'K guys - you can hook me up too, then. PLS send recommendations and I'll consider the options and opt for something. Thanks!

 

K - let's get ourselves organized! I suggest we gather at either El Pinto in Albuquerque's north valley or motor up to Harry's Roadhouse in the Santa Fe area. (I-25 north to Old Pecos Trail. Left (W) across hwy to first signal - Rt (N) there onto the Old Las Vegas Hwy - about one mile up on the left. GREAT breakfasts and terrific lunches as well. As to the tinting, please send your recommendations. Thanks!

 

Barry,
I will be in Santa Fe this Saturday for the Spanish Market to buy some retablos and some tin work. El Pinto is a good place to meet just let me know when. As far as the tint job I need to know when you want to setup the appointment so I can tell them to give you the discount. The name of the place is FERRARI at 1717 San Mateo NE Phone 875-0805. Let me know (PM Me) when a good time is to call you and we can set it up. I should have your number still.

Talk to ya soon,

-Ron :D

 

Hey guys. I'm back! I just returned to VA from my house hunting trip in ABQ. I have a contract on a place north of Paseo Del Norte in the heights! It feels good to have things settled and ready for my move out west in late August!

I must say, my girlfriend and I really enjoyed the area! The food is outstanding, the weather was great (minus a few showers), and you can't beat the scenery!

I stayed near a Mazda dealer at the intersection of I-25 and San Antonio. Is that the only one in town? How do you guys feel about their service dept.? I am planning on having the Mazdaspeed flywheel installed. I was thinking of having Rosenthal do it before I leave the DC area, but if those guys out there are competent, then I'd rather have them do it since I'll be A LOT closer to them should something go wrong!

Ron, I'll def. need that tint job when I get out there!

-MD

 

Excellent, MadDog! Now all you need to do to be set is to join the Rocky Mountain RX-8 Club! Check out our website in my signature for info if you're interested...

 

MD

Please don't say anything negative about our rain....we need all we can get! Actually this is the monsoon season (that in itself is a real funny use of the term) so it does tend to rain about every day. This will continue, we hope, for another 4-6 weeks, then it nothing but sun (and moon at night).

You are in a great and growing part of town. I think you will really like it there. I'm in Corrales which is on the North Side of ABQ, just north of the Cottonwood Mall.

Rich Mazda is the second Mazda dealer in town. Rich is over by Kirtland AFB - on the SouthEast side of town. I have only dealt with University, which is the one you stayed by. Both dealers have been around for some time now. The Tech I have talked to at Univeristy seems to be very knowledgable on the Mazda. I haven't had any real problems to take to them, but when it came time to do the flash - L and M - I didn't get the slightest argument from them on doing it. The Recalls were done in a very short time....all parts were on hand within a few days. I have found nothing to compliant about in the work they have done.

You will want to tint soon after arriving....I think it really helps.

And don't forget to join the RockyMountain RX8 club....do it now!

We look forward to seeing you when you get into town. Be sure to keep us posted.

 

Oh, and BTW MadDog, welcome to the South West! :D

 

wow. sure is quiet in here...

So, I decided to ship the 8 out there and spare the 2000mi, 25hr drive. But once I get my baby back I'm gonna want to shred some rubber! So guys, tell me, where are the good twisties out there?

 

Oh wow MadDog didn't they tell you? All roads in New Mexico are straight as an arrow! There are no twisties in New Mexico. The closest twisty is in Virginia.

Actually, 337 (some people refer to it as 14 South) south from I40 (East of Albuquerque) is a fun road. Only goes for about 5 miles, but you can always drive it back to I40. The road to Sandia Crest is another good one. You have to be on the East side of the mountain (Sandia) at Cedar Crest to catch that one. The are others North of Albuquerque as well....so fear not there are plenty to drive.

Are you is ABQ now?

 

Alright...no straight road humor! Thats not funny!

I'm not in the ABQ quite yet. I'll be flying in on Tuesday the 24th for my closing....then sitting around an empty house waiting for my stuff and my 8 to arrive! I'm nervous about getting damage on the car during shipment, but the shipper is covering it up to full replacement value for any damage. I'm planning on taking LOTS of pics to document the "before" condition... Its going to be an excrutiating wait....

 

Kewl's right about those roads he mentioned - but we're mountain country, so....

We need to get together again as a group! Somebody pick a place! Maybe a lunch at County Line BBQ on Tramway (NE ABQ)? El Pinto (4th St pretty far north)? Harry's Roadhouse just outside Santa Fe? (My favorite. Great breakfasts and lunches - good dinners, too - easy to find and part of a loop drive that can take you RT from Albuquerque up 25 to Harry's (Old Pecos Trail exit, W over Hwy to 1st signal, Rt (Old Las Vegas Hwy) about 1 miles - it's on your left) then via St Francis to 285 W, left onto 4 past Los Alamos and the Valle Caldera Nat.Pk., thru the Carson Natl Forest, and down thru Jemez Springs and the Jemez Rez to 550 back thru Bernalillo to 25 again.

Finally, got my new tags for the 8 -- the screamin' yella fella now reads: GR8 - 8

See it, thass me!

barry

 

I like the Roadhouse suggestion. I'm always open to try a new place - for me anyway. Busy this weekend and Saturday nextweek, but otherwise I'm open! Sunday week? Or should we wait until MadDog gets here?

 

Roadhouse is great! But timing is going to take a bit of doing. Especially on weekends upcoming after Sunday this weekend. We have company - relatives staying with us - and are tied up or away every weekend through September 11 and 12! After that, any Sunday would be GREAT! (Or any weekday but I seem to remember that most folks have to work during the week.) I know - mea culpa - my schedule is screwing this up now and I posted wanting to make it happen! Forgive, please.

But we have a new member to welcome to the club so how's about shoot for mid-September - perhaps meet at Harry's around 10 am and then drive the circle through the mountains (Jemez) back to Albuquerque the round-about way - with stops at key spots, maybe 2 1/2 hours, maybe a bit less? (And how do you like my new tags?)

 

Sometime in mid-Sept is fine with me...That should give everyone time to work their schedule.

I like the tag you picked, but IGOZMZM from Utah has to be near the top....

Of course I shouldn't say much, mine is just a plain old NM tag...

Keep in touch!

Fred

 

I talked to FERRARI in Albuquerque the other day and negotiated a price for Tint on your RX-8. The new price is $110.00. I had paid $127.00 when I had my car done. PM me when you are ready and I will give you the process you need to follow.

Thank you,

Ron

 

Barry, MadDog,

Let us know how your tint job went and if your happy with it.

Ron

 

Hey Ron, sorry I was so slow to get back on this! Got the tint at Ferrari in Albuquerque. Great deal thanks to the discount you negotiated for club members there! VERY happy with it and at the low price they offered, silly not to do it! Thanks again.

On a different subject, I ordered my M&S tires from TireRack though I'm a bit concerned about the size. I ordered Pirelli P-Zero Nero M&S tires for $150 each, but they come in 245/40/18 size rather than 225 etc. Has anyone any experience with this size? The guy at tirerack told me the size would work - just keep a couple extra pounds airpressure in it. They're on backorder so it's not too late to cancel if I'm making a mistake with this. Omicron?? (They don't have the Pirellis in any other closer size in M&S version.)

Feedback anyone?

 

Yes, I have those exact tires in that exact size, and they fit just fine. No clearance issues, even with my Tein H-Tech springs which give the car about a 1" drop.

Ad they look GOOD, if you're into that "fat tire" look (as I am ) There are some pics of them in my virtual garage... click on the pic in my sig to get to it. I also have a whole thread about these tires in the 245/40-18 size here.

:D

 

Hey Ron,
Thanks a lot for the deal at Ferrari! I got it done today and they did a great job! Highly reccomend.

So guys, now I'm all settled in ABQ and I'm ready to find the twisties! Any thoughts? I don't start work for a couple of weeks and I have time to kill. Anybody wanna get together?

MD

 

MadDog,

What part of town are you in. I am by CottonWood Mall on the North West side. Do you work in Rio Rancho by any chance?

Anyway, I had PM'ed you with my number so give me a call tomorrow.

-Ron

P.S. I am glad you and Barry are happy with your tint job. They will also install any mods you have for a good price, just follow the same instructions.

 

Mad Dog I'm not working Friday so if you want to try to meet or maybe Ron and a few others can swing some free time this weekend....even if to just meet the new 8's in town.

 

I'm up in the NE heights and I'll be working down south. I'd definitely be interested in a get together this weekend. When I was in Northern VA, there was a sports car meet every Friday at a local mall. It was awesome to see RX-8's, EVO's, WRX's, and Porsches all lined-up. After a Starbuck's and plenty of conversation about mods, we'd all cruise together to a different location for appetizers and drinks. I'll never forget my first night there - trying desparately to keep-up with the pack. They were all eager to flaunt and I was afraid of getting a ticket! What a sight it must have been for others on the road! wow...

Anyway, we should try to get together soon. How does the weekend look for folks?

 

Weekend is open for me. Ron's on the westside as am I...near Cottonwood Mall. If MadDog is in the heights somewhere in between might be fair...someplace MadDog can find easy enough. Unless he has the Nav sysem. MadDog are there any places you know how to get to easy that would a good place for breakfast perhaps....?

 

Well, I don't have the Nav, but I do have a good map! haha! I don't mind exploring the west side if you guys have a favorite place. I have had darn good breakfasts at both Weck's and at the Flying Star. Always open to new places though! Are you guys thinking Saturday or Sunday?

 

Sunday would be best for me. But, Let me know where and when.

-Ron