TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:55 pm

Sure, this may be another bout of wishful thinking on my part :roll: but if I decide to buy a left coast Thing and it seems road-worthy enough for a four-day drive, I may just do it.

Since my air-cooled experience is mostly my former '71 Super Beetle, I know to carry some simple things with me like belts and such "just in case." Is there anything Thing-specific I should take into consideration?

I know Things are geared differently than Beetles. Should I drive differently besides a fraction slower?

I have considered (and maybe am still considering) having it shipped should it be as advertised. It seems expensive (with the add-ons they want) plus I may have to wait two weeks for its arrival. Plus, gas prices are down.

One alternative (I am still checking on this aspect) is to have it shipped California-to-Florida as this seems to be more common, more expedient, and less expensive. Even so, I would be left with getting it home from Florida so the original questions still apply.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:54 pm

You might want to check out the "What do you carry for Parts and Spares" sticky.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:43 pm

If you have an emergency, help may be available.

http://www.type2.com/rescue/

Sat Nov 22, 2008 7:14 am

A credit card and a tooth brush would be a good start.

I once rode a BMW R80G/S motorcycle from Seattle to Asheville NC with just that. One change of socks, one good sweater, and a spare shirt.

No drama.

Mind you, an unknown vehicle is always an adventure. I picked up my Thing in Ohio after taking an overnight Greyhound bus. I drove it home to NC the next morning. It wasn't without a few hiccups, but the point is I drove it 500 miles or so in one day.

As long as you have plenty of time, ingenuity, and can bat your eyes and depend on the "...kindness of strangers" you be fine.

YMMV

Sun Nov 23, 2008 4:50 am

Captain Spalding wrote: You might want to check out the "What do you carry for Parts and Spares" sticky.

Wow, a lot of what you suggested plus a few other suggestions could be taken on the airflight out without too much fuss. Great resource! The rest of it was either overkill in general or not practical in my specific case.

emersonbiggins wrote: If you have an emergency, help may be available.

http://www.type2.com/rescue/

Very interesting resource, too.

bmwloco wrote: A credit card and a tooth brush would be a good start.

Oh, I was planning on a full range of emergency rations and clothing as conditions will be changing throughout such a trip.

bmwloco wrote: Mind you, an unknown vehicle is always an adventure. I picked up my Thing in Ohio after taking an overnight Greyhound bus. I drove it home to NC the next morning. It wasn't without a few hiccups, but the point is I drove it 500 miles or so in one day.

As long as you have plenty of time, ingenuity, and can bat your eyes and depend on the "...kindness of strangers" you be fine.

My '71 required a 100-mile trip home and I was hyper for the first 50 or so ... and I was being tailed by my wife! A year later I drove 950 miles to BugJam without a worry. A year after that I drove it 700 miles home after it got a drivetrain transplant. I was transfixed to my gauges and the sound of the engine (for a variety of reasons) without ever turning on the stereo.

Nothing ever happened but I fully understand the magnitude of what I may be doing. If I do this, I will be going 600-700 miles daily for four days done in 150-250-mile chunks. I'm still looking at other options.

Thanks for the replies.