Getting the car ready for the WDW drive

[NALA 24]

What do you do to get your car ready to drive 1000+ miles to WDW? Our plan was to get a new minivan before our trip, however we discovered that the new models won't fit in our garage so we are still looking. The car we will be driving (unless we find a new one quickly) will be a 1997 Mercury Villager with 113000 miles. We considered renting a car, but decided we might feel more secure in our own vehicle where we know the maintenance history. Does anyone drive to WDW with high mileage cars?

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Even if the car is running well, I might recommend going into your local mechanic for a tune-up and fluids/belts check. Nothing major, just have them make sure everything is in order.

 

[tinaluis]

We have a 1995 Pontiac Transport with 111,000 miles and we take our van into our mechanic where he gives it a tune up, oil change and a complete "once-over" . It generally runs about $100. If he finds anything that needs to be fixed, we have it done. Usually, it's just the tune up and oil change, though. Good luck and have a safe trip!

 

[parmtoo]

We have 110,000 miles on our truck and drive it everywhere. We're pulling our 5th wheel behind in Aug, from NY to WDW. We keep up with oil changes, ect...........We take in for "check-ups" regularly.

 

[manning]

113,000 -- That's a youngster. Get it serviced and have the mechanic check everything out.

 

[canwegosoon]

I would also look at the tires, make sure there is adaquate tred available for a long trip.

 

[Blueberry]

Yup..we have driven high mileage (over 100,000) to WDW quite a few times as we tend to have higher mileage cars with living in a rural area. Check them over good and have a mechanic check them too, sometimes they can find little things you might miss which could cost a fortune on the road..

If you are driving in hot weather I suggest you or have someone else check your hoses and belts as heat is so rough on them with long drives.

 

[dzneelvr]

...don't forget to check the windshield wipers front and back. You'll usually run into rain somewhere and it's a nightmare if those aren't working!
good luck! WDW ON JUNE 24 (we're flying--drove once, that's enough to know we don't want to do it again!! )

 

[wdwstar]

we bring paper towel and windex.
one time we were leaving and i told dh here is the paper towel and windex, he said for what i said the windshield, he said we didnt need it and to put it back, i said we should bring it , well needless to say we didnt bring it.

half way to florida a big truck hit a bird, yep you guessed it ,
it landed on our windshield, bird all over. i just looked at dh and didnt have to say a word before he said see i told you to bring the paper towel and windex, we started laughing.

we had to pull off the road to find a carwash to hose the bird off, the first thing the kids said was no chicken for dinner!

as far as the high milage, yes dsis does it all the time with her van

 

[manning]

...don't forget to check the windshield wipers front and back. You'll usually run into rain somewhere and it's a nightmare if those aren't working!

RAINEX, use the RAINEX.

 

[Shelle&Dave]

I second the Rainex. If you run into a bad storm you won't even need your wipers. The rain just slides right off your windshield.

 

[ducklite]

Our cars are new and fairly new Saturns (2001 and 2004). We'll be driving down in a couple weeks in the 2001 (the 2004 is a coupe--too small for DS to sit in the back seat for more than an hour or so without feeling like a pretzle).

The car we're taking down has about 55,000 miles on it, we just replaced the tires and had the oil changed. With the tires we also got an alignment, and they replaced the camber parts as they were worn away.

Other than that it's pack and go. I like the Windex and paper towels idea--thanks for the tip!

Anne

 

[midge dionne]

I took the car in for a check-up on Monday. Today (Thursday) at 5p.m. I was told the car had major transmission problems and couldn't be driven to WDW. We were to leave Friday early a.m. The shop offered to split the cost of a mini-van with us for 2-weeks. We can pick-up the rental at noon. I am a nervous wreck-best laid plans run amock!!!!!!

 

[Shelle&Dave]

midge dionne,

If you thought your car was running fine before you brought it in to the shop maybe you should take it to get a second opinion. Hope everything turns out ok.

Michelle

 

[manning]

midge dionne Are you a AAA member. They certify auto repair facilities.