Okay so I took a trip over the weekend to LA from Vegas. It's about 280 miles one way, so 560 all around. I averaged 22-23 mpg driving anywhere from 75 to 100 miles per hour...didn't do 100 that often, just went with the flow of traffic.

I'm satisfied with the MPG, but I noticed that in the city it drops dramatically. The lowest I got was 13 mpg driving like a madman, but varied gets me around 17. Granny driving I can get 20.

The ride the whole way was smooth. No complaints. I took this drive several times in my Mazdaspeed Protege and it was much harsher. I never realized how harsh it was until taking the drive in the 8. Very smooth all the way...great highway car. Especially with cruise control.

Passing cars was never a problem, power was definitely ample for the task, and climbing the few mountain passes was a cinch for the car.

Road noise was not too bad. It was by no means luxury quality, but the RX-8 is VERRY quiet for a sports car. Just a low hum, mainly due to the low pro tires and the rough asphalt we were driving over...

Great car for a road trip is all I can say...

 

I love road trippin in my -8!

 

I concur...we too just went to Vegas over the weekend, but left from Salt Lake City (900 miles roundtrip). We also got @23 MPG. We were going 80-85mph the whole way. We thought the car was very comforatble. That was the first time I have gone 230 miles with over a 1/4 tank left...we'll see how long it lasts now that we're home.

By contrast, we actually rented a Mazda6 2 weeks ago because we had to drive to the other side of Colorado (1500 miles roundtrip)...that is the most uncomfortable car I've ever been in. I would rather have taken the S2000 as that is waaay more comfortable. I didn't even enjoy it for just cruising around town...those seats are horrendous!!!

 

Nice insight, how does the 8 compare to the S2k on the highway? Well top up or top down?

 

Got about the same figures too. Went from LA to San Diego last weekend and I got 21 MPG. I usually get 14 MPG which is mostly city driving. Drive was great and comfortable with the 8. Can't wait for summer to take this car on road trips. Happy Holidays to you all!

 

I took only one trip; taking it home for the first time. 250 miles. Sweet.

 

....nothing quite like a road trip, especially in the 8.

 

To me it's night and day. The S2000 wasn't built to eliminate noise. So, when you're cruising at 85mph 4800RPM's is pretty loud. You can't talk to your pasenger and you have to crank up the music to be able to hear it. With the top down is even louder and you'd never hear the stock system if you were cheap enough to leave it in.

In the 8 there's more room for luggage and purchases made at your destination, the ride isn't as bumpy (I-15 has some pretty crappy parts), it's quiter on concrete highways, there is more padding in the seats (and lumbar support), the cruise control is easier to use (especially with the cancel button), there are 2 cupholders and there is more room for the passenger and driver...it's just more of a touring car and that's why we got it. We love sports cars and wanted something that would do well on long trips and the RX-8 does it for us.

 

Nice story...sounds very fun. I love road trips and while my wife has a Mazda 6, AND NO it's NOT uncomfortable and my only complaint is that my leg on the gas pedel is up against the dash/center thingy but it's fun to drive, anyway...

...I would take the 8 every chance I got. Nice story...

 

I recently made the trip from la to vegas as well. I saw several vipers but not a single rx8 on the whole trip. It felt nice to be the only one in sight.

 

I agree completely. The S2k is so loud that I put something in it to automatically increase and decrease the volume on the radio as speed goes up and down. The S2k is relatively uncompromising--harsh ride and noisy. Our RX-8 is the touring car; my S2000 is my daily driver (which I love) and track car, and my wife's RX-8 is her daily driver and our trip car, when we don't take kids.

 

Cool dude, I did a trip in the 8 not to long ago and was impressed by how easy it was. Very smooth and quiet as you explained.

 

After a while, the engine's hum made me quite drowsy after driving from Houston to Austin. However, it was very fun going through the Texas Hill Country.

 

i love road-tripping in my 8, but damn is it ever expensive for gas

last long trip was from Calgary to Winnipeg... ~ 2600 KM the entire trip = $590 in gas

YEOUCH.

 

Just took a long trip myself, gas mileage was horrible

 

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