General Whats the longest road trip you've taken an old 500?
- Thread starter WaterDawg
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General Whats the longest road trip you've taken an old 500?
Hi WaterDawg.
There’s plenty of people on this Forum, who’ve done more miles than me and probably done longer journeys over the years; and there are some people who’ve done crazy, international journeys in largely unmodified 500’s. But round here, I’m the one who SHOUTS about it most.
Six continuous hours would be challenging for a human body, but only in the same way as it is in any car….just a bit noisier and with less miles covered for the same effort. But the car and engine are well up to it. I find that three hours continuous is fine for me.
My longest journey in one day was 360 miles, which I think took me about ten hours with breaks. The greatest distance travelled in three days (without rushing) was 500 miles. I regularly make return journeys within a day of around 250 miles. I find that the engine thrives on being run continuously for long periods.
I love your idea of a trans-Am journey in a 500 and I’m sure we’ll all be here to offer advice as you prepare for it.
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I'd love to hear, read, see your story if you manage to do it!
My buddy down the road drove a similar distance from Sydney to Uluru.
He literally filled the rest of the car with spares. She broke down many times and he fixed her many times.
A bit of a story here
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/italian/en/article/2017/01/04/roberto-carolina-road
And if you can understand italian, there's a podcast too
Go for it man, the kind of journey I'd love to do. If you can find a way to get the bike on, even better.
My buddy down the road drove a similar distance from Sydney to Uluru.
He literally filled the rest of the car with spares. She broke down many times and he fixed her many times.
A bit of a story here
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/italian/en/article/2017/01/04/roberto-carolina-road
And if you can understand italian, there's a podcast too
Go for it man, the kind of journey I'd love to do. If you can find a way to get the bike on, even better.
I'd love to hear, read, see your story if you manage to do it!
My buddy down the road drove a similar distance from Sydney to Uluru.
He literally filled the rest of the car with spares. She broke down many times and he fixed her many times.
A bit of a story here
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/italian/en/article/2017/01/04/roberto-carolina-road
And if you can understand italian, there's a podcast too
Go for it man, the kind of journey I'd love to do. If you can find a way to get the bike on, even better.
Thanks for that link - reading now. The bike isn't an option - it MUST come with me.
jjacob
Member
Your biggest problem in a cross country USA trip is...MOUNTAINS.
John
John
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thepuddlejumper
Member
I was on the tour of europe back in 2007 for the launch of the new 500, (3000 mile round trip from Glasgow to Garlenda and Back). The original condenser lasted to Garlenda and the tours around but was changed during a service before the return journey. I had to relace it 3 or 4 times on my jouney home. I also had to change the drive couplings on 3 occasions, the after market units dont last long. I think the reason is the long all day motorway speeds day after day destroy the rubber insert. I would advise taking spare condensers and spare drive couplings plus new axle nylok locking nuts. I re-used 1 old nut and the wheel decided to go it's on way at 60mph, fortunatly the wheel lodged under the wing. The damage included rear wheel bearings and I had to use a thread file to repair the thread to the axle. In saying all that the majority of 500's lasted the pace, including going over the Alps, with only minor servicing during the trip. Just carry out a good service and check everything to make shure it is in tip top condition and go fot it and enjoy the trip. I had the time of my life and hope to do the trip again to Garlenda in the 500. Check out youtube 2007 tour of europa.
Ralph
Ralph
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Ralph thepuddlejumper, did you ever write up that journey fully anywhere? I remember you mentioning it previously. I would love to know the details and especially the route and whether you found ways to avoid the fast roads through France etc.
I've been lucky with the notorious issue of the condenser, having done 16,000 miles on a new one bought back in 2014 and a further 2000 miles so far with the one that came already attached to my secondhand 650 engine.
Before setting off on a multi-thousand mile tour I think that it would be wise for any Fiat 500 to be road-tested for at least three months over 1500 miles or so, in order to "shakedown" and identify the worn and unreliable systems and components.
There is rarely a journey of over a hundred miles when I don't feel the urge to lift the engine-cover to give a visual check en-route, but although I joke about it, apart from the time when the engine broke down in a way that meant it could only be repaired in a workshop, I don't recall ever having to repair anything whilst underway. Although there have been little things like a slightly loose distributor and ill-fitting dipstick which have made me drive home fairly cautiously.
I've been lucky with the notorious issue of the condenser, having done 16,000 miles on a new one bought back in 2014 and a further 2000 miles so far with the one that came already attached to my secondhand 650 engine.
Before setting off on a multi-thousand mile tour I think that it would be wise for any Fiat 500 to be road-tested for at least three months over 1500 miles or so, in order to "shakedown" and identify the worn and unreliable systems and components.
There is rarely a journey of over a hundred miles when I don't feel the urge to lift the engine-cover to give a visual check en-route, but although I joke about it, apart from the time when the engine broke down in a way that meant it could only be repaired in a workshop, I don't recall ever having to repair anything whilst underway. Although there have been little things like a slightly loose distributor and ill-fitting dipstick which have made me drive home fairly cautiously.
thepuddlejumper
Member
Hi, I have written parts of the journey down on a few sites, but not all in one place. Before I set off the only road testing I did was a few local trips to check thing out. In actual fact I had to change the drive shaft couplings the evening before my son Craig and I set off. I think I still have the route map somewhere and have always been going write up an account of the trip, now recently retired I might get it done.
Ralph
Ralph
Funny thing - when I bought my 78 VW Bus from clear across the country without seeing it in person first, I was warned by many not to plan on a cross country trip until I owned it for a year. I trusted the current owner enough believe in his work and I was right. I drove that bus for 44 Days through 32 Cities, 21 States, 2 Canadian Provinces, across one Sea, two Straits for a total of 6,811 miles burning 444 gallons of gas. Sometimes you just luck out.
Of course there was some oil changes and adjustments along the way, but nothing major.
That's the key..but are there many Fiat 500's like that over there?
I'm all for your idea and the right Fiat 500 will easily match that performsnce...amazing trip that you describe.
That's the key..but are there many Fiat 500's like that over there?
I'm all for your idea and the right Fiat 500 will easily match that performsnce...amazing trip that you describe.
Correct - this owner, like all these owners buying "restored Fiats" here in the states, don't have any idea what was actually done. With the Bus I was able to follow his Forum posts detailing everything he did.
