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I know, Trust me, I know.
I hadnt thought of this way until now.
Which is making me extremely nervous for this trip.
The feedback that I have gotten from friends and family has been an alert.
The hood is majorly dented, where cost was cut,
but there must be other problems as well...
Should it be trusted for such a lengthy trip?
Honest opinions PLEASE.
A car for $560?? Man, that's possibly the bargain of the decade. It's possible this is a fine car, but its also possible someone was unloading something. You really do need to have a good mechanic give it the once over and drive it a bit.
Why was the hood dented? Was it in an accident? Or just massive cosmetic damage? (You'll need to have the mechanic check the frame and wheels/ axles etc if you suspect a major accident.)
I would strongly recommend you and your buddy take off on a weekend road trip for a couple of reasons. First, you can use this as a shakedown trip to make sure you have the right gear along. Secondly, you'll also be shaking down the car to see how it handles and how comfortable you are in driving it, and how well it does on an extended drive. If the mechanic has given you a green light, I'd pick a destination at least 3-4 hours drive away and head out for a shakedown cruise... (And thirdly -- a road trip is a road trip!! any excuse works... *grins*)
For hiking boots, if you're not going to be a fanatic about them, I'd recommend getting a moderately priced, lightweight set. Don't get the big heavy "mountaineering" or "winter" boots. Check out the local sporting goods store and see what they have in stock. I'd recommend the vibram lug soles (most have them), and ankle high, instead of the low "trail runners" for a bit more support and ankle protection in rocks.
I work with a Boy Scout Troop, and we see probably 12-15 new pairs of shoes per year. I've seen good hiking boots bought for as low as $20, and as much as $120 -- so theres a huge range in there. These include Novato, Hi-Tec, Nike, and Columbia just to name some brands off the top of my head (I don't endorse any of these... you have to see what fits and feels the best for your individual foot). When you buy the boots, take in the socks you're going to wear with them, and try them on with the socks on -- and then walk around a bit. Some stores even have an inclined plane or set of steps you can go up and down a bit to check the fit. I recommend the lighter weight as they'll tire you out less, and I'm assuming you'll not be climbing across glaciers for days, nor attemping to scale Half Dome in Yosemite on the front face, nor attemping to wade across the Mississippi in them.
And once you buy them, you need to break them in. Put 10 miles or so on the boots before you trust them on a day's long hike into the middle of nowhere. I wear mine to work for a week or so, and wear them on evening walks and the weekends.
And don't forget a day pack, good water bottles, sun protection, and the "10 essentials".
Im not quite sure if the car was in an accident;
my traveling partner lives up in PA, while I live in NY.
I have yet to see it in person, just in photographs.
its damaged pretty badly; dent-wise.
The mechanic said it would be fine, but with my NY mindset,
I am wondering if maybe we should bring it to someone here.
I suppose a shorter trip is in order;
Though I'd love to just leave and head out west...
Those are little cars. I'm having a hard time imagining it. I might suggest spending a night in it to see if it really works for a good night's sleep. Just laying in it for a few minutes to check it out isn't gonna give you the true picture.
You've gotten lots of good advice so far that you should take.
It's not impossible that this car is OK. But I have a hard time believing that a car at this price will have good tires. If your traveling partner has good reason to trust this mechanic based on recommendations or good prior experiences, then I see no reason to take the car to NY just to have it checked out. But if the mechanic's judgment is questionable, I would sure take it to another mechanic to be sure.
Personally, I think any car should be given a thorough look-over by a good mechanic before a long road trip. At the very least, a thorough checking of all fluids and hoses, an oil/filter change, a brake check, an alignment check, and a tire check are always on my list even though my current car has never given me any mechanical problems. So that's the least I would do with your car. I'm sure it could use a tune-up, at the very least.
Private campgrounds always have showers. Sometimes, especially if the park has very low rates to begin with, they require quarters for the shower. Some national/state/county parks have showers, but not all, and some don't have potable (drinkable) water so you'll want to make sure you have a good supply of your own water for cooking, tooth-brushing, drinking.
You seem to be very inexperienced when it comes to road trips. It's too bad that a short trip to check out the car and to gain experience doesn't seem to be something you have time for. I wouldn't let that deter you but I think you might want to do a lot of reading on this forum to get some ideas about how to do a road trip safely while having a great time.
Here are some things you should consider:
* I think a AAA membership (or some other road service) would be a good investment. I don't travel without it for those just-in-case situations.
* Access to emergency funds in case you do have a break-down or some other problems you hadn't anticipated (or just because the trip ends up costing you far more than you had considered)
* Travel with a cellphone and charger. A CB is a good investment as well since you will probably drive through some places with spotty or non-existent cellphone service.
* Have a person that you check in with daily and let them know what your plans for the next day are.
* If you are doing some hiking, it doesn't hurt to leave a note in your car stating where you're hiking, when you plan to return, and listing emergency contact information. I would leave this face-down on the dash so it's easily seen but can't be read by just anybody. You really only want emergency personnel in a worst-case scenario to see this information.
* When hiking, be sure you have The 10 Essentials (easily find with a google).
* Make sure you have at least basic emergency stuff in your car like basic tools, working flashlights with extra batteries, flares or emergency triangle, blankets, water, a basic first-aid kit, etc.
* Oh, and make sure your spare tire is in good condition!
Since money seems to be a major concern, I might suggest that you read this to help you plan your budget. Scroll down to the 7th post.
Hope this all helps!
Thank you so much, honestly, its very helpful, a bit of a relief to be hearing positive feedback about the possibilities of this trip.
I am inexperienced when it comes to road trip, as nine hours is the most Ive done in a car, so the more I find out in advance, the better.
The GEO's back seats were taken out, as well as the passenger seat,
only the driver's seat remains, as to make more room for the odd shaped mattress for sleeping.
(I'm not quite sure if thats legal, to be honest..)
I can guarantee you will have problems with any police officers you meet with only one seat in the car and two passengers, especially with so many states having seatbelt laws. I have performed the "rear seatectomy" in my car for trips to free up space, but I wouldn't think of removing any seats that are necessary for passengers. You're going to want to put that passenger seat back in at the least.Quote:
The GEO's back seats were taken out, as well as the passenger seat,
only the driver's seat remains
Oh, as I thought.
My traveling partner did so, and the idea alone made me a bit nervous.
I suppose it is an essential part of the car.
He tends to disagree- Ha.
If he refuses to put it back in, then make him sit on the floor! Good grief!
Seriously, Tim is right. But I think it would go beyond just a ticket. Most states will not let you drive a car that is not deemed safe for the road. If you're pulled over, not only will you get a ticket for not having a seat-belt, I would place bets that they'll impound the car! There might even be additional fines beyond the seatbelt issue. This could cut your road trip short real quick.
Put the seat back in. If this means you can't sleep in the car, pack a tent. You'll probably sleep better anyway.
The seat is going back into the car.
I was uneasy without it to begin with.
Seemed very odd and unsafe, even uncomfortable to me.