Old yaris 218k miles, 30k+ road trip?

[zoidberg444]

Nice pictures dude. Looks like you had great weather in Yosemite. Last time i made it stateside it only rained 2 days of my 24 day trip and one of those was the day i was in Yosemite.

I'll mirror your comments about good organisation being the key to road trips/camping. When i went to Norway i had to reorganise my car after my second time making camp. Afterwards i realised i'd brought a few to many things with me as well (my camping chair and table). I'm glad i got a really big carry all bag for my tent. I got into the routine of packing it as i would to unpack it. I also got a very small suitcase with my most critical stuff in and 2 nights of clothes. Saved me dragging around my big heavy bag with 3 weeks of clothes in if i stayed in a hotel for a night or having to get to much out of my car. I had a separate bag for my electrical stuff too. Anything i wanted quick to hand i kept in the passenger seat/footwell.

[seatech30]

Anyone have a strong reason (aside toyota dealers nation wide rolling in their graves) for not doing a 8k oil change? I'm almost at the end of the trip, and I have like 18qt stocked at home (costco sale and rebate). I've done two 7k before and was hoping that would be enough, but looks like im gonna overshoot the last 7k by 1k.

Probably should have mentioned I have 5-30 full synthetic mobile1 from costco and a k&n filter (been using this brand for a long time).

[zoidberg444]

I change mine at 10K intervals - roughly every 6 months. Its hasn't blown up yet.

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[seatech30]

Zoidberg444, just what I needed to see. Thanks! Lol

[seatech30]

Hit 250,000 yesterday, 15 miles from Roswell. Also 100 miles away from 30k on this roadtrip already. Will be going over with about 2k by the time I'm done. Feels good to know I'm almost done.

Also hit two skunks the other day... Hope you can forgive my r/ copy pasta:
Was driving East in Colorado. Stopped at a walmart to take a break and buy supplies. Got back on the road and got into the forest area.

All of a sudden in the distance, I saw what seemed like two white plumes fluddering in the air above the road. My mind stuggled to make sense with what I was seeing. I let go of the gas to give my brain more time to process. I actually freaked out for a split second because I could make absolutely no sense of it. Finally my brain arrived at the conclusion that it was garbage bags being tossed around by a light breeze. Yup this is how confusing it was, and I didn't want to dead stop on the road. I begin to accelerate and as I see them go under the car I realized my mistake.

After 28k miles of driving and not hitting anything but bugs and a frog, I felt pretty bad, but also dying from the stench that worked its way into the car. (Didn't see the frog until I parked somewhere and saw it hanging from its leg on the bottom of my bumper. Brought new meaning to frogger and a piece of the little kid inside me died.) For about 1 hr I was afraid to open the windows thinking it would get worse. I was thinking I was going to need a car wash to get the stench off, but finally worked up the courage and found out the air was fine.

I then proceeded to drive through 10+ miles of a minefield of deer, probably the most deer I've seen in one place so far, and I've seen A LOT, well exception to Nara Japan. Needless to say, I wasn't about to up the ante, and I drove about 40MPH while the occasional car blasted past me. I've seen the damage bigger road kill can inflict, and I wasn't about to risk that on my tiny Yaris.

[seatech30]

Finally got back to home base this Sunday. 13 weeks and 1 day total. 32064 miles, about $10,100 in all expenses (pre-trip included.) 50/59 NPs.

I decided to not ship my car to Hawaii because it was going to cost about $2200 for a roundtrip. I'd rather use that money for something else. Id like to visit the last 9 NPs sooner than later. I'm also heading back out with my parents next week on a 3k loop through some of my favorite NPs in the four corner states. Will be renting an SUV and staying at hotels, though.

For anyone interested, I finished dumping the rest of the 13 weeks of pictures on my google drive. Link in a post above.

[zoidberg444]

Nice one mate. I'm heading over to Europe next week. Although i won't be doing anywhere near 30,000 miles.

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[seatech30]

Nice, how many countries are you driving through? I saw someone on r/roadtrip did 14 in 13 days. That would be cool to do some day.

[zoidberg444]

Originally Posted by seatech30

Nice, how many countries are you driving through? I saw someone on r/roadtrip did 14 in 13 days. That would be cool to do some day.

I don't have much of a budget this time. I'm hoping to do 8 or 9 in 3 weeks.

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[ern-diz]

Wow, 13 weeks and 1 day, 32,064 miles, ~$10,100 in expenses, 50/59 NPs.

So impressive. Must have been an incredible adventure to experience live.

[seatech30]

I saw some really cool things and places. Mostly a lot of driving though. I was head knocking more times than I'm willing to admit, but got much better at breaking out of the cycle and pulling over to recollect myself or take a nap, near the end.

I definitely don't regret doing this trip the way I did. Maybe if I'd written down more stories, but I kind of felt like I had to leave some of it to the moment and to myself.

The order in which I did the caves couldn't have been any better. Luray, mammoth NP, great basin NP, carlsbad NP.

Here's my spreadsheet for anyone interested in a breakdown of costs and such.

[Dodge Aries K]

Glad you made it back home!

[seatech30]

Hi Dodge Aries K, thanks! How's the yaris collection?

Zoidberg444, should be fun. I wonder what it would be like driving in Europe. I found quite a few states had their quirks on the roads. NJ and NY were definitely the most annoying because of all the honking. I think Utah took the price for most polite and considerate at passing. After a while I realized everyone woild drive at least three car lengths before getting back in front of me. Anyone observed the same or was it just me?

[zoidberg444]

Originally Posted by seatech30

Hi Dodge Aries K, thanks! How's the yaris collection?

Zoidberg444, should be fun. I wonder what it would be like driving in Europe. I found quite a few states had their quirks on the roads. NJ and NY were definitely the most annoying because of all the honking. I think Utah took the price for most polite and considerate at passing. After a while I realized everyone woild drive at least three car lengths before getting back in front of me. Anyone observed the same or was it just me?

I've driven in Northern Europe and Scandinavia before. People there seem to drive much the same as they do in the UK. I've heard driving habits in Southern and Eastern Europe can be different though. I guess I'll find out.

[Dodge Aries K]

Yaris collection has sadly been downsized a little. Sold my white 2016 (one less loan, yay!) and replaced it's spot with a 2012 Scion iQ because... uhh... I don't know why. It's quirky and I like it plus it's paid for so that's even better hahaha.

[seatech30]

Dodge Aries K, wasn't the white one your priced possession? One less loan is always great, though. I've never driven an IQ. Does it feel torquier than the Yaris since it's lighter and only about 14ish HP less?

Zoidberg444, look forward to hearing from your trip. Safe travels!

[Dodge Aries K]

No, the white one was a tool for taxi work. My prized one is my black one that I bought brand new. I'll die in that car hahaha.

As for the iQ, it feels slower due to the cvt transmission and big dumb heavy 16" steel wheels but it handles being thrown around busy city streets better, although with a harsher more firm ride. But it's so damn quirky, i probably like it way more than I should. It makes me really wish that it wasn't so decontented for the US market though, just like the Yaris itself.

[justanotherdrunk]

awesome adventure