709 Miles in a C5
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,652
Likes: 629
From: Rural North West NV
709 Miles in a C5
And all I can say is, "Holy Crap, what a car!".
Drove from Vegas to Phoenix (Carefree), AZ for Christmas. About 280 miles on the drive down. Traffic wasn't too bad and passing cars on a two lane in the desert is quite a fun experience. Feels like going into warp speed, hitting tripple digits from 60 to 65 MPH in nothing flat! Extremely stable at speed too.
Some road noise from tires and slight wind noise. Exhaust note is pretty quite.
Didn't hit any twisties until I got to Carefree. Went for a little drive to Bartlett lake (for you locals) and got to ring out the suspension a bit. Wow, does this thing handle!
Took the scenic route home, up through Sedona (4000 ft) and then through Jerome (5000? ft) and over the mountains (7000+ ft). I was a little worried about snow but even though the ground was covered, the road was dry. This is a typical mountain road with very tight switchbacks and turns. I only got held up by cars a couple times and they pulled over as soon as they could. I know we pay a lot of $ for our Vettes but this kind of stuff is better than any amusement park you could ride in. I was laughing out loud while I was sawing at the wheel and shifting up and down. What a blast!
I averaged 25.8 MPG, a little low but I was pretty hard on the car at times. Through the twisties and then on the freeway I was running 80 to 90 most of the time. And then I got stuck in traffic going over Hoover dam. From 15 miles out, stop and go all the way which took an extra hour! The worst thing is that it's only another 10 miles from the dam to my house so it was the last part of the trip. The engine did get a little warm (up to 226 degrees) while sitting in traffic and it was only 47 degrees outside. Should I be worried about it? I'm wondering whats going to happen in summer when it's 115 degrees outside!
Anyway overall, I couldn't be happier with the car. A great performance car was well as a road car. Truely a world class grand touring car!
Some photos from Sedona:
Drove from Vegas to Phoenix (Carefree), AZ for Christmas. About 280 miles on the drive down. Traffic wasn't too bad and passing cars on a two lane in the desert is quite a fun experience. Feels like going into warp speed, hitting tripple digits from 60 to 65 MPH in nothing flat! Extremely stable at speed too.
Some road noise from tires and slight wind noise. Exhaust note is pretty quite.
Didn't hit any twisties until I got to Carefree. Went for a little drive to Bartlett lake (for you locals) and got to ring out the suspension a bit. Wow, does this thing handle!
Took the scenic route home, up through Sedona (4000 ft) and then through Jerome (5000? ft) and over the mountains (7000+ ft). I was a little worried about snow but even though the ground was covered, the road was dry. This is a typical mountain road with very tight switchbacks and turns. I only got held up by cars a couple times and they pulled over as soon as they could. I know we pay a lot of $ for our Vettes but this kind of stuff is better than any amusement park you could ride in. I was laughing out loud while I was sawing at the wheel and shifting up and down. What a blast!
I averaged 25.8 MPG, a little low but I was pretty hard on the car at times. Through the twisties and then on the freeway I was running 80 to 90 most of the time. And then I got stuck in traffic going over Hoover dam. From 15 miles out, stop and go all the way which took an extra hour! The worst thing is that it's only another 10 miles from the dam to my house so it was the last part of the trip. The engine did get a little warm (up to 226 degrees) while sitting in traffic and it was only 47 degrees outside. Should I be worried about it? I'm wondering whats going to happen in summer when it's 115 degrees outside!
Anyway overall, I couldn't be happier with the car. A great performance car was well as a road car. Truely a world class grand touring car!
Some photos from Sedona:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,369
Likes: 73
From: The line waiting to see Santa Claus stretched all the way back to Terre Haute, and I was at the end, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Sounds like a great drive. I love that part of the country. Pissin rain and sleet here for the last several days, and the Corvettes are in storage.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 13
From: Redding California
Thanks for the report, sounds like a great trip and you thoroughly enjoyed yourself. Any time you can laugh out loud to yourself you are definitely having a good time.
If you are worried about the 115 degree Nevada summer temps, you could do a search on the forum and find out how to have your fans come on at an earlier temperature. I haven't researched it but I know some members here do that. Not sure but I think there is a simple fan controller you can install.
If you are worried about the 115 degree Nevada summer temps, you could do a search on the forum and find out how to have your fans come on at an earlier temperature. I haven't researched it but I know some members here do that. Not sure but I think there is a simple fan controller you can install.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,194
Likes: 2,130
From: Right Corner Pocket of Illinois
No-IL Events Coordinator
2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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St. Jude Donor '12 thru '26
You sir, are a fortunate man! I snuck out for a 20 mile snow free spin last night and caught myself smiling when I got home. 
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 4
From: Brentwood TN
226 coolant temp on a 47 degree day sounds like time to check for something caught between the A/C condenser and the radiator. If that doesn't produce anything, you need to start shooting trouble because that is too high for a 47 degree ambient.
Charlie
Charlie
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Noblesville In
YES ! these cars are awesome. My husband and I went from Indianapolis to Western Montana last summer over two weeks. Had nowhere to be at any certain time, we managed to stay off the interstates and take seanic routs all the way. At one point while following the Bitter Root river I had to stop and let my husband drive cuz my arms were to tired of turning ... 
We were surprisewd with 30.5 mileage and the ride and seats were very comfortable for the 4000 mile round trip.
Looks like we drove the same car ... Torch Red Coupe
We were surprisewd with 30.5 mileage and the ride and seats were very comfortable for the 4000 mile round trip.
Looks like we drove the same car ... Torch Red Coupe
Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,596
Likes: 1,712
From: Converse TX
That is awesome to get out and hammer away
Check your condensor and radiator for debris and if there is not any, get you fans programmed to come on earlier than stock. I would also get your radiator flushed if it has not been done before. If I lived in the desert I would have an aftermarket radiator, I love my DeWitts, but I need it for FI and it only gets around 100 here, but with high humidty
Check your condensor and radiator for debris and if there is not any, get you fans programmed to come on earlier than stock. I would also get your radiator flushed if it has not been done before. If I lived in the desert I would have an aftermarket radiator, I love my DeWitts, but I need it for FI and it only gets around 100 here, but with high humidty
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 201
Likes: 3
From: Lee's Summit Mo
St. Jude Donor '07
And all I can say is, "Holy Crap, what a car!".
Drove from Vegas to Phoenix (Carefree), AZ for Christmas. About 280 miles on the drive down. Traffic wasn't too bad and passing cars on a two lane in the desert is quite a fun experience. Feels like going into warp speed, hitting tripple digits from 60 to 65 MPH in nothing flat! Extremely stable at speed too.
Some road noise from tires and slight wind noise. Exhaust note is pretty quite.
Didn't hit any twisties until I got to Carefree. Went for a little drive to Bartlett lake (for you locals) and got to ring out the suspension a bit. Wow, does this thing handle!
Took the scenic route home, up through Sedona (4000 ft) and then through Jerome (5000? ft) and over the mountains (7000+ ft). I was a little worried about snow but even though the ground was covered, the road was dry. This is a typical mountain road with very tight switchbacks and turns. I only got held up by cars a couple times and they pulled over as soon as they could. I know we pay a lot of $ for our Vettes but this kind of stuff is better than any amusement park you could ride in. I was laughing out loud while I was sawing at the wheel and shifting up and down. What a blast!
I averaged 25.8 MPG, a little low but I was pretty hard on the car at times. Through the twisties and then on the freeway I was running 80 to 90 most of the time. And then I got stuck in traffic going over Hoover dam. From 15 miles out, stop and go all the way which took an extra hour! The worst thing is that it's only another 10 miles from the dam to my house so it was the last part of the trip. The engine did get a little warm (up to 226 degrees) while sitting in traffic and it was only 47 degrees outside. Should I be worried about it? I'm wondering whats going to happen in summer when it's 115 degrees outside!
Anyway overall, I couldn't be happier with the car. A great performance car was well as a road car. Truely a world class grand touring car!
Some photos from Sedona:
Drove from Vegas to Phoenix (Carefree), AZ for Christmas. About 280 miles on the drive down. Traffic wasn't too bad and passing cars on a two lane in the desert is quite a fun experience. Feels like going into warp speed, hitting tripple digits from 60 to 65 MPH in nothing flat! Extremely stable at speed too.
Some road noise from tires and slight wind noise. Exhaust note is pretty quite.
Didn't hit any twisties until I got to Carefree. Went for a little drive to Bartlett lake (for you locals) and got to ring out the suspension a bit. Wow, does this thing handle!
Took the scenic route home, up through Sedona (4000 ft) and then through Jerome (5000? ft) and over the mountains (7000+ ft). I was a little worried about snow but even though the ground was covered, the road was dry. This is a typical mountain road with very tight switchbacks and turns. I only got held up by cars a couple times and they pulled over as soon as they could. I know we pay a lot of $ for our Vettes but this kind of stuff is better than any amusement park you could ride in. I was laughing out loud while I was sawing at the wheel and shifting up and down. What a blast!
I averaged 25.8 MPG, a little low but I was pretty hard on the car at times. Through the twisties and then on the freeway I was running 80 to 90 most of the time. And then I got stuck in traffic going over Hoover dam. From 15 miles out, stop and go all the way which took an extra hour! The worst thing is that it's only another 10 miles from the dam to my house so it was the last part of the trip. The engine did get a little warm (up to 226 degrees) while sitting in traffic and it was only 47 degrees outside. Should I be worried about it? I'm wondering whats going to happen in summer when it's 115 degrees outside!
Anyway overall, I couldn't be happier with the car. A great performance car was well as a road car. Truely a world class grand touring car!
Some photos from Sedona:
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,652
Likes: 629
From: Rural North West NV
Thanks for the replies. I'll check the radiator. I replaced the radiator in my C4 and it had a ton of crap between the rad & condensor. This car may have the same problem.
One thing I forgot to mention, headed west from Ash Fork / Flagstaff on I40 with the cruise set on 80MPH was also a lot of fun. There are quite a few long sweeping curves and it was funny to see cars that had passed me earlier have to slow way down as my Vette just hung in like it was on rails around the curves. As great as it is on the back roads, it is also wonderful on the freeway! Can't wait for another long trip!
One thing I forgot to mention, headed west from Ash Fork / Flagstaff on I40 with the cruise set on 80MPH was also a lot of fun. There are quite a few long sweeping curves and it was funny to see cars that had passed me earlier have to slow way down as my Vette just hung in like it was on rails around the curves. As great as it is on the back roads, it is also wonderful on the freeway! Can't wait for another long trip!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,868
Likes: 770
From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
Very cool !! thanks for sharing. I've only taken two road trips, one to Boise ID(yeehaw) and one to Senora CA. Regardless of the destination, the trips were fantastic in this car. It made all the difference in the world.
Yup, I'll bet you had miles of smiles!
Yup, I'll bet you had miles of smiles!
