Drive865 + Turo // Tail of the Dragon
We've got the Dragon cars. Booking direct is cheaper and faster.
Drive865 runs the cars that belong on US-129: BRZ, Miata, MR2, WRX STI. They're on Turo too — but the Dragon trip generates specific questions that get answered faster direct. And direct is usually 10–25% cheaper.
Same fleet, two booking channels. Direct is usually cheaper because there's no platform fee.
Quick answer
Drive865 runs purpose-built Dragon cars — BRZ, Miata, MR2, and WRX STI. All are on Turo and available direct. Booking direct is usually 10–25% cheaper, and for a Dragon trip specifically, it's also faster: guests with specific questions (tire specs, alignment, recent service) get answers from us directly without going through Turo's messaging layer.
Key facts
- Same fleet on Turo?
- Yes — same cars, same hosts
- Direct price advantage
- Usually 10–25% cheaper
- Pickup
- Contactless lockbox at TYS or Maryville
- TYS to Deals Gap
- About 1 hour 10 minutes
- Maryville to Deals Gap
- About 55 minutes
Why Dragon guests often switch to direct booking
The Tail of the Dragon is 318 curves in 11 miles. People planning this trip aren't browsing — they've researched the road, picked the car, and have specific questions before they confirm. What tires are on it? When was the last alignment? Is the clutch light or weighted? Is the car in pristine condition or has it been driven hard?
Those questions land in our inbox whether you book on Turo or direct. But when you book direct, we're talking to you over text or email with no platform in the middle. Faster answers, more honest context, and you leave confident about the car you're picking up.
Turo's messaging system works fine for routine bookings. For a Dragon trip, the back-and-forth before you confirm matters more than for most rentals. Direct booking is just cleaner for that.
The Dragon car lineup
The BRZ is the most booked Dragon car in the fleet. Rear-wheel drive, low center of gravity, precise steering. The Miata is the purist pick — open-top, rear-wheel, analogue. The MR2 is the rare mid-engine option; if you know what you're looking for, you're already excited about this one.
The WRX STI is the AWD choice. If you want performance with traction confidence — especially in shoulder-season conditions or if part of your trip goes on forest roads — the STI delivers without asking you to compromise.
All four are maintained to drive enthusiast-spec. We drive them ourselves; we're not renting cars we wouldn't trust on the Dragon.
Logistics: Maryville pickup is closer
Our Maryville pickup is about 55 minutes from Deals Gap. TYS is about 70 minutes. For guests flying in, TYS is the obvious move. For guests driving from anywhere else in East Tennessee, the Maryville pickup skips the airport detour and you're on US-129 faster.
The return process is the same contactless lockbox. Leave the car at whichever location you arranged, drop the key in the lockbox, and you're done. Most Dragon guests book a full day or overnight — the pace of the road calls for it.
What's in the fleet
See full fleet →
Picked for this trip
2020 Subaru BRZ Limited
The Dragon default. RWD, low-slung, responsive. The BRZ is what most Drive865 guests are searching for when they type 'Turo Tail of the Dragon.'
From $155/day
Picked for this trip
1995 Mazda Miata Base
The open-top purist option. US-129 in a Miata with the top down is exactly what the road was made for.
From $177/day
Picked for this trip
1994 Toyota MR2 GT-S
Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, JDM. If you know what the MR2 is, you already know why it belongs on the Dragon.
From $244/day
Picked for this trip
2021 Subaru WRX STI Limited
AWD plus serious performance for the guest who wants confidence on variable mountain roads. The STI doesn't ask you to choose.
From $199/day
Frequently asked questions
Is the BRZ or Miata better for the Dragon?
Personal preference shapes the answer. The BRZ is stiffer and more planted at speed. The Miata is more communicative and the open top makes the experience feel different. Both are well-matched to US-129. If you want an honest answer for your driving style, text us before booking.
Can I ask about the car's condition before booking?
Yes — and this is exactly the kind of question that's easier over direct booking. Text us with your trip dates and the specific car you're looking at. We'll tell you tire age, last service, and whether there's anything to know.
Is it faster to message you directly than through Turo?
Yes. Turo's in-app messaging works, but there's still a platform layer. Direct booking means you're texting our phone number directly. We're fast either way, but direct is faster for detailed pre-trip questions.
Is the MR2 available on Turo?
Yes. The MR2 is listed on our Turo host account under the Knoxville/TYS search results. It's also available direct on Drive865.com. Given how specific the MR2 audience is, direct booking is usually the better move for answering pre-trip questions.
How far is the Dragon from TYS?
About 1 hour and 10 minutes from TYS to Deals Gap via US-411 and US-129. Our Maryville pickup shaves about 15 minutes off that drive.
Is direct booking really that much cheaper for a Dragon trip?
Usually 10–25% on the same car. A two-day Dragon trip on our sports cars often runs $150–300 on Turo. Shaving 15% off is $22–45. Multi-day direct discounts stack further.
Do you allow track days or time attacks?
No. The Dragon is a public road, and we're fine with spirited driving there. Track events and time-attack runs are excluded. The cars are insured for road use, not competition use.
Related
Related
Tail of the Dragon attraction guide
Everything you need to know about US-129 — the road, the logistics, and what to drive.
Related
Best car for the Tail of the Dragon
Deep guide comparing every Drive865 vehicle for the Dragon trip specifically.
Related
Turo Maryville
Our Maryville pickup is 55 minutes from Deals Gap — closer than TYS.
Related
Manual transmission rentals
The BRZ and Miata are both manual. Here's what that means for the Dragon.
Direct is usually cheaper
From $88/day