Advice for a Fly-n-Drive newbie

Since we've already covered the fact that the seller and buyer are good folks, that is the big hurdle.

Otherwise, take plenty of the only true road trip food...

Seems to be the season for road trips from Florida, I just did one last week.

I hit up Wally World right after picking up the car and got the basic fluids (well, in multiple shopping trips, but that's another story), windshield cleaner, a bunch of microfiber cloths and a couple of very basic tools. I also brought my AAA card and more than enough credit limit on my cards to be able to rent a Penske truck and car trailer in case the whole endeavour went off the rails, slid through the next three counties and ended upside down in a ditch somewhere.

If you don't travel a lot, I would call the credit card companies of the cards you intend to take and tell them which states you're traveling through. I travel a lot, so I just used the same cards I always use for travel and a couple of backup cards. No issue with cards getting blocked.

You also might find that if you have Apple Pay or the Android equivalent, using it might reduce the likelihood of the cards getting blocked.

Oh, and I found that the best way to go about one is to just doing it. Too much thinking about it leads to too much worry.

Backpack:  credit cards, AAA card, sunglasses, toothbrush, floss, fresh underwear, baseball cap, jeans, shorts, t shirts (GRM t shirt too), socks, comfortable sneakers, toothpaste.... really it's simple and a Miata is about as reliable as it gets. 

Thanks again for all of the advice. Flew from Fort Wayne, IN to Tampa FL yesterday and started the trip back home at 2:00 pm after my Walmart stock up of snacks and drinks. Made it home 7:30 this morning, 1110 miles total. Car performed great and no issues including no traffic snarls. Many thanks to Danny and the crew. Your help was greatly appreciated. 

Awesome! Glad to hear it went well. The otter looks great.

In reply to fusion66 :

In that group photo that you posted above, you must be the guy next to Danny because I have met everyone else in the photo.  I gotta tell ya...and you probably now know this...that is a heck of a "good guy" gathering.  They often say that the most important thing you are buying in a used car is the previous owner.  In this case, from the quality of his friends, I think you know you have bought the right car.  The Miata has to be nothing like the Miatas you can find in FtW.  

Congrats to you and congrats to the friends of Mark for seeing this through.  

Curtis said:

Since we've already covered the fact that the seller and buyer are good folks, that is the big hurdle.

Otherwise, take plenty of the only true road trip food...

Maybe if you're rich.  Old Trapper is as good (a little chewier, actually, which is kinda nice when on the road) and generally costs about a dollar an ounce-ish.  Like $11-12 for a 10 ounce bag.  And their peppered jerky is awesome.

That might not be the name, my eyes start to glaze over when I see how much Jack Links costs, and then I see the price tag on the good stuff and that's all I really notice.

John Welsh said:

In reply to fusion66 :

In that group photo that you posted above, you must be the guy next to Danny because I have met everyone else in the photo.  I gotta tell ya...and you probably now know this...that is a heck of a "good guy" gathering.  They often say that the most important thing you are buying in a used car is the previous owner.  In this case, from the quality of his friends, I think you know you have bought the right car.  The Miata has to be nothing like the Miatas you can find in FtW.  

Congrats to you and congrats to the friends of Mark for seeing this through.  

You would be correct on both accounts. That is me next to Danny and the "good guys" comment is a bit of an understatement. From John picking me up at the airport and bringing me a small cooler that I could have for my return trip to the guys assembling a nice assortment of tools and emergency equipment for the trip back home, they all went above and beyond in making this a great trip. My only regret is the need/desire to get on the road for the long trip home as they were still cleaning and sorting some stuff at Mark's and there were still interesting things to be seen.

When I got there I took a look at the underside and lets just say that you don't see that level of cleanliness in Indiana. It will be a spring through fall car so hopefully it can remain pretty clean.

It makes me want to take another road trip in it down to the Challenge to visit a little longer with the crew and meet others in this community.

So I'll see you at Gingerman Wednesday in the new car?  Too early for that?  

akylekoz said:

So I'll see you at Gingerman Wednesday in the new car?  Too early for that?  

 

Too early for that. Going to skip July due to a transmission rebuild project that I need to wrap up on my son's truck. Hope to get up there in August but likely in the Mustang because it is too much fun. I am sure the Miata will show up at some point.