(Dale Earmhardt's 'Intimidator' package Monte Carlo)
Even with a supercharged V-6 sport car, I average 27.3 MPG combined.
And the way I drive, that's really good!
Posted on 05/23/2008 10:23:11 AM PDT by Entrepreneur
If there's one thing that's worse than paying $4 per gallon for gasoline, it's the resurgent talk of lowering speed limits to conserve fuel.
Because, of course, these lowered limits won't be enforced as a "conservation" measure.
Any curtailment of speed limits will be treated as a saaaaafety issue -- just as happened during the Dark Decades of the 55 mph National Maximum Speed Limit. "Speeding" tickets will be issued and "points" assigned. At the stroke of a lawmaker's pen (and the cop's, too) driving "x" MPH will suddenly become "unsafe," rather than merely wasteful.
This is the most intolerable aspect of the whole scam.
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
And flipping you the bird....
(Dale Earmhardt's 'Intimidator' package Monte Carlo)
Even with a supercharged V-6 sport car, I average 27.3 MPG combined.
And the way I drive, that's really good!
It’s not about conservation or safety...
IT’S ABOUT MONEY!!
Not all cars are at their most efficient at 55. Some are most efficient at 40 and others 65...
If I drive 80 on the highway like everybody else, my Toyota pickup gets 20 mpg.
If I drive 60 with the tailgate down, I get 30 mpg on the highway portion, and 25 mpg overall.
That's the difference between burning 4 gallons a day, or three gallons a day.
I hate it, but I'm driving 60 now.
Not that I want the speed limits changed. I can drive more slowly voluntarily without making everybody else do the same.
Myth.
Driving from NY to Atlanta, I tested speed vs. MPG in a full-size 6-cylinder Ford Explorer.
Lowest MPG I got was at 55. Highest was around 75. Difference was minor.
Other people report similar results with other vehicles.
Older cars may have done best at 55, but 30 years of auto engineering has changed that.
Sorry, but my car gets better mileage at 65 than 55 (on the highway).
As George Carlin said:
Anyone who drives slower than you is an idiot. Anyone who drives faster than you is a maniac.
We're in a major one right now. Our government and future of our nation is being held hostage by tyrants. The DEMs and GOP teamed up together 12 years ago and turned against us. Of course you know if your not for them your for the terrorist. /sarcasm
If the Congress proposes this, it will probably be called some bullsh*t like the “Fuel Economy and Highway Safety Act of 2008” and we’ll of course call it the “Freedom-Stealing and Revenue Enhancement Act.”
I try to maintain respect for my elders but ‘the greatest generation’ has slipped badly in my estimation due to their Social Security monomania that keeps people like Jay Rockefeller in office.
It may be untoward to ask but I’ll do it anyway. Seniors have been on this earth for 60, 70, 80 years. At any point during those long decades did these seniors decide to provide for themselves during and after their working years? Isn’t all the moaning about ‘fixed incomes’ a euphemism for ‘we didn’t save for our retirement and must live hand to mouth courtesy of Uncle Sam’s monthly checks’?
I try to maintain respect for my elders but ‘the greatest generation’ has slipped badly in my estimation due to their Social Security monomania that keeps people like Jay Rockefeller in office.
It may be untoward to ask but I’ll do it anyway. Seniors have been on this earth for 60, 70, 80 years. At any point during those long decades did these seniors decide to provide for themselves during and after their working years? Isn’t all the moaning about ‘fixed incomes’ a euphemism for ‘we didn’t save for our retirement and must live hand to mouth courtesy of Uncle Sam’s monthly checks’?
Do that in Atlanta and we’ll hear about you on the traffic report (”vehicle crash in center lane backing up traffic for miles...”). Cruising speed is 80. Doing 55 is downright dangerous.
I always hated the term “fixed income” anyway, as if most working people DON’T have fixed incomes...if you have a salary, you have a FIXED INCOME until your employer decides you deserve a raise! How’s that any different?
I think that it is great that you have found savings that you enjoy in a way that doesn’t cramp your style. At 55 versus 70, my mileage varies by 5-10%, and that is not worth the time spent on the road because I absolutely hate time spent inside a vehicle. I do get savings coupled with exercise by riding my bike if my destination is within five miles and I am able to carry my load within my basket.
Does the term gear ratio's and fuel efficency mean anything to you? A Renault may be most efficent at 55 MPH that is if they don't fly apart first. But a tuned up fuel injected engine in a car or truck will likely use less gas at about 65 MPH. Also let's not forget most vehicles of today have Overdrive. Drive 55 MPH in a lot of places and the vehicle will be in high gear instead of less demanding on fuel usage overdrive a majority of the time.
Actually the Feds were doing traffic studies and if a certain number of vehicles were exceeding the limit by x amount, the state could lose highway funds. This is much like they do with seat belt usage by monitoring the percentage using seatbelts and thretening and/or penalizing the state if there is not a high enough percentage of compliance.
That works, FOR CARS.
The cross-sectional area of trucks and SUVs is so much larger than for cars that drag dominates energy consumption at much lower speeds.
A Dodge Durango, for instance, was recently measured to reach maximum efficiency at a whopping 25 mph.
Big vehicles spend most of their energy on ploughing air.
Try it with the tailgate up.
With the tailgate up, a large horizontal vortex of air forms behind the cab and improves the aerodynamics of the truck.
The National Research Council Canada, Ford Motor Company, and DaimlerChrysler test this, and they've all come to the same conclusion: Driving with the tailgate down decreases highway fuel economy, and removing the tailgate usually makes it worse. In many instances, it also increases rear lift at speeds, an undesirable condition in a vehicle with only a third of its weight back there to start with.
Putting a tonneau or hard bed cover over your truck is the best thing you can do for highway fuel economy.
Jimmy Carter re-incarnated (Obama) just said we just can’t kep driving our SUV’s at 70.
A return to the 55 mph speed limit will bring instant recession and eventual economic depression. The change represents a 22% decline in truck productivity that will ripple down thw whole economy.
Such a decrease in productivity will mean wholsale loss of jobs.
I remember driving with my dad in the early 1960s in Arizona. The highway speed limit sign read:”Resume at safe speed.”
I noticed that average traffic speeds on the PA Turnpike have dropped in recent weeks. Most everybody is strictly observing the 65 limit. Used to be you’d get run over on some stretches if you (only) did the limit.
My point is that people will adjust on their own — and they are. Forcing a uniform National Speed Limit is the worst kind of Top-Down solution.
Gee, USAA was ahead of its time on something else, eh? They were doing 10/4 twenty years ago.
Colonel, USAFR
How many times have you tried it?
Or do you just have a religious belief in whatever expert you happen to be quoting at the moment?
Sweet!
Turning off your AC only saves gas if you drive with your windows up. If you need to roll them down, the extra drag uses more energy than the AC (at least at highway speeds — even 55).
There’s too much traffic, I can’t pass, no. . .
See my tagline.
I don't suppose you might have thought that the truck manufactures have tested this and if it did increase gas mileage by "any" amount they would use that fact when stating fuel economy ratings. There would be a section on this in their "Owners Manual" titled - Leave Your Tailgate Down For Better Mileage.
You can bet I will not be quoting your 10% self perceived increase in fuel economy!
Who asked you to?
-PJ
Personally, I believe that anyone driving faster than me is a complete lunatic and a menace and that anyone driving slower is a complete idiot and a menace!
"Be grateful you aren't getting all of the government you're paying for!"
"Government inefficiency is really a blessing. Could you imagine an efficient IRS?"
Sounds like NotaDumbBlonde
I already drive 55. That’s as fast as my Yugo will go.
You got a Yugo to go 55? You should contact the Guinness Book of World Records.
A friend of mine got the Yugo station wagon.
It's called a Wego.
ROTFLOL
Sorry, sometimes I amuse myself.
I have my moments, LOL! ;-)
Buckwheat, that's one of my biggest problems with enviromarxism. They preach scarcity over prosperity. Their's is a pessimistic, cynical, negative outlook.
It's like there's a broad, global movement towards Jimmy Carter's malaise. I prefer Reagan's optimism.
This brings to mind the infamous wager between Julian Simon and Paul Erhlich. We need a Julian Simon today. The closest we've got is John Stossel.
I'm an optimist about everything surrounding the human spirit, which makes me a pessimist about everything surrounding government. Government smothers the human spirit.
Like my favorite beer, some government is beneficial and tastes good. Too much government may feel pretty good in the short term, but will leave you sick and hung over. Out of control government can kill you.
Oh Shi’ite, not again!!! I’ve lived too many decades in a Nanny State and am sick to my stomach about it. Claire Wolfe, is it time yet?
“IRFHFY”
I am not nearly savvy enough to understand that.
Yeah, that's one of my pet peeves. Take an 8 lane highway, cut out two HOV lanes, and all you do is reduce highway capacity by 25%, increasing congestion, pollution, aggravation, etc.
So why do we have the silly HOV lanes? That's easy...
1. Feelings - Libs "feel" better, smug, superior, and sanctimonious because they think they're "doing" something, even though it's little more than surrendering rights for a counterproductive purpose.
2. Revenue - There's lots of money fining HOV violators.
If you doubt the revenue, the fact that many areas are considering allowing anyone to use the HOV if they purchase a Speed Pass or Toll Tag. It's all about the revenue.
Frankly, I hope they do let people willing to pay a premium have access to HOV lanes. It will reduce congestion on other lanes. It's a voluntary tax. And if I value my time enough to pay a premium to get somewhere faster, I come out ahead and so do you (i.e., someone else takes on a greater tax burden, purportedly lowering yours - in truth the government will just waste the extra bounty).
The war on the West continues.
“Sorry, but my car gets better mileage at 65 than 55”
Not likely.
BUMP!
Not likely.
According to my on-board computer, but you believe whatever you like.
I pay the gas bill. I know.
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