I Did a Thing

"SPAMBot - Horse Doctor" (spambot2002)
06/14/2018 at 16:02 • Filed to: Road Trip, ND Miata, Miata is always the answer, Mindless rambling with SPAMBot

I had a left over free rental day expiring this week. So I did what I love to do and took a spontaneous road trip to one of my favorite places.

The whole trip worked out perfect. I had no real plans other than show up, go for a trail run, meet with a certain oppo, and hang out with a friend for the evening.

The plan was to pick up my car (National Rental Car) at 9 AM Saturday morning, pray something fun was in the emerald aisle (I’ve had pretty good luck in the past at LAX), and head to San Luis Obispo via PCH, CA 33, and CA 58. Since I only had to pay $9 in tax, I was willing to spend ~$25 for an upgrade. I have always wanted to drive this route and I’d be dammed if I did it in a generic toaster with a CVT.

My friend drops me off right on schedule. I bypass all the lines and head to the cars. To my dismay, there are only three cars in the aisle I can choose from. All three were generic Nissans. Probably two rogues and an Altima. I honestly didn’t give them a second glance. Well, it looks like I needed to upgrade. I look to the area with the “premium” upgrade cars and nothing really looked worth the price. All luxury CUV’s with one Infiniti sedan. Shoot. So I start looking around at the all the cars in the executive asile. My status is not such that I can normally grab these cars for free. But, I figure I can talk my way into upgrading. As I look around, I spot a few v6 challengers (meh), one v6 Camaro (that would work), and then, as I was walking to the Camaro, I see it. A white Miata RF (Excitement). I walk over to the car to see if it’s unlock. It is! Typically at National, if a car is unlocked, you can normally just take it. But, this was in the “I rent 300 cars a year and know the CEO section”. I thought about just taking it, but I decide it would be best to ask the manager first. I figured if there was a fee, I could haggle with him and cut it down. If you do it while leaving, they just charge what is in the system. I grab the keys, lock the car, and go find the lot manager. I am polite and ask if he would just let me take it. Says “no problem, I’ll give you a free upgrade, have fun!” He shakes my hand and hands me the paperwork. Yes! This trip is off on the right foot.

I lowered the roof at a traffic light right when I got onto PCH in Santa Monica. The sun was shining, the air was a perfect temperature, and the little Miata was happily humming along now that I was out of the 405 traffic. A little past Malibu, a Cayman GTS with a gnarly exhaust pulled out of a canyon road and got on it. I followed him all the way to Ventura. That was a pleasure, for sure.

I hit some traffic on the 101 in Ventura so I pulled off at a Starbucks for a cold brew. Now I had my caffeine, a fun little roadster, and 4 hours of winding roads ahead of me. I exit to the 33 and there are a few cars driving slowly. Most of the traffic clears out once I get to the fun part. An old Honda civic holds me up for what seemed like an hour, passing every single turnout, but thankfully, he finally moves. (it was actually only a few miles, it just felt like forever).

I downshift with the paddles and hit the road hard. There was smooth pavement and endless tight corners. The light Miata handling it well. Every corner it seemed like I went a little faster because the car was just so easy to drive. Even climbing to the summit, I never felt like I needed more power. The road did not have many straight sections and I was able to keep the car in power in second gear. This road was perfectly suited for a Miata. It would have been challenging in the 348 with its manual steering. That car really needs faster corners.

I get through the curvy section only encountering two other cars and they both pulled off immediately. This was absolutely heaven. I’ve missed being the only one on a road. You do not get that in LA, even early in the mornings when I like to drive. The road straightened out I put the car back in auto mode, set the cruise, and turn on some music. Just the scenery passing by, the sun on my skin, and wind in my hair.

I stop for gas before I get on the 58 and put in 5 gallons of premium. I as I turn onto the 58, I’m greeted by a few of my favorite signs:

The first 15 miles or so is fresh paved blacktop and constant tight turns. I drive in second gear above 5k rpm almost exclusively. I come up on a Rav-4 rather quickly and they turnout as soon as they can. Perfect. I do not see another car until I reach the end of the road, roughly 75 miles later. I was just me, a Miata, and a winding road. In that moment, I couldn’t ask for a better combination. If any of you have the chance, I would highly recommend this route.

I arrive in SLO, go for a quick run, and meet Capt. Dale for a late lunch. We catch up and then go for a short drive in the area. I follow him and his GTO, struggling to keep up. More amazing roads, and but with an added bonus of hearing his gloriously loud V8. We pull off a few times for scenic views or just to regroup. We finally stop at a beach near his house and bullshit about cars a little longer (as Obbos do). We say bye and I head to meet my friend, just in time to watch the sunset.

No Filter. Just my iPotato 6s

We then grabbed a few beverages and head in for the night.

I’m outdoorsy in that I like getting drunk on patios

I head back early Sunday morning to drop off the little Miata and catch the F1 race. I was a little sad to give it back but was very grateful to have such a perfect weekend!

I’ll write up a full review of the car at a later date.

DISCUSSION (19)

His Stigness > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
06/14/2018 at 16:15

How was the 154? Hopefully you didn’t get stuck behind anyone. I went up to SLO memorial day weekend and got SUPER lucky and got stuck behind not one, but two trailers AND a dump truck barely doing 20mph going NB. And that’s my favorite part. But I finally cleared them all before Vista Point and then literally coasted down the hill at REDACTED. Then I caught up to more traffic and fell asleep.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > His Stigness
06/14/2018 at 16:22

The 154 was on the way back. Even early Sunday morning, I was stuck behind a few people, including a yellow C5 Vette. I was able to get around him but ran up to a Nissan or some other generic car.

Then! I took Topanga Cyn back to PCH and got stuck behind a Corolla going painfully slow and refused to just effing pull off! I may or may not have passed her in a less than legal manor. The rest of that road was fine until towards the bottom when there was someone filming with their gopro while driving their POS rental Altima. So that was frustrating too.

TL;DR: The way up was amazing, the way back after I got on the 154 was a little frustrating. But, I still had a great time.

Arrivederci > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
06/14/2018 at 16:24

That’s awesome! What a find on the rental lot - they generally don’t have Miatas around here, we only get the generic Nissans for the most part. The Mustangs and Camaros are the rarities.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Arrivederci
06/14/2018 at 16:32

I was so stoked to find it. They actually had one more hiding in the back! My brother got a 370z, once. 2 seaters are rare. I normally try to get a mustang/camaro and have pretty good luck. I got upgraded to a 4 door wrangler last month in Hawaii, too. So I’m expecting to have a dry spell soon haha

MarquetteLa > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
06/14/2018 at 17:43

CA 33 is such a fun road. It was the first twisty road I took the Mazdaspeed 6 on after I bought it in Irvine last summer. I think I even took this photo in the same spot you took the side profile shot of the Miata.

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SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > MarquetteLa
06/14/2018 at 18:01

I might have actually liked that picture on IG hahah

That really does look like the same spot! This was one of the last pullouts (left headed NB) before it was down hill. Actually, it might have already started heading down at that point. Did you jump on the 5 after the 33?

razorbeamteam > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
06/14/2018 at 18:02

That is such great luck, I always get gyped at the rental lot. I recently did a project where i was up in Minneapolis every week for 6 weeks, usually I got some standard fare (Fusion, Altima, etc.). On the last trip the guy behind the counter goes “ohhh, you got a good one!”. So I start getting excited, finally something cool! I walk out to the spot to see... a Mazda CX-5...

MarquetteLa > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
06/14/2018 at 18:15

Yeah, that spot is at the top of the pass. I turned around and headed back south at that point, as it seemed more good twisty stuff was quite a ways further north.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > razorbeamteam
06/14/2018 at 18:16

Aw man! Still better than a Rogue, though! I was very happy I could get this for free. I’ve paid to upgrade to a Mustang once and a Hemi Challenger once. On short trips, especially when I have to drive a lot, it is worth the cost. I’ve driven my fair share of yarises, versas, etc. I even had an HHR once lmao.

Do the generic cars at least have some screens and other goodies to play with or are you stuck with rental spec?

I think LAX has pretty good cars, but since it’s home, I don’t rent cars from that location often.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > MarquetteLa
06/14/2018 at 18:19

Same spot then! It would have been fun to turn back around and do it again but even the straight part was enjoyable for me. There was no one around so it was just me and the road. I’m pretty outgoing and like the city, but damn it’s nice just to be away from everyone for a min haha

CaptDale - is secretly British > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
06/15/2018 at 14:41

Was tons of fun

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
08/01/2018 at 14:54

Topanga always sucks at all hours. It’s just due to the volume of traffic using it as an alternative to the 405. I took an uber from the airport once back home to Woodland Hills and it took Topanga from the PCH. While it was nice to not be stuck in traffic, that idiot uber driver went like 30 the whole way, much to the chagrin of the people behind us. We were passed in double yellows, horns blaring a few times. It was entertaining to see how bad the driver was at smoothly navigating turns.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
08/01/2018 at 14:56

This is awesome, sad I missed this post when you made it. Definitely want to replicate this in the future! Except I will just take one of my own cars to save on cost lol.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/01/2018 at 15:30

At least it was basically free this time! I def want to do this again in the 348 but might need to wait until it’s a little cooler.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/01/2018 at 15:32

I don’t understand why these ppl don’t turn off. Like, you are uncomfortable, and holding up traffic. It would be a lot easier on you if there wasn’t a line of cars behind you also

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
08/01/2018 at 16:55

I face that struggle every day on my commute. Some people do actually turn off but usually if I get stuck behind someone I either pull over and wait or just accept that I wont get to have fun that day on the way home. I can get home in under an hour door to door if I do not get stuck behind anyone. Whereas google maps says at least an hour and 15 from the gate at work to the outside of my building for the same route. So those slow ass people make a huge impact on the commute time.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/01/2018 at 18:23

Just accepting it might be the less stressful thing to do, especially on a commute. But, after a rough day, pulling off, then catching the slow drivers is probably a good thing to do.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
08/01/2018 at 20:03

Yeah in the beginning I was just passing people on double yellows but I calmed down and stopped doing that due to the obvious stupidity of that. Its not like I am ALWAYS stuck behind people so it just makes some days better than others. It was definitely worse in the winter because of the darkness and how people really drove slow then. At least now people arent afraid of every turn like it leads to a bottomless cliff. Unless they are driving a Prius, then they are just fucking assholes.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/01/2018 at 23:29

Not to stereotype, but Prius drivers are garbage. lmao