Ok, he asked 2 things: 1, are his results normal for 80mph driving - answer= more or less yes
I don't worry about it, for me it's sort of a game, a little challenge that I amuse myself with on long trips. But I agree - no one should literally worry about it unless they think their consumption is way above the typical range for their driving style/conditions.
We don't need a sub-forum for that. There are already lots of threads that cover the "drive less-worry more" mode.
Man, I gotta start remembering to use those little smilies - you guys are really serious here
As a "Certified VW Nut" I thought you would understand
Now you're getting on my nerves
[SARCASM ALERT]
Ok then, how about a sub-forum for this: monetary justifications for owning a TDI - because "I just like the car" apparently isn't a good enough reason. It could be titled something like, "Why didn't you just buy a Corolla"
D). There was a time in the not too distant past that I had more Corollas than VWs. Thankfully, I've found my way out of Purgatory.I wouldn't entirely agree with that. Cruise control works if you haven't gotten down the hypermiling techniques, but once you learn the tricks CC usually gets me 5mpg less then just using my right foot. I like to lock my foot in place when going up a hill and stay at a constant rpm and maintain a constant boost rather than a constant speed. maybe the occasional person has to pass me in the left lane but I'm still getting 50+mpg realtime going up steep hills
When this happens a few times, I use the 90 MPH / 145 km/h solution to the problem.
My wife car easily gets 45mpg when traveling 75-80mpg with the A/C on. If we can slow down to 55mph, she can get close to 60mpg. Of course, it is a tiny hybrid, so it isn't so fun to drive.I have to ask: what other new car could you drive at 80 that could get 35 MPG? I'd bet not many. I'd not slow down, either. I'd keep enjoying my new car!
The older ones can get better, but they are not as fast nor as "clean".
What I do is pass them WOT at 80-90mph , stay at 80 for a couple of minutes and see them get smaller on my rear view mirror. Then, I go back to my 70mph and everybody is happy.
I do that from time to time too, and then find that, eventually, they're backkkk! That's when I start looking for a rest stop. Nothing better than getting rid of an annoying driver and an empty bladder.
I do find people who can't use a cruise control annoying. It really annoys me when I come up on them and they are doing 5 less than the speed limit in the fast lane. I have to sit behind them until they finally get out of the way, then I speed up to 75 and they ride my bumper for the next 20 miles. I could imagine if I somehow annoyed them, but I don't get right up on them, I just sit back a few car lengths until they get out of the way. Why would they be going under the speed limit, if the felt it was ok to exceed it...
