So I drove the S2K down (from SF) to LA and back in the last few days.

I learned a lot in the process.

First, spending 5+ hours in the S2K in the rain (i.e. with the top up) on I-5 is bad, but not as bad as I expected. You learn some tricks for rear visibility and the car actually does handle well in the wet. In addition, I LOVE the seats in this car. Down and back in two and a half days and my back feels fine. On the other hand, I'm gonna have to get new speakers and an amp. The poor sound quality (especially with the noise in the car with the top up at speed for this long) gets old FAST.

Second, I don't know how you folks in SoCal survive. Jointed concrete highways SUCK, people down there drive like they're (in the process of) smoking crack, and my car looks like a damn sticky bug strip after the drive.

Anyway, the car drove like a dream. Even in the bad conditions, it was a great experience. Made the drive down in 5 hours (pretty good time). A TT roadster tried to run with me for a bit (doesn't seem to have any pull at higher speeds) on the way down, an older GS-R with stacks o' stickers tried the same on the way back (doesn't seem to have the top end).

I took my digital camera, but it wasn't charged (dammit) so I couldn't take pictures. Wouldn't have been a big deal, except that I parked the car in Beverly Hills and came back to find a Bentley Arnage directly behind me and a F360 one car in front (with an S500) between us. Whew... too rich for my blood!

My one piece of advice from the trip... if you're doing a long drive like this and you're gonna have to have the top up and haven't upgraded your stereo (perhaps even if you have, I wouldn't know) I'd suggest you buy ear-plugs. I got some super sweet ones from a guitar store that allow you to hear, but cut the DBs way down and also chop off the supersonics. Made a HUGE difference.

In conclusion... this "should" have exposed the S2K's "weaknesses" (i.e. rain, long drive, girlfriend in the car, luggage, bad road surfaces, blah blah). Instead, I walk away loving this car even more.

-c

PS. Saw a car carrier with 1 Spa Yellow and 1 Black heading north. Also saw a White/Black heading south on 5 this afternoon.

 

Thanks for the observations Malachi; I'll be doing the trip to San Diego and back next Friday. Probably not enough time to get the stereo upgraded but plenty of time to get some earplugs.

 

Malachi, why do you classify your gf as a "weakness"?

 

If the girlfriend is a weakness, put her in the trunk and the luggage up front. If it's an '01 there's a trunk release. Just kidding!

 

A white/black????

 

sure looked like white/black. could have been white/red with black aftermarket seats...

 

Hey Malachi,

Glad you enjoyed your drive. Last year I did the same drive (except I went south on I5, then back home on 101) and I was also surprised how comfortable it was for me. My back tends to get uncomfortable after sitting for long periods, but I had no problems at all. I had great weather and my biggest problem was keeping my speed on the south side of 100 mph...

That's a great idea getting earplugs to shut out your gf, I'll have to try that.

 

"Handles well in the Rain"? I didn't know there was a single corner on I-5 between SF and LA. Went to University of Oregon and drove it 100 times..... Next time take 101 in the rain and let us know how it comes out.

 

i took 101 from LA to SF when i moved out here, in the rain, at night. as long as there weren't any slowpokes in front of me i was >90mph. the curves i took a little slower, but still >15mph of the rest of the cars on the road.

Lucy was wearing 17" s02 pole positions, not OEM.

 

only a lunatic drives 5 more than he has to...
i took the usual 280-85-101-152 route to get to 5 in Los Banos and believe me, there are curves on 152 (grin).