Really using the TDI in anger

[No More Buffalo]

So I have a pair of road trips coming up in the next two weeks - chasing my favorite band (The Drive-By Truckers) as they do a series of shows in the SE. Going to also get the oppurtunity to really put the TDI through it's paces on some of the nation's best back roads.

First Trip:

Eastern NC to Asheville and back (Fri-Sun) - Sunday is a travel-only day, so I'm taking the scenic route back - probably drive the first 60 miles or so back from asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway, as well as hitting some of the side roads that are even wilder (e.g. 226a).

Then, leave Wednesday for Athens, GA
Leave from Athens for Chattanooga on Saturday morning, via GA-11 to NC/TN-74. All 2 lane through the mountains and Chatahoochee National Forest.
Sunday return home, via Cherahola Skyway and Hwy 28 into North Carolina, with a two-way pass up and down the Tail of the Dragon in the middle. Continuing on the the BRP and then getting on 40 in Asheville and return home.

Route: http://goo.gl/maps/Z3In1

1,955 miles, of which at least 550 will be 2 lane mountain road.

 

[JSWTDI09]

Sounds like a nice drive, but I must have missed something. Where does the "anger" come in. It sounds more like fun.

Have Fun!

Don

 

[No More Buffalo]

Anger as in giving it a hard thrash up 10% grades for hundreds of miles on end - as opposed to the flatlands and boring straight roads everywhere within about 200 miles of where I live.

Cherahola Skyway: (Driving eastbound it climbs from 900ft to 5300ft in 26 miles, before dropping back down to 2200ft in the next 12.)

Tail of the Dragon: (318 curves in 11 miles)

 

[tdi drew]

sounds good, hopefully the tail wont be too busy!

 

[No More Buffalo]

Yea, I hope not. Even if it is, I won't be crushed. This is more a side order of pleasure along with seeing my favorite band 5 times in 9 days. I really haven't haven't done much mountain driving, just a bit near Asheville in my previous car (much less sporty). So this is a bit of an appetizer - I know people travel just to drive this roads, and I see this as a grant chance to get to know them a bit - I'm certainly not planning on pushing things too hard.

 

[BarnyardsTDI]

Do it! Get the turbo hot... My cars favorite drive so far has been Tehachapi Pass on a drive from Texas to California.

 

[No More Buffalo]

So I plugged my trip into Garmin's route planning software (BaseCamp) last night.The final day's leg, from Chattanooga home to Greenville, NC involves almost 60,000ft of elevation change!

Fun times ahead...

 

[Genesis]

I love drives like that and my TDI eats it for breakfast!

 

[1854sailor]

I hope that you don't get stuck behind some sissy!

 

[No More Buffalo]

Eh, I'm sure I'll be getting passed by squids on Gixers all day anyway. Not planning on pushing it hard. The one downside is that large portions of these roads are in federal park lands, which means if you get a ticket, it's a FEDERAL ticket, and starts north of $500 and goes up for there.

 

[No More Buffalo]

Well I made it back in one piece, car performed like a champ, and I'm not even stiff after 12 hours in the seat today.

Here are a few photo highlights from the trip:

TDI@ Chimney Rock, near Asheville

TDI on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Obligatory photo in front of the factory

TDI @ Tail of the Dragon

Almost...

Milestone!

 

[No More Buffalo]

Oh, and PS, the last tank of the trip was 563 miles from a bit Etowah, TN to my hometown... 14.54 gallons. Not bad for a DSG car, given that about 180 of those miles were being thrashed hard in the mountains. The other tanks on the trip were better.

Fuelly totals for the trip (includes a couple of days around town in the middle)

2139 miles
56.57 gallons
37.8mpg

 

[TDI Space-Coaster]

Good, fun, post to read with great photos.
Thanks

 

[Ace Deprave]

Hey, nice job on the trip and the taste in music! Just drove from Lake Charles, LA to Birmingham, AL to see ex DBT member Jason Isbell record a live album on 8/17!

Averaged 43.4 over 930 miles.