What are your favourite driving roads?

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punkoutnz
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What are your favourite driving roads?

Post by punkoutnz » Mon Aug 08, 2011 4:22 pm

Now I think everyone here would agree the MX5 is a driver's car. But I'm pretty sure there's such thing as a "driver's road" as well. So this begs the question, what's your favourite "driving roads?"
This doesn't necessarily mean it has the twistiest corners or the best camber, but there's often something extra on offer, spectacular scenery or even the best fish n' chips!

Gotta say my picks would be the Gisborne to Napier stretch of road, or between Waipu and Mangawhai Heads. Or the roads out to Kauia and Miranda!

Any other suggestions?
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Post by mr_pool_pool2000 » Mon Aug 08, 2011 5:57 pm

paekakariki hill road just north of Wellington is good nice tight corners and once you have done that you should head back towards Wellington on sh58 smooth banked road with lots of banked corners.

just up the coast from that is the akatarawa valley road witch links upper hutt and waikanae - this road is not for the faint harted verry tight and one lane most of the time.

in the manawatu there is the saddle road and pihiatua track that are also amazing roads with very nice views.

just north of palmerston is sh54 another nice tight hill road with lots of tight corners

m4vr1k
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Post by m4vr1k » Mon Aug 08, 2011 9:40 pm

State Highway 16, Kaukapakapa - Wellsford. Great road, not too much traffic on it either. Stop at La Padella if it's open for the BEST PIZZA IN NZ

Woodcocks Road, just off SH16 north of Kaukapakapa (which, incidentally has the hilariously named KKK Pony Club) an amazing 27km stretch of twisting, turning asphalt goodness, with some cool scenery on offer too.

Pakiri Road, between Leigh and Wellsford, apart from a 2-3k stretch of shitty gravel road is a brilliant drive in summer, some more spectacular scenery up that way, plus Leigh Fish and Chips is great.

Bethells Road, Bethells Beach, not a long road, but a run on this will test your arm muscles in a manual-steer MX5

Scenic Drive, Swanson - Titirangi. Not the greatest road during the day, due to quite a few houses, but at 3AM.......

Thats just a few off the top of my head, I'm sure more will come to mind once I think about it.
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Post by Gravelben » Tue Aug 09, 2011 12:43 pm

SI West Coast, Haast Pass, Lindis Pass, Arthur's Pass, Dansey's Pass ;) , Milford Road, Chaslands Highway, Moa Flat, I could go on and on...

Highcliff Road along the peninsula from Dunedin used to be great until it got taken over by tourist buses and lycra bandits.

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Post by Euen » Tue Aug 09, 2011 2:45 pm

+1 Mr_Pool_Pool2000. Paekak hill is one of my favourites. Agree with your other comments as well.

Another great one is the Forgotten Highway from Stratford through to Whangamomona. It carries on to Taumararanui but I haven't driven that section yet.

Another good one is the road down the coast from Kawhia down to Awakino through Te Anga.

Funny how most of these have been used as Targa stages :twisted:
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Best roads

Post by Angreal » Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:49 pm

I agree hands down with m4vr1k on Scenic Drive at 3am, but that's because I live in one of those houses you speak of ;)

Otherwise I like Old Taupo Road or and other roads in the country that have the title Old due to the low volumes of traffic, the thin nature and windiness of the roads. My GPS has a knack for finding all these roads and sending me down them.

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Post by WRW » Sun Sep 11, 2011 3:20 pm

North Island: Waihi to Whangamata always gets me grinning. So does Whitianga to Coromandel via Kuaotunu.

And if you're heading to Auckland from Tauranga, do yourself a favour and head right at Ngatea up to Miranda and the coastal road from there to Clevedon. ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM :D
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Post by SLYDIT » Sun Sep 11, 2011 7:00 pm

i love the road between Rotorua and kawerau past the lakes its a great blast through the forest
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Post by Stevo » Sun Sep 11, 2011 8:04 pm

WRW wrote:North Island: Waihi to Whangamata always gets me grinning. So does Whitianga to Coromandel via Kuaotunu.
Agreed................... :wink:
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Kieran
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Re: Best roads

Post by Kieran » Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:29 am

Angreal wrote:I agree hands down with m4vr1k on Scenic Drive at 3am.
AGREE I just drove this road last friday night at 2AM it was amazing

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Post by Angreal » Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:30 am

Wow I missed you by 24 hours... I was there on Saturday night and managed to find a few other enthusiasts ;)

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Post by Kieran » Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:32 am

Well next time we'll have to plan it get a group of miatas through there

Anyone keen for a late night drive down scenic drive?

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Post by m4vr1k » Mon Sep 12, 2011 6:08 pm

always!
so long as its' not raining....
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punkoutnz
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Post by punkoutnz » Mon Sep 12, 2011 6:51 pm

I'd be keen, when mine's back on the road anyway! And perhaps later in the year when it's warmer. Always good to find a late night cafe for a bite as well.
Cool sunroof bro...

Kieran
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Post by Kieran » Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:19 am

whens yours going to be back on the road?
whats wrong with it?

punkoutnz
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Post by punkoutnz » Tue Sep 13, 2011 12:36 pm

Soon, I hope. I bought it as a turbo, but a lot of the work had been done badly. Ended up starting from scratch and pulling the engine out, drilling the sump (instead of running a hose around to the bung on the other side of the engine), running all braided lines and AN fittings, converting to manual, and basically tidying up all the dodgy crap on the car. You know... The usual. ETA is hopefully a couple of weeks now, before the end of September anyway!
Cool sunroof bro...

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Post by Kieran » Tue Sep 13, 2011 1:20 pm

Yea some people dont just do it right the first time even though in the end it will cost the same as the amount of money that goes into fixing a cheap job
Ohwell its a good looking car im looking forward to seeing it when its done should be good fun round these sorta roads

Angreal
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Post by Angreal » Tue Sep 13, 2011 2:57 pm

And here I was struggling to paint my engine bay while replacing the intake stuff and figuring out how to change the brake pads :shock:

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Post by ham » Tue Nov 08, 2011 8:19 am

Have to say after the weekend the Gentle Annie would be one of my favourites. Had a great drive!!!! :D
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Post by Skilfil » Wed Nov 09, 2011 11:43 am

Drove out to Bethells yesterday, first time in my MX5 and was a lot of fun. Its slower than my Golf and has crappier brakes and tyres, yet I still had more fun.

Love some of the dips and bumps, took it slow over the crests though. Its the lightest car I've driven and I'm paranoid it'll take off if I go over them too quick.

Just need to sort the brakes, replace the thermostat housing then hit the track with you lot one day.

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Post by Mad Kiwi » Wed Nov 09, 2011 5:16 pm

I'm in for a group fang/drive somewhere!!! Need to try out the new turbo car.....

punkoutnz
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Post by punkoutnz » Wed Nov 09, 2011 5:38 pm

There's that cruise around Coromandel (though I don't know how many MX5 chaps will be there) on November 19th if that's your cuppa tea.
Cool sunroof bro...

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Post by Kieran » Thu Nov 10, 2011 12:49 pm

Im in for a fang through scenic drive

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Post by Angreal » Thu Nov 10, 2011 1:20 pm

I am also keen although I can only do weekends kind of as I reside in Christchurch during the week now.

Kieran
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Post by Kieran » Thu Nov 10, 2011 1:50 pm

Have to do it one saturday night then

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