I was watching Myth Busters a couple of days ago, and they confirmed that driving behind a 18 wheeler, you get about 39% better gas mileage, depending on how far away you are from the truck, it's different results.....I tried it and its actually true, just letting you guys know, due to less drag I guess...

 

if you follow any car, you save a little gas. the car in front of you kinda pulling you along. in the end, you may replace more windshield then any one else

 

What you may save in gas, you more than make up for with busted windshields and rock chips in you paint. I do everything I can to avoid the vehicles in front of me, esp. semis and trucks/SUVS.

 

lol, you guys beat me to the punch. apparently, my cars previous owner loooooved driving behind semis...shit

 

Saves little gas, but as others have said, not nearly enough to outweigh the cost of visible damages

 

yea, not worth it. I would tail a semi 3-5 car lengths behind driving at 60-65. that will save you gas and your paint

 

Rock chips, surviving the truckers "brake test" to see if you're awake, or the ticket from the Highway Patrol for ACD (assured clear distance). Save the fuel, lose your life, mon

 

Driving behind a semi is just asking for paint chips; I avoid cruising behind them like the plague. You know, the best thing you can do to improve your fuel economy is to SLOW DOWN!

Do this experiment the next time you're driving on the highway for a long trip: set your cruise for 60 MPH and reset your MID. Drive 10 miles or so and see what your fuel economy is after that period of time. Make a note of it. Now increase to 70 MPH and repeat the experiment. Get yourself another data point at 50 or 80, you get the point. You'll find that the mileage drops off at the higher speeds perhaps more significantly than you think...

Now consider the time benefit for speeding for your trip. I drive about 20 freeway miles to work each day. If I average 60 MPH, I'll get there in about 20 minutes. If I average 70 MPH, I'll get there in about 17 minutes. Is the decrease in mileage worth the extra 3 minutes? I don't think so

 

^

 

yep, your going to sandblast the front of your car...but its your car, so go right ahead....

 

The rock danger is worse when you are on a rear corner and back just a little- essentially in truckers blind spot- they have big mudgaurds that keep rocks and crud down right behind them
Off to the side and passing- you are in the launch/landing zone for rocks shot from tires- and the tire itself when it shreds!!
ClearBra helps your paint.
Watch nascar coverage -they show how the air around each car affects the other- in 3D
and living colors!!
Pat attention when passing trucks- you get pushed and sucked and shoved in different points and as you reach the front... a wide air current comes off the truck

Ways to Survive:
Headlights on For Life!
and
If you cant see the truckers mirrors- he cant see you at all~

 

[QUOTE=01tl4tl]ClearBra helps your paint.
Watch nascar coverage -they show how the air around each car affects the other- in 3D
and living colors!!
Yeh, duh, and while they crash into one another...in 3D. Racing at it's finest

 

I couldn't conceive of going that slow. I am the one buzzing past the trucks and everyone else in the left lane.

The car is meant to move, you won't catch me toddling along behind anybody, or I would just get a Prius.

 

good show guys

 

I have a friend who drives a truck occasionally and I've tried this behind his truck. You have to get dangerously close to notice any effect. I'm talking 3 feet or so. The trucker will get you out of there, believe me. Not worth it.

 

actually they saw benefits from around 15 ft too...

 

It would probably depend on the speed, truck, type of car/truck following it. If I remember right, the TL has very good aerodynamics, along the lines of the C5 Vette that may have an effect. If you were driving something like an old brick shaped truck, that would be different. I started a few cars back and worked my way closer and closer. I wouldn't follow within 15' anyway. Those trucks are a major PITA for me and I have a chip in the windshield to prove it.

 

less gass more rock chips!!

 

im not doing, i just saw it on tv

 

What surprises me is that the show (Myth Busters) is still alive... who funds that crap?

 

LOL! That show jumped the shark a long time ago in my opinion. They just ran out of content and are scraping to continue. It's ironic really. Consider the other extreme: HBO ended such great shows as Sopranos, Deadwood, and Rome while all of them still had plenty of creative plots left in them.

The Modern Marvels series on history channel is another example of a show that started out strong, but continues on unfortunately putting out crap. We were flipping through the channels and happened across 'Modern Marvels: Pigs' the other day! PIGS! What's next? 'Modern Marvels: Blankets?' Okay, off my soapbox...

 

i hate 18 wheelers