I was not recommending anything. It was not advice. It was a factual answer.

 

I have a friend who drives a big rig once in a while and I've tried the drafting technique for fun. What I found is you have to get way too close to the truck, as in 3' or less before it makes a difference. You might save gas for a short time until the trucker brake checks you. Not to mention the nice rock chips you're going to get.

I've averaged 26-27 combined and I've gotten up to 35mpg for an out of town trip averaging a little over 65mph.

What's worked for me is accelerating moderately and backing off the gas to the minimum amount to keep the car moving the speed limit. I always accelerate hard enough not to hold up traffic but my auto usually shifts ~2,500rpm which seems lower than some posted here. If you see brake lights up ahead, let off the gas but don't hit the brakes. Depending on your speed and gear, you're now either in fuel cut and using no gas or very, very little gas. I've found that by paying attention to the cars that are 4-5 cars in front, I can coast when I see brake lights and practically never use my brakes. That's probably why up until yesterday I had at least 50% left on the OEM pads at 55K miles.

I generally save downshifting for long downhill stretches. With the reliability of the auto transmission I don't want to shift gears anymore than necessary. It does save gas over coasting in neutral.

And last, I can most certainly get better mileage without cruise control. It tends to get aggressive to keep the car at exactly the speed you set it at. On slight hills I either won't increase the pedal or just a very slight amount. If I lose a couple mph, I'll gain it back on the downhill, exceptions do exist... If the cruise sees you lose a few mph quickly it will give it a ton of throttle to make up for it as quickly as possible. On perfectly flat ground, who knows. I haven't been lucky enough to test it in those conditions. On the Buick I don't ever have to look down at the speedo on trips, I get so used to the exhaust tone that I can go an hour without looking at the speed and when I do look, it's exactly the same as before. The TL is a little more difficult because I can't hear the motor. I've accidentally been cruising near 100mph.

 

I'm probably one of the few that has gotten >500 miles on a tank. I get so bored on my drives I have to do something for entertainment.

 

I hear you!!! When I went from the 6MT to the 5AT, I got so relaxed I thought I was on Prozac
I even changed stations on the XM radio!
Love my cruise control, though
It's pretty flat around here.

 

Does the word "vulcan" mean anything to you?
Live long & prosper only 4 fingers split in the middle..no thumb

 

Our 2006 TL (AT) has averaged 28 - 30 MPH for two years. Yeah, I may be old and don't show off by racing away from lights, but there is more to it than that. You do not have to give up all the pleasure associated with driving a great car.

I can remember reading in Car & Driver, a long tme ago, that the secret is to be smooth! Get up to speed at a reasonable pace, allow space between you and the car in front, anticipate the lights, and avoid hard braking. Use cruise control and don't exceed the speed limit by more than 10%.

When on the highway, go with the flow, don't cut through traffic by getting hard on the gas and then hard on the brakes. ( Leave that style to the idiots in their SUVs.) C&D called it "Stealth Driving" and it's a good way to avoid road rage and the attention of the police.

On other thing that works for me - save the TL for your longer trips and get an Integra for scooting aroound town. Our's averages 30 - 35 MPH no matter how we drive it.

Ranger

 

HAHAH ok maybe that's why I avg 80 mph

 

^^^probably....so if u want good mileage, gotta let go of the gas pedal...i know its tempting to step on it but what can u do

 

The best thing to do is keep your tires inflated to the recommended pressure, driving slow especially on the freeway. Like 55-60 mph

 

Your savings in gas would probably be more than offset by having to replace your tires sooner due to accelerated center rib wear IMO.
Your wet traction is also going to be reduced.

 

I average 25mpg (according to the MID) combined city/highway. I drive 50 miles a day, and I use the cruise control because I have a heavy right foot. From full tank to fuel warning light I get 335 miles (city/highway). I've driven from Atlanta to the first gas station on the Florida Turn Pike (I75 South) on one tank, just about 410 miles.

 

I took my Tl across country from Las Vegas to Amarillo, texas. I set my cruise control at 85 mph on interstate 40 and got 32 mpg based on what my trip computer said.