So, I bought a car on Ebay... - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

thayer · #31 10-28-2013, 08:31 PM

So, I'm not afraid of running out of fuel. I'm crazy enough to not only buy a car on the internet, but let the owner pick me up at the airport. Its like a kidnappers fantasy. He's feeding me lunch too.
I've said it before. This is without a doubt, the best place on the internet.

If the low fuel light comes on, I'm getting fuel and seeing how much I have to put in. There is ZERO reason to see how much is left after the light comes on.

So, Heres the deal, is this enough out of the way of New York?!?

shertex · #32 10-28-2013, 08:40 PM

Hey, hadn't thought about the possibility of KIDNAPPING you. Now there's a thought. Maybe I could hold you hostage for someone's E250 Bluetec!

Yes, your route is enough out of the way of NYC....BUT you may hit rush hour traffic going over the Tappan Zee.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thayer

So, I'm not afraid of running out of fuel. I'm crazy enough to not only buy a car on the internet, but let the owner pick me up at the airport. Its like a kidnappers fantasy. He's feeding me lunch too.
I've said it before. This is without a doubt, the best place on the internet.

If the low fuel light comes on, I'm getting fuel and seeing how much I have to put in. There is ZERO reason to see how much is left after the light comes on.

So, Heres the deal, is this enough out of the way of New York?!?

vstech · #33 10-28-2013, 08:58 PM

that's the route I took to MA in 98... close anyway. as long as you stay out of the "city" area, you should be fine.

vstech · #34 10-28-2013, 08:59 PM

of course... you need to bring a LOT of singles... the tolls may get you.

thayer · #35 10-28-2013, 09:10 PM

Smart Tag, All the way.

Mölyapina · #36 10-28-2013, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thayer

So, I'm not afraid of running out of fuel. I'm crazy enough to not only buy a car on the internet, but let the owner pick me up at the airport. Its like a kidnappers fantasy. He's feeding me lunch too.

Or so you think...

Quote:

Originally Posted by thayer

So, Heres the deal, is this enough out of the way of New York?!?

Are you heading down to NC? I can show the map to my father -- until a few years ago, we were making at least one road trip a year down to DC and learned how to avoid NYC (though I was just too young to exactly grasp how we were doing it

).

My parents have a horror story about driving their then 3-year-old 1983 Dodge Omni with carbureted VW 1.7 through NYC at night with a failed alternator... they were driving the last leg of their coast-to-coast move and the alternator in the car died. They were trying to make it still morealess on time and so were driving along with the headlights off, off-&on getting the battery recharged at device stations. At that time on the NYC highways you would see the occasional stripped hulk of an unfortunate car... my mother said that they were wondering how long it would take for thieves to strip down the car.

Later on it started pouring, too, and around that time they pulled over and waited for daybreak. The car was awful all around.

Skid Row Joe · #37 10-28-2013, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jooseppi Luna

Or so you think...

Are you heading down to NC? I can show the map to my father -- until a few years ago, we were making at least one road trip a year down to DC and learned how to avoid NYC (though I was just too young to exactly grasp how we were doing it

).

My parents have a horror story about driving their then 3-year-old 1983 Dodge Omni with carbureted VW 1.7 through NYC at night with a failed alternator... they were driving the last leg of their coast-to-coast move and the alternator in the car died. They were trying to make it still morealess on time and so were driving along with the headlights off, off-&on getting the battery recharged at device stations. At that time on the NYC highways you would see the occasional stripped hulk of an unfortunate car... my mother said that they were wondering how long it would take for thieves to strip down the car.

Later on it started pouring, too, and around that time they pulled over and waited for daybreak. The car was awful all around.

If you had experience in cross-country car travel from the NE, with the insight on NYC/NJ traffic, you'd realize that the route of I-81 (as previously advised) to be the most attractive route. I lived and worked in Philadelphia, PA, as well as travelling the entire NE corridor from MD and VA up through PA/DE/NJ/NYC/LI/CT.

I-81 is the best route, IMO.

Skid Row Joe · #38 10-28-2013, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thayer

So, I'm not afraid of running out of fuel. I'm crazy enough to not only buy a car on the internet, but let the owner pick me up at the airport. Its like a kidnappers fantasy. He's feeding me lunch too.
I've said it before. This is without a doubt, the best place on the internet.

If the low fuel light comes on, I'm getting fuel and seeing how much I have to put in. There is ZERO reason to see how much is left after the light comes on.

So, Heres the deal, is this enough out of the way of New York?!?

I was on-line to buy a used E320 Bluetec located in far NE New Hampshire on the Atlantic seaboard several months ago. I spent quite a bit of time plotting my return trip to Texas via South Carolina, to visit some friends on the return trip. As I recall my experience living and working in Philly, travelling; PA/NY/CT/MD/VA/DE and NJ many years ago, put me on a course through PA - getting well west of NY/NJ.

I'm not so sure I would even let the low fuel light come on when in a car of that vintage/miles, way out of town with your Daughter aboard. Maybe I'm too careful - but maybe I'm preferring not to run out of fuel in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night, with a child along for the trip.

I'd not let the fuel supply go much less of 1/2 tank - but that's just my insight into running out of fuel, and not wanting to.

Mölyapina · #39 10-28-2013, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

If you had experience in cross-country car travel from the NE, with the insight on NYC/NJ traffic, you'd realize that the route of I-81 (as previously advised) to be the most attractive route. I lived and worked in Philadelphia, PA, as well as travelling the entire NE corridor from MD and VA up through PA/DE/NJ/NYC/LI/CT.

I-81 is the best route, IMO.

Yup, I had plenty of experience, but as mentioned before, I was just too young to be really paying attention to what roads we were taking. The only thing I can remember is that we took some bridge at one point around NY and that it wasn't that other bridge

.

Skid Row Joe · #40 10-28-2013, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jooseppi Luna

Yup, I had plenty of experience, but as mentioned before, I was just too young to be really paying attention to what roads we were taking. The only thing I can remember is that we took some bridge at one point around NY and that it wasn't that other bridge

.

Well, take a look at the routes, and pay particular attention to I-81. 81 avoids the cr*p of the NYC/NJ corridors.....not even attractive. BTDT.

Mölyapina · #41 10-28-2013, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Well, take a look at the routes, and pay particular attention to I-81. 81 avoids the cr*p of the NYC/NJ corridors.....not even attractive. BTDT.

That's interesting... I do remember us suffering through Jersey on the Garden State Parkway, although I don't remember sitting in traffic there. Of course, we left home around 3:00 AM, so thayer will be dealing with different traffic patterns. Hadn't thought of that...

Stretch · #42 10-29-2013, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thayer

...

So, Heres the deal, is this enough out of the way of New York?!?

After my experience of a 30 hour stop over in freezing conditions in JFK I'd say probably not - stay as far away as possible!

JB3 · #43 10-29-2013, 04:55 AM

After all our fussing, you might slide right through NY with only minor traffic. Happens to me half the time I go through there.

Here's another idea, make the entire trip in the wee hours. You could probably hypermile the entire way. Assuming you can stay awake, you could leave RI at 1 or 2 in the morning, which would have you passing through the most congested areas of CT, NY, and NJ at 4 or 5, and aside from drunks on the road, should be deserted then. Then you could probably set the cruise at 55 in RI and not take it off until 700 miles later

Every time I've done this its been super relaxing, if I had enough sleep beforehand, and an engaging book to listen to that kept me awake.

Just don't go out partying with shertex all night right before the trip

thayer · #44 10-29-2013, 07:23 AM

Good morning. This is the piper archer I took from Mt Airy to Charlotte.

Thayer

vstech · #45 10-29-2013, 07:32 AM

ok... how are you towing that plane back to Mt Airy? I don't think you'll get 33mpg with a plane towing behind you...