Cross-country capable?

[FordPrefect]

Hello, All!

I'll be headed across the country in a week or two (from Arkansas to California), and am considering making it an adventure by making this odyssey in my Fiat.

I've done my best to maintain this little car, did the timing belt a few months ago, new tires, etc. What with all the wiring and technical diagrams and such that I've gathered over the last few years, I believe I've got a pretty good handle on what makes her tick and how to fix the most common issues.

Still, I mostly use this car to tool around my local area, it doesn't see too many highway miles. I don't know if I'll have to put her down after a journey like that or not.

(I plan on driving it back as well, so there's no worry about passing smog, but there is the possibility that I'll have to push it the majority of the return trip.)

Do you guys think this little car is up to the challenge? I'm thinking I'll have to blog the whole trip, would anyone want to read such a tale? What would you recommend I do to prepare the car (I'll change the oil and bring along every spare part and tool that I can), or possibly should I forget it, and garage it in the interests of preserving this little lady as long as possible?

[2ndwind]

There are a few people on this forum who have made extensive trips. I sold my automatic to a guy who drove it home to Toronto (abt 500 mi.). His only complaint was the rear window was too far gone to see out of (other than headlights) and he hit a sleet-fest on the way back (It was March, after all). The heater worked and so did the wipers at their usual crawling speed.

Wipers seem to be an important item people forget to address when they are preparing for the trip a sunny week or two in advance.

It comes down to how much you trust your car and how much extra time you have for your adventure to take some side trips.

[ventura ace]

Go for it, as many have already done. But, make sure that the vehicle is well maintained and ready for the trip. Even then, it's a good idea to carry spare parts and tools, as you suggested. On our 2008 x-country adventure, I carried a spare complete distributor, coil, fuel pump, plugs, thermostat, accelerator pumps, belts, fuel hose, and tools to take care of potential things that might fail.

The only service needed was the electric fuel pump, and that was due to my own foolish mistake of wrapping the fuel pump with insulation to quieten the 'whirr'. The fuel pump motor overheated and quit in less than 100 miles from home on a hot July 3 afternoon in Palm Springs (106 degrees!). After swapping out the fuel pump, we had 8000 trouble free miles doing a big loop around the US in about 3 weeks, attending the Fiat Freak Out in the Poconos, and the Fiat Oregon camping weekend in Oregon.

These spiders are very reliable when properly maintained.

Alvon

[Dawgme85]

...These spiders are very reliable when properly maintained...

DITTO!

I've put 10000 miles on SHELOB in the 2+ years I've had her, including a 1000+ mile weekend tour. Of course, I've also been maintaining and improving her along the way. Still, I wouldn't hesitate to drive her anywhere, even though she's still not "perfect".

You are the best judge of your cars' condition, so trust your instinct. It is always a good idea to be prepared, though

[aj81spider]

One thing to consider is the "comfort" factor. I love to drive mine locally. However anything over an hour on the highway gets pretty fatiguing due to the combination of the 4000 RPM engine noise and getting buffeted by 70 mph wind (I never drive with the top up).

The idea of spending 10 hours listening to that is not appealing to me. If you do take the Fiat make sure you bring earplugs.

[81SPIDERMATT]

ditto on the ear plugs.... 100 miles or less "this is great".... getting beat by the wind after 6 hours... starts to make you think dang that wind sucks..... take on a couple of 2 to 4 hours highway trips and see how she does.... have a back up plan if you loose faith or something pops up with the car as you get close to the trip.... with all that in mind.... HELL YA take the fiat... are you taking 40 all the way across... if by chance you go north before going west and take 70 across ... you have got a stopping place or needed garage for repairs in grand junction co.... hell i will even drive towards you and meet up and do some miles with ya for fun,,,, great canyons and scenery between denver and the desert of utah

and yes i would read all about your adventure

[Kevin1]

Add my vote in favor of reading about your trip. Our spider has been very highway capable over the years. Once you have your car sorted and keep on with the routine maintenance it should be as reliable as anything else of it's era - if not better.
A wind-blocker (thanks again Brady) helps a lot on long drives. Wind noise is as loud as without one, but the turbulence in the cabin is cut dramatically, and makes long trips more comfortable. If you cover the space behind the wind blocker it's cut even more.
Make the trip and write it up. You'll have plenty of fiatisti following to make it worthwhile.

[FordPrefect]

Lots of great advice here, thanks!

if by chance you go north before going west and take 70 across

I've driven 40 a few times now (in much newer cars), I've never taken any other route. According to google maps, heading through Colorado will add 200 extra miles. I'd worry a little about the mountains, but maybe avoiding that stretch of desert from Texas-New Mexico-Arizona-California in July/August would be worth it. I wonder how that stretch of Utah and Nevada compares?

I plan on driving around 4 hours north to visit with some family this weekend as a sort of test run, to see how it goes. If the car explodes or I go bananas from the wind/heat/noise, maybe I'll shelf the idea.

[ga.spyder]

Another idea,that others have used,is to post your route here on the forum and ask for contacts along the way.It offers great peace of mind to have some phone numbers in your pocket,just in case.A well maintained Fiat should be reliable on a long trip.I would carry some tools and any hard to find parts with me for assurance.

[81SPIDERMATT]

Lots of great advice here, thanks!

if by chance you go north before going west and take 70 across

I've driven 40 a few times now (in much newer cars), I've never taken any other route. According to google maps, heading through Colorado will add 200 extra miles. I'd worry a little about the mountains, but maybe avoiding that stretch of desert from Texas-New Mexico-Arizona-California in July/August would be worth it. I wonder how that stretch of Utah and Nevada compares?

I plan on driving around 4 hours north to visit with some family this weekend as a sort of test run, to see how it goes. If the car explodes or I go bananas from the wind/heat/noise, maybe I'll shelf the idea.

200 miles thats nothin... only uphill for a bit... after the tunnel its all downhill..... just sayin .... but do let us know about the adventure for sure

[RRoller123]

I took my X1/9 across country when I was a kid and it was perfect, only needed an oil change and new tires along the way. A great adventure. But I would strongly agree/suggest that you get ear plugs. I think we quite literally did some damage to our hearing on that trip. The X1/9 was fitted with an Ansa 4 tip exhaust and it droned at all speeds. Ok around town, but after hours on the highway, whew... and the Spider is louder by far.

[thefeline]

Ear plugs are a great idea! I drove my spider a long way and got really sick of the 3.5K rev noise.

[fiat218]

Ear plugs are a great idea! I drove my spider a long way and got really sick of the 3.5K rev noise.

Iam hard of hearing so removing my hearing aid on the highway trip, I don't heano wind and listen to the music

[FordPrefect]

I've always listened to music on car trips, but the puny (and flaky) little radio in this car is barely audible while tooling around, and I've got used to listening to only the car. I sorta considered trying to upgrade the sound system for the trip, but maybe I'll save the money and put it into ear plugs instead.

[majicwrench]

I traveled some long distances with a drop top Firebird as a kid, yeah the noise and wind get to be a drag. But why not throw the top up every now and then?? And I am one of those guys that thinks it's wonderful to cruise down the Hwy in my Fiat at 60mph, sometimes even less,the gas mileage and the enjoyment factor go way up---for me anyway.
Life is supposed to be an adventure. Go for it. Blog. Bring your Visa
Keith