Rufus - Life with the 2017 Flyin' Miata Turbo RF

I’m happy and envious of you with the adoption of Rufus.  Envious because of the FM shop visit that a lot of us right-coast folks cannot easily do and happy that I’ll get to read about your immediate reactions and long-term perceptions of a V8M..!  

I have not had the pleasure to ride in an ND as of yet, but I definitely know how fun a quick trip to Starbuckles can be in a LS-powered NA Miata.  I benefited from the fit and quality engineered parts that Keith and the FM team developed and sold me for my 2012-2014 build.   Flyin Miata makes the V8 build and ownership as trouble-free as you can imagine!  

Think Twice - Wrench Once... and safe travels.

In reply to ToySnakePMC :

Sadly Rufus is merely a turbo car, not a V8 car. Not saying it will never be a V8 car. Once you know were Flyin' Miata is that sort of thing seems inevitable. 

I think we have a prototype offset front plate bracket sitting on Brandon’s desk right now, actually. 

We’ll want to check the weather before you decide if you’re heading south on 141 or 191. The former does get up to altitude at times, the latter does not. If you can manage the delay, Saturday looks like a much nicer day down either route. 

In reply to Keith Tanner :

We'll have to give that bracket a look see. 

I don't have any problem staying in GJ and getting on the road Saturday really, other than it goes against my very nature to sit still. Probably depends on how long I can bother you guys before you kick me out.  
Driving down and then over to Albuquerque and on to Texas is about 21 hours of driving so not too bad for two days. A lot of it is weather dependent, we're not going to be dumb in the name of time. 

mazdeuce - Seth said:

In reply to TJL :

They have a couple in Dallas and some in Austin. Haven't made it to Houston yet as far as I know. Denver is on the other side of those big snowy things from Flyin' Miata and it's looking like we're going to head a bit west and a whole lot south before crossing the mountains. No matter what the second day is going to be boring as every route from the western side of Texas back to Houston has about 600 miles of flat. 

Houston Is getting it's first In-n-out next year in stafford in some huge new development on the site of an old Texas Instruments Office. 

In reply to mazdeuce - Seth :

Seth, 

I used a mount in the front tow hook socket on Betty. It works like a champ and keeps me legal. I don't remember the brand. I bought it at a car show in BC a couple years ago when I was there. Here is one like what I used that I pulled up quick. 

https://www.cravenspeed.com/the-platypus-license-plate-mount-1/

In reply to spacecadet :

Don't get me started on In and Out....Grrr. I petitioned them to get In and Out franchise license/regional ownership in 2010 for Austin. Put together a complete demographics, suggested locations, supplier plans, and time lines. They declined but sure as heck weren't the suggested locations and timelines right in line with my proposal when they did launch. Not saying they took that info, but man it left a sour taste in my mouth. 

In reply to bmw88rider :

I thought they were privately owned?

Nice ride you got there.  Best of luck and enjoyment.     Been a while since I've been out west.. I remember traveling from Utah to Colorado in August.  Went from T shirts in the morning, to coats in the (late) afternoon.  The kids were amazed to see snow in August.   Plan your route accordingly, and be safe.  May turn into a Son/Dad bonding trip your little man will never forget.  Good luck, and have fun.

hvoxi said:

In reply to bmw88rider :

I thought they were privately owned?

Correct. Lynsi Snyder  is the majority owner. 

In reply to mr2s2000elise :

They are. I was seeking a partnership with an exclusive territory of Texas. Given the numbers and demographics of the TX market, I felt it would be a good play and I had the financial backing for the venture. I was right on with my business proposal because the TX branches have done really good. It was one of those never hurts to pitch moments.  Can't succeed by standing on the sidelines type thing. 

In reply to Dirtydog :

Thanks. We're both excited. My older son still talks fondly about picking up the 911 with me at the same age. He was using it as a point of argument at the dinner table the other day pointing out that he's the only one of the kids to have seen both the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains. He love the small victories.  

bmw88rider said:

In reply to mr2s2000elise :

They are. I was seeking a partnership with an exclusive territory of Texas. Given the numbers and demographics of the TX market, I felt it would be a good play and I had the financial backing for the venture. I was right on with my business proposal because the TX branches have done really good. It was one of those never hurts to pitch moments.  Can't succeed by standing on the sidelines type thing. 

You had the right idea. My brother was roommate with Wich Wich  Jeff and as a result he is now the largest franchisee in Texas along with a few other brands in Houston - total of 47 restaurants all on his own . 

I asked Jeff for exclusive rights on the west coast back then but he didn’t want to grow that fast .... at that time and only wanted the TX market 

In reply to AnthonyGS :

At my hole in the wall Mexican restaurant I can order a #9 burrito single and they understand me southern accent and all. 

Any chance you lettin' #2 behind the wheel for a short stint on a remote stretch to get just a wif?

I know i'm bad......but but you'd be the coolest dad......EVER......don't tell Mom...yea i know she scans...

In reply to 759NRNG :

I'm taking #4 with me, and he doesn't have the height (much less the age) to drive even a car as small as a Miata. 

Just pulled out my backpack to pack. It still had stuff in it from the last time I flew to get a Miata.

Which reminds me, I was talking to Mrs. Deuce yesterday about schedules mentioning that I was invited to another test day. She asked if I was for the Accord. 

"I might bring the Accord, maybe the Miata" 
"Your Miata? Or MY Miata?"  

Multiple storms tracking through here starting very soon and through the weekend.  Watch the forecast and choose your route carefully!  Take the long way to go around the storms if you have to...

Oh yeah, since your wife now has Rufus, does that mean you get the 964 back as "your" car? 

"I might bring the Accord, maybe the Miata" 
"Your Miata? Or MY Miata?"  

My friend, put a fork in it, you're done.  As all have stated, safe travels, and God Speed.

Be careful - if you're going I-40 after you get south of Colorado, remember that Albuquerque is as high as Denver, and the road rises east of there - around 7000 feet at Clines Corners, an hour east of ALB.  Also, if you're running between Farmington and ALB,that road is also high and really, really lonely.  This storm could be nasty through Sunday, if the Weather Channel is right (difficult to predict in this part of the country, particularly southwestern Colorado).  You won't get to "lower" elevations until you hit Texas if you're on I-40.

bmw88rider said:

In reply to mazdeuce - Seth :

Seth, 

I used a mount in the front tow hook socket on Betty. It works like a champ and keeps me legal. I don't remember the brand. I bought it at a car show in BC a couple years ago when I was there. Here is one like what I used that I pulled up quick. 

https://www.cravenspeed.com/the-platypus-license-plate-mount-1/

That is a neat, well thought out solution - and a better video. I should've been expecting the bucket of water... 

Jim Pettengill said:

Be careful - if you're going I-40 after you get south of Colorado, remember that Albuquerque is as high as Denver, and the road rises east of there - around 7000 feet at Clines Corners, an hour east of ALB.  Also, if you're running between Farmington and ALB,that road is also high and really, really lonely.  This storm could be nasty through Sunday, if the Weather Channel is right (difficult to predict in this part of the country, particularly southwestern Colorado).  You won't get to "lower" elevations until you hit Texas if you're on I-40.

I agree and we're watching. We can stay on the west side of the mountians all the way down to I10 if we need to. 

Man, this is exciting already and it's still Thursday.

Sorry to hear you've been relegated to "delivery guy"

If you stay on 191 to Chinle, AZ  then Canyon de Chelly Nat'l Monument is good for a look.

Or if you go east near Raton, NM you can drift your way up the side of a volcano at Capulin.

We have several In n Outs  in Dallas and tons of Dallafornians to keep them filled. 

Similar situation in San Antonio. We have two. The one on the NE side of town is only as busy as you would expect for the price/quality, which is to say it's busy but not to the point that I avoid it. I like their food well enough and when i lived near it i went there every few weeks. 

The other one, though... That one is on the NW side which is where all the California ex-pats land after they give up living on the bleeding edge of the dying American Dream. That one is so busy I have never once bought anything from it.