I have been on these forums for a little over a year and nice feel good stories have been rarely seen, so I just took 'a little' road trip and was more than pleased with my car, so I figured I'd give it some good publicity.

I just moved from Lethbridge Ab to Vancouver BC, about a 1500km drive which 90% is through the Rocky Mountains. I have had my 8 for over a year, but havent done any road trips with it, and it has only really seen the prairies.

This is the trunk all packed up:


There is a big box of just random things (that clear thing), a duffel bag, Suit bag, 19'' LCD monitor, car supplies, 10L Jerry Can, and a bunch of smaller stuff.

The backseat (no good pictures) had:
2duffel bags, 3 5lbs protien jugs, 21'' CPU tower, Printer, ps3, 5 pairs of shoes, 2 pillows, duvet and sheets, and some other small random things. Front seat was essentially empty.

Note: I am positive I could have also got my 37" LCD tv in the back ( console to roof is 42" and it is 40" tall) but just didn't want the hassle.

All in all, not too bad for a sports car!!!

The drive was exciting, it is all mountain driving (switch backs, corners, long straights) with some beautiful scenery. Luckily the road was not full of semis or traffic, and ran into little construction. Had some fun chasing down a porsche, and drove with a nice mix of doing the speed limit and 'spirited' driving.

The 6th to 3rd down shift is always fun, and you can easily get enough power to pass quickly. 6th to 4th however, if you aren't going quick enough to get high enough in the rpm, can take a while. The 6th gear is pretty responsive when you are going 3500rpm+ to get some decent acceleration (i'll talk in terms of rpm for our american friends ). On any inclines 6th and usually 5th is just laughed at by gravity and you have to downshift which isn't a big deal but a couple km climb at high rpm isn't always that fun.

Side Note: I have the exoticspeed exhaust which is loud but didn't bother me the whole trip with a drone.


Somewhere in BC.

Gas mileage was between 19 and 23mpg for five approx. half tank fill ups. Only needed about 1/3 quart of oil (could have easily lasted the whole trip without) on the way. Not horrible, not great. There was a lot of accelerating and braking so I think it could be better on more open highway. Plus I was carrying extra weight.

I cut the driving into a 12 hour day and a 2 hour day. The seat was excellent, wasn't sore or cramped like I expected to be and only stopped 5 times (4gas, 1 lunch) so I had some long stretches of driving.

I was quite impressed with the car as I didn't know how it would do seeing it has never gone on a trip before. I think a trip with you a friend and just a couple bags would be awesome in this car. I had absolutely zero problems (07), knock on wood, and it was actually a pleasurable drive with some beautiful scenery (I took highway 3 and not the trans canada).

It was weird going through some of the smaller towns. I have nothing crazy done to my car (no body kit) and people, especially kids, would stare as I drove by. Felt like I was driving something very exotic, not bad for a 40k car. Made me smile at least.

Happy driving everyone!

 

good story. Glald you had a blast.
now clean that bumper...

 

Great story man, I love hearing about the good side of the 8 from others. I can't wait to go for a trip in mine.

 

nice story bro

 

Good post!! Youre a brave man doing that 'spirited' driving through the mountains with your car so overloaded haha.

 

So often on these forums we treat the car like a sports car - which in an urban environment it very much is. But we then forget what a great Grand Tourer the car is until a trip like this is made...

 

Thanks for sharing, sounds like a blast.