Just logged over 1400 miles in the new Z! - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

RHanselman · 12-19-2011

Well I flew out to KC to pick up the new Ruby (#140) on Friday night. The salesman picked me up in the morning and took me over to the dealership on his way to work. Worked out pretty slick...

First impressions: Wow... Car is in really, really nice shape. The interior is perfect and the radio/speakers even worked. Everything seems to be stock with the exception of the replacement windshield (ZR-1 style) B&B's, engine SS bolt kit and engine paint. The engine is clean as a whistle...

The Drive: Well it took about 100 miles to get her back in shape. Nothing I didn't expect from having picked up two other Z's that had been sitting for a while. The suspension and tires need to warm up before the car feels like a Z again. All the shocks were operating at different rates, the tires were out of round and the bushings were all stiff... After that 100 miles was up everything was back to normal... I was impressed by the lack of rattles and squeaks. They all seem to have at least some... Other than that, the drive from Denver to Las Vegas is one of my favorites. It's hard to beat the views and the car performed as advertised!

MPG: Not the best from what I've had before. 21 MPG @ 80 MPH all the way to Denver and then 22 MPG from Denver to Vegas. The last Ruby I picked up from Long Island did 24 MPG to BG (following FU) and then 26-28 MPG (after Mark Haibeck tuned her at BG) BG to Vegas. She seems to run great but I'll be pulling the plugs and checking the injectors. From what I can tell, she has the stock tune.

Some spirited driving: I made one short blast to a buck 25 and all felt fine. My favorite places to feel the power were getting on the highway. I just love the sound of the LT-5 winding through the gears. And BTW - the secondary's are defiantly working!

I also have a love hate relationship with the B&B's. I love the looks and the sound around town or winding through the gears. But as you know, driving cross country with stock gears is painful to the body and ears! Luckily I brought along a noise canceling headset and some tunes! Because I'm planning on lots of highway driving I'm going to swap out the B&B's for the stock system or the Corsa's. Both are much, much better on the body! BTW - #99 comes with the original stock system so it will probably make it onto the car in the next month or so... I believe she get's shipped out of Hawaii on the 23rd.

One important blunder... I took the north route because of the weather. The weather was perfect all the way back. The blunderous part was that I didn't check the temps. I woke up in Rifle CO to an outside temp of 16 degrees. All I had was a thin coat, thin gloves and you guessed it, a thin hat. Not exactly the kind of gear you want to have if you breakdown in the middle of southern UT 100 miles from civilization and in a car you barely know... Well, if you stop learning, it's time to quit!

Cheers,
RH

ScottZ95ZR1 · 12-19-2011

Great to hear that car turned out to be such a beauty, Ron, and glad you're back home safe to enjoy it.

mike100 · 12-20-2011

I'd chalk up your 2-3 mpg less to winter blend gasoline and the elevation.

Blue Flame Restorations · 12-20-2011

Envious, for sure................

tomtom72 · 12-20-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Flame Restorations

Envious, for sure................

make that two! See I'm green with envy!

Use her in good health Ron!

VetteMed · 12-20-2011

Sounds like a fun trip!

LGAFF · 12-20-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by RHanselman

Well I flew out to KC to pick up the new Ruby (#140) on Friday night. The salesman picked me up in the morning and took me over to the dealership on his way to work. Worked out pretty slick...

First impressions: Wow... Car is in really, really nice shape. The interior is perfect and the radio/speakers even worked. Everything seems to be stock with the exception of the replacement windshield (ZR-1 style) B&B's, engine SS bolt kit and engine paint. The engine is clean as a whistle...

The Drive: Well it took about 100 miles to get her back in shape. Nothing I didn't expect from having picked up two other Z's that had been sitting for a while. The suspension and tires need to warm up before the car feels like a Z again. All the shocks were operating at different rates, the tires were out of round and the bushings were all stiff... After that 100 miles was up everything was back to normal... I was impressed by the lack of rattles and squeaks. They all seem to have at least some... Other than that, the drive from Denver to Las Vegas is one of my favorites. It's hard to beat the views and the car performed as advertised!

MPG: Not the best from what I've had before. 21 MPG @ 80 MPH all the way to Denver and then 22 MPG from Denver to Vegas. The last Ruby I picked up from Long Island did 24 MPG to BG (following FU) and then 26-28 MPG (after Mark Haibeck tuned her at BG) BG to Vegas. She seems to run great but I'll be pulling the plugs and checking the injectors. From what I can tell, she has the stock tune.

I also have a love hate relationship with the B&B's. I love the looks and the sound around town or winding through the gears. But as you know, driving cross country with stock gears is painful to the body and ears! Luckily I brought along a noise canceling headset and some tunes!

Cheers,
RH

Come on Ron, MPG and noise complaints from a fighter pilot? Whats the noise level and MPG on your work vehicle(Jet).....but then I guess if you are always traveling faster than sound, maybe noise is not an issue

Kevin · 12-23-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by LGAFF

Come on Ron, MPG and noise complaints from a fighter pilot? Whats the noise level and MPG on your work vehicle(Jet).....but then I guess if you are always traveling faster than sound, maybe noise is not an issue

mpg's start to be a concern when you're footing the bill

RHanselman · 12-23-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin

mpg's start to be a concern when you're footing the bill

Yep to an extent.

My problem is I like to Max Perform everything... Power on the track and MPG on the highway... (Weird combo...) Lower gas mileage means there's something not quite right so it will bug me until it's cured...

Hammer · 12-23-2011

Great story, thanks for posting up. Certainly happy to hear all went well, especially in light of the gear you had with you.

MPG could maybe be the injectors. I put the FIC's in mine and got 26-28 average going back to the BG Anniversary.

Enjoy the cars Ron.

12-19-2011	#2
ScottZ95ZR1 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Pendleton, IN Posts: 659	Re: Just logged over 1400 miles in the new Z! Great to hear that car turned out to be such a beauty, Ron, and glad you're back home safe to enjoy it.

12-20-2011	#3
mike100 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Marcos CA Posts: 1,802	Re: Just logged over 1400 miles in the new Z! I'd chalk up your 2-3 mpg less to winter blend gasoline and the elevation.

12-20-2011	#4
Blue Flame Restorations Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pendleton, IN Posts: 3,904	Re: Just logged over 1400 miles in the new Z! Envious, for sure................ __________________ 1988 KOH Prototype EX5023 sold 1990 ZR-1 #444 Convertible 1990 ZR-1 Black #966 1991 ZR-1 Quazar Blue #296 1957 Duntov SS Project

12-20-2011	#6
VetteMed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,828	Re: Just logged over 1400 miles in the new Z! Sounds like a fun trip! __________________ 2004 Z06/Z16 LeMans Commemorative Edition 1991 ZR-1 #302 White/Gray (sold) 1991 ZR-1 #1147 Red/Saddle (sold)

12-23-2011	#10
Hammer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ideho Posts: 2,653	Re: Just logged over 1400 miles in the new Z! Great story, thanks for posting up. Certainly happy to hear all went well, especially in light of the gear you had with you. MPG could maybe be the injectors. I put the FIC's in mine and got 26-28 average going back to the BG Anniversary. Enjoy the cars Ron. __________________ [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS]John Boyd[/FONT][/I] [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1]Ideho[/SIZE][/FONT][/I] [FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1][I]2015 ZL1 [/I][I]Camaro #1121 BLACK/BLACK 6 SPD (540 RWHP)[/I][/SIZE][/FONT] [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1]1991 ZR-1 #458 [COLOR=red]RED/[/COLOR][COLOR=black]BLACK 72[/COLOR]k miles ([B][COLOR=red]SOLD[/COLOR][/B]) 1991 ZR-1 #473 [COLOR=red]RED/[/COLOR][COLOR=black]BLACK [/COLOR]37k miles ([B][COLOR=red]SOLD[/COLOR][/B])[/SIZE][/FONT][/I]

12-19-2011	#1
RHanselman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Cresson, TX Posts: 970	Just logged over 1400 miles in the new Z! Well I flew out to KC to pick up the new Ruby (#140) on Friday night. The salesman picked me up in the morning and took me over to the dealership on his way to work. Worked out pretty slick... First impressions: Wow... Car is in really, really nice shape. The interior is perfect and the radio/speakers even worked. Everything seems to be stock with the exception of the replacement windshield (ZR-1 style) B&B's, engine SS bolt kit and engine paint. The engine is clean as a whistle... The Drive: Well it took about 100 miles to get her back in shape. Nothing I didn't expect from having picked up two other Z's that had been sitting for a while. The suspension and tires need to warm up before the car feels like a Z again. All the shocks were operating at different rates, the tires were out of round and the bushings were all stiff... After that 100 miles was up everything was back to normal... I was impressed by the lack of rattles and squeaks. They all seem to have at least some... Other than that, the drive from Denver to Las Vegas is one of my favorites. It's hard to beat the views and the car performed as advertised! MPG: Not the best from what I've had before. 21 MPG @ 80 MPH all the way to Denver and then 22 MPG from Denver to Vegas. The last Ruby I picked up from Long Island did 24 MPG to BG (following FU) and then 26-28 MPG (after Mark Haibeck tuned her at BG) BG to Vegas. She seems to run great but I'll be pulling the plugs and checking the injectors. From what I can tell, she has the stock tune. Some spirited driving: I made one short blast to a buck 25 and all felt fine. My favorite places to feel the power were getting on the highway. I just love the sound of the LT-5 winding through the gears. And BTW - the secondary's are defiantly working! I also have a love hate relationship with the B&B's. I love the looks and the sound around town or winding through the gears. But as you know, driving cross country with stock gears is painful to the body and ears! Luckily I brought along a noise canceling headset and some tunes! Because I'm planning on lots of highway driving I'm going to swap out the B&B's for the stock system or the Corsa's. Both are much, much better on the body! BTW - #99 comes with the original stock system so it will probably make it onto the car in the next month or so... I believe she get's shipped out of Hawaii on the 23rd. One important blunder... I took the north route because of the weather. The weather was perfect all the way back. The blunderous part was that I didn't check the temps. I woke up in Rifle CO to an outside temp of 16 degrees. All I had was a thin coat, thin gloves and you guessed it, a thin hat. Not exactly the kind of gear you want to have if you breakdown in the middle of southern UT 100 miles from civilization and in a car you barely know... Well, if you stop learning, it's time to quit! Cheers, RH __________________ Ron Hanselman Founding Member #80 CM Lifetime Member #1093 1991 #383 Twin Turbo 1993 #099 Ruby, Jeal 368 w/Snake Skinner body 1961 White with Red Int