Subject: Am I crazy? Driving from Iowa to Seattle... Author: oberon as Jerome : member since January, 2006 : 524 posts Posted on: 2008-02-17 16:34:11

I'm leaving the friendly little town I've been in for the past 9 months to go to my first job in the US, which is in Seattle. That's a 1925 mile drive! Am I nuts??

My little car ('94 Dodge Spirit) is almost certainly up to the job. I have no real reason to doubt it. 2 weekends ago I drove it to Chicago and back with 3 friends (300 miles each way) and that was on a set of bald tires (which are now replaced with nice new ones). I had no cause for concern and it went smoothly. The only problem was having to drive through a *major* snow storm on the way back! It was harrowing but we pushed on (very slowly) through the worst of it and all was fine. Only AFTER we stopped for a dinner for an hour and continued on through light snow did something bad happen. Due to driver error (not me driving) we went off the road into the ditch off to the right. This was on I80 westbound just outside of Iowa City (only 1 hour away from our destination). We had already passed at least 10 other cars that had gone off the road in the previous 10 miles or so. It was like a war-zone or something. Anyway, miraculously nobody was hurt AND the car was TOTALLY undamaged :) We just had to wait until the towing ban was lifted the next morning to get it winched out of the ditch.

Live and learn. Now I have a AAA membership and a set of 4 new tires :) My planned 4 day drive (starting Wed this week) has clear weather predicted all along I90 and I feel I've got most of the logistics worked out. Still... it's a hell of a journey. I can't help but feel somewhat daunted by it ;)

The only thing nagging at me slightly is that the front left CV joint on the car (a FWD) is showing signs of wear. It has the tell-tale ticking when the wheel is turned FAR to one side if I'm going over maybe 10mph. Is this a concern for a 2000mile trip? Ideally I *should* get it fixed but I don't really have the bucks or probably enough time for it now. I never got the feeling it was a problem on the whole 600 mile trip to Chicago.

This car has been amazingly good for a $600 buy. Reliable and in great shape. But as soon as I've saved up enough after working for some months, I'm heading back into the BMW fold for sure! I WISH I could be doing this trip in an E34! Even though the Dodge is smooth at highway speeds, it's not BMW smooth. You all know what I mean ;)

Anyone here from Seattle?

Jerome

Current STUDENT car:
1994 Dodge Spirit (in Fairfield, Iowa)
Previous REAL car:
1992 525iA = SOLD (was in Cape Town, South Africa)

• Am I crazy? Driving from Iowa to Seattle... - Jerome 2008-02-17 16:34:11 (138 views)
  • Well, here I am. - Jerome 2008-02-27 15:05:57 (95 views)
    • How Long? - John in Simi Valley 2008-03-01 19:57:22 (53 views)
      • I did it over 5 days - Jerome 2008-03-02 19:03:29 (65 views)
  • you are not crazy...i saw people in california from as far as New York (nt) - 525i 2008-02-19 02:22:15 (70 views)
  • As you know I do not live there but... - Eric Clark 2008-02-18 19:08:43 (67 views)
    • Re: As you know I do not live there but... - Jerome 2008-02-18 21:20:30 (74 views)
  • Sounds like an adeventure, enjoy it! (nt) - rick540 2008-02-17 23:11:18 (83 views)
  • Let me know when you are settled in. - Shayne 2008-02-17 22:07:40 (79 views)
    • Re: Let me know when you are settled in. - Jerome 2008-02-17 23:20:16 (76 views)
      • PARTY in Vancouver - I'm In - sadly joking - Jerome - happy days. (nt) - BMW-Test-Pilot 2008-02-18 18:32:01 (72 views)
  • No. You are not crazy... - yaofeng 2008-02-17 17:46:37 (91 views)
    • GR8 way to see the Country - An Adventure. (nt) - BMW-Test-Pilot 2008-02-17 18:44:35 (74 views)
      • Yeah - I'll visit Mt. Rushmore and pass by Yellowstone - Jerome 2008-02-17 19:37:30 (79 views)
        • Re: Only Iceland and Yellowstone have geysers - cloudnine 2008-02-18 17:35:16 (80 views)
        • Re: Yeah - I'll visit Mt. Rushmore and pass by Yellowstone - cloudnine 2008-02-17 21:51:14 (83 views)