85 Wagon from Wichita to Houston

[PhantomCadillac]

Well I arrived on schedule in Kansas and Tyler was waiting in the Wagon for me. We went back to his shop did the paper work and then to his other office and picked up the title and I started for Houston about midnight.Would have been nice to hang out with Tyler but I was on a time table.
I filled it up on the toll road it was 0 degrees and heard on the radio the wind chill was -5. The heater worked fine but me feet stayed cold being that I live in Florida I have never thought about the heat hitting my feet and don't even know if it is suppose to.
I got on the road and ever thing was great down to Okalahoma city and the roads had ice and snow I slowed way down and thank god for tomtom because it could tell me I was still on the road. I kept heading south never really going over 30mph and watching people slip and slide, tractor trailers going everywhere but the wagon kept tracking true and made like the tank that it is! About 50 to 60 miles North of Dallas the snow started and it was almost a white out condition. But the tank kept plodding along it was hairy at times but I knew if I pulled off I won't be getting back on so I just kept going. I made it to Dallas and it was 9am and white and icey. I turned on to 45 south and there was no traffice for about 30miles so I kept going . Cars ,trucks, and tractor trailers were every where about 50 miles south of Dallas I stopped and fueled still had well over a quarter of a tank but I wanted the weight and needed to eat and chill. I headed back south the closer I got to Houston the better the roads were and the faster I could go.
I made Houston at 2:30pm when I should have been here at 9:30am.
Things I learned on this trip.
1. The wagon is a Tank and handled itself well.
2. Check the washer fuel when you buy the car before going on a trip, also check the horn Looks like #14 fuse is burnt I'm guessing that is the horn.
3. Sometimes it is better to pull over then to be than sorry ( But I got away with it again)
4. I am in awe of the wagon the power and handling are wonderfull. And this was a great bonding experience.

I took it to a car wash it now looks as good as when I picked it up. It will be treated to a detailed cleaning when I get it home.

Thanks JimmyL your wagon is wonderful
Thanks Tyler for making this happen.
If you have a chance to do a vehicle deal with Tyler you can take convidence that the vehicle will be as represented.

I leave here early Monday morning hopefully it will be an uneventful ride home. Looking forward to warmer weather!

[JimmyL]

I'm going to have to talk to you about taking pics!!


That is certainly a first for that wagon, at least since 2005. It doesn't have the hottest heater. I was going to change the thermostat but it was something I never got around to.
You might check the firewall/footwell on the driver's side. Sometimes I got a cool wind on my feat there. Might be speedo cable grommet isn't seated.
It is the best driving/running W123 I've ever driven, and I'm glad it has gotten favorable remarks from you, Tyler and Colin. I was of course biased, but then again, I've had quite a bit to compare it to.
I look forward to following your ownership experience. Not one time did that car ever leave me stranded, and really had very few hiccups of any kind. I found a really nice interior, front and back, and with the paint job Tyler applied I bet it represents the brand well.
Enjoy that thing, and I'll be stalking your ownership experience!!

Rescue day:



Better days:

[PhantomCadillac]

I'm not the best when it comes to pics but my brother took some with his phone with all the ice and road salt on it. When I get back to florida I'll try to post them. What a great wagon truely fun to drive. My wife will enjoy if I let her drive it I'm thinking she would look good in the coupe lol.

[Biodiesel300TD]

Wow, Jimmy does that windshield say $400?

[Joseph_Conrad]

Originally Posted by Biodiesel300TD

Wow, Jimmy does that windshield say $400?

It looks like it...and then it says 'cash down' beneath. I was wondering about that too, though.

[JimmyL]

That was $400 down.


It did qualify for the "Cheap Wagon Club" though......
I more than doubled the purchase price when I had the front end rebuilt though!!

[Skid Row Joe]

^ Learned that as kid growing up on the plains of Nebraska.

Maybe Tyler will post some pictures of the wagon finished? Unless I missed them.....

Glad to hear you made it as far as Houston. Did it snow there??

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by PhantomCadillac

If you have a chance to do a vehicle deal with Tyler you can take convidence that the vehicle will be as represented.

I'm trying to do/find a deal through Tyler - but my criteria is difficult to come up with.

[Biodiesel300TD]

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Wagons have a MUCH better weight distribution than sedans.

Is that because they have more weight over the back wheels so they have better traction?

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by Biodiesel300TD

Is that because they have more weight over the back wheels so they have better traction?

You bet your wagon it is.

When I was a youngster, there was no such thing as FWD - POS cars anyway. The wagons our Moms and Dads had was the closest thing to SUVs whuich had not been invented - yet. 4X4s outside of Jeeps and IH International Harvester trucks were all the 4X4s which were not widespread in the olden days.

My dear old Dad would order his Pontiacs with PosiTraction rear axle specifically to get through the snow.

FWIW - convertibles were heavier than sedans, in the day.

[PhantomCadillac]

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

^ Learned that as kid growing up on the plains of Nebraska.
I learned in Va mountains make it more interesting. But I have to say playing on gravel roads helps a lot also. Power slides are good old American FUN

Maybe Tyler will post some pictures of the wagon finished? Unless I missed them.....
He has them I'm sure he will post the wagon looks great and handles better than advertised. I couldn't be happier. OK maybe if my feet had stayed warm I that would have been better
Glad to hear you made it as far as Houston. Did it snow there??

Only ice here and they had salted and or sanded before I made it here so the roads where no problem.My brother lives in River Oaks nice house and very nice neighbors. They didn't even mind my salt wagon parked in front of the house. Of course it was washed first thing this morning

[layback40]

Originally Posted by PhantomCadillac

Thanks JimmyL your wagon is wonderful
Thanks Tyler for making this happen.
If you have a chance to do a vehicle deal with Tyler you can take convidence that the vehicle will be as represented.

I leave here early Monday morning hopefully it will be an uneventful ride home. Looking forward to warmer weather!

It is very clear to many that given Tyler has been able to act as a auto trader with the scruitiny of all on this site for some time, his honesty & professionalism in his transactions is beyond question. Others have come & gone on this site, not Tyler!!

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by layback40

It is very clear to many that given Tyler has been able to act as a auto trader with the scruitiny of all on this site for some time, his honesty & professionalism in his transactions is beyond question. Others have come & gone on this site, not Tyler!!

I would agree 100% with everything except that they have not ALL gone.

Off-hand, I can think of a couple that I would never EVER do business with.

[colincoon]

Once my wagon looks and operates as well as Jimmy's did I'm not going to touch anything. That was possibly the best wagon I've ever driven (well, besides mine of course ). It basically showed me what I needed to do with Norm to make him right!!

Glad you enjoy it, that's a car I would have loved to have had. I'd like to see it again one day if you're ever around Orlando.

[winmutt]

I always loved driving the wagon on gravel roads. Felt like it was an SUV type clearence but handled like a car.