I'm making my trek to Texas in less the 24hrs! My friends and I are driving a 2003 Jetta TDI. It should be an adventure. I made this trip last year with turbobenz in his SD. the plan was to take my SD this year, but things have changed. The SD has no engine at the moment. and my friend with the TDI is willing to let us take her car. I'm excited to see some amazing MPGs I'm going to bring a note pad and keep track.

Here is our route. we are going to try and drive straight through to Midland... 3 people, 24hrs... I know crazy!!! but your only young once!!!!

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Sacramento,+CA&daddr=Lake+Havasu+City,+AZ+to:Midland,+TX+to:San+Antonio,+TX&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=37.956457,64.160156&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=5

on the way back we will be taking our time and seeing the sights. we will more then likely come home on the I40 and stop and the grand canyon.

If anyone in the south west would like to grab some coffee or something let me know. I should be able to check this post from my "smart" phone.

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Bring a car with A/C - you'll need it.

I just got the Jetta back from the shop getting the a new compressor installed and the system recharged! she's blowing snow balls!

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Nice.



If I took a trip to Texas I would rock these grips on the 1911.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I moved here three years ago from Jersey. Me & my dog in the SD. Subtract the three hours I stopped after the a/c compressor seized - 90+ degrees & didn't want to kill the dog, Wayne, NJ to Dallas in 27 hours and other than those three hours, never shut the car off. Left Wayne 7am Thursday & got to Dallas noon Friday. Loaded trunk & back seat. Got here on three tankfuls - 1571 miles.

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Sharing my partner's 2012 Forte 5dr SX til I find my next 123 or 126..
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Do I miss being a service advisor ???

Texas is pretty cool, not many trees and hotter then hell, but the people make up for the scenery in DFW. Heading south towards Austin reveals some beautiful countryside.

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With best regards

Al

Oh, I thought you meant LEAVING Texas in less than 24 hours.
Good luck and enjoy the heat.

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83 SD

84 CD

Stay off any E to W roads in Arizona and New Mexico that are south of I-8

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

Sounds like a fun trip. Swap drivers every 3-4 hours and you should be fine. One person sleeping at all times in back. Shotgun has to stay awake and keep the driver alert. (sleep, drive, shotgun rotation). Fuel usage will be worse than hoped for because of A/C and speed. Crank up the tire presure. Have fun and be careful. We want you back in one piece with all good stories.

We've got some absolutely killer restaurants in Texas too - spend some time finding the culinary highlights. Search online or simply ask people - we're all very nice down here.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Keep your speed down in the heat, it is damn hard on your car if you push it past 75 when the temps are over 100 - tires blow easier and radiator rubber parts distend and explode, and fan belts break. From Tucson to Las Cruces/El Paso is one nasty drive this time of year, hard on the air cleaner and the radiator, make sure you got a clean AF and good coolant. Keep your gas tank topped up too, there are 200 mile stretches with no gas.

The drive from Midland into San Antonio thru the Texas Hill Country is a beautiful drive, do it all in daylight, it is considered by many to be the most scenic part of Texas. The drive from El Paso to Midland, well, its not.

In San Antonio, make sure you do the Riverwalk, the Mercado (Mexican marketplace) and the Alamo - all free. I hope you have hotel reservations there already because they are going to be booked up over the 4th, there is some sort of huge convention going on.

Oh, and don't pick up any hitchhikers, especially the women.

All good Tips!
I have hotel reservations in Midland, and my mom lives in San Antonio. we should hit the Tucson to Las Cruces/El Paso section of the drive at night. so that should help.

Brian, We are defiantly planning on eating our way across Texas! lol last time I went out to see my mom I ate my first Whataburger (not great food, but like In'n'Out here in CA you have to eat it if you come to visit) I also got to eat at the Gristmill in Gruene, that was a pretty cool place! My Dad took me to Houston once when I was a kid, I really liked it. I don't know if we'll make it that far, but I'm kicking around the idea of taking a "field trip" with my mom to go to Houston.

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Check out the oil exibit in Midland. It is right on the interstate. Even if you don't go in the static exibits outside, around the back, are all mechanical marvels.

Try to hit this early in the morning when it is still cool. The place will not be open, but the real interesting stuff is outside anyway.

By the way, if you can swing through Austin, Threadgill's is a great place to eat Chicken Fried Steak. On Wednesday night they have live entertainment and no cover charge in the bar.

Threadgill's holds Austin City Beer Lisence #1. They were the first place to go legal when Beer was made legal.

Another great Austin place is north of the city on Lake Travis. Located on Commanche Trail is an upscale burger joint called 'The Oasis'.

Incredible sunsets.

Better pack some raingear. We're geting a crapload of rain off of Alex for the next two days - severe weather alert basically from Austin south, 2 to 4 inches of rain possible tonight and on Friday. And the roads get slicker than snot on a glass doorknob, along with standing water in low lying areas.

On the good side - despite the humidity, temps are down in the mid 80's.

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Just say "NO" to Ethanol - Drive Diesel

Mitchell Oates
Mooresville, NC
'87 300D 212K miles
'87 300D 151K miles - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD 67K miles
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club