Hello - I am getting a 07 MCSa very soon and would be driving it back from Portland to Seattle. I am hoping to go on a 4 day roadtrip (aka Thanksgiving long weekend) but my best buddy insists that i shouldn't take a roadtrip on a brand new car

He's like why do you want to put the new car through a roadtrip right away - why don't you give it a few months and my response is - i've never owned a new car before and i plan to find a good route so i can enjoy some driving on "decent" roads. Has anyone here done that - taking out your brand new mini on a several hundred mile trip?

I tell him that my desire to drive a bazillion miles right away is part of my mini eccentricity - something he won't understand Gah time to find a new best friend

PS: Any recommended routes from Seattle -> whereever for a 4 day trip = appreciated. This of course depends on my getting the car before Thanksgiving (boat with car is supposed to arrive at CA on the 29th of this month).

 

DO IT!!! If I had had the chance to I would have!!! In June of 2006 O-Ron picked his MINI up in Chicago and drove all the way back to seattle. Needless to say his break in was done along the way. I would most likely wrap the car in tape like that AUDI video on the net. Find a better best friend who will go along with you.

Good Luck,

Blake

 

I am planning to get clearbra installed at the dealer. Hmmmm wrap the car in tape - lemme search for it.

 

I can't really give you any "best routes" to take but I know whatever they turn out to be - you'll have the BEST TIME EVER!!!

Donna

 

my first drive in my 04 MCS was driving from New Orleans to San Francisco. I drove pretty much nonstop for 3 days and didn't have any problems whatsoever. Just follow the rules for break-in and it should be fine.

 

If you don't do it, I will hunt you down and give you the biggest wedgie you have ever seen. That's what this car is made for! Motoring!

 

 

AUDI S4 in blue painters tape.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2918517

 

Wow, that's pretty cool - i am not sure if i want to put tape all over my new mini but HMMMMMMMMMMMMM

 

I'll do it...i'll do it - I had a dream last night that i was driving a mini and then i woke up

 

I picked up my MINI in Indianapolis and drove it back to San Diego with my brother. TONS of fun! Don't be afraid to drive your MINI... that's why you bought it!

 

It'd only make for one day or your trip, maybe not even that, but Chuckanut Drive is one of the first on my list

 

Going on a road trip will at least make the break-in period fly It's the perfect justification for going on a road trip that doesn't involve interstates or highways. Go local, find fun motoring roads, experience new places!

 

I got my MINI pushed through my break in (1250 on an R53) in a week then drove from Chicago to Daytona with a loaded boot and back seat.

 

Do it and have great time, don't forget to practice grinning ear to ear so you don't strain yourself during the roadtrip. Remember to take lots of pictures along the way, you only get one break-in roadtrip with the new MINI. Just do your best to abide by the break-in procedure.

 

Some links of similar trips for some inspiration and consideration

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=64053

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=52726

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=81124

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=44645

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=35669


and as someone who is on a MINI roadtrip I can tellyou they are a barrel of fun. I'd reccomend getting a decent GPS (if you didn't option one) know the general compass bearing you want, and headoff looking ahead every few miles at a time and deciding which way to turn based on which line is squigglyer, the less travelled the road the better.

 

Thank you for the links. I do not have the NAV system - i might get a GPS - i was thinking about getting google map printouts and have fun getting lost and trying to get back on track - seriously though i am looking at the Tomtom stuff.

I also have a couple of cameras (the Nikon D70s and N80) - hoping to get some pictures taken too - now if only i get it before Thanksgiving

 

No Problem, I just sat down and plotted a potenial course on google maps because as time goes on it appears I'm adding destinations

I'm currently sporting a Garmin c550 which is a life saver while I'm staying in unfamilar territory doing a lot more A to B driving however my best general compass heading was with a laptop and MS Streets and Trip attached to a GPS reciever...I found such gems I often questioned who's twisty drive way I was driving up only to find I'd meet another road or forge a small river and travel through some dirt. And be eagerly greeted with that "It's dem aliens arriving in der spaceships" look. Since I already had a laptop its a siginficantly cheaper option better suited for the long haul trips and less of the day to day navigation.

Yes take tons of photos this is much easier if you have a co-pilot I'm an avid ameratir with a Canon DSLR and keep kicking my self for not taking enough photos, I'm even piece mailing together little video segments and am hoping to neatly collect it all together by the end this time.

 

Go on that trip and have some fun with your new MINI. Stay off the Interstates and travel the back roads, visit the small towns and stop off at the "Mom and Pop" places to eat and maybe even a B&B to spend the night.
Theres a good chance that a lot of people in small towns have never seen a MINI close up. You might end up being a local celebrity!! On top of that, you and your MINI will have time to bond.

 

I am going to look up local routes/roads and pray they don't contain a lot of loose rock/gravel. I can't wait

 

Found this link from the PS mini forums:

http://washington.destinationhighways.com/

Some of those roads are rad

-> http://washington.destinationhighway...egion/2sum.htm

 

Hopefully the weather holds out for us, it's no fun watching for ice..

 

I was fortunate enough to pick up Audrey on friday evening of Labor day weekend. I was done with the break in period by the time I got to work Monday morning. Go have some fun.

 

Aye.

 

Try the walla wall trip and tour some wineries while you are there. Go I 90 to ritzville and then down through starbuck and dayton into walla walla. This is one of the funest drives that I have had. Alternatively, go highway 2 to spokane, back to ritzville, down to walla walla, back through tricities up through the hanford reservation to vantage and then home.

If you want to do it on your way home from portland, go up through the columbia gorge into walla walla and then just reverse it. Gorgeous drive and a lot of fun.