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Old 09-29-2012, 09:23 PM   #1
Azfast1
 
Drives: 2013 Camaro ZL1
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Arizona
Posts: 26
Just completed 3450 mile road trip!

Today brings an end my journey of buying a 2013 ZL1 a long ways away from my home in Arizona.

I chose Michigan as a place to look for a car for 2 reasons. One, I have family and friends there I wanted to visit, and 2, If I bought a car from a local Arizona dealer, I would have driven it home 20 miles and parked it in its air conditioned garage and rarely taken it out, afraid to put miles on it!

I found the car I was looking for at a dealer in Muskegon Michigan. My wife and I flew into Milwaukee Sunday night, took the 6 am ferry into Muskegon Monday, arriving at 9:30 where the dealer picked us up to see the car which had just arrived there the previous Friday. It was waiting in the showroom, pdi'd and ready.

It is #1489, Black with Black wheels, 6 spd Auto, stripe, sunroof, cupholders that light up like a Jacuzzi, which I didn't want!

The first few days were spent cruising Woodward, meeting friends at the old hangouts in the Royal Oak area where I grew up. Friday we headed up north to the Traverse City area to meet up with a coupe that I purchased a Detomaso Pantera from last year, who became good friends. Sunday we drove to the Upper Peninsula going around Lake michigan to the Green Bay area for the night.

The next 6 days were spent driving to the Badlands and Sturgis S.D. Mt. Rushmore, down to Denver to visit friends for a few days, then home to Arizona. In total, 3,450 miles!

A few notes. When I arrived at my first hotel in Michigan. I installed a temporary clear bra on the front to protect from stone chips. It is made by TracWrap and works great. No stone chips up there. One place I should also have done is the 1/4 panels directly behind the doors where the "gills" are located. I have a fair amount of small chips there from the front tires throwing rocks down the side of the car.

My biggest worry was getting door dings while parked at the hotels every night, Thank God that never happened!.

The drive was VERY comfortable, it was an easy way to brake in the car per the manual, even though its tough to behave for the first 1500 miles. The car averaged 18.8 MPG for the entire trip which impressed me. I drove the car easy for the first 1500 miles, then "spirited" thru the twisty bits!

Its really the most impressive car I have owned in a long time. Not one problem on the whole trip.
Congratulations to the people responsible at Chevrolet. Well done!
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