Bought a TA and drove it 2500+ miles home

**98intrigue** · 07-19-2015

I sold my heavily modified Gen 3 at the beginning of June and my search was on for a Gen V. I searched relentlessly for about a month before I came across the one for me. I originally was looking at used SRTs, but then noticed for a few thousand more I could get a used GTS. Then I started seeing some used TAs popup and thought that for a similar price, I could get a new 2015. What do I choose? What color would I be happy with after having a beautiful HOK Tangelo painted car? Well, I'm happy to say I'm the new owner of an Orange TA #25 of 93.

I've done road trips from Austin to Tampa and from Baltimore to Tampa in a couple Gen 2s over the last few years when my friend bought them. Ever since then, I've always wanted to do my own. My previous car came from Phoenix and was just too far for me to drive home, so I shipped it. The TA was located in Idaho, about 2500 miles away. I started researching my shipping options and said screw it...I'm driving it home! My parents recently retired and are moving out of state, so this was a great opportunity for my dad and I to spend some quality time together before he leaves. He was just as excited as I was to make the drive.

We woke up at 5:45am to fly out of Tampa last Saturday morning 7/11 to Idaho Falls, ID. After the seller picked us up from the airport and drove us an hour back to his house, I finally laid eyes on my new car at 2pm. I couldn't believe I was the new owner of an Orange TA! We got on the road around 2:30pm and didn't make it to our first hotel in Denver until 1:30am local time (3:30am our time)...longgg day!

My dad and I on my 15th birthday (don't laugh at me, haha) and just myself on my 30th birthday (8 days before I picked up the TA).

Bye, Tampa

All mine!

Just a tick over 2400 miles on her when I picked it up.

Don't see these in Florida

Of course it only took me a few minutes to see my first Corvette (saw 1 Viper on the entire trip...a red Gen 1 in downtown Denver)

I averaged 18mpg across the road trip...not bad!

Wyoming

Saw some great sunsets

Finally arrived in Denver

**98intrigue** · 07-19-2015

Day 2 consisted of a very boring drive through Kansas and ending in Kansas City, MO.

Getting ready to leave downtown Denver

Got to see the Rockies

My dad leaning on the car like a boss... I thought he would have known better

It reached 104 degrees as we drove through Kansas

Saw hundreds of wind turbines, if not thousand of these throughout the Midwest

Another 10hr driving day coming to an end

Made it safely to our hotel in Kansas City

**ViperGeorge** · 07-19-2015

Congrats. Great drive. Love the Orange. In fact always loved orange cars. I wish I could have spent that time with my dad but he died when I was 24.

**SSGNRDZ_28** · 07-19-2015

Very nice! Glad you found a car, great choice! Sounds like a good road trip too.

**ICPREY** · 07-19-2015

Nice ride! Congrats! That's a cool side by side picture of you and your dad at the factory.

**98intrigue** · 07-19-2015

The third day of driving was supposed to take us to the Tail of the Dragon in North Carolina, but the threat of severe weather approaching that area scared me off. We ended up saving ourselves 3hrs of extra driving and stayed in Chattanooga, TN.

This was obviously a popular destination

On our way to the Arch in St. Louis

Almost there

This leg of the road trip allowed us the most freedom to go off course a bit since we weren't driving to the Dragon

We didn't have time to go to the top...I guess I'll have to save that for another road trip

We explored downtown Nashville for a bit to kill some time and avoid sitting in rush hour traffic

Got a good spot to admire the tourist area of Nashville...Broadway St.

How cool is this? A journalist for Edmunds.com was driving a Viper across the country to go test drive the new ACR at VIR and saw me in Nashville.

Another 10hrs of driving in the books. Made it to our hotel in Chattanooga, TN.

**98intrigue** · 07-19-2015

Last leg... Chattanooga, TN to Clearwater, FL

"I woke up like this." The car stayed surprisingly clean across the entire road trip. The only thing I did was clean the windshield and wipe the bugs off the bumper every morning.

We got an early start so we could head to downtown Atlanta for a couple of hours

Arrived at the Georgia Aquarium. This was my 2nd time there, but my dad's first. The place does not disappoint!

I took a ton of pictures at the aquarium, but will just post this one

4 hours remaining until home

Still this clean after dropping my dad off

And finally home! 2524 miles, 4 days, and 11 states later. What an experience!

**Vipes** · 07-19-2015

That car looks like perfection!!! Congrats on the new ride! I'll be in St. Pete this week for work for a few days, let me know if you'll be around.

**Steve M** · 07-19-2015

That looks like a sweet trip...congrats! My trip from Oklahoma to Dayton is still the fondest memory I have of mine...nothing like a first road trip in a truly special car.

**slovenom** · 07-19-2015

Amazing trip

Thanks for sharing

**lochnessmonster** · 07-19-2015

Great pics and amazing car. Very cool road trip!!

**Dman** · 07-19-2015

Congrats!

That was epic.

**viper04** · 07-19-2015

Congrats on the new ride!!Thanks for posting, you did'nt give me the heads up you were getting the new ride. Happy for you better than the one close to me.

**Crotalidae** · 07-19-2015

Beautiful car & great road trip!!!

**TP_ GTS** · 07-19-2015

Nothing like getting to know your car over a few thousand miles. Good choice!!
Glad to see you finally got what you where looking for Ryan. Looking forward to seeing it next month at the DuPont Registry

**XSTAR** · 07-19-2015

Man, so amazing Ryan!!!

Sorry the Dragon didn't work out. I would have met up for sure if I was back in time too

**FLATOUT** · 07-19-2015

Love it! I'm about to take my first 2000+ Mike road trip in my Gen V, can't wait!

**viper_eddie** · 07-19-2015

Congratulations and wow, what an amazing trip! I drove both my first Viper 1200 miles back home and the second one around 2200 miles. As soon as I got back home I wanted to keep driving more lol.

Beautiful pics by the way!

**KB Viper** · 07-19-2015

cool trip and amazing car! will this be your DD?

**GTSilver** · 07-20-2015

Amazing trip and congrats again on your TA

**vegasgtr** · 07-20-2015

I made an offer to that guy. Haha. I almost bought it. I really wanted the orange TA.. just a little out of my budget. Great car!

Really enjoyed your road trip! congrats on the car she is a beauty.

**zee** · 07-20-2015

The Orange TA is absolutely stunning. Great story! Can you give some details on the driving experience thus far? Both positives and negatives if any. I will be in the market for a G5 toward the end of the year most likely if all goes well. Only driven a GTS, never a base model or TA.