Gas Mileage redux - tale of the tape
Finished my MI-NY-CT-NY-MI trip covering 2012 miles in six days. Almost exclusively highway driving at 72-78 mph with an occasional spurt to 85-90. I keep a mileage (calculated) and repair log on all my cars, so this is exact.
Over 2012 miles I averaged 28.4 with a best of 30 even and a worst of 26 even. I think the two lows were due to not filling the tank completely and the high maybe due to the opposite - filling it to the brim. So the overall average is a good indicator. Since my original window sticker says 17/25, I'm more than satisfied, especially since I was cooking along at 5-10 over the speed limit on cruise most of the time. I'm pretty sure this baby could do over 30 mpg consistently if I had the patience to drive at 60-65. PS - I used midrange gas except in two cases: one fillup with premium in CT and another in Port Huron MI (even though it was 10% ethanol, I could not resist the $4.05 price tag). And a good 1500 miles of the trip were with the top down and the side windows up, so it was not the most aerodynamic situation.
I used a Bel V965 all the time except in Ontario, where they are illegal. I had plenty of warning in NY and MI, easily picking up early radar signals 1/2 mile before spotting the trooper. My only "scare" came when I got behind a semi passing a semi. That seemed to take forever, like elephants humping. So as I stayed back to avoid any potential road debris, I suddenly noticed a blue pickup smack dab on my rear bumper, not 20 feet behind me. As soon as the truck pulled over, I nailed it up to 85 and pulled over in front of the lead truck...and a blue NYS police SUV goes by me in a big hurry.