Flat bed car from LA to SF or drive it?

[burns99]

Hello all

After many months of repairs, diagnosing problems, and a lot of searching through this site (which has been a life saver), I'm ready to take my 250SL from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

I'm planning on driving it up the 101 over either 1 or 2 days.  My mechanic feels confident and I think it would be a great drive.  Wondering if it is foolhardy to do such a long drive after so much time in the shop and it had been sitting for the last 15 years before I purchased it.  It wouldn't be that pricey to have it flat-bedded up, but definitely not as fun.

It's been driven every few weeks and I think all the little problems have been found, but nothing more than a 2 hour drive.  It is definitely a driver, so I'm not worried about value or putting on miles.

Wondering it I should flat bed it up her and do small trips for the next few months to work out any more kinks.  The total drive is around 425 miles from LA to SF.  Better to do it in 1 vs 2 days?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.  Thanks!

[badali]

I like living on the edge.  Drive it.  When I first got my 230SL I drove to PUB in 2009 without having many miles on it since I bought it.  If it has been out for some 2 hour drives it should be fine.  just stop and check out everything periodically along the way.

[Jordan]

Agree with Brad, drive it.  Won't know how it will do on a long trip until you take one.  Good opportunity here. 

Leave early in the morning when it is still cool out and see how it goes.  Maybe you can do it in a day or maybe you want to stop along the way to do some wine tasting or sight seeing.  Have fun.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

It is only 384 miles you should drive it. Stay in the right hand lane or map yourself a trip along the country roads near by. Since your weather seams to be on the hot side most of the time consider driving her in the evening hours so leaving by say 5 pm and staying within speed limits you should be home by 11 pm.

You will find our cars love to be driven (not parked). Last month I made a 1200 plus mile round trip from Canada to Oley, PA, to attend the Deutsche Classic, last year to PUB and in 2013 all the way down to Williamsburg, VA. All with out incident. I don't recommend you stay overnight anyware (just have a nap in your car this will guarantee your car is still there when you open your eyes unless the hotel can guarantee a safe spot for your car).

If nothing else make it a day trip, stop if you like after 100 miles or so if you are concerned. Don't put her on a flat bed, that would be a punishment for your car all your car wants to do give you pleasures, after all you paid for it.

Smooth Sailing along 101

Dieter

Note, unless you already have it do make sure you have a AAA  Membership should yo need it. I once had to call a Flat Bed truck due to a loose fuel pump fuse, (on a short trip from home). I know a very expensive fuse LOL ... Now my CAA/AAA Membership card is my constant companion, I never leave home without it

Edit; Note added.

[Garry]

I am with the others, I agree, drive it, as Rolf Dieter said have your AAA and as Brad said, stop every 100 miles and check that oil etc are ok. 

Its a beautiful drive up that coast road, not something you want to see from a truck.

I know when I first got my car back on the road after a long slumber, it went like a dream and I have never looked back.

Garry

[66andBlue]

..... Wondering it I should flat bed it up her and do small trips for the next few months to work out any more kinks.  The total drive is around 425 miles from LA to SF.  Better to do it in 1 vs 2 days?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.  Thanks!

Drive it - but along the coast. Since it is a bit longer and slower you might stay overnight at San Simeon (Hearst Castle) and then drive #1 north to SF as far as you want or cut back to #101 after Monterey. Should be cooler also along the coast.
Make sure you mechanic already installed new shifter bushings (do you have a manual or automatic?).
In addition get the AAA road side assistance insurance for peace of mind.

[rjmarco]

I take my 1965 230 SL on the freeway in NorCal every Sunday.  I cruise at around 75 mph for 30 minutes and the car runs great at about 4,000 rpm.  I agree with others that you should spend most of the drive in the right hand lane for safety's sake.  I had MBZ three-point seat belts installed in my car two years ago.  Gives me much more confidence than I had with the original lap belt.  You might consider this aspect in your decision. 

Regards,

Rich

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

One thing I meant to mention, when I stay overnight with my Pagoda I find secluded B&B I get a nice good night sleep and so does my car

DIeter

[Kleine]

I guess it depends on where you start your drive in "L.A." and possibly the time of day.  Food for thought: July 27 I drove from the MB Classic Center to Paso Robles, left the Classic Center a little before 3:00pm and arrived in Paso Robles at 9:00pm.  It was bumper-to-bumper stop and go from Irvine all the way through Ventura...worst traffic I've ever experienced and there were no accidents or road construction projects on 405 and 101. I was driving a Porsche Macan S so I had an advantage of better visibility being higher up.  Car pool lane provides no advantage whatsoever.
The locals told me the traffic I experienced is normal all the time.  Northern California traffic in the Bay Area is bad during commute times, but you can work around it by timing your journey.  Not in L.A.  They have the distinction of the worst traffic in the U.S. for a reason.   I wouldn't even think about driving a Pagoda on S. Cal freeway, especially with the semi's in the right lane.  Once you get past Santa Barbara the drive up to the Bay Area is pleasant...provided you're going over 75. 

Best of luck to you.

[Bonnyboy]

Absolutely take the car - 2 hour trips should have worked out the kinks but just in case I suggest pretending you are on a rally and pack items that you may need.   - zap straps, duct tape, bailing wire, crescent wrench, couple hose clamps, screwdriver with multi heads, nitrile gloves, spare spark plugs, spark plug wrench, antifreeze, tire gauge, flashlight, leather gloves (for heat), painters coveralls, extra fan belt, small tool kit, pliers to cut wire, jumper cables, ohm meter, circuit tester, fuses, brake fluid, bicycle pump, reflective cones, camera etc.    This should all fit under the parcel shelf.

Check the archives - should be a list for rally gear.   

I carry the above with me all the time because you never know when someone says let go to.....  and you do it.   Out here - in 10 minutes you are in wilderness so be a boy scout and be prepared to have fun.

Stop often to fill up so that you reduce the chance of getting crap gas.  Everytime you stop check the oil and brake fluid and antifreeze and as you open the hood, take a wiff and smell the engine - pretty soon you can tell whats happening by smell - especially smell by the exhaust to make sure nothing is burning.  - Don't forget to smell the wheels as go around the car.  The last time I did a trip like this in an unknown car I removed the hubcaps and everytime I stopped I checked to see that the wheel bearings were not everheating as well (just carefully touch the middle of the wheel to see how hot it is) and a couple times I checked the wheel lugs for tightness.   

Have fun - wish I was coming with you.

[Cees Klumper]

Drive the car, as Ian said 2-hour drives without issues should tell us that as you say there is proven reliability; a 6 hour drive is really no different from a 2 hour drive. Of course one never knows, but I have driven mine now over 40 thousand miles and it's only left me stranded once in 17 years, which is a better track record than most new or almost new cars I've owned over that same period of time.
Lots of good tips here.

Can you take photos and write an article for Pagoda World for all of us please? 

[Pagoda_84]

If you have the time to do it over 2 days, drive it! I recently did the drive on HWY 1 and stopped at Carmel (I realise youre going the other direction so prob not much point in stopping at Carmel).

It's fairly densely populated the whole way so in the unlikely event of a breakdown you will find support. For example I wouldnt suggest driving it if you had to go through Yosemite or Death Valley (have done that trip too and it was awesome but definitely want to be in a car you have full confidence in).

[Sam SL]

Drive it and it will drive better after the trip.

[ghenne]

Drive it.

You and your car will bond like never before. Shared adventures make life rich.

[ejboyd5]

Send me the keys, I'll happily make the trip.  Reminds me of the time a friend needed a  300 SL that he had bought sight unseen returned to New York from Idaho. Flew to Spokane, spent two days in a hangar at the airport doing injection pump diaphragm, brakes, etc. Drove to San Francisco area where we spent another day tuning dual point ignition, then on to San Diego, eastward to Tuscon, across the country to Arkansas, then north to New York.  Wonderful trip, averaged a little over 21 mpg.  Only problem was loss of radio in California, but it really wasn't missed with all the wonderful SL sounds to compensate. Picture taken along the south bank of the Columbia River:

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

After many months of repairs, diagnosing problems ....

You do have some great tips from members above, don't let some of it scare you or prevent you from taking the wheel and taking that drive from LA to SanFran. If I was in your shoes here is what I would do taking the hot temperatures and traffic into account ....

(I assume you need to travel from SanFran to LA to take your treasure home).

First; I would make plans to stay in LA overnight with the Pagoda still at the shop.

Second; in the Morning after making arrangements with the hotel/motel for late check out I would pick up the Pagoda and check all fluid levels also check for signs of leaks under the car and around the engine and then give her a good drive within the facinety of the shop and your mechanic, some highway driving and around town in traffic. Should something go wrong you can call AAA and take her back to the shop.

Third; I would take her back to the mechanic have him make any adjustments if needed (after all you paid him for the work). If all is well I would return to the hotel / motel and have a good sleep until the late afternoon.

Finally; I would then pick up the Pagoda just before the shop closed for the day and have a nice drive to SanFran using roads other then the express way ... Yes I would arrive in the wee hours at home, however, I would then have a great sleep with the Pagoda safely tugged away in my garage having driven her home in less traffic and at cooler temperatures.

Anyway that is what I would do, you do let us know what you did in the end and how you made out I do agree it would make a great story for our Pagoda World Magazine.

BTW, during my round trips to Williamsburg, VA and last month to Oley, PA I did some night driving in my Pagoda and it was great fun.

Have a safe trip to SanFran.

Dieter

[burns99]

Thanks for all the comments!  They are very helpful and I do appreciate it.
I will definitely follow everyone's advice and drive it up in the next couple of weeks.

Most importantly, my wife has only seen pictures of it, and doesn't quite believe we actually have one.  I think it will be good to arrive driving it and take her for a spin.

I will report back with pictures after the trip.

Thanks again!
Adam

[Garry]

Good luck and enjoy the ride. let us all know how it goes.

[Atazman]

Only one more comment............ please stop by and say "hi" in Pleasanton.

[Pinder]

I drove from LA to Monterrey and the advice on staying right is a good one. I found most drivers along the drive to have less than ideal road etiquette.   

[burns99]

  Thanks for all the thoughts, input and suggestions.  Did the drive last week and it went great.  Took Highway 1 up to Ventura and the 101 the rest of the way.  The car handled great, I was doing about 65 mph and got about 20 mpg.  It definitely needed a long drive at highway speeds.  Did a few short stops and a long lunch but did the drive in 1 day.  The weather was fairly mild and the car temp was fine the whole way.

  Very excited to finally have the car at home.  And below is a picture at about the half way point near San Luis Obispo.

Thanks again
Adam

[neelyrc]

Sounds like a great an uneventful trip. The car looks great!
Ralph 

[Garry]

Well done Adam,  It is a great drive and you sounds like you and your car enjoyed the drive.

Garry