Long trip in my GT auto!!
10-03-2006, 03:11 AM
#1
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Location:
Posts: 160
Long trip in my GT auto!!
Hello, All!!
I just returned from a trip from Orange County, California, to Monterey, CA. about 370 miles one way!
We have a 2006 GT convertible with the auto trans, and it has just 5000 miles on the clock.
We left at 3:30 am, to avoid L. A. traffic, and I decided to keep it around 75 MPH to help break-in, and also to see what kind of mileage I could achieve...Here's what I found out on the trip:
First, this thing has TORQUE!! I cruised right up the steepest hills of the Grapevine with the cruise control set at 77MPH. The car took the hills easily at 2200RPM, in top gear! The auto trans didn't even downshift, just a steady pull up the hills. The other cars around me at the bottom of the hill fell back quickly. After about a minute, I could see no headlights in my mirrors!! Great fun!
Second, the cruise control worked great! I did the whole trip resting my right foot! I used the steering wheel buttons to correct my speed for conditions, and when a fast pass was needed, a light push on the throttle would bring a downshift to 4th, and 100MPH would be mine in seconds, all very effortless! I recommend using the cruise on a long trip because even in the convertible, 100MPH felt serene.
Third, the headlights are wonderful! I cruised with lows and fogs on (yes, i did get flashed occasionally) and the wide beam saved me from hitting a coyote at 77MPH which ran onto the road, I could see him well before he touched the pavement! The high beams were bright enough, but I prefered the wide angle of the fog lights at night. BTW, the high-speed stability was also very good. I had to swerve so hard at one point (road debris) that I woke up my 3 sleeping passengers! They were slightly paniked, but I was never out of control.
Forth, it's always the 4-cyl camrys, altimas, and sentras that go 90-plus MPH at night, WAY over thier heads!!
Fifth, I LOVE the on board computer!!!! I got 23 MPG average for the trip, on mid-grade gas (I have trouble trusting regular grade fuel, it is the cash-cow for the oil companies, and I have no doubt that it is chemically stretched to go as far as possible!!) and it was easy to use at night, along with all other controls in the cockpit, a really well engineered interior.
To sum up, it was a fun, relaxing trip! The few close calls I had convinced me that a high performance car is much safer to travel in than a stripped, small tire'd gas-mileage champion! When I am driving my wife and two sleeping girls, it's reassuring to drive a car that won't fold under pressure!
CB
PS, Our car is stock, we drove with the top up, and the hood did flutter a bit over 80MPH!
I just returned from a trip from Orange County, California, to Monterey, CA. about 370 miles one way!
We have a 2006 GT convertible with the auto trans, and it has just 5000 miles on the clock.
We left at 3:30 am, to avoid L. A. traffic, and I decided to keep it around 75 MPH to help break-in, and also to see what kind of mileage I could achieve...Here's what I found out on the trip:
First, this thing has TORQUE!! I cruised right up the steepest hills of the Grapevine with the cruise control set at 77MPH. The car took the hills easily at 2200RPM, in top gear! The auto trans didn't even downshift, just a steady pull up the hills. The other cars around me at the bottom of the hill fell back quickly. After about a minute, I could see no headlights in my mirrors!! Great fun!
Second, the cruise control worked great! I did the whole trip resting my right foot! I used the steering wheel buttons to correct my speed for conditions, and when a fast pass was needed, a light push on the throttle would bring a downshift to 4th, and 100MPH would be mine in seconds, all very effortless! I recommend using the cruise on a long trip because even in the convertible, 100MPH felt serene.
Third, the headlights are wonderful! I cruised with lows and fogs on (yes, i did get flashed occasionally) and the wide beam saved me from hitting a coyote at 77MPH which ran onto the road, I could see him well before he touched the pavement! The high beams were bright enough, but I prefered the wide angle of the fog lights at night. BTW, the high-speed stability was also very good. I had to swerve so hard at one point (road debris) that I woke up my 3 sleeping passengers! They were slightly paniked, but I was never out of control.
Forth, it's always the 4-cyl camrys, altimas, and sentras that go 90-plus MPH at night, WAY over thier heads!!
Fifth, I LOVE the on board computer!!!! I got 23 MPG average for the trip, on mid-grade gas (I have trouble trusting regular grade fuel, it is the cash-cow for the oil companies, and I have no doubt that it is chemically stretched to go as far as possible!!) and it was easy to use at night, along with all other controls in the cockpit, a really well engineered interior.
To sum up, it was a fun, relaxing trip! The few close calls I had convinced me that a high performance car is much safer to travel in than a stripped, small tire'd gas-mileage champion! When I am driving my wife and two sleeping girls, it's reassuring to drive a car that won't fold under pressure!
CB
PS, Our car is stock, we drove with the top up, and the hood did flutter a bit over 80MPH!
10-03-2006, 03:35 AM
#2
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location:
Posts: 805
RE: Long trip in my GT auto!!
Better than a mini-van right?
I'm glad your trip went smoothly and safe. Get a CAI and a tune and you would easily obtain 25+ MPG's even with your auto tranny. What did you come down to Orange County for?
I'm glad your trip went smoothly and safe. Get a CAI and a tune and you would easily obtain 25+ MPG's even with your auto tranny. What did you come down to Orange County for?
10-04-2006, 04:04 AM
#8
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location:
Posts: 805
RE: Long trip in my GT auto!!
ORIGINAL: legendlime
RCT,
Actually, I live in Orange County, and my neice had a wedding in Monterey.
I never thought of the MPG argument for getting a CAI!!
CB
RCT,
Actually, I live in Orange County, and my neice had a wedding in Monterey.
I never thought of the MPG argument for getting a CAI!!
CB
As for the CAI you could always tell the wife, "But hunny with gas prices I need to do everything I can to help it out."
10-04-2006, 12:19 PM
#9
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 222
RE: Long trip in my GT auto!!
Yeah, the 'Stangs have a nice ride. When I first got my Mustang, I had to take a long trip and put about 500 miles on it. Totally enjoyable...except for the traffic, of course.
...wait...did you say you had THREE other people in the car with you? What, were they midgets? Or were some of the chicks "piled up"?
...wait...did you say you had THREE other people in the car with you? What, were they midgets? Or were some of the chicks "piled up"?
