Quote:
Originally Posted by MS Fowler
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Best mileage improvement is simple--slow down. The power required to overcome wind resistance is exponential. i.e doubling the speed requires 4 times the power; triple the speed and you need nine times the power. Works the other way too, cut your speed in half and you reduce the power required by 4. That doesn't mean 1/4 the gas will be used--there are other factors, but speed is the big one.
In reading gas mileage threads--here and on other forums--I am amused when someone posts something like this----"Manufacturer claimed 40 mpg highway--I drive all highway miles and I'm only getting 31.03455 mpg. I drive 80 miles each way from home to work, and it takes me almost an hour for the trip"....( Yes, its a made-up quote--but it illustrates how people complain of poor mileage while driving at extremely high speeds. You can't have it both ways.)
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While slowing down may be the cheapest way to improve mileage, I don't agree that it's the best. For example, watch the Top Gear episode where Jeremy drives a diesel Audi from London to Edinburgh and back without refueling. Yes he got great mileage, but it was sheer torture. Switching to a more efficient vehicle is the best way to improve mileage. I can drive my 300D like Lewis Hamilton in qualifying and still get 25 mpg. It's probably possible to extract that mpg from an E150, but the driving style required to do that would drive many people insane.
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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.
83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.
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