Notes about my cross continent trip
 

I felt it would be an interesting read if I put some of the notes I made regarding my trip to Ontario and back to Alberta this past month.


: if we already didn't know this- it does not pay to buy cheap grade gasoline.

I noted that using low grade (87) got me about 350-375km/tank. I did two tanks in a row to verify all previous fuel was consumed.

Using high octane (91) I was consistently able to break the 500KM barrier. One time I was at 520 and the amber light hadn't lit even though it was on the "E".

Considering that the price premium for high octane is about 8c/L and we have a 50l tank that equates to $4.00. For $4.00 I cannot buy enough (low octane) gas to get me 150KMs. I get poorer performance with low octane gas.
This was in Canada using only Esso gasoline.

I noted that the U.S. gas even though I bought all premium (ranged from 91 to 93) and paid close to $2.50/USG, I could only max out once at 275 miles (440 Kms) and typically ~230 Miles. The long distance one was from a Mobil station in Niagara Falls N.Y. and I even did some city driving.
I think U.S. gasoline sucks, but I haven't done the conversion to see if it is cheaper for a reason.
I couldn't get a consistent gas station across the I-94,I-90,I-80 and the 15 in Montana, so I used Conoco, BP, Mobil, and Exxon (in the far west).

Interesting notes on the way;

One of the things I didn't like about long range driving was the "right leg fatigue", where it felt like my hip joint was pulling from my leg. I'm not sure about the way the seat is developed and my body type, but I found it uncomfortable very often.

I noticed that the air conditioning in temperatures above 25C-31C was mediocre when at idle but good when the engine raced. It took about 5 seconds to kick in but it got colder. SOmebody else on this forum was asking the question a few weeks ago, and it is confirmed on my car. I was in the South Dakota Badlands at 44C!(-yep that's bloody smokin) and the air worked pretty good there too- cold not cool, but it was dry( humidity-wise).
In Ontario it was really humid and anything above 32C got cool at best no matter how much you raced the engine. I am convinced it has something to do with the humidity in the air as well as the speed of the pulley turning the compressor.

I found that the car handled pretty well no matter how warmed up the tires or engine- very consistent.

I still hate the "invisible wall" that is there going from 3 or 4th gear to 5,6 or R.
I can't tell you how many times I cursed that friggin shifter for not going where I wanted it to.

I found some of the sweetest roads that were meant for the RX8 in South Dakota and Montana.

I really hate my door "notches". the spots where the door is supposed to stop when you open it. Almost with religious regularity the door always swung back at me no matter how I tried to "get it right". They should fix that.

I broke my sliding center console (it still works but a piece broke off inside it) even though I knew it was delicate and I did not force anything. Another weak spot that needs to be fixed.

I saw an RX7 guy in Michigan driving a red second gen (I think) RX7 and I swung my head over when he was passing and smiled a big grin, and he laughed and mouthed "Nice" and drive off ahead of me and turned at the next exit.

I saw only two other RX8's on the road: a Blue in Sault Ste. Marie Ont (opposite direction) and a red one in Illinois near Chicago (same way). Neither of them waved or nodded or looked.

Wyoming hd the cheapest gas prices (20C lower than other states) and the best roads. In fact of the roads I drove on my trip, those were the best by a long shot.

So that's why you didn't show up to the meet!

Ha ha ... good to see yet another aspect of Canada which is better than the US! Superior gasoline. That's very interesting how the low octane got you crappier mileage!

Let's see some pics of your trip!

Nice report. Thanks.

I wanted to drive the Rx-8 from Toronto to Nfld a few weeks but didn't have the time and just couldn't bring myself to put that many kilometres on the car ... yet !

btw ... it's still frickin' hot here in Ontario ... regularily 32C with high humidity .. and very little cooling off at night. Supposed to be a nice chilly 28C tomorrow though ... woohoo !

Hardbody: You Da Man! Nice write up. Too bad we didn't see you in Toronto.

Great write up Hard-Body.

Just to correct one thing you stated, the tank is actually 60L, not 50L.
And the center console, mine broke too, still have to get it fixed. The little piece on the drivers side that slides back and forth is the piece that breaks off, very weak.

And as far as the km/tank, I did coming back from Ottawa to Hamilton, I think its 523km@57L, which is roughly around 550km for the tank, and that was with driving through some stop and go traffic on the 401 in Toronto. Danielson still has a hard time believing my mileage claims.

Sorry, ya 60L, bad typing, late night!


Danielson... believe it! I was shocked myself getting over 500K on a tank- with a loaded car.


I still am befuddled with the poor performance of the US gasoline. Very disappointing.
I wonder if there are any US posters that have seen some similar results.

Shamblerock, I was a wee bit busy with family etc. some I didn't even get to see as I missed crossing paths several times. :(

I uploaded the digital pictures (other ones being developed currently) at :

pictures of stuff on the trip

If anyone gets a chance to go to South Dakota and check out the "Crazy Horse" monument and want to check out Mount Rushmore as well, I'd advise you to go see Rushmore first, then Crazy Horse. Crazy Horse will blow you away, plain and simple. It makes Rushmore (whole site including buildings) look like an amateur event. You will be disappointed with Rushmore if you see it last.


While in S.D., you have just got to go to the Badlands National Park. Not just for the views which are stunning, but the roads and your 8 are meant for each other!

here's the information!

There you will have it all: the climbs, the tight twisty turnsthe downhills that make your stomach feel a bit queasy, and the view (BTW pay attention to the road!) The map they lay out on that web site does not do it justice- there are at least 3 or 4 sharp turns for each place where they draw one. It's HWY 240 going through the park that ends up in wall- you know from the infamous "WALL DRUG" signs all around the world.

Next is the section of highway 90 from Billings, MT to Butte and then north on HWY 15 to the CDN border. There are a lot of real nice views and I hate to admit it- Montana is prettier than Alberta. I am sure that there are just as nice roads in Idaho and washington, but I've never been there.

SaugaBoy, I believe you, the only thing I said it's "I WILL NEVER SEE 500 KM ON MY TRIP METER !!" I have been driving my RX8 for 37000 km now, the most I got is 430km with the yellow light on for the last 30km !!! :eek:

It get me very nervous with the yellow light on and the gas niddle showing "empty" ...Don't feel like pushing my RX8 along the HWY 401 :p

I know you will understand that, have a nice day everyone :)

P.S I did try to keep the RPM less the 4000, but it doesn't work for me...HAHAHA :D

Would you mind translating the numbers into American please?

Gladly, just as soon as one of us posts about this in one of the US regional forums! :p :D

a U.S. Gallon is 3.5 liters.
to get miles from km multiply by .6
to get KM from miles multiply by 1.6

U.S. Gasoline where I shopped was pretty much $2.50/gallon premium or ultra premium

which is 3.5 liters

which equals .714 cents U.S. per liter.

.71 US Dollar = 0.86592 Canadian Dollar

So... in the USA the price for the best gas is the equivalent of .87 CDN per liter.
In Canada the price for the best gas is typically $1.05 per liter

which is approximately 23% higher here than there for the top Octane gas....


But with the same octane rating the gas I bought here in Canada gave me at least 150 more Km ( 90 miles). I am paying more in Canada for this top end gas, but gives me longer range. In the US, I could only max out (range wise) at the Canadian "low octane" levels. WHat the difference is in gas between the two countries I haven't a clue- they seem to have the same "numbers" like 85 to 93 for octane, but a Canadian 91 Octane beats a US 91,92 or 93 Octane by that 150Km or 90 miles...

I am getting 50% more range for 23% more coinage is what this pretty much boils down to.

I know you believe me, but I remember you stating in Ottawa that it was very hard.

PS. My needle was above 4000 RPM too ;)