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Took the car on fairly long road trip this past weekend and figured that I'd post my impressions and findings for everyone. I spent the weekend in Newport, RI and decided to take the Charger instead of the Acura (2002 TL-S). I assumed that I'd pay dearly for that in the fuel economy department, but was actually quite surprised. Regardless, I left from north of Detroit on Thursday evening after deciding that we'd take the long route, to Rhode Island, across the Ohio Turnpike, across PA and NJ on I-80 to I-95, up through New York City and on to Rhode Island. Car had ~1500 miles on it as we left.
Fuel economy was actually quite good. 850 miles in just over 12 hours according to the computer, so including construction, stopping/starting for fuel, spirited high speed runs with a WRX on the OH turnpike, and dealing with NYC traffic, I averaged 70mph. Before hitting NYC, the computer said average fuel economy was 25.0mpg, after NYC into Newport in Friday traffic, fuel economy dipped a little, but final average for the trip out was 24.9mpg. Not bad for a 4000+lb sled through the mountains.
As for the ride itself, after spending so much time in the car, I better appreciate some of the features. Power pedals are great when you've been sitting in the car for what seems like forever: move the seat back, put the pedals all the way out and you have plenty of room to stretch you legs with the cruise set. The interior of these cars is amazingly quiet. Just a slight hum from the motor/exhaust in the cabin and no road noise, which was great for the girlfriend who slept most of the way....made my life staying awake a little more difficult though.
The car drew plenty of looks on the highway as well as once we got into town. Nothing quite as funny as a thick New England accent saying "hey look, its ah Chahgah." Michigan gives 7 letters on its personalized plates. I may go with "Chahgah."
Car did similarly well on the way back. 24mpg with a little more playing on the turnpike getting home. Made it home from Buffalo (through PA and OH) without stopping for gas.
One thing that I did notice while everyone else was sleeping and I was transfixed by the Average MPG display is that the car does much better once it has fully warmed up. Obivously cars will get better fuel mileage once they are up to operating temp and out of open loop mode, but my car would go nearly 2 hours from startup at the same average economy, then without change it would slowly start to creep upward. Also, I got better mileage out of it with 87 octane than I did when I filled up with 89.
Good trip, good car. Now, its time for an oil change!
Fuel economy was actually quite good. 850 miles in just over 12 hours according to the computer, so including construction, stopping/starting for fuel, spirited high speed runs with a WRX on the OH turnpike, and dealing with NYC traffic, I averaged 70mph. Before hitting NYC, the computer said average fuel economy was 25.0mpg, after NYC into Newport in Friday traffic, fuel economy dipped a little, but final average for the trip out was 24.9mpg. Not bad for a 4000+lb sled through the mountains.
As for the ride itself, after spending so much time in the car, I better appreciate some of the features. Power pedals are great when you've been sitting in the car for what seems like forever: move the seat back, put the pedals all the way out and you have plenty of room to stretch you legs with the cruise set. The interior of these cars is amazingly quiet. Just a slight hum from the motor/exhaust in the cabin and no road noise, which was great for the girlfriend who slept most of the way....made my life staying awake a little more difficult though.
The car drew plenty of looks on the highway as well as once we got into town. Nothing quite as funny as a thick New England accent saying "hey look, its ah Chahgah." Michigan gives 7 letters on its personalized plates. I may go with "Chahgah."
Car did similarly well on the way back. 24mpg with a little more playing on the turnpike getting home. Made it home from Buffalo (through PA and OH) without stopping for gas.
One thing that I did notice while everyone else was sleeping and I was transfixed by the Average MPG display is that the car does much better once it has fully warmed up. Obivously cars will get better fuel mileage once they are up to operating temp and out of open loop mode, but my car would go nearly 2 hours from startup at the same average economy, then without change it would slowly start to creep upward. Also, I got better mileage out of it with 87 octane than I did when I filled up with 89.
Good trip, good car. Now, its time for an oil change!
