This past week we drove rusted-out Der Klunker (1981 SD300) from New York to Florida and back. Total mileage about 3,000. Fuel mileage for the entire trip was 28.5 mpg and on some legs where it was all highway driving at 70+ mph mileage was just short of 30 mpg. A flawless expedition. Everything worked, except the tachometer. Most of the time a steady 70+ mph all day and at the end of the day feeling fresh, not exhausted and beaten up by vibration and bumps of every size. A true Grand Touring Car. Nice car. Good car. We will keep her.
Some observations:
On uncongested sections of the Interstate, regardless of the posted speed limit, the de facto speed limit is 70 mph. If the posted limit is
55, traffice noves at 70. If it is 65, traffiuce moves at 70. And if it's 70 traffice moves at 70. The cops seem to tolerate that. The people who get nabbed ar doing better than 80 out in the open and/or weaving crazily through the traffic. The main stream cruising along at 70, regardless, does not get bothered.Mercedes are scarce outside major cities. We saw very few of any type on the highway.
I had no idea there were so many RVs in the world, especially RVs towing a car, like great land yachts towing a dinghy.
Anybody who spends more than $50 a night for lodging is getting ripped off. For as little as $35 you get double or king size beds, huge TV, microwave, fridge, lots of towels and toiletries, free breakfast and last but far from least (a deal breaker, in fact) high-speed Wi-Fi internet access and you park your car at the door of your unit. The Wi-Fi was a revelation. Ten times as fast as our at-home DSL.
Diesel fuel has got horribly expensive. We paid as much as $3.60/gallon and propably averaged $3.30. Much costlier than gasoline.