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Inconsiderate Drivers (share your stories, etc.)

21746 messages,  Last post on May 21, 2013 at 7:38 PM

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What is this discussion about? Car Safety

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#19711 of 21746 Re: Go fast in Texas! [fintail] by andre1969

Sep 11, 2012 (12:03 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Sep 11, 2012 11:46 am)
But how much money saved vs time? It is again all a personal decision. If I can get 30mpg at 70mph but 32mpg at 50mph, I am going to choose the faster speed. What is "illogical" is subjective.
 
Back in 2008, when gas prices were getting expensive, I remember driving my 2000 Intrepid up to PA to go to the Ford Show in Carlisle on one brutally hot June day. Just out of curiosity, I tried hypermiling it. No a/c (this was early in the morning, before it got hot). Tried to keep the speed around 55-60, which was hard to do, and I did get up to 65-70 once or twice. MPG on that run was 32.1 mpg, which I think is the best I ever got out of that car.
 
A few months later in October, I went up again, for the Fall Carlisle swap meet. This time I averaged more like 65-70 mph, with perhaps an occasional jaunt to 75 or 80. Flow of traffic, more or less. Fuel economy on that run was 30.82
 
The following week I went back up for the show in Hershey, PA. This time, I was running around 70-75 for the most part, and again getting up to 80 on occasion. This time around, 30.01.
 
So really, not a huge difference IMO. And going at those slow speeds like I did the first time around can actually be dangerous, when there's too much speed disparity between cars. Now, that first time I did it, everybody seemed to be going a bit slower, no doubt in reaction to gasoline that was approaching $4.00 per gallon for the first time. So, it wasn't as bad. But, now that people have gotten used to high gas prices and are driving faster, I'd be afraid to go that slow on my PA run.
 
Making that trip up for Hershey can be pretty adventurous too, as sometimes you'll get some old fossil who takes their Model-A or something similarly slow and putts along at 35-40 mph.

#19712 of 21746 Re: Go fast in Texas! [andre1969] by bobw3

Sep 11, 2012 (12:31 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Sep 11, 2012 12:03 pm)
I agree...if you're really only getting 2mpg more by going 55-60 vs 75mph, then I wouldn't worry about the MPG savings either. But from what I've read and experienced, most people will see a lot better MPG improvement that what you're seeing, but it does depend on the specific vehicle. That's the way statistics and averages work out.

#19713 of 21746 Re: Go fast in Texas! [xwesx] by busiris

Sep 11, 2012 (12:33 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Sep 11, 2012 9:49 am)
I'm not sure where your argument is trying to go.... Nobody stated the contrary. The counterpoints were simply that fuel economy doesn't necessarily vary as dramatically at different speeds, depending on the vehicle, as what that website presented, and saving fuel is not necessarily the most important factor for the driver.
 
Overall, well stated.
 
I would only add that, in many modern models. say a BMW, Audi, Chrysler 300 or Lexus (there are many others) the fuel savings one might see are so small as to not be of any major importance to them.
 
Im not advocating speeding, but at least to me, going 60 on a 70 MPH Interstate highway just to get 32mpg .vs. 30.5 mpg, over the length of a 5-6 hour trip seems like poor justification for running 60. Now, if the mpg ratings were 32 .vs. 16, its a different story altogether... but in reality, it isn't.

#19714 of 21746 Re: Go fast in Texas! [busiris] by ateixeira

Sep 11, 2012 (1:24 pm)

Replying to: busiris (Sep 11, 2012 12:33 pm)
I bet the gearing would have a major effect.
 
Some autos have 8 ratios now, so they can lower RPMs waaaay down at high speeds. CVTs also have a very wide range of gearing.
 
I heard the new Outback can go nearly 80mph at just 2000 or so rpm. That sure helps.
 
Of course rolling resistance decreases linearly, while aero resistance increases in a non-linear manner, so you still give up something.

#19715 of 21746 Re: Go fast in Texas! [ateixeira] by ruking1

Sep 11, 2012 (2:13 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 11, 2012 1:24 pm)
Anymore between normal operating parameters, the car is designed to get as good mpg figures as possible. In a normal commute (09 TDI Jetta) with an average speed of 18 to 36 mpg (1.5 to .45 min) over 27 miles per trip we get between 39- 42 mpg. When cruising ( 90 mph or slightly less) without thought or fanfare (actually close to a no brainer) post 40-42 mpg. This is on a EPA rated vehicle of 29 C 40 H.
 
Now, we also get similar mpg results with a 03 Jetta TDI only (slightly) better range of 48-52 in both scenarios. A steady 90 mph will post 50 mpg. Any number of times I have run 584 miles in 6.25 hours for a 12.1 gal fuel stop and posted 48.26 mpg.
 
So yes the theory is great and all. However the real world gets ,.... in the way !?

#19716 of 21746 Re: Go fast in Texas! [andre1969] by fintail

Sep 11, 2012 (1:38 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Sep 11, 2012 12:03 pm)
Interesting, your mpg results aren't too far off what I posted - different cars, but the decrease in mpg with significant speed increase was not remarkable in either car.
 
In a couple days, I will take a small road trip in the E55 - I will average around 65mph, which will return around 25mpg - not unacceptable for a relatively old school gas swilling tuned V8. I'll keep proper lane positioning and wager I won't cut anyone off or obstruct anyone, either. I am usually considerate, until horn honking time comes around

#19717 of 21746 Re: Go fast in Texas! [ateixeira] by fintail

Sep 11, 2012 (1:39 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 11, 2012 11:55 am)
My afternoon commute option C is an average speed of ~15mph (seriously) and mileage of around 15mpg. Negligent traffic controls are a big part of that.

#19718 of 21746 Re: Go fast in Texas! [fintail] by ateixeira

Sep 11, 2012 (1:59 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Sep 11, 2012 1:39 pm)
My GPS tracks average speed and time spent not moving and I can't even look any more.

#19719 of 21746 Re: Here's an inconsiderate driver... [imidazol97] by busiris

Sep 11, 2012 (3:11 pm)

Replying to: imidazol97 (Sep 11, 2012 7:46 am)
Bikes aren't invisible to radar or laser clocking, but they are smaller targets.
 
If you're pointing a radar gun at a bike off in the distance, and the backdrop behind it is a semi, which is being targeted?
 
It's actually why some "less conservative" bikers like to shoot and scoot through lots of traffic, because that traffic gives them quite a bit of "cover".
 
Riding for so many years, I learned that the safest way to ride on an Interstate or limited access highway is to run slightly faster than the traffic flow... 1-3 mph. It keeps you from staying in blind spots very long, and it helps minimize getting rear ended.
 
The key is to not stay in one spot too long.
 
In my life, I guess I've ridden well over 150,000 miles and never been stopped for speeding.

#19720 of 21746 Re: Go fast in Texas! [fintail] by backy

Sep 11, 2012 (3:23 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Sep 11, 2012 1:39 pm)
Hey, perfect commute for a Prius!
 
 

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