Road Trip Breakdowns
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,037
Likes: 331
From: Long Island New York
Road Trip Breakdowns
After our successful 2400 mile road trip last year, wifey and I are planning a 14 day 3500 miles or so roadtrip down south this April, our 40th. Anniversary. C-6 ran GREAT first time and am debating taking that (for the fun/WOW factor) or my lower mileage DD covered by road side assistance and bumper to bumper. Me being a glass-is-always-half-empty guy, I try to cover all bases. My biggest concern is a breakdown somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Anyone ever have that happen, what did you do? I have AAA but don't know if that covers all the area's we will be visiting and really don't want my car towed to Uncle Floyds Garage and 24 Hour Diner. I'll have OnStar activated, maybe they could help....would appreciate any thoughts. My car is well maintained, low mileage (22.5K) and I'm having the Harmonic Balancer replaced next week. Thanks....
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,025
Likes: 1,656
From: Toronto, Canada
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
I think you are worrying too much, I've been in the boonies (in the C6) where you don't see another car for up to an half an hour...do you have the runflats?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,037
Likes: 331
From: Long Island New York
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 311
Likes: 1
From: Waterloo Illinois
Last summer we took our 06 vert on a 3,620 mile trip to Yellow Stone Park with our Corvette Club. We had 16 cars on the first leg and 8 cars on the complete trip. Not one problem with any cars, not one......
We are getting ready to drive the 06 to Florida in a couple of weeks, shoulld be a 3,000 mile trip..No worries here about the car.
I say drive the car and enjoy the trip...
427
We are getting ready to drive the 06 to Florida in a couple of weeks, shoulld be a 3,000 mile trip..No worries here about the car.
I say drive the car and enjoy the trip...
427
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11,353
Likes: 2,445
From: Eastern
Last summer we took our 06 vert on a 3,620 mile trip to Yellow Stone Park with our Corvette Club. We had 16 cars on the first leg and 8 cars on the complete trip. Not one problem with any cars, not one......
We are getting ready to drive the 06 to Florida in a couple of weeks, shoulld be a 3,000 mile trip..No worries here about the car.
I say drive the car and enjoy the trip...
427
We are getting ready to drive the 06 to Florida in a couple of weeks, shoulld be a 3,000 mile trip..No worries here about the car.
I say drive the car and enjoy the trip...
427 
We take ours on at least one long road trip each year. Last year it was a 4500 mile trip.I don't use run-flats, and I just don't worry about it. I can't remember when I had my last flat tire, other than a slow leak.
We are heading on a trip down south in April. Same tires. I don't worry about that $hit.
The vette is way too nice a driving car to leave home
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 45,283
Likes: 8,559
From: Rochester, NY
Stuck in the middle of nowhere/boonies, you are stuck no matter what you are driving. Take the Vette, enjoy yourself or else you will look back and say we should have taken the Vette. Have a nice trip.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10,374
Likes: 128
From: Coventry RI
St. Jude Donor '13 thru '25
Take the Vet for sure. Breakdowns can happen with any vehicle. We have been everywhere over the years on a Harley and there is a solution to be had with any problem. Your memories of the trip will be enhanced by the joy of doing it in a great car. Post the pictures when you get back..
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,194
Likes: 305
From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
SoCal Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12
Do normal maintenance, carry some basic tools. I carry an air pump and tire repair kit for emergencies but other than that just have a great time and take the vette. Nothing better for a road trip.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 886
Likes: 273
From: Greenwell Springs La.
We went on a 10,000 mile 6+ weeks in our 06 and it had no problems. From Louisiana to Washington state and many places in between. I posted pictures on the forum of most of the places we went. Have fun and don't worry. We have gone on a trip or two since then and didn't take the Vette and have reqretted it. Going out west again this year and will take the Vette for sure.
And Bearphoto sorry we didn't make it by to see the Rt 66 museum in your town. We were going to but the traffic diverted us.
Jimmy
And Bearphoto sorry we didn't make it by to see the Rt 66 museum in your town. We were going to but the traffic diverted us.
Jimmy
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Coventry RI
St. Jude Donor '13 thru '25
Race Director
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From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Cell phone, credit cards, cash, and a sidearm if so inclined, are the only real requirements to handle any roadtrip problems that might arise. You can take extra stuff, if it makes you feel more comfortable. Just kick back and enjoy what you can do in this life. Worrying about the what-ifs will give you a heart attack and you'll never get to do anything.
I've had 9 road trips between 2500 and 8000 miles and had two problems. A tire blowout caused a 3 hour delay and an alternator that lost a full day. Both times I got to meet some really nice people that would not have happened otherwise and those memories are more precious than most of the landscape. Car problems are rare, but are merely a small bump in the road of life.
One additional thing we always carry, that I've never mentioned before, is a copy of our recent medical records and our family contacts. Having that information available in an emergency reduces the chance of errors and obviously the time.
I've had 9 road trips between 2500 and 8000 miles and had two problems. A tire blowout caused a 3 hour delay and an alternator that lost a full day. Both times I got to meet some really nice people that would not have happened otherwise and those memories are more precious than most of the landscape. Car problems are rare, but are merely a small bump in the road of life.
One additional thing we always carry, that I've never mentioned before, is a copy of our recent medical records and our family contacts. Having that information available in an emergency reduces the chance of errors and obviously the time.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
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From: Las Vegas NV
Breakdown is always in the back of my mind when traveling but if I let it worry me too much I wouldn't enjoy driving the car. So I don't worry about it. Even when I'm a hundred miles out in the middle of nowhere like this. No cell coverage, no Onstar and nobody else. 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10,374
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From: Coventry RI
St. Jude Donor '13 thru '25
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Tucson AZ
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,561
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From: Clark NJ
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
Did a 2100 mile road trip a couple of years ago with my C5 showing 70K+ miles on the clock. No mechanical issues, but a bubble developed on one of my RFTs. Lost a few hours getting the tire replaced….no big deal. Vettes are made for driving…go for it.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 202
From: Long Beach California
Dang, as I read these threads this morning I've really gotten the itch to plan a June road trip up the California Coast again (L.A. to Mendocino). Perhaps I'll start my planning today. Modern cars are more reliable than ever, and as an earlier poster suggested, break downs are just part of the adventure. Just three years ago I took a similar coastal trip in a 1963 Ford Galaxie convertible. Looking back, I'm amazed at my courage, lol.