Hey there. I'm scheduled to pick up my brand new 2011 RX-8 R3 on Friday in PA. I got the best deal up there (and I happened to be heading up for a wedding) so I'm going to be driving it back to South Carolina on Sunday. I've read up on a bunch of the threads in here (and already read the owner's manual), but I'll still be getting used to the car during the drive. Any general advice to share?

 

make sure all the fluids are topped up, as well as tire pressure.
Carry an extra bottle of oil in the back.
Enjoy the ride! Pics of the car

 

Yup, pretty much business as usual. Fantastic car for a long drive. Just watch your speed, it tends to creep up on first-time owners (and many long time owners).

No car I would have preferred to have for my 8,330 mile drive a year ago.

 

It's probably a good idea to follow these instructions for breaking in the new engine.

 

Enjoy the ride home. It's great for long distances.

 

Happy trip and post pics when you get it.

 

Virginia recently changed the speed limit on most of the interstates outside cites to 70 mph but kept their reckless driving speed at 80 mph. use your cruise control!

 

+1 to this, read that page in detail and follow directions.

-1 to this, do not use cruise control when breaking in the engine, you don't want the engine to be stuck at one speed or at one RPM, in fact I would recommend just the opposite, find back roads and drive them (moderately) gently. (+1 to the intent though, don't get a speeding ticket)

Good luck, pics or it didn't happen :-)

 

Kiker14, Driving from SC to PA, and forth again I can personally tell you that the Virgina State Troopers have 1) Fox holes where they will pop out of no where, and sit on your ***. 2) Drop from heliocopters and parachute down on the road, right behind you. 3) Both if you get the awesome cops.

The best part of the entire drive are the Pennsylvanian Mountain roads.
The least part of the drive are the interstates in SC, that **** is boring and tires me out. It seems like it goes on forever.

 

I'm not arguing that there are not cops or that they won't drop out of helicopters along with rappelling dogs and loaded M16's - I'm well aware of the cop situation in VA, and agree that they are nasty. I grew up just outside of the beltway on the MD side. I was just pointing out that using cruise control is a poor decision to make when breaking in a new engine, that's all.

I also agree that the mountains of PA are the best part - I went to school at Lehigh University and spent many, MANY nights cruising around PA in my RX-7's. Cheers!

 

Im sure he'll be anxious to not have it on cruise control, to get to know how the car's responds. Damn, I miss those days.

 

Locathus, follow the break-in procedure link above. This means that you will be changing the oil about the time you get home. Keep an eye on the oil level during your trip, checking it at each gas fill up. Using the cruse control isn't as much of a break-in issue on a rotary engine car as it would on a piston car. You don't have rings, that move up and down, that have to seat in place. Keeping the revs low is more important.
RIWWP (above) made a trip from RI to CA and back in his car. I have made 2 trips from Chicago to Daytona Beach at about 2500 round trip each, 16-18 hrs. non-stop. Other than being a little thirsty for gas, you find that the RX-8 makes a great comfortable touring car.

 

[QUOTE=kiker14;4067922-1 to this, do not use cruise control when breaking in the engine, you don't want the engine to be stuck at one speed or at one RPM, in fact I would recommend just the opposite, find back roads and drive them (moderately) gently. (+1 to the intent though, don't get a speeding ticket)

Good luck, pics or it didn't happen :-)[/QUOTE]

right, sorry. My suggestion then, take US 15 south out of Gettysburg to Highway 29 in Virginia and then take that south to Charlottesville, then south to....NC. Lots of varying speeds and some sweeping curves.

 

We don't know which side of pa he's going to. Atleast I don't.

I liked the old highway, goes through a tunnel or two. I prefer tunnels - mostly so I can roll down and hear the engine. I don't remember how many - it's been a while since i've last driven that way.

 

Thanks for the advice so far. Unfortunately, I'm coming from the eastern side of the state - Reading - and heading to Myrtle Beach, SC. I usually end up taking 95 through Baltimore and DC all the way down to SC, but I was looking for some alternates. At the same time, I don't want the drive to take 4 days, either.

At the moment, I was thinking of taking 81S until I get past DC and then cutting back to 95 for a while, then finding another side road in southern VA or northern NC that I could take for a little while. I could also cruise down the east coast if there is a road that will be a little better for the car (and preferably a bit fun to drive).

Any advice is definitely appreciated - I'm coming back on Sunday so I have a few days to make up my mind.

 

You mention changing the oil, but I couldn't find a reference to making an early oil change in the link or in Mazda's recommended maintenance schedule. Did you just mean that I'll probably need to add some oil by then, or did I miss something?

And checking all of the fluids at each stop sounds like a very sensible thing to do for the trip.

 

FYI if you are coming back up on Sunday, avoid Baltimore - the 2011 grand prix is going to make traffic near Baltimore a mess.

 

Changing the oil, like a normal car.

I only checked the oil every other gas stop, usually it took 2 in between then it was okay still. It was a 13 hour trip one way for me.