Explore the South West 660 with Drive Devon

Drive Devon MX-5 in Budleigh Salterton

The suns out, the scenery is stunning, the coast awaits, the picnics ready and you have the best company to share a road trip with. What’s missing? Oh yes, the car! But not just any old car.

If you’re going to set out and explore the South West 660 (of which we’re proud to be a member) you need to do it in style. And we think there is no better way than car hire, with a Drive Devon MX-5. Let’s do a quick checklist of essential ingredients for a truly great drive out:

1.      No roof? Yep, if you’re going to really experience the sights, sounds and smells of South West 660 coastal driving you need the roof off. Convertible. Check, we can do that. If the weather turns, there’s no slow complicated electric roof to handle. Just grab it and put it back up, takes seconds. Easy!

2.      Range anxiety? Check, it’s a good old fashioned petrol car. Loads of range! Old school motoring with a hearty exhaust note behind you (sounds all the better with that top off).

3.      Lane anxiety? You’re new to the area, the little lanes, tall hedges and blind corners can seem daunting. Oh, what’s that, a huge tractor coming straight towards you! No panic, we’ve got you covered. The MX-5 is a small sports car, easy to place on the road, You can see where the edges of the car are, even easier to reverse with that top down and you never feel like it’s too big for the very smallest of roads.

4.      Space for a picnic? Yep, the boots a decent size, enough to fit that picnic hamper and maybe some over night bags for a proper road trip.

5.      Fun to drive? Totally, with peppy little engines and rear wheel drive these cars are still fun. Think a modern classic MG with less of the reliability woes and leaky roofs if the weather turns.

6.      Looks pretty in photos? Definitely! You want that sunset shot with the car on a cliff top car park or by a seaside harbour. Yep, the MX-5 is classically pretty. We operate the second generation MX-5, the NB, arguably the prettiest of the lot! A good combination of more modern motoring, but with classic looks!

7.      Reliable. It’s a Japanese car, a Mazda, of course it is, with simple controls and no gadgets to go wrong or confuse the unfamiliar driver. Tick!

8.      Comfortable. We think so. Nice cosseting sports seats, that are still soft enough for a journey, but hold you in around the twisty bits.

Now where to take it? We’re based in East Devon, near Exeter and just off all those lovely coastal roads on route 3 of the South West 660. Why not get out of the rat race on the motorway, miss out the jams on the M5 and A303 and just head down by train. We are served by the South Western Railway London Waterloo to Exeter line or the Great Western mainline from London Paddington to Penzance. Imagine being met at the train station or Exeter airport by your convertible sportscar ride for your holiday. Put your bags in and off you go. Couldn’t be simpler. You’ll be sat with a cool drink by the seaside in no time. Plus, taking public transport to your destination is a little more sustainable. Equally you can bring your car and just park it up and swap over to one of ours. The choice is yours.

Leave the stress behind, take your dream road trip around the Southwest 660 with us.

Drive Devon

Convertible MX-5 with Drive Devon on the South West 660