I kinda like my car

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion) 06/17/2018 at 23:42 • Filed to: Offroadster, Miata, Skykomish

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Over 350,000 miles and just completed an epic offroad day trip without an issue. The tach was pegged in the red for a good 50% of the drive, in case you thought this was just a lazy Sunday cruise. Brief trip report below, I brought a 4Runner and a Samurai with me this time.

My buddy came along in his miiiiinty 4runner. Absolutely beautiful, I was actually a bit worried for it! For sale, unfortunately.

The Samurai is owned by the same friend, but driven by another one! Also for sale. Booooo.

85° and sunny the whole drive... Miata weather

If I was in low mode I would have been able to sneak under........

Parking brake sucks, so had to leave the yata in a *relatively* flat section while I walked up to check out a rough patch

Could not photograph it, but there’s a massive rut here. If you recall my car getting high-centered last winter... Well, that was here. This time I decided I’d build a rock/stick bridge to cross

Spoiler alert: nope. Not gonna happen. I tried, and failed. Either need the lift kit, or to come by with a shovel to flatten out the rut. Doesn’t help that this is a very steep section

Went back down, detoured to my favorite chill out spot

Turquoiseeeee

I always make a few stacks here

These ones are tiny, I was trying to do trickier balances, most of the time I just go for max height

So when are we doing an offroad Oppo meet..? Fly out, buy a Miata, thrash it with me, roadtrip home. Boom, vacation of a lifetime.

jminer > AestheticsInMotion 06/17/2018 at 23:49

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That sounds like a hell of a plan - and an awesome trip. You’re out in the PNW somewhere from the pics- but where specifically?

I love taking road cars off pavement - my focus hatch sees a lot more gravel and dirt than most SUVs and Trucks around here

M.T. Blake > AestheticsInMotion 06/17/2018 at 23:50

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“One owner, well maintained, off road only once.” I just wrote the sale ad.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion 06/17/2018 at 23:51

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Is this in Skykomish?

wafflesnfalafel > AestheticsInMotion 06/17/2018 at 23:54

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Love the shot under the gate and the distance pic on the logging road out in the middle of nowhere. Up off 20? Since Mazda isn’t doing LeMans, they really should pick you up - bolster their off road cred.

Steve in Manhattan > AestheticsInMotion 06/17/2018 at 23:54

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That is something you should bring to the attention of Mazda US ... Saab and Volvo reward long distance drivers. Lexus sometimes takes note of LS400s that crack 300K. You might get a new car (or at least an engine rebuild) out of this!

Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief > AestheticsInMotion 06/17/2018 at 23:55

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Okay. Where to? I’m in.

AestheticsInMotion > jminer 06/17/2018 at 23:59

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Skykomish, about 40 minutes east of Seattle

Yep, there’s something special about taking street cars off road... If only my daily commute included some light offroading!

AestheticsInMotion > Steve in Manhattan 06/18/2018 at 00:01

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Hmmm engine rebuild sounds good. Do you think they follow Oppo?

“Hey Mazda! Let’s talk!”

AestheticsInMotion > M.T. Blake 06/18/2018 at 00:02

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$17,000. No lowballers. No joy rides. You scuff the paint, you buy the car.

AestheticsInMotion > Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief 06/18/2018 at 00:02

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Seattle. Let’s gooooo

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 06/18/2018 at 00:03

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It is. Somehow I’d gone months without getting out that way

Steve in Manhattan > AestheticsInMotion 06/18/2018 at 00:04

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You never know ... some car companies (mostly Swedish) are interested in how long their products work, how many miles they go. I’d check out highest mileage Miatas, b/c you might be up there.

AestheticsInMotion > wafflesnfalafel 06/18/2018 at 00:04

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Highway 2! Yes Mazda should 100% do that.

M.T. Blake > AestheticsInMotion 06/18/2018 at 00:05

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New brakes and tires. Sometimes makes a slight grinding when going over ruts over two feet deep.

sony1492 > AestheticsInMotion 06/18/2018 at 00:09

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You ever get worried about being yelled at for tearing up the road?(in both speed and rocks displaced)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion 06/18/2018 at 00:12

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I recognized that turquoise water anywhere. My favorite area to camp...

Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief > AestheticsInMotion 06/18/2018 at 00:15

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My lady had Girls Night last night. One of which flew in from Seattle for the event. (I slept on my boat.) While dropping Julie back at the airport this afternoon plans were being made to head to Seattle. They were talking a lot and I tuned it out but yeah I’m heading that way.

I’d be up for heading that way, buying a beater car, beating it some more, and then seeing if it makes it back to San Francisco.

If I can find an E30 BMW is running condition... Or an Alfa. Or pretty much anything fun where I’m unlikely to die.

I’ve no idea when the travel plans are for but I suspect September. She gets to visit her friend and fly home and I get a car adventure. Something for everyone.

I’ll post something up if I’m heading that way. I’m also at Oppo at noops dot org if you want to shoot me your email address.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Steve in Manhattan 06/18/2018 at 00:16

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There’s the one that Road and Track has or had as a project that indicated somewhere near a million, however who knows how accurate that is.

AestheticsInMotion > sony1492 06/18/2018 at 00:31

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No, they’re all forest service roads, so there will never be any kind of regular police presence. Aside from the very rare logging trucks (they close the road) the only people who come up here are fellow enthusiasts, be it offroaders or the rally guys and the very rare adventurous couple testing the limits of their econobox. They don’t care. Occasionally someone will set up some targets and go shooting but they normally don’t come up to this section (there are better places to shoot at nearby).

Steve in Manhattan > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 06/18/2018 at 00:31

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Speedos can lie, but probably OK to trust R&T.

jminer > AestheticsInMotion 06/18/2018 at 00:34

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I’ve been threatening to do a fly and drive out of Seattle for a few years. I’ve been out there a few times and have always drooled over the relatively rust free cars and trucks around.

pip bip - choose Corrour > AestheticsInMotion 06/18/2018 at 04:00

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dat scenery

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Steve in Manhattan 06/18/2018 at 09:19

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They’re not lying, but the previous owners might be

CaptDale - is secretly British > AestheticsInMotion 06/18/2018 at 14:26

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I kinda like your car too

Steve in Manhattan > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 06/18/2018 at 18:30

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I had an ‘87 300D that ate 2 speedo heads, so I had to keep all sorts of records and, when I sold it, swear up and down that it had what it had on it (about 110K). Dealer had to get involved as they swapped the head unit.

MM54 > AestheticsInMotion 06/18/2018 at 21:09

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

I’m in. Find me some more vacation time from work and I’ll be there

AestheticsInMotion > MM54 06/18/2018 at 22:03

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Hmm. I recommended taking sick days.

MM54 > AestheticsInMotion 06/18/2018 at 22:47

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“Yes I’m going to be sick all this week - too sick to work from home in fact.”

*shows up to work the next week in a miata on WA plates*

AestheticsInMotion > MM54 06/18/2018 at 23:03

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Miata - the cure for what ails you