brackethead

I picked up my Z on Saturday in DC! Drove it home today to Cincinnati. Took 7h 56min (driving time) and 528.6 miles according to the trip computer. I love that thing! I love this car!

What a great drive. I left Manassas, VA, at 7 AM and headed up I-70 and I-68 into western Maryland. It was a perfect day for driving. Between 7 and 10 AM, nice and cool (computer said 63 degrees), handrly any other cars, beautiful rolling mountain scenery. It was worth getting up at 4 AM Saturday to catch my flight!

Bugs splattered on the mammoth frontal area of my 350Z: 1684
Number of cars who stopped to look at my car in Wendy's parking lot while I ate lunch: 11
Total CDs listened to: 7
Number of people in the Volvo X70 wagon that cut over to the left lane in front of me with barely enough room to get around a semi, on whom I then tested out my Z's horn, hi-beams, and flew the bird: 4
Stops for gas: 1
Getting home just in time to watch the US Open final between Pete and Andre: Priceless

I have a ton of impressions about the car, mostly good. Don't have time to share them now, but I do wan to say one thing. I didn't even know the 240W Bose had a cassette player until yesterday. That cracks me up. I told my friend yesterday they might as well have put in an 8-track player as much as I use cassettes. But yesterday I found my old Michael Jackson Thriller tape in my parents basement, so I took it along today. I agree the Bose is not great, but Thriller sounded great on it! So, the simple solution to the Bose problem is, only play cassettes!

brackethead

Here's my pic in the dealership. Wow!

LowFuel

Awesome!! Congrats!!

I think between the two of us we removed about 5000 bugs from this planet.

articfury

Congratulations!

Hey, could you guys swing down through Austin? We have a few bugs that we need taken care of.

JD

nizl

Haha, 80's technology for 80's music!!

AudioPat

Congrats Steve...enjoy that beautiful Silverstone

roberto350z

one question. Whats your view on the break in procedure and driving cross country. I see pointfivezero shipped his. Did you "heat cycle" or say f*** it. What does raceboy have to say about all of this. (I like his break in procedure the best)

rai

did you have any problems with over the shoulder look (for your blind spots) to cut in front of tractor trailors on the highway?

mdouvris

Hey Steve! Looks Great! That sounds like it was a great ride. One thing though...michael jackson.....bad for ANY stereo....

brackethead

I'm definitely not an expert on the breakin topic. Here's what I did: I drove pretty light-footed the whole way. I kept the revs below 4000 for the first 200 or so miles, then I bumped up the shift light 200 rpm every 100 miles or so the rest of the way. I changed gears between 4/5/6 every 10 minutes or so (love that trip computer and timer!), and tried to vary my speed from the limit (65 most of the way) to 10-15 mph over. Every 100 miles or so I would find an opportunity to rev it to 4000+ rpm using half-throttle, usually in 3rd or 4th.

I stopped every 100-150 miles for at least a few minutes, more because I needed to relieve myself than for cooling down the car. I stopped about halfway there for about 25 min while I ate lunch. Also, I left at 7 AM and it was cool (60-65 degrees) until about 10 AM. The rest of the way it got pretty hot (90+).

Everyone has an opinion on break-in. I'm sure my car will run well and strong for a long time. I'll let you know if it starts making weird noises or smoking or something!

brackethead

Come on now, that's uncalled for. What did mj ever do to your children?

You did get it right, he is Bad for any stereo. You always got to be starting something.

brackethead

On the right side I have no problems. Looking to the left, because of the small rear side window and your angle from the driver's seat, the blind spot kinda sucks. Gotta trust that mirror.

Driven

Brackethead,

You've got me droolin! My Silverstone doesn't come in until Nov.
Anyway...question: did your dealership do anything special to detail the car for you? The finish looks sooooo damn nice.

XeroDgrees

more than 7hours driving??? were you alone?

I guess it wouldn't matter much, you probably had so much on your mind. Were you talking to the car the whole way back? haha

Anyways, good to hear you got the car and I think the best way to break in the car would be highway miles...