Drafting, do you do it?

[Cdubneeddeal]

+9000.

I never do this... Way too dangerous.

But you don't have a car.

For me personally I never draft. Tried it once behind a semi but the rock chips were a quick deterrent.

 

[XZeroII]

no. Very dangerous for both vehicles.

 

[ebaycj]

No. Sounds too much like "hypermiling" to me. And hypermilers should be shot in the head, for trading the safety of others for a 10% savings on their gasoline bill. Cheap fucks.

 

[wiretap]

I stay back far enough because I've seen far too many people do stupid shit on the highway and get in accidents. The closer you get to someone, the less time you have to react. I'd rather not total my vehicle.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I try with semi-trucks but for the most part, I've found it too difficult to draft and use cruise control so I just set it at 53mph and leave it at that. If I can draft a semi-truck doing 60mph or less, I might try but mostly I don't do it.

Sure you have. 53mph? On the highway? :hmm: Bet traffic loves you.

 

[jhu]

I usually find the slowest vehicle and stay 2-3 seconds behind, which is contrary to what most people tend to do around here.

 

[fleabag]

No. Sounds too much like "hypermiling" to me. And hypermilers should be shot in the head, for trading the safety of others for a 10% savings on their gasoline bill. Cheap fucks.

Oh right, because the guy weaving in and out of lanes and driving 90mph is a whole hell of a lot better....right..

Sure you have. 53mph? On the highway? :hmm: Bet traffic loves you.

First you're contesting what I'm saying and then you're asking me about how traffic feels about me? No traffic doesn't love me but when a car that is rated at 30mpg highway can now get 40mpg, I think I'm going to do it. Anyway while the traffic that is already going the speed limit or higher doesn't love me, the people merging on the highway do because it allows them time to merge onto the freeway.

 

[LTC8K6]

Mythbusters found that drafting is very effective for increasing MPG, and you don't have to be that close at all to get something like a 10% increase in MPG. But it's too dangerous.

100 feet behind a big rig gave 11% improvement and 50 feet gave 20% improvement according to their tests.

20 feet was 27% and 10 feet was 39%.

2 feet was too close and actually reduced economy due to having to move the throttle too much.

 

[jlee]

Oh right, because the guy weaving in and out of lanes and driving 90mph is a whole hell of a lot better....right..

Who said anything about driving 90mph and weaving in and out of traffic? Other than you, of course.

 

[fleabag]

Who said anything about driving 90mph and weaving in and out of traffic? Other than you, of course.

He says he hates hypermilers with a passion yet I'm pretty damn sure he doesn't feel the same way about people who speed because he's probably one of them.

 

[jlee]

He says he hates hypermilers with a passion yet I'm pretty damn sure he doesn't feel the same way about people who speed because he's probably one of them.

There's a big difference between running 70mph in the left lane (passing people like you) and reckless driving.

 

[fleabag]

There's a big difference between running 70mph in the left lane (passing people like you) and reckless driving.

I don't care if you're going 70mph in the far left lane because I'm going 53mph in the far right lane unless there is a transitioning between highways going on. Most of the highways I drive on are 4-6 lanes across in each direction so there is no excuse to get mad at people who drive slower than you do. I'll admit it, I've driven fast but I really don't do it anymore because I've failed to see the time savings but have definitely seen the gas savings of driving slower.

 

[jlee]

I don't care if you're going 70mph in the far left lane because I'm going 53mph in the far right lane unless there is a transitioning between highways going on. Most of the highways I drive on are 4-6 lanes across in each direction so there is no excuse to get mad at people who drive slower than you do. I'll admit it, I've driven fast but I really don't do it anymore because I've failed to see the time savings but have definitely seen the gas savings of driving slower.

So in other words, nobody was talking about driving 90mph and weaving in and out of traffic.

Over a long drive, a 12mph difference in average speed will make a big difference - almost five hours for the trip I'm taking next weekend. Some of us would rather spend a few bucks instead of spending another half day driving.

 

[LTC8K6]

I frequently make a 480 mile trip.

480/53=9 hours
480/70=under 7 hours...

 

[fleabag]

So in other words, nobody was talking about driving 90mph and weaving in and out of traffic.

Over a long drive, a 12mph difference in average speed will make a big difference - almost five hours for the trip I'm taking next weekend. Some of us would rather spend a few bucks instead of spending another half day driving.

Few bucks? I dunno, it depends on the vehicle you drive.. Ironically, the people I know who drive fast are always in vehicles that get the worst mileage (under 20mpg highway). If they just cut back on their speed, they'd save a pretty big chunk of change.

 

[LTC8K6]

If they just cut back on their speed, they'd save a pretty big chunk of change.

But lose a big chunk of time...

 

[fleabag]

But lose a big chunk of time...

Considering the amount of money they'd save on gas, the extra time would not out do how much they make per hour.. If they actually cared about their time, they'd just fly to their destination and rent a car..

 

[LTC8K6]

local price 2.47/gal

480 miles at 18mpg = 26.6 gallons
480 miles at 22mpg = 21.8 gallons
4.8 gallons of fuel extra for your typical SUV.

About 12 dollars.

480 miles at 25mpg = 19.2 gallons
480 miles at 32mpg = 15 gallons
4.2 gallons extra for a typical sedan

Under 11 dollars.

Using a larger difference than reality, too.

Well worth it to cut 2 hours off my trip, imo.

 

[jlee]

Few bucks? I dunno, it depends on the vehicle you drive.. Ironically, the people I know who drive fast are always in vehicles that get the worst mileage (under 20mpg highway). If they just cut back on their speed, they'd save a pretty big chunk of change.

I could also drive a 4cyl Ranger instead of a V8 Tundra -- or use dialup instead of DSL.

They're called "choices."

local price 2.47/gal

480 miles at 18mpg = 26.6 gallons
480 miles at 22mpg = 21.8 gallons
4.8 gallons of fuel extra for your typical SUV.

About 12 dollars.

480 miles at 25mpg = 19.2 gallons
480 miles at 32mpg = 15 gallons
4.2 gallons extra for a typical sedan

Under 11 dollars.

Using a larger difference than reality, too.

Well worth it to cut 2 hours off my trip, imo.

I don't make as much as a lot of people on here....and still two hours of pay is a lot more than eleven bucks.

I think I'm with you here.

 

[LTC8K6]

It's often 2 hours of vacation...

It's always 2 hours less in traffic...

 

[jlee]

It's often 2 hours of vacation...

It's always 2 hours less in traffic...

Exactly...plus two hours of vacation is just as valuable as two hours of work.

 

[fleabag]

I could also drive a 4cyl Ranger instead of a V8 Tundra -- or use dialup instead of DSL.

They're called "choices."



I don't make as much as a lot of people on here....and still two hours of pay is a lot more than eleven bucks.

I think I'm with you here.

Except choosing dialup over DSL isn't going to limit the global warming you're causing like choosing a 4cyl Ranger instead of a V8 tundra which btw is a horrible example considering that the mileage difference is negligible.

Exactly...plus two hours of vacation is just as valuable as two hours of work.

If you value your time so damned much....FLY...

 

[IcePickFreak]

I <3 teh internet. Too damned funny.

 

[LTC8K6]

If you value your time so damned much....FLY...

Way too much hassle, and often not much quicker overall for my trip. For some of the cheap fares, flying actually takes as long or longer due to layovers and the time you have to spend at the airport before and after the flight.

 

[LTC8K6]

Just checked Delta for a flight to replace my 480 mile trip. The cheap flights ($80) are 1 stop with a total time of 4.5 hours. Add in the time it takes to get to and from the airport, and the time I have to be there prior to the flight, and then I'd need a car on arrival, and I'd much rather just drive.