I’m sure this list will prompt much debate on the best driving roads, but…
Having wondered whether the launch event MX5 Icons would be staying in Iceland after the launch for intrepid drivers to hire to do the Great Circle, this list got us thinking about how easy it is to hire an MX5/Miata locally for non-European destinations?
Obviously Japan was very easy, as I did this myself a couple of years ago through a national car-hire company.
There is/was a chap who used to advertise in STHT for New Zealand. In Mazda’s mag, Zoom-Zoom, there was an article a year or so ago of a guy in Italy who has a range of flavours and modications of MX5s he has for hire.
I think you really have to rely on specialist hire companies to get an MX5 (except Japan), which may not be in the location you want them in.
Big Sur, California [Drove it 1977 in a Camaro, I’m sure that a Miata would be easy to hire in LA]
North Coast 500, Scotland [Drove in 2004 in my Mk1, UK MX5 hire?]
Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, Austria [No Idea]
Yukon Golden Circle, North America [No Idea]
Wild Snowdonia, Wales [Driven many times in a variety of cars, great route together with the Evo triangle a bit further east]
Garden Route, South Africa[ No idea]
Stelvio Pass, Italy [ Great MX5 road, no idea about MX5 hire 2004 in my '5]
Snaefell Mountain Road, Isle of Man [50 years ago on a TT Norton, haven’t been back since, I doubt you can hire a '5 on the island]
Great Ocean Road, Australia [ Doesn’t live up to it’s reputation, drove it a couple of years ago in a Golf GTI, not especially spectacular and the twisties are far too short]
I’m glad the article quantifies #1 Big Sur as the 123 miles from Monterey to Morro, as the bit that goes through Big Sur itself is probably the least interesting to drive: trees all around (so no view), pedestrians everywhere, hugely busy… In fact the whole route can be very busy, with few overtaking opportunities so you inevitably get stuck in a line of traffic behind an RV. Doesn’t stop me driving it every time I’m in the area though, in a Mustang last time!
The Great Ocean Road used to be great, now, like the rest of Australia, is subject to overregulation and overzealous, facist policing. These days it’s not even worth bothering.
Instead save your money and do Glencoe in Scotland, it’ll me much cheaper, prettier and a better experience.
If you do want to travel, do Big Sur. It’s absolutely amazing. I did it in a 2.6 litre 190E, I wish I was in an MX5 though…
(I know that’s Yosemite but I can’t seem to find my Big Sur photos…)
Out of the Telegraph top 10 I have done Stelvio many times (including August in snow) and Grossglockner once. I think Stelvio is best done north to south and once over the summit drive for about a mile and turn right. This takes you into Switzerland and Umbrail, a great and underused pass with limited barriers and some gravel parts. Turn right at the end to get back to Italy. Video from the trip here
Grossglockner is a much easier proposition. No nasty hairpins but great views and the restaurant at the top is definitely worth a stop. The road is owned by Austria Mountaineering Club and is a quite expensive toll road but worth the money
The pass that is missing from the list is the Transfagarason in Romania. Built by the army and reputed to have cost between 400 and 4000 lives. Famous from Top Gear and an amazing drive. North to summit is quite good surface, fast and great views. From the summit south the surface varies from poor to awful and winds through woodland past a large lake. I finished up in a unspoken race with three Germans on BMWs. Great fun but had to wait about an hour at the bottom for my rather annoyed wife to catch up
I probably should not admit here that all the passes were completed riding BMW 1200GS, BMW1600GTL and my wife on BMW650CS and 800GS. No cars.
For Italy, there is Miataland, where there is a wide choice of cars (mostly Mk1s) available as part of the B&B. Cars available include US Mazdaspeed Miata turbo, Monster Miata V8, M2-1001, M2-1002, M2-1028, there is a BBR turbo, and a Supercharged B-Spec NoPro Enunos Roadster. Also a Pitcrew is available.
Interesting posts, thank you all.
The link to the 20 amazing British campsites beside the sea will be useful we have been on 4 so far
Merry Christmas everyone
Interesting posts, thank you all.
The link to the 20 amazing British campsites beside the sea will be useful we have been on 4 so far
Merry Christmas everyone
I’d also add the Route Napoleon in France, we did it this year on a bike but went the Sisteron route and then wandered off route and found some beautiful back roads that were deserted whereas the RN can be busy on a warm day.
In the UK, I have a soft spot for the Bardney bends in Lincolnshire from Horncastle to Grimsby via Market Rasen. Can be very populated on a nice day as it’s a favourite with motorbikes. A leading bike magazine described it as a twisty little yahoo!
Having done some research on Austria and turning up not much more than some roads are beautifully surfaced on one side but rough on the other. Many are tolls but are these included in the vignette or are they extra. So, I’m now considering returning to the Spanish Pyrenees for the fourth time. The combination of smooth unoccupied roads with a mixture challenging bends. Plus great weather - what more could you ask for?
Maybe a foray through the Black Forest, the Alpenstrasse and into Austria later in the year.
