own. Be very careful in WI. You will likely see 5-6 patrol cars on your five or six hour drive. From the Twin Cities to Fargo you'll only see 1 or 2 and in ND you'll probably not see any. Maybe one at the most. Have a good trip. Jim

Try to avoid the area around the southern tip of Lake Michigan during rush hour - traffic really sucks at that time. Sounds like a great way to get to know the new car!!

Thanks for the input guys. I'll be bringing my laptop w/ MS Streets & Trips. My dad's got CAA (he's flying out with me to keep me awake). I forgot about that, but will have him contact them for info. I bought the car from a Benz dealership and had a PPI by the Porsche dealership down the road. They actually serviced the car for the prior owner and raved about how fanatical he was. (e.g. owner demanded d-side seat controller & water pump replaced per bulletins despite existing devices fully functional). Talking to the mechanic, he recognized I was 1700 miles away and was extremely meticulous in his PPI (e.g. he reported a 1/2 scratch in the clearcoat on the bumper that will buff out). Mike, what's a V1?

V1 is a Valentine One Radar Detector that has arrows indicating the direction from which police radar is coming. Since I seem to remember you're in Canada and I think they're illegal in CA, it might not make sense unless you drive in the US a lot.

In some parts of Canada they're legal... but not this part I'll just have to behave, especially since I'm driving back on my buddy's dealer plate & insurance. Edit: I'm looking at a Garmin GPS Streetpilot i3. Anybody have any experience with it?

From North Haven take the Merrit Parkway to 287 and go over the Tappan Zee Bridge. There you take 87 (NYS thruway) to 84. The Parkway is a nice ride if the traffic isn't bad. Just be careful by the rest areas - the cops usullay hang out ther since there are few place on the parkway for them to hide. I saw your car last week on the dealers Sunday mornig TV show. Looks godd. Good Luck

Got to the dealership on Saturday 21st. I had to fight with the dealership to get them to release their car. They had the cash for a couple of days, and it was a dealer-to-dealer transaction (friend's company buying it, then transferring to me), so I didn't know what was up. I called up my friend, passed the phone to the salesman, they had words, the salesman looked like he was going to faint... I was out of there, with car in about an hour. Drove I-84 to I-81 to I-80 the first day. Beautiful drive... fantastic winding roads on I-84. I LOVE this car. Faster, sexier, and more comfortable than the 350Z. We stopped at a Holiday Inn Express in Bloomsburg, PA the first night. Nice stay except someone smoked in a non-smoking suite, setting off the fire alarm at 3am. Got up Sunday at 7am and took I-80 through Ohio and switched over to I-90 in Indiana. All was well till I hit Chicago. Rough roads, frequent toll booths, aggressive drivers... it was a new experience. I-90 turned into I-94 and all was well after Chicago till I hit thunderstorms and called it a night at 9:30 in Mauston, WI and stayed at the Best Western... very economical and clean place. Got up Monday morning at 7am and hit the road again. Took I-94 to Fargo, ND and took I-29 up to Pembina. Got to the border about 4:30pm, but didn't have the original certificate of title from the dealership, so the car spent the night in the impound. The next day I picked it up, crossed the border, and life was good. A bit of a hassle to buy a US car, but my friend Matt of Keystone Ford in Winnipeg helped me out A LOT. In the end I figure I saved about $10,000 buying US. Sold the 350Z for a good price this past Saturday, so things are falling into place nicely. Got the car now... guess it's time to become a registered member! Here are some pics a friend's kid took of the car. Works for me!

congrats my man - that cf **** makes a huge diff to the interior - i can't stand the basic shift ****

COngrats and thanks for posting the pics!

congrats...glad your back home safely!

Congrats-picking up your car is the way to go! Glad it was a safe trip.