But atlas, the rental contract states that we only get 200 free kilometres on this RX-8 and any extra kilometres driven would cost 30 cents/km. Considering the fact that to and fro Byron Bay would take abt 500 kms, we decided not to go..Hence the impracticality of a sports car if anyone of you decide to rent one for a day trip like ours. A sedan would be more useful. :)
Our plan then switched to Springbrook National Park to see the 'Best of All Lookout' since Mark and Dave have not been there before. After lunch at Scarborough and lots of pictures taken with the RX-8, we headed for Springbrook. It was my turn to drive from Redcliffe to Springbrook. It was quite cool and awesome to be behind the wheel...to be honest..esp when 3rd gear can get you through the sharp mountain bends up to the national park.
Roughly around 6.30pm, we left Springbrook back for Brisbane. I was wondering where to go for dinner when Jonathan called me..Haha..call it good timing or what, in the end, Mark, Jon, Darren and me headed to Sunnybank's Melaya Corner for dinner. It was good fellowship as Mark got along quite well with the both of them. :) It was later to La Dolce Vita for some Italian Hot Chocolate (on Jon's recommendation) with George.
After the coffee session, Jon suggested that we go to a stretch of long road behind Indooroopilly to 'test run' the power of the car. Mark was behind the wheel first..Whoo..on first gear, the RX-8 could get you up to 64km/hr at 9000 revolutions/min. Second gear was abt 82km/hr plus if I am not wrong. The gist to obtain high speed for this car is to get it to maximum speed limit at each gear before shifting to the next gear.
When it was my turn, George took over from Jon on the front passenger seat and Darren behind the back seat. Hmm..somehow, knowing myself, I wasn't really that keen to drive since I know I can get carried away when adrenaline comes. But anyway, with some persuasion I took over the wheel. Looking back, I gave George quite a bit of a scare when I drove very fast along that road. As I went into the roundabout, I accelerated inside the bend. It was really a bad mistake as the car started to skid and I could see the car heading straight towards the signpost. By God's grace, I managed to pull the steering wheel back and avoided a potential costly accident. Of coz, I was shaken and shocked by that near incident. But thank God, nothing happened, no damage or whatsoever. And yeah, I have learnt a good lesson, that is never to accelerate inside a roundabout and will remember it. :)
All in all, it was a good experience to have driven a sports car at least once in my life. But hee, I would not recommend anyone to buy it for family purposes. It is better to get a proper sedan car which comes with a bigger boot to store your baby stroller and also a more spacious backseat to strap your toddler onto the safety seat. And what's more, it can seat more people comfortably. :P
P.S. Jon, no offence with the last paragraph. I wasn't meaning anything. :P
Mark, Dave & Me..
Posing in front of Morgan's Seafood at Scarborough Harbour
This picture of the sea behind the background can only be taken at Redcliffe
The RX-8 by itself.
Another view from the 'Best of All Lookout'
Monkeying around at Purling Brooks Fall Lookout Point
Purling Brooks Fall..
The exhilarating front view from the Best of All Lookout point
Mt Warning at the far background folks...Familiar??
