Friday ~08:15 - 08:30 north on Highway 5 through the Tehachapi mountains I dropped my Jetta from Lebec down to Grapevine. I kept it in 5th gear and the clutch out. The speedometer indicated ~98 mph. I haven't compared 98 mph against GPS but I guess 96 mph true. I originally dropped from Gorman and the speedometer was ~95-96. As you curve left around Frazier Park the grade levels off and speed drops to ~75. After Lebec I used the engine to take it up to ~95 mph and let let the car drop again. This is where the speedometer registered ~98 mph.
There was light rain in the Central Valley and I believe that Los Angeles was overcast. So I admit there might have been a tail wind but this is difficult to judge. I estimate the temperature to be low to mid 60 degrees farenheit, ~75% relative humidity. The road is posted as 6% grade. This seems to validate the coefficient of drag to be ~0.31 for the Jetta.
I don't always get conditions I judge safe enough to freefall the Jetta. I was wondering how this correlates with other Jettas. Has anyone had their Jetta up to >100 and drag would reduce it to ~98 indicated (with corresponding air correction) on the constant 6% downgrade? Eric's station wagon supposedly should freefall a little faster.
There was light rain in the Central Valley and I believe that Los Angeles was overcast. So I admit there might have been a tail wind but this is difficult to judge. I estimate the temperature to be low to mid 60 degrees farenheit, ~75% relative humidity. The road is posted as 6% grade. This seems to validate the coefficient of drag to be ~0.31 for the Jetta.
I don't always get conditions I judge safe enough to freefall the Jetta. I was wondering how this correlates with other Jettas. Has anyone had their Jetta up to >100 and drag would reduce it to ~98 indicated (with corresponding air correction) on the constant 6% downgrade? Eric's station wagon supposedly should freefall a little faster.
