One of the things I'm most looking forward to once I take delivery of my RX-8 (and break in the engine) is to take a couple of road trips. Long, fun, scenic drives which let me stretch out a little and enjoy driving.

Trip #1: Pacific Coast Highway, Monterey to Morrow Bay, California. I love this drive. Obviously (to anyone who's driven it), it's NOT about speed, power, etc. but handling and a gorgeous view. I will probably take this one last time in my Miata before the RX-8 arrives. I really hope the RX-8 can measure up on this one.

Trip #2: NoCal Wine Country. I'll probably take along a couple of friends on this one (let's hear it for 4 seats!). The dilemma is whether to drive or hand the keys to my non-drinking buddy and go wine tasting....

So, what Roadies are you all planning?

SGC

I'm absolutly itching to take the 8 and head up through NM to Colorado and drive through the front range and see what the 8 is like on the mountain twisties. Maybe for a more local trip, I'd head through the hill country and spend a day or two west of Austin.

I have plans to do Mexico but I've been meaning to ask the Board
what servicing Mazda have in Mexico? (RX-8 will most likely
not be offered but what other products are offered -- how
many dealers are there?

Originally posted by gord boyd
I have plans to do Mexico

Your a very brave soul to take it to Mexico. ;)

gonna take pch up and back across the 46 to the 5south to buttonwillow for cheapest gas in cali then back down to LA

--PCH from San Francisco to Monterey, starting from the Presidio

--San Francisco to Mendoceno, in particular, Hwy 128 to Hwy 1

Originally posted by SGC
Trip #1: Pacific Coast Highway, Monterey to Morrow Bay, California. I love this drive. Obviously (to anyone who's driven it), it's NOT about speed, power, etc. but handling and a gorgeous view. I will probably take this one last time in my Miata before the RX-8 arrives. I really hope the RX-8 can measure up on this one.I think it is a right of passage for each RX8 to make a pilgrimage to Laguna Seca. Making the trip via PCH is the only way to fly.:p

I'm taking it to Universal studios (Orlando) in december. It's about a 3.5 hour drive

I'll probably head to Big Bend National Park for break-in weekend. Can't wait to get the '8 onto the twisties of the Texas Hill Country (Medina / Vanderpool / Leakey) sometime after that. :)

SGC, evelL333,

Both those suggestions sound great!! We should get a group of 8's and get together to make a Bay Area ride... weeee!

Suppose to go to Panama City Beach FL for vacation the week of July 20th. They do alot of cruising there, so I think it will be right at home there.

That is, if we get our cars by then....which we should.

To my family's lake cottage in Indiana in July (hopefully) and then to Atlanta for Dragoncon in August. And anywhere else we can think of and have time to do. I'm thinking we'll be taking a bunch of weekend trips to the mountains as soon as it gets here.

then to Atlanta for Dragoncon in August

What is this Elara?

Originally posted by rxeightr


What is this Elara?

Dragoncon (http://www.dragoncon.com/)

It's a gathering of weird sci-fi/fantasy people, in essence. My husband and I are going to go take the sci-fi/fantasy writing class offered for the first two days, and then wander around looking at the stuff going on. We've never been, but a lot of our friends have and loved it. Yes, we're about as close to the common definition of "geek" as you can possibly get.

Washington, DC to Springdale, Arkansas to visit friends and relatives. Well, less visiting and more showing off the car! :D Likely will travel over the Smokey Mountains through NC, KY and TN. If I have the time, drop south from Arkansas to visit relatives in New Orleans then along Gulf Coast and up Atlantic seaboard.

That should be enough for a short trip. I'll plan a longer one once I get used to the car.;)

I'm thinking of taking a day trip or overnighter on Hwy 101 around the Olympic Penninsula here in Washington State.

I'd also like to get a drive in to visit family in SE Idaho and Denver -- and there's some fun driving to be had if I take the north route through Montana and down from Missoula on Hwy 93. Some more fun driving from Pocatello, ID, over the mountains into Wyoming, and then again down into Steamboat Springs in Colorado and on into Denver. Taking a more direct route is 1350 miles, the "scenic route" is probably more like 1800. So a bit over a 3000 mile round trip.

The 101 trip is more likely to happen this year, though.

-s

I'm thinking of a weekend getaway to Callaway Gardens in LaGrange with the wife and kids - taking the scenic roads, rather than the interstate. Should be able to fit a weekend's worth of luggage in the boot.