Do you trust your 7 for a week long trip? (reliability)

[Bster13]

I spoke to a forum member who tours a bit and it brought into question the 7 replica's ability to tour for a few thousand miles without mechanical/electrical trouble.

 

I'm wondering who trusts their 7 to tour these distances, and if you don't, what sort of tool and spare parts do you arm yourself with while on your trip?

 

I'm trying to weigh if the 7 is the right vehicle for me...

 

I am confident it will give me the fun factor, but if the car is not relatively reliable (we are assuming the person who put the car together did a good job and it was made from a decent kit), and I will have to worry about things vibrating lose, or electrical connections getting water in them, or worse yet the drive train going (not likely if you keep the drivetrain stock as this is a mass built item), then it might not be for me.

 

I used to enjoy endless, carefree miles with my Honda touring bikes. Most I ever had to do was fix a flat tire:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v360/90/8/17506531/n17506531_31391988_7228.jpg

If the 7s tend to need a little more (too much for me?) TLC while on the road, a turbo miata might be the next step towards reliability, but a loss in fun factor.

 

Thanks for your input!

[Mondo]

I can only think of a few guys that drive their 7s on long trips. It's not really the reliability... though you'd be silly not to carry some tools with you. It's the creature comforts that most people want from a car on long trips. Like staying dry, relatively quiet/buffeting, conversation...

These cars are built for lightness/performance. Which means little insulation, you can hear the mechanics of the motor, suspension, tires (squeaks, vibrations etc...).

I think these cars may be a bit too hardcore for you... I bet the honda goldwing is a more comfortable set up for touring than a 7. That would be my goal... to try and be comparable to that going down the freeway.

Don't get me wrong, there are those that have made their cars trip worthy and enjoy it... just check out that other post where they're talking about a 2 week trip in July.

Edited June 11, 2010 by Mondo

[snookwheel]

I trust our Super Stalker! I drive it around town all the time, autocross it and park it. I had some crap in the gas tank and some missing jam nuts when I first got the car, but once I cleaned that out and added the nuts, it has been maint. free. We have not driven farther than 3 to four hours at a time, but would not hesitate to drive further. I don't carry tools around. If I was taking a long trip I would bring a few wrenches, screw driver and small socket set..... not sure why. I've never needed them, but like to be prepared. If I am working on it, it is because I want to piddle around with it.

 

I know a Stalker owner (actually, I think there were three of them) just drove from Fl. to Texas for an event last month. I don't think they had any issues. It won't be like driving a door banger as far as comfort, but a lot more fun!

Edited June 11, 2010 by snookwheel

[Bster13]

My trips generally consist of backroad twisties. If I'm heading south, I most likely will bomb down I-81 to make some time though and get out of the congested NYC area. (as nice as the twisties are in the NE, it isn't worth my vaca time to take them when I can scoot down the highway and get to the good stuff )

 

I plan to wear a helmet 24/7 with the car w/ earplugs (habit w/ bikes) and install an intercomm between myself and a passenger. I can wire in music here as well. Hopefully the helmets/earplugs quiet things down a bit, but I understand the car will not be quiet, it is minimalist afterall.

 

If reliability is not a real worry for you guys (provided a good build and drive train) then I will try to take in as much as I can on the drive on the 19th to see if the suspension and other factors are too much or just right for my taste.

 

I am 32 yrs old and really enjoyed getting on the road at 8am and finishing at dusk during those long summer days. Granted with a passenger the time on the road will be cut down significantly.

[Bster13]

I always traveled with string plug kit and rubber cement for plugging motorcycle tires plus a small set of tools. Looks like a lot of you do the same. :cheers:

[slngsht]

Every seven owner I know has run out of gas at least once.

 

Mine has been pretty reliable. I think the longest I have driven it in one trip though was something like 600 miles over 2 days.

 

It REALLY depends on what you buy, and how carefully it was built.

[slngsht]

and, as others said, seven is not a car you want to hop in for a 12 hours drive, regardless of how reliable it is.

[JohnCh]

When I bought my car, I drove it 850 miles by myself in a little over a day to get it home. My wife & I did 4000 miles in two weeks on USA2005 – half of that mileage was done travelling to/from the tour (630 miles was the longest day), so no other cars were along for support. I did about 1400 miles on PNW2007, 300 miles of which were done without any support cars along, and I am planning to cover about 2500miles this summer going to Monterey and then taking the long way back with a few other cars. So yes, I guess I trust it for driving longer distances

 

I carry an assortment of hand tools, a motorcycle tire repair kit, duct tape, a cell phone, and a AAA Plus card.

 

-John

[Ruadhd2]

It is important to know that in a 7 type vehicle you are much closer to the road than on a motorcycle. The result is you have to be extremely vigilant about road debris, animals, big potholes, speed bumps, construction or other surface variability. The smoothness of the ride can often depend on the quality of the road surface and the quality and setup of your shocks and suspension.

 

Too many 7 owners will tell you horror stories about "bottoming" their cars unexpectedly. For example, you can be on a perfectly smooth surface and hit a non-impaired dip in the road at speed and scrape your exhaust system or oil pan. You have to be very careful when entering or backing out of curb cutouts, driveways, raised parking surfaces. Half the car will be in the driveway and the other half will be in the street and the car will rest on whatever is sticking out underneath.

 

Not the discourage you. The 7 is a thrill like no other and worth it. My car is still a Recklica in need of tons of work and is still fun, so if you get a nice and tightly constructed car you should be fine and have a blast; but you are only a few inches above the ground and can drag your knuckles whenever it pleases you to do so.

[WestTexasS2K]

My Ultralite did the One lap of America twice. Kevin has done it in his car one year. This event consist of about 4k miles and 12 racing events in 7 days. One year we had a battery go bad. We also ruptured a fuel cell, our fault for over filling with remote cell. Second year we broke several diffs from to much power from supercharger. We had no electrical or mechanical issues other than these.

Kevin had no issues the third year where he took 1st in class and third overall. That being said I wouldn't leave home without some hand tools and some repairs items just in case.

[Bster13]

Ok, my concerns are much less after this thread has developed some, I appreciate the help.

 

To "give back" a bit to you guys....A nice air pump for tires a lot of us touring motorcyclists use, that you guys may be be interested in, is detailed here:

 

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-technical-articles/air-pump/

 

It was awesome.. fit into a little cloth pencil case like we had in grade school and that fit a tire pressure tool, string plugs, rubber cement, a reamer, and insertion tool for the string plug as well. Great, compact, addition to my travel tool set. :hurray:

[S1Steve]

A bad fuel line let me down 2 miles from home. Thats the only time it ever let me down in 8 years. One loose fuel pump wire, but that was a easy road side fix. After 3 or 4 hours of driving,

I give up first !! I always have ,fix a flat, tools, wire tyes, and a cell phone and AAA gold card.

AAA called the local fire dept, because of the gas leaking, and the police came , lot's of GPM with a FI pump.

High Pucker factor that Easter Morning !!!!!!!

Edited June 11, 2010 by S1Steve
left out the all important fixaflat

[snookwheel]

X2 on the fix-a-flat! I have a can duct taped to the frame! I think the 'tire plug kit' is a great idea too.

[slngsht]

Ok, my concerns are much less after this thread has developed some, I appreciate the help.

 

To "give back" a bit to you guys....A nice air pump for tires a lot of us touring motorcyclists use, that you guys may be be interested in, is detailed here:

 

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-technical-articles/air-pump/

 

It was awesome.. fit into a little cloth pencil case like we had in grade school and that fit a tire pressure tool, string plugs, rubber cement, a reamer, and insertion tool for the string plug as well. Great, compact, addition to my travel tool set. :hurray:

nice idea on the pump

[Ian7]

Dave and I drove our Seven's from Montreal to LOG 18 in Atlanta in 1998, about 4500km round trip (2 days each way). His is Kent powered, mine was Toyota 2TG. Flawless until Dave's threw a fan blade about 10 minutes from home ! LOL

[slomove]

Hey, join us for next year's trip to the Back Hills (see National Events).

 

The Seven is a fabulous touring car if properly equipped. We do use the regular "barn door" wind screen, a bimini style sun roof and half doors to make a bit comfortable without helmets and motorcycle gear. Without the sun roof I would not enjoy it that much. Frying in the sun for a day or getting soaked for longer time is not my idea of a good time.

 

My wife and I spent probably some 15,000 miles on shorter and longer trips and we both find this to be one of the best vacation modes.

 

As for reliability, well, as mentioned it is not a factory built Honda with service stations everywhere.

To go on a long trip you MUST

- build the car properly or check all possible trouble spots

- carry a reasonable complement of tools

- carry a few key spare parts that may not be locally available.

 

That said, I did USA2005 (4k miles), no trouble. PNW2007 (4k miles) no trouble. Rocky Mountains 2009 (3k miles) no trouble. 2005 and 2007 we had a support vehicle on hand but that is just an insurance to keep a larger group together. Obviously if the eventual serious trouble strikes there may be a change of vacation plans.

 

Gert

[Sevnn]

I've owned my Ultralite for going on 3 years and the only failures I've had were bolts coming out of the diff on the track (I replaced the bushings and didn't use longer bolts). While at Sonic a few miles from the house, I "showed" my daughter how the hydraulic parking brake works (rather doesn't work) and hydro-locked it. I didn't have any tools on me and had to have my wife bring up a pair of pliers.

 

The reliability is completely up to the level of how the car was built. If you build it or buy from someone who knows what they are doing, the car should provide a very reliable platform for trips. You do have to pay very good attention to what is on the road in front of you, no different than a bike though. In-cabin temperatures can get warm and they are typically loud. I can't use my car as good example though, I have no carpet or insulation. I'm sure one properly built for long drives would offer a much more comfortable experience. I would recommend a windshield and would wear a helmet on anything but short drives.

[MightyMike]

I drove my Birkin from Houston, TX to Colorado Springs, CO in sub-freezing weather with no mechanical issues besides having to replace a front lamp. Having said this, the ride was uncomfortable and I froze my tail off.

[Croc]

The reliability is completely up to the level of how the car was built. If you build it or buy from someone who knows what they are doing, the car should provide a very reliable platform for trips.

 

This really says it all. Knowledge of the car brings confidence. While mine had been built by a well known reputable outfit, the car was coming to me via a former owner wealthy business guy and a Rolls Royce dealer in West Palm Beach Florida. I could see the car had not been cared for in some time (rusted suspension on a 4 yr old car?) and needed work. For that reason there was no way I trusted it to drive from FL to NJ after I bought it. Now that I have had it some time, pulled it down and put it all back together again (and again) I know it well and trust it to be reliable. I also know what I need to monitor closely regularly to keep it running reliably.

 

Now that I quit my job on Monday, I am already planning a long driving tour to ME, NH, VT and upstate NY to find mountain twisties (Kancamagus Hwy) and see friends.

[DeanG]

I believe in doing a series of shake down runs. If you can:

1- Successfully drive around the block - 1 mile you can

2- Cruise the neighborhood (it took 3 weeks of effort to go from step 1 to step 2) - 3 to 7 miles you can

3- Drive a 20 mile loop you can

4- Drive a 50 mile loop you can

5- Drive a 200 mile loop you can

6- Drive continental distances