As I was driving my teenage daughter to a concert 3 hours each way last night in my 81 240D I had an idea on how to reduce global warming and our dependence on foreign oil- bring back the 55 MPH speed limit
Because it was late and raining with nasty winds I set the cruise on 55 and just ambled down the road. When I stopped for fuel on the way home I filled up with 10 gallons and had gone 385 miles! I usually get about 30 mpg so I was pleasantly surprised. What do you greenies think about this? Would you be willing to slow down to save the planet?

It's a great idea but it would never work. People don't even drive the speed limit now - making it slower isn't going to slow them down.

When gas was over $4/g last year I had a lot of 55 mph-er's in the left lane.

P.S. - My Saab gets close to 40mpg when I go 55mph.

Anything less than three miles I just ride my bike. On weekends if I have to get somewhere and I have time I just ride my bike.

__________________
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

55 mph limit again???!!

Easy to say if you drive an 81 240D.


NOT so easy to say if you drive a 91 560SEC AMG that has seen 152 mph and the pedal was not to the floor. <---------- "maybe"...(depends who asked)

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

You can drive 55 mph all you want AS LONG AS YOU DO IT IN THE RIGHT LANE. Left lane campers deserve to have their tires shot out......

__________________
1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

Keep out of the left lane.



I like to cruise at the flow of traffic, which in my part of California is 85-90mph.

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

All around the NYC area, the limit remains at 55mph.

Everybody does 65-70...........some do 80.

The limit is not the problem..........it's the lack of enforcement.

I'd be fine with a strict 60 mph limit in urban areas..........the time saved by going 70 mph over the course of 35-40 minutes is really minimal.

This afternoon in rainy/icy /sleet weather, the guy who passed me at 85-90 on the free way ended up being the main cause of a traffic slowdown after he hit two other cars and caused a major back up.

Laws of physics say it loud and clear: you can't drive 90 on ice and expect to be able to stop as if the pavement were dry...

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

I was definitely in the right lane most of the way. Even though most of my fleet is old slow diesels (except for my V10 excursion) I can't stand self appointed speed limit enforcers. I don't know if it's the law anymore, but I still believe that the left lane is for passing only. Anyway, back to the 55 mph thing- I don't see how anyone could argue that it wouldn't be good for the planet. Anyone who is against it is just selfish and destroying the earth. Plus the slower speed would save lives and even if it saves one life it's worth it.

LOL I hear that...

__________________
76 MG Midget
78 Datsun 280Z
86 Peugeot 505
01 Subaru Outback

“Owning a car is like owning a dog. Every now and then, it craps on the carpet — but it’s still your dog.” - Jeremy Clarkson

You know............ Sammy Hagar wrote a song about this exact subject.

I'll have to agree with Sammy!

__________________
AJ

1985 300D (SOLD)

No. 55 is an arbitrary and stupid limit. If 55 no reason why not 45 or 35. Speed limits have nothing to do with saving the planet. And they sure as hell aren't going to pretend that they do in Europe, so no reason why we need to be inconvenienced by them here.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

I always did go 80/90mph. Three months ago I had to drive from LA to San Diego for work, the guy I was working for was only paying me $20 for gas. With normal driving; 80mph it will take little less than a full tank of gas back and forth (±$50,-). Not really willing to pay the difference my self I decided to not go faster than 55mph and to hang as much as possible behind big-rigs. I did the trip on less than half a tank; I've learned my lesson.

I is pretty hard to stay at 55mph and pretty challenging, but also very relaxing at the end.

__________________
1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

What's wrong with you? I like my kid but I wouldn't even consider a 6 hour drive so my kid could see a concert.

That's what DVDs are for.

I just say it's sold out. End of story.


P.S. My son saw Paul McCartney this summer.

He liked the show but didn't know who he was or any of his songs.

+1

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D