Wow

I've been trying to keep my foot out of my 91 740 wagon, which seems to get 22mpg (last time I checked a couple of years ago). I'll see what happens in the -80mph category. Just started tracking on Saturday.

I find I get around 24 mpg at 80, the mileage falls off rapidly as the speed increases beyond 65 or so. This is with a manual transmission, automatic will get significantly lower.

If you have cruise control, use it on the highway.

I did a test about a week ago with a Mercury; mileage at 70 was 23, at 65 it was 27, and at 60 it was 30. This was on flat Interstate using cruise control; the car is a Grand Marquis with a 4.6L V8. I suspect you'll find similar differences in your 740, particularly if you stay out of the boost while accelerating.

Gary

I have cruise control, but my experiment proved I can do substantially better manually. With the cruise control engaged, whenever the highway goes uphill the boost pegs. Driving manually I can be much more gentle on the throttle and as I found, that's worth several mpg.

I've got an automatic, on a wagon. I think its against the law to have a stick on a wagon. I've wondered how much it would cost me to put a manual in that baby.

When I did it on another 740, it cost about $300. We found a manual 740 at the wrecker, pulled the gearbox, front half of the driveshaft, clutch/brake pedal assembly, flywheel, and interior trim then bought a new clutch. Conversion took a weekend and everything just came together. Manual wagons are around, they're just not as common.

Back in the '80s, I did a change from auto to manual but I'm not sure it could be done with a car as they are today (all interlinked through the computer system).

Just logged 26.7mpg on my wagon. And that was keeping it under 70.

Looks like I've got a bit of catching up to do with you.

I'm also about to buy another vehicle which will get infinite mpg, a recumbent bike.

So, as my mileage goes down, my mpg will go up.

I've been eyeing those recumbant bikes for a while now, wish I knew someone who had one so I could try it out. I also wish this area was better laid out for bicycle commuting but at least we do have one excellent bike trail which is convenient for anything that happens to be along it.

Nah, you'll use water. In the summer, I used to use about 40-60mpg. Tastes much better than gasoline, though.

JRE

Check out bentrideronline.com. Lots of resources there, places to ask questions. I'm only just venturing into this. I was toying with the idea about a year ago. I just couldn't see spending a few hundred dollars for half-way measures again, trying to get a regular bike to not kill my wrists, etc, so I'm seriously searching right now. Someone on bentrideronline.com might be able to point you to a dealer somewhat close to you.

They can be a little scary in traffic at first. Getting them rolling from a stop takes some experience, particularly if you're distracted (read "IN TRAFFIC"). I did a 30 mile trip on Sunday, NO PAIN. I did the same trip a couple of weeks before that, on my regular bike, and I was hurting somewhat. Thought my butt was going to fall off. Had to keep getting off the bike to work out a cramp in my glutes/hamstring area.

Hill climbing on them is more problematic, as you're using a different set of muscles, so I'm told. I have a hard time believing that, but I am sore in some new places after test riding this thing.

Joe Bob says check it out.

More expensive too. Unless you use free-range water.