Melbourne to Sydney this weekend!

solo22 · Postby **solo22** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:20 am

POLL NOTE: Melbourne <> Sydney is same as Sydney <> Melbourne ;)

Will be driving from Melbourne > Sydney this weekend and back. Stayin a few days. Never been before! :mrgreen:

I guess about 9-10 hours, with a short stopoff in canberra. Makes me a tad nervous, never given the Mx this big a run before.

Anybody done this before? I know MX isn't designed for long distance trips, but hey, as if I'm gunna pay an arm and a leg for a flight when I love driving my MX and my gf does'nt mind! ;)

Oil change done last month, will check tyre pressure and refresh coolant.

Feel free to tell us your stories!

Any tips? I have GPS thank god as I'm a notoriously bad navigator!

MonSqueek · Postby **MonSqueek** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:47 am

I drove Mixxy from Melbourne to Brisbane 6 moths ago, loaded to the hilt, 2 suitcases strapped to the boot and 2 dogs in the passeners seat and she did fine... It was the best 2 days / 2000kms.... nothing but open road and lots and lots of MP3's. And In about 3 weeks I am making the return journy only -1 dog.

She ran well, as she is my daily driver Im useto her comfort wise so that didnt bother me. Only downside is you cant throw the drivers seat back to powernap.

solo22 · Postby **solo22** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:51 am

MonSqueek wrote:I drove Mixxy from Melbourne to Brisbane 6 moths ago, loaded to the hilt, 2 suitcases strapped to the boot and 2 dogs in the passeners seat and she did fine...

Thats the kinda response I was looking for! Suitcases strapped to boot, 2 dogs! Wow, you really went all out! Nice

Yeah I'll be loadin up the MP3's too. Unfortunately the misses can't drive manual

Oh Monsqueek - My gf is wondering, why less one dog? Nothing bad happened to the other did it? She's a dog fan too :roll:

MonSqueek · Postby **MonSqueek** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:54 am

solo22 wrote:Anybody done this before? I know MX isn't designed for long distance

Feel free to tell us your stories! Whoever answered Melbourne <> Brisbane/GC has some balls, I did that in a tiny old corolla (passenger) as a kid, and it was scary as with the trucks!!!

Trucks are your friend if your not in a rush and are a confident driver. I pulled into a rest stop behind one who was headed to BNE too and asked if I could convoy him. He was cool and happy for me too. I got 590kms out of a tank that I would usually get 400kms out of on freeway. ( which was over easter when I was comming up and petrol was well over 140 a ltr)

This only works if your alert and confident enough to sit right up their ass in the drag... and if they know your there so they can give you advance warning of breaks ectra... For most of the 590kms I sat with less then 1mtr between his tailgate and my bonnet. And yes - before they roadsaftey nartzis jump in - I know this is dangerous, illegal ectra ectra... and if you choose to replicate my actions you do so at your own risk!

MonSqueek · Postby **MonSqueek** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:55 am

solo22 wrote:MP3's too. Unfortunately the misses can't drive manual

Nor could my passengers! At least you will have someone who can talk back!

MonSqueek · Postby **MonSqueek** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:57 am

solo22 wrote:
Oh Monsqueek - My gf is wondering, why less one dog? Nothing bad happened to the other did it? She's a dog fan too [/b]

Lol Nah the other one is my mums dog.. I was baby sitting him in melb for a while but he will stay here now

solo22 · Postby **solo22** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:00 am

Ah OK! My girlfriend will be pleased it's ok

MonSqueek wrote: For most of the 590kms I sat with less then 1mtr between his tailgate and my bonnet.

I'll need to try that some day, always wondered what its like :mrgreen:

I'd like to have a doggy in the passenger seat someday (i guess it can sit on the gfs lap if need be!) but worry the doggies will scratch up the mixxy inside? Need to train em! I bet they like the top down!

MonSqueek · Postby **MonSqueek** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:14 am

solo22 wrote:
MonSqueek wrote: For most of the 590kms I sat with less then 1mtr between his tailgate and my bonnet.

I'll need to try that some day, always wondered what its like

Don't you worry the doggies will scratch up the mixxy inside? I bet they like the top down!

Its intense becuase you have to concentrate so hard... but with such a light car you can actually feel the pull from the truck. its kinda cool. but you do have to pull back every now and again to blink and change CD's

Im not as precious about my car as some people. I just put car seat covers on and shake out the dog hair. *shrug* they havnt scratched anything yet.

The dog Im leaving behind loves the top down... he sits up on the parcal shelf (where the roof folds down) and just loves the wind in his fur and the view from up there ! He is super cute doing it... but people give me funny looks.

solo22 · Postby **solo22** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:21 am

MonSqueek wrote:The dog Im leaving behind loves the top down... he sits up on the parcal shelf (where the roof folds down) and just loves the wind in his fur and the view from up there ! He is super cute doing it... but people give me funny looks.

I want a doggy now

Fatty · Postby **Fatty** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:27 am

i did melbourne to sydney to brisbane and back again about 6 months ago. the car ran perfectly the whole time, didn't skip a beat.

Caffeine · Postby **Caffeine** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:16 am

I couldn't pick one because I've done Sydney - Melbourne - Adelaide, Sydney - Melbourne return, Sydney - Brisbane return and Sydney - Broken Hill return plus dozens of Sydney - Canberra return.

mhh · Postby **mhh** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:24 am

It was a long time ago (1990!), but I took my NA from Adelaide to Melbourne. I had the hardtop on and it was a brilliant trip. Nothing like having your own car in another city.

Sold the car in 1991.... :cry:

Boags · Postby **Boags** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:00 am

Drove Brisbane to Bundaberg... Not quite long haul, but long enough to need to reposition the bum every now and then to keep it awake :shock:

It was fantastic and my lady and I are planning a road trip to the GOR this christmas holidays...

Boags

Alf · Postby **Alf** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:04 am

Took the SE from Melbourne to Alice Springs over 3 days (one day waiting for floodwaters to subside) and back over another 2 days. Certainly as comfortable as any other car for such a long trip.

Bent a wheel on a pothole on the NSW section of the Hume highway on a trip to Sydney, though. Cow of a road.

Cheers,
Alf

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:22 am

I've done lots of 9+ hour trips in my MX5's. Soft top, hard top and no top. The NB is more comfy than the NA was but both were fun. Just get a good night sleep the night before you go, allow some time for stops to get out and strecth you legs and you'll be fine. If your going topless take the usual sun precautions and drink lots of fluids.