2,000+ Mile Road Trip

[ScubaDadMiami]

Just finished Maxie’s first big road trip, driving over 2,000 miles from Miami to the mountains of western North Carolina and back. The trip was composed of mostly highway speed driving that started at sea level and then rose to mountain road driving up to altitudes spanning 6,000 feet above sea level before heading back down to the starting point at Miami Beach. Other than a few small hiccups from NAV, this was a great road rip, filled with lots of great driving and other experiences. My latest edition of the Chronicles of C-MAX includes my trip journal and stats, including post 13B07 recalibration stats.

 

I purchased my C-MAX to be functional. This means hauling things like my extensive scuba equipment collection, and things like enough gear for cross continental road trips. For this trip of possibly as long as ten days, there was enough room in Maxie to hold a foot locker, two coolers, cooking equipment, suitcases, hiking gear, food stores, two people and the pooch.

 

(Loaded for Travel)

 

On the two day highway speed drive from Miami to the mountains of western North Carolina, averaging around 70 MPH on Eco Cruise, I got about 41 MPG with 100 percent air conditioner use, temperatures mostly in the low 90's (F), and then down to the low 80 degree range once we started climbing up the mountain roads.

 

(Mountains Ahead)

 

(Highest Driving Altitude of Trip)

 

The trip included daily mountain driving as we drove to hiking trails and rivers located in the area.

 

(Riding on a Cliff Edge Roadway, High in the Mountains)

 

 

 

Surprisingly, I averaged 45-47 MPG in mountain driving, with average speed (over a range of 35 to 60 MPH or so) of about 50 MPH. When I say mountain roads, I mean grades frequently of seven percent, with some well over that.

 

Maxie made lots of the steep climbs with three bar burns. On the downhill sections, I used the Hill Assist setting on the CVT. Often, these declines were so long and so steep that the battery indicator would top out, and ICE would provide braking assistance by running (but without gas usage). FREAKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Speaking of mountain driving, one thing that I learned about the mountain roads of western North Carolina is that the speed limits are not always fully posted. So, if you are traveling down a 45 MPH road, there often is no indication that the upcoming curve should be passed at no greater than 30 MPH. Luckily, Maxie handled the situation well enough to allow me to survive and learn that lesson. This car is a joy to drive on curvy mountain roads.

 

On the way back to Florida, we diverted for day in Savannah, Georgia. Temperatures on the ride back to Florida were always in the 90's, once we made our initial descent down the mountainsides. Our average speed on the return trip was around 75 MPH, maybe just over that, and 100 percent air conditioner use. I would say that the AVG MPG was about 36 for those highest speed legs of the journey home.

 

One surprising positive to report–believe it or not–was NAV. We traveled on a lot of mountain roads, sometimes up over 6,000 feet, and sometimes waaaaayyy down in steep gorges. We went through mountain tunnels, wound around mountainside highways covered by arching forest trees, and we were far from the big cities. Other than about two minor incidents (where NAV would try to divert around the block and back to the same highway that passed through stoplight sized town, or where the screen would show a left turn and the voice would say to turn right) NAV worked really well. I was able to search for POIs, call to see if open, set as destination, all without issue. NAV even worked when we traveled through remote, small roads that led to trailheads for hiking. I did not have one Synch/MFT reboot on this entire trip (nor can I recall having one since 3.6).

 

I had just had the 13B07 recalibration done only two days before setting off on this trip. Further, before this trip, I was pretty much a :noobie:  to highway driving of my C-MAX, and I had avoided highway driving as much as possible. So, I had no idea what kind of FE numbers my updated Maxie would get on this long distance highway trip. Plus, as you can see, I was carrying a full load.

 

My friend drove for half of the drive up to North Carolina, and he probably drove about 60 percent of the drive for the way back to South Florida. Let me tell you, it is hard to give up control of your C-MAX to another driver, and it is even worse to be sitting there, helplessly watching your AVG MPG drop at the hands–well, the foot–of another driver! (Yes, he was using Eco Cruise, but believe me, there are still plenty of ways to kill your MPG: speeding up/slowing down, braking for drivers merging.) My braking score has dropped, and my Lifetime is now way down, but we had a great time on this trip, and Maxie has done everything that I have asked of her. So, I am not going to worry too much about the numbers thing. Instead, I am going to start planning on Maxie’s next big adventure.

 

One last note: I spotted three C-MAXs while in the mountains of North Carolina. I got the pics of the plates for two of them. The third passed head-on while curving a mountain road.  So, I wasn't able to do more than wave like an idiot as we zoomed by each other.  Did anyone here in a sliver colored C-MAX spot me in an Oxford White driving near Sylva, North Carolina? Does anybody here have the Sea Foam that tows behind a big RV, and that was parked in a campground in western NC during this past week?

 

Next on the agenda: Full interior and exterior cleaning. Maxie has over 5,000 miles on her. Time for a little TLC.

 

[RachelnLa]

What a amazing trip and gorgeous pics! Thanks for taking me (us) along. Looks like y'all had fun and that, my friend, is the important thing. Thanks for the updates on Maxie. I enjoy hearing about everyone's adventures.

[Jmonty]

I just went up and down a mountain yesterday, Pike's Peak (14,110 ft).

 

it was weird how the ICE would stay on while the hill brake was on. I had to stop the car to get back in EV mode. Going up I got 14.5 mpg and down it 999.9 mpg over twenty miles, lol.

 

But, ya, I agree she does very well in the mountains. The roads were wet and there was a little hail at the top but she had no problem!

[joe]

In August, my wife and I drove from Virginia to Colorado to Montana to South Dakota and back - 6,000 miles.  The C-Max was amazingly comfortable.  8 hours in the saddle most days but no sore butts.  We drove up Mount Evans, CO - 14,200 feet, Logans Pass in Glacier National Park - 6,000 feet - going up steep grades was no problem.

 

We cruised at 75 mph on the western Interstates and 70 on the two-laners (posted speed limits).  We got an average 39.9 mpg.  I kept my fingers crossed regarding flat tires and dead batteries but had no mechanical or electronic problems.  Discovered the NAV could tell us what eat joints or gas stations were at the next Interstate exit which proved to be very helpful.  We love our C-Max.

Edited September 15, 2013 by joe

[C-MaxSea]

Nice shots ScubaDad.  Looks like a great trip was had!  Real world travel driving.

 

I find the MPG's of the C-Max adds to the joy of road tripping. 

 

Nick

Edited September 16, 2013 by C-MaxSea

[roninsd]

Great trip,Scuba.  Glad your CM did good for you!

[Jus-A-CMax]

How did I miss this GR :) AT thread :rockon:

 

Nice writeup! Add another 1,800 ft and some snow, you have my trip SDM. So by the sound of things, I should look forward to my 13b07 updated Mammoth trips. You CMax looks pretty much loaded and climbed pretty well with GREAT MPGs....r u sure you don't want to return your check back to Ford...remember, this is :rtfm:  NOT POSSIBLE.... :stirpot:

Edited October 2, 2013 by Jus-A-CMax

[HannahWCU]

Glad you got to enjoy the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina.  Now you know what I mean when I say there isn't any flat roads to practice P&G on!  Mountain roads require Pulsing up and Gliding down.  No thought involved!

[ScubaDadMiami]

I already miss it.  With all that I have had to do since arriving back home, it feels like NC was a long time ago.

 

Looking forward to my trip to New Hampshire in June 2014.

[ScubaDadMiami]

How did I miss this GR :) AT thread :rockon:

 

Nice writeup! Add another 1,800 ft and some snow, you have my trip SDM. So by the sound of things, I should look forward to my 13b07 updated Mammoth trips. You CMax looks pretty much loaded and climbed pretty well with GREAT MPGs....r u sure you don't want to return your check back to Ford...remember, this is :rtfm:  NOT POSSIBLE.... :stirpot:

Too late.  I already cashed it today.  So, I guess I am stuck!  :spend:

[Jus-A-CMax]

Too late.  I already cashed it today.  So, I guess I am stuck!  :spend:

lol, :flirt:  it and enjoy it SDM. As much as I wanted mine to go to a nice golf club, the wifey saif its going to the car payment...whats the thing they say....can't live with....blah..blah...blah.... :drop:

[Laurel]

Great photos.  Sort of reminds me of looking at pictures of the Amazon some how LOL.--maybe it's all the greenery, the trees, the hat, the kayak etc. My favourite photos are of your pooch of course.

[MtnMarty]

Glad you liked my neck of the woods. Maybe passed you on a trail?

[ScubaDadMiami]

Glad you liked my neck of the woods. Maybe passed you on a trail?

I didn't see your C-MAX in any trailhead parking areas.

[Ponypower]

Great Trip ScubaDad, can't wait to get on the road with mine! Should be about 6-8 weeks from know.

 

Ponypower

[MomsHugs]

Enjoyed reading about your NC trip & your pics of that beautiful mtn area. Especially like the pic of your back-seat driver and kayak partner.  :dogwalk:   :sandman: