New C6 6000 mile road trip through the West
07-06-2010, 02:06 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
New C6 6000 mile road trip through the West
I have just returned from a 3 week road trip of 6000 miles. My wife and I drove from St. Louis to Seattle to visit my daughter’s family. We drove the interstate to eastern Colorado, then two lane roads through Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Idaho again, and Washington, When we left Seattle, we drove down the coast highway then across to Manteca CA, just south of Stockton, to stay with some friends. On the trip home we went east through Yosemite, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and home.
My 2010 convertible ran flawlessly throughout the trip, which in general, was made with the top down, and on two lane roads. Each morning after checking out of a hotel, I stopped in a do-it-yourself car wash to get the car cleaned up. I then gassed up, and at the same time, dried off the car (with a 100% cotton towel, so as not to ruin the Zaino).
I had plotted out the route on Microsoft Streets and Trips, then downloaded the data to my Garmin GPS. This allowed me to pick the roads, and not leave it up to the GPS. I picked out the smallest, most curvy roads which would generally take me in the proper direction. This only resulted in one gravel road in California, but we did hit a lot of short stretches of gravel where they were doing roadwork. If you drive two lanes in the summer , you will get a chance to talk to a lot of flagmen at construction sites.
Statistics:
6008 Miles, 237 gallons, 25.4 average mpg overall… The best indicated (on DIC) was one half tank at 31.7 mpg average. Generally about 27mpg at normal highway speeds.
I changed the oil immediately before the trip, and 6008 miles later the DIC indicated 64% oil life remaining, implying nearly 16,000 miles of oil life under these conditions. I will surely change it before then.
Number of trucks and campers passed…. ALL of them. My technique is to get behind them, shift to 4th or 3rd, and cruise until an opportunity to pass arises, then punch it. This doesn’t help gas mileage much, but the pass is over quickly, which is needed for safe passing on twisty roads and in the mountains.
America is a beautiful country, and the best way to see it is on the back roads. We found Utah to have the best looking and most varied scenery. Nevada to have the straightest and fastest roads where we ran at Warp 9…….(”I’m giving you all she’s got capt’n”) Well maybe not all she had, so we were probably closer to Warp 7 (Side note.. Top Flight Reproductions front plate stays on at Warp 7, and for those of you who worry about covering part of the grill, there were NO cooling problems, even at 103 degrees at high speed). Eastern Colorado and Western Kansas have a lot of really deserted small roads. While the first half of the trip was rather cool, never much getting over 60 to 65, the second half was all in the 90’s and 100’s. We drank a lot of water.
This is the third trip we have made to Seattle, the two previous in my C5, and I can't wait to do it again. We are planning a similar trip to th enortheast next year, to see that part of the country.
Here are some pics.
here we are in front of the Collegiate Range, Buena Vista, CO
It started snowing as we went up the mountain to Independence Pass, CO. 14,000 feet and 3 to 4 inches of snow at the top.
In the mountains above Jackson, WY.
In the redwoods in California
With a buddy and his C6 in front of a mural in Manteca CA. The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.
In Yosemite, with my wife, Sue, in the car.
vette with Half Dome in the backgrond, in Yosemite.
Hwy 6 in Nevada, fast and straight, but windy, dusty, and 103 degrees. Location to engage Warp drive.
This is an overlook in Utah
Me with the vette in Utah, long sleeves to prevent sunburn.
My 2010 convertible ran flawlessly throughout the trip, which in general, was made with the top down, and on two lane roads. Each morning after checking out of a hotel, I stopped in a do-it-yourself car wash to get the car cleaned up. I then gassed up, and at the same time, dried off the car (with a 100% cotton towel, so as not to ruin the Zaino).
I had plotted out the route on Microsoft Streets and Trips, then downloaded the data to my Garmin GPS. This allowed me to pick the roads, and not leave it up to the GPS. I picked out the smallest, most curvy roads which would generally take me in the proper direction. This only resulted in one gravel road in California, but we did hit a lot of short stretches of gravel where they were doing roadwork. If you drive two lanes in the summer , you will get a chance to talk to a lot of flagmen at construction sites.
Statistics:
6008 Miles, 237 gallons, 25.4 average mpg overall… The best indicated (on DIC) was one half tank at 31.7 mpg average. Generally about 27mpg at normal highway speeds.
I changed the oil immediately before the trip, and 6008 miles later the DIC indicated 64% oil life remaining, implying nearly 16,000 miles of oil life under these conditions. I will surely change it before then.
Number of trucks and campers passed…. ALL of them. My technique is to get behind them, shift to 4th or 3rd, and cruise until an opportunity to pass arises, then punch it. This doesn’t help gas mileage much, but the pass is over quickly, which is needed for safe passing on twisty roads and in the mountains.
America is a beautiful country, and the best way to see it is on the back roads. We found Utah to have the best looking and most varied scenery. Nevada to have the straightest and fastest roads where we ran at Warp 9…….(”I’m giving you all she’s got capt’n”) Well maybe not all she had, so we were probably closer to Warp 7 (Side note.. Top Flight Reproductions front plate stays on at Warp 7, and for those of you who worry about covering part of the grill, there were NO cooling problems, even at 103 degrees at high speed). Eastern Colorado and Western Kansas have a lot of really deserted small roads. While the first half of the trip was rather cool, never much getting over 60 to 65, the second half was all in the 90’s and 100’s. We drank a lot of water.
This is the third trip we have made to Seattle, the two previous in my C5, and I can't wait to do it again. We are planning a similar trip to th enortheast next year, to see that part of the country.
Here are some pics.
here we are in front of the Collegiate Range, Buena Vista, CO
It started snowing as we went up the mountain to Independence Pass, CO. 14,000 feet and 3 to 4 inches of snow at the top.
In the mountains above Jackson, WY.
In the redwoods in California
With a buddy and his C6 in front of a mural in Manteca CA. The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.
In Yosemite, with my wife, Sue, in the car.
vette with Half Dome in the backgrond, in Yosemite.
Hwy 6 in Nevada, fast and straight, but windy, dusty, and 103 degrees. Location to engage Warp drive.
This is an overlook in Utah
Me with the vette in Utah, long sleeves to prevent sunburn.
Last edited by JerryC5; 07-06-2010 at 02:28 PM.
07-06-2010, 05:56 PM
#10
Melting Slicks
Wow! Great trip. It looks like the 2 of you had a fantastic trip.
I commend you - and especially your wife - for packing light.
We were going to take my C6 on a week-long vacation recently.
But, my wife has to take SO MUCH crap with her on vacation that there wouldn't have been room.
She can't manage to move her purse without scraping the dashboard as it is.
So, we took one of our other cars instead.
I think a weekend trip in the Vette is all we'd be able to manage.
I commend you - and especially your wife - for packing light.
We were going to take my C6 on a week-long vacation recently.
But, my wife has to take SO MUCH crap with her on vacation that there wouldn't have been room.
She can't manage to move her purse without scraping the dashboard as it is.
So, we took one of our other cars instead.
I think a weekend trip in the Vette is all we'd be able to manage.
Last edited by car2fast4you; 07-06-2010 at 05:58 PM.
07-06-2010, 05:57 PM
#11
Racer
Fantastic pictures. I made a similiar trip in my C4 and am planning one in my new 2010 C6 for next year. My car looks just like yours, only mine has a black interior. Do you have NPP? If so, did you let the pipes roar in Nevada?
07-06-2010, 06:47 PM
#12
Instructor
Member Since: Jul 2009
Location: Palos Park Illinois
Posts: 185
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America is a beautiful country, and the best way to see it is on the back roads. 
Well done......did you put the top down at Independence Pass and play "Rat Patrol" with snowballs......
You've just help me decide on my next vacation.....
Well done......did you put the top down at Independence Pass and play "Rat Patrol" with snowballs......
You've just help me decide on my next vacation.....
07-06-2010, 07:03 PM
#16
Wow! Great trip. It looks like the 2 of you had a fantastic trip.
I commend you - and especially your wife - for packing light.
We were going to take my C6 on a week-long vacation recently.
But, my wife has to take SO MUCH crap with her on vacation that there wouldn't have been room.
She can't manage to move her purse without scraping the dashboard as it is.
So, we took one of our other cars instead.
I think a weekend trip in the Vette is all we'd be able to manage.
I commend you - and especially your wife - for packing light.
We were going to take my C6 on a week-long vacation recently.
But, my wife has to take SO MUCH crap with her on vacation that there wouldn't have been room.
She can't manage to move her purse without scraping the dashboard as it is.
So, we took one of our other cars instead.
I think a weekend trip in the Vette is all we'd be able to manage.
It is all in HOW you plan!!
Thank GOD for UPS!!
07-06-2010, 07:53 PM
#20
Team Owner
Great way to get the most enjoyment out of a Vette, good for you. Wonderful trip and I am sure you have no regrets, just super memories.