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I had a similar decision to make to the OP- before I moved closer to my job, I had a commute that was either 40 miles of highway + 10 miles of stop lights (50 miles total), or 55 miles of highway and 5 miles of back roads (60 miles total). I let Waze decide for me most of the time, and most of the time the 60 mile route was the fastest. After doing it for a couple months I noticed that when I came home after a day of all highway driving with cruise control, I had lots of energy left to play with the kids, but if I chose the route with stop lights or just couldn't use cruise control on the highway due to traffic, I would get home EXHAUSTED. So then I started always taking the highway and always driving about 3mph slower than the rest of the traffic so that I could sit in the right lane all day long with cruise control on. I found that 70mph in a 65mph let me sit with cruise control on the whole way, as traffic was going something like 73 or 75 on average.
Long story short- highway. And use cruise control.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Malloric
Hybrids won't really help you at 104 other than the fact that they typically have very low cd and LRR tires.
Hybrids also have smaller more efficient engines that run leaner that are capable of putting out less overall horsepower since they can rely on the electric motors when they need more. My ES300h gets better highway mileage than the ES350, and both cars have exactly the same drag coefficient since they are exactly the same cars just with different engines. The hybrid is EPA rated at 39mpg on the highway, and the non-hybrid is EPA rated at 31mpg on the highway. I just looked it up. Huge difference. I tend to get better than EPA ratings in my car too, although perhaps the same can be said for the non-hybrid.
I didn't drive it to get that, that is what it was rated by BMW in Germany.
According to your theory, if I have a 20mph tail wind, then all of a sudden doing 75-80 is the most fuel efficient speed.. right? Or if driving into 20mph head wind, doing 35-40mph would be the most fuel efficient speed...
The fuel economy part has too many variables to say for certain. For wear and tear on the car, all highway is a clear win. I had one of those commutes and put 100,000 miles on the front brake pads. I'd only take the secondary roads when I knew the highway was going to be a traffic debacle. I-95 in New Hampshire is the only way to get to Maine so summer Friday afternoons with all the tourist traffic, I'd have to take the alternate route.
I agree 100% with the post that said that wear and tear on the driver is as important as on the car. Now that I have adaptive cruise control, a big commute with highway miles wouldn't be awful.
Why do you assume that? You have no idea what kind of vehicle the OP drives. I had a BMW that was rated at 34mpg at 104mph.
(UNECE) United Nations Economic Commission for Europe actually controls the accepted testing for fuel economy and/or energy consumption of vehicles in Europe. They use a process called New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) to test the energy consumption of vehicles. Their tests are not conducted measuring gallons, nor are they conducted at 104 MPH (they generally measure in liters and kilometers), and they have tested nothing that measures close to your claim.
The commute to my new job is 28 miles on roads with stop lights or 37 miles just taking the highway. I leave very early in the morning so there is minimal traffic both ways, and only about 5 minutes time difference. Which route is best for gas mileage or wear and tear on the vehicle?
As others have already mentioned, there is a trade off between the two routes based on the efficiency of the vehicle at the two different speeds as well as the actual time spent running the motor, both under acceleration or at a stop in traffic. Without a lot of data, and some specific details that will likely drive you crazy trying to collect, we will not be able to answer this accurately on a forum.
Your best bet is to drive both routes for a week or two and compare actual miles/gallons against each other. Weigh the results against the route you enjoy driving and find less stressful.
(UNECE) United Nations Economic Commission for Europe actually controls the accepted testing for fuel economy and/or energy consumption of vehicles in Europe. They use a process called New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) to test the energy consumption of vehicles. Their tests are not conducted measuring gallons, nor are they conducted at 104 MPH (they generally measure in liters and kilometers), and they have tested nothing that measures close to your claim.
I'm completely aware of that. I'm talking converted numbers. The report was liters per KM. I'm pretty sure it was by BMW.
Don't believe your numbers are possible in reality. You posted the numbers, you back up your statement.
It could have been 10 years since I've seen that on a 20-30 yr old vehicle. I wouldn't even remember which forum to begin with. I'm not here to teach you everything, and it sounds like you are only trying to flip it on me for this ignorance you posted.
Quote:
Originally Posted by victimofGM
But going much faster on the highway would have a negative impact on his fuel economy. Driving between 55 to 65 mph is more fuel efficient. When driving faster than these speeds, wind resistance will cause the engine to work harder and use more fuel per mile.
Why don't you try and back this up with some kind of proof and maybe I'll make an effort to prove you wrong twice.
Thanks for all the responses. I only work 4 days a week and last week was the first. I alternated the routes and found I used less gas on the highway route. I drive a [mom]ivan now and hope to buy something smaller, perhaps a hybrid, after getting a few paychecks in the bank. We bought a house a few months ago and want to replenish savings before another big purchase.
Thanks for the job advice. I intend to excel.
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Why do you assume that? You have no idea what kind of vehicle the OP drives. I had a BMW that was rated at 34mpg at 104mph.
