The Fiat's Journey: A Full Report
The Fiat made it to Chicago...without breaking down! See late-breaking photos !
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Friday, 12:05 p.m. Mile 0.0 Always the optimist, Joe assumes that the Fiat will get out of Tommy's driveway and will actually require plates. |
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Friday, 12:10 p.m. Mile 0.01 Imagine the sense of amazement Tommy must feel, that 1. The Fiat is leaving the driveway under its own power; and B. He has Joe's check for $2,000. ("Gotta head down to the bank, Hon!") |
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Friday, 3:29 p.m. |
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Friday, 4:01 p.m. Mile 211.8 Checking the oil en route. (Hey, Joe, while you're at it, you might as well check the coolant level...the brake fluid level...that rusting gas line...the master cylinder...and see if the seats have fallen out yet and are scraping along Route 90.) |
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Friday, 6:33 p.m. Mile 328.1 Nice river. Our advice? Drive the Fiat right in, take the insurance money, hop the next flight home and cut your losses. |
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Saturday, 8:11 a.m. Mile 503.4 Joe claims this photo was taken in Pennsylvania. We're not so sure. After all, if they can fake those Apollo moon landings, he can certainly fake a little trip to Chicago. |
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Saturday, 9:10 a.m. Mile 566.4 Joe says this is the only thing that has broken so far: a loose antenna. The Fiat must be saving up for something really special--maybe a thrown rod? |
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Saturday, 10:55 a.m. Mile 648 "Hey, I thought I told you never to let him through!" At mile 648, Joe gets through to Car Talk. He's hearing two noises: an intermittent clunk from the front left, and a "hoo hoo hoo" noise coming from under the hood. The diagnosis? A broken shock mount...and a barn owl stuck under the hood. |
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Time: 6:02 p.m., Saturday Mile 1040.2 Location: Chicago, Illinois Joe actually made it to Chicago...in the Fiat...and *not* on the back of a flatbed, either! |
We asked you if you thought Joe would make it, and here's what you said!