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  #1  
Old 07-17-2005, 06:52 PM
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Here's something for you real tech gurus

I was thinking about this on the way home, maybe someone can answer it for me.

The national speed limit was 55 until 1995. Do the cars made before that year differ from the ones made during and after that year? Is the gearing differerent in any respect? I know my '91 Legacy likes to float down the road at 55, and the faster you go, the worse the gas mileage gets.
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  #2  
Old 07-17-2005, 09:55 PM
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Was there really any change before they repealed the 55 MPH national speed limit? No, not really. Vehicle aerodynamics and engine efficiency both started to improve considerably sometime in the later 1980's. There was pressure from all around for cars to get better mileage. Gas prices went up so people wanted cheaper transportation, and the government also started caring about emissions. The whole transition was fairly gradual.

The optimal speed for good mileage varies from car to car. Going slower isn't always better, and some vehicles get their best mileage at surprisingly high speeds. (My buddy's VW Corrado seems to get it's best mileage at between 75 and 85 MPH.) Many very sporty cars have good aerodynamics and always have, but surprisingly many of the less sporty looking cars have almost equally good aerodynamics these days. I think what really happened is that the government realized that the limit was ultimately unenforceable, had a negative impact on the mileage of many cars, and wasted people's time. I think the only substantial change was that manufacturer stopped highlighting the 55 MPH mark on speedometers.
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  #3  
Old 07-17-2005, 10:48 PM
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Well, some of us older members remember that the speed limit was 70 mph. Then the gas chruch came along and they made the speed limit every where (even the freeways) 50 mph and shortly after that made it 55. They finally moved it up to 65 mph and finally up to 70 mph. It is all about gas consumption. Like UberRoo mentioned, not all cars get the best mileage at the lower speeds. Now they are after SUVs and who know what will be next.
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  #4  
Old 07-18-2005, 08:54 AM
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Speed Limit

Speed limit is 75 here on interstates.

Lee
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  #5  
Old 07-18-2005, 09:22 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lhopp77
Speed limit is 75 here on interstates.

Lee
benebob'll tell you; speed limit here on the TurnPike is 65; gotta go 80 to keep up with traffic.

I bet even on 283 you have to go 75 to keep up with traffic (with local's not having radar, it makes speeding all the easier).
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Last edited by Manarius; 07-18-2005 at 09:24 AM.
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  #6  
Old 07-18-2005, 10:04 AM
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Here in Washington it is a lot different. In 15 miles on the interstate, I have seen 4 County Sheriff cars with radar, 2 State Patrol cycles and 4 State Patrol cars either with radar or cars pulled over. This is a daily occurance. There is a real crackdown on speed here in Washington. At least in my neck of the woods.
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1992 Pearl LS-L ~103K (06/91) #1680
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1993 25th AE ~107K (02/93) #215
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  #7  
Old 07-18-2005, 10:32 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ensteele
Here in Washington it is a lot different. In 15 miles on the interstate, I have seen 4 County Sheriff cars with radar, 2 State Patrol cycles and 4 State Patrol cars either with radar or cars pulled over. This is a daily occurance. There is a real crackdown on speed here in Washington. At least in my neck of the woods.
You're lucky though, you could blow by them in a different SVX every day and they wouldn't know .
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(8/23/07-Present) 1995 Subaru SVX LSi (197k) Polo Green (#1102) 03/95
Mods: DDM Tuning 4500k 35w Low Beam HID, 100w H3 Bulbs, Extra Ground Cables, 15 minute $12.96 mod,
svxfiles designed transmission mount (), sporting a "new" tail light bar,
silver BBS rims, custom power steering cooler (one that doesn't dump ATF constantly), new negative lead cable, no more third or fourth gear
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  #8  
Old 07-18-2005, 12:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Manarius
benebob'll tell you; speed limit here on the TurnPike is 65; gotta go 80 to keep up with traffic.

I bet even on 283 you have to go 75 to keep up with traffic (with local's not having radar, it makes speeding all the easier).
Not at all. I quite enjoy going the exact speed limit, esp on my bike and truck. I've found I can get 15% better mileage by doing it, plus its a lot of fun.

The XT on the other hand will get 25-28mpg regardless of if I'm going 65 or 95. Only varies if I have the ac on.
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Old 07-18-2005, 12:30 PM
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I remember when at least one western state's speed limit was, "safe and reasonable."

On the highway, my SVX's fuel economy rivals what I used to get in my old 90 horsepower, 5MT, AWD GL wagon. Proximity of the gas pedal to the floor has as much to do with fuel mileage as power and speed.

dcb
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Old 07-18-2005, 12:33 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by UberRoo
The optimal speed for good mileage varies from car to car. Going slower isn't always better, and some vehicles get their best mileage at surprisingly high speeds. (My buddy's VW Corrado seems to get it's best mileage at between 75 and 85 MPH.) Many very sporty cars have good aerodynamics and always have, but surprisingly many of the less sporty looking cars have almost equally good aerodynamics these days.

My personal best MPG was coming back from Williamsburg, Va to Baltimore, MD at about 1am. I was doing 90-100 and getting passed. I averaged 27MPG. I was completely shocked. I exspected to get about 20. I normally get about 230 when running 65-80 on highway trips to visit family.

On a side note, Saturday I paid more for a tank then ever before. I was so low the light came on. $2.53 a gallon and it cost a total of $37.00. The previous high was $32.00 two weeks ago. Before that I never had to pay more then 27.00 for a fill up.

Last edited by mikecg; 07-18-2005 at 12:38 PM.
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  #11  
Old 07-18-2005, 01:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dcarrb
I remember when at least one western state's speed limit was, "safe and reasonable."
dcb
That would have been Nevada, it was labeled as "Reasonable and Prudent."

In Wyoming, if you're pulled over, you pay the officer at that moment, as long as you haven't exceeded limit +10.
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  #12  
Old 07-18-2005, 01:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ensteele
Now they are after SUVs and who know what will be next.
The national 55 MPH speed limit was a direct consequence of the early-70s oil embargo that left many Americans waiting on line of a (literal) splash of gas. (Whether or not it was an effective or sensible means of enforcing conservation is another story.) Some will recall that we were also asked to set our home and office thermostats to 78 in the summertime, and 68 in winter, as a means to conserve resources. Imagine that.

What's next? Well, when some big crisis hits -- later than sooner, we all hope -- I doubt the Feds will fool around with the speed limit again and instead go right to gasoline ration coupons, as were used in WWII. That'll be interesting.

dcb

Last edited by dcarrb; 07-18-2005 at 01:21 PM.
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