Returned from 3500 mile trip

[ctrcbob]

Just returned to my Mount Dora FL home. Drove up to Rochester NY then Lake George NY.

 

The below is for my MKZ AWD.

 

1. Best gas milage was 26.5 (calculated), 27.9 (dash readout).

Worse gas milage was 24.5 (calculated), 25.5 (dash readout).

Normal was 25.5 (calculated), 26.5 (dash readout) and got this most times.

Speeds were in the 68 to 75 mph range, but if I step of it, my speedo would sometimes read 90mph.

 

2. Car has more power than I thought. A couple times I had to pass on two lane roads, and when I would tromp on it, it scared me a couple times, as this car would scoot.

 

3. In heavy winds, or even when passing or being passed by 18 wheelers, this car was rock steady. Don't know if FWD's are as steady as this AWD, but was not blown around by cross winds.

 

4. Did not use a drop of oil.

[robertlane]

How many miles was it from Mt. Dora to upstate NY?

 

Pretty sweet mileage for the speed traveled.

 

I'd like to take a Zephyr/ MKZ on the 401 (Ontario) and see how it does.

[urnews]

Bob,

Trips are nice but I'm sure it felt good to arrive home, safe and sound. Your MKZ sure did well. That's a very positive report. Boz

[ctrcbob]

Mount Dora to Penfield is 1250 miles. Penfield to Lake George is 430 miles. Lake George to Penfield is 1350 miles.

 

Not much driving in the Lake George area as I went to a convention.

 

Lots of driving in the Rochester area. Stayed in Penfield, but had to do a lot of driving between the Eastern Suburbs of Webster and Penfield and the Western Suburbs of Gates, Greece and Spencerport, plus two or three trips into the inner city of Rochester.

Because of the use of expressways between the suburbs, my total mpg while in the Rochester averaged around 19.2 (or was it 19.5 - can't remember). Much better than what I get in Central Florida, however I have more stop and go driving in Central Florida.

[robertlane]

1,250 miles is about the distance from Dearborn to Orlando. . . .but going down I-75 isn't an impressive drive.

[NaplesBill]

1,250 miles is about the distance from Dearborn to Orlando. . . .but going down I-75 isn't an impressive drive.

Amen, I-75 is about as boring as it gets.

[akirby]

Amen, I-75 is about as boring as it gets.

 

I take it you've never taken I-16 from Macon to Savannah, GA. It's much worse than any part of I-75.

[NaplesBill]

I take it you've never taken I-16 from Macon to Savannah, GA. It's much worse than any part of I-75.

Just say that after driving MI to SW FL. Ohio is probably the most dismal place there is to drive through. There's hours of scenic cornfield views. LOL

 

I lived in GA for 5 years but I've never driven through that section. I do think that S GA is quite unexciting.

[akirby]

I do think that S GA is quite unexciting.

 

I grew up about 45 miles East of Tifton. I can definitely validate the unexciting part. That's why I bailed to Athens for college and moved to Atlanta when I graduated. Definitely not going back.

[NaplesBill]

Well, I lived in Gainesville GA from 83-88. I was 15 when we moved there. N FL isn't any better than S GA if that's any constellation. I couldn't live in either place. How do you like living in Atlanta? The traffic there is horrible.

[akirby]

Well, I lived in Gainesville GA from 83-88. I was 15 when we moved there. N FL isn't any better than S GA if that's any constellation. I couldn't live in either place. How do you like living in Atlanta? The traffic there is horrible.

 

North Florida and South Georgia might as well be a state unto themselves. Totally different from North GA and South Fla.

 

Traffic here is bad but tolerable since I don't have to use the interstates or major highways to commute. Since we rarely go downtown or anywhere near downtown it's not too bad. When we moved to Forsyth County 12 years ago it was great - very rural and not much traffic. Now we have lots of traffic but also lots of shopping and restaurants close by. Double edged sword I guess.

[NaplesBill]

Life is all about give and take. I give and everyone else just takes! LOL

[Dyoct]

Wow, did better than my last roadtrip in my former Milan from GA up to MI. I got 24.5 average up there. Although I was flying between 85-90 the whole way. How the trooper in Ohio didn't bust my ass is beyond me.

 

I agree, I-16 in GA is one of the most boring out there. Did once months ago, and then just did it again this past weekend in my truck hauling a new toy home. I was very relieved when I finally found that rest area between Savannah and Macon.

 

Atlanta traffic has got to be one of the worst in the nation. It's all self-inflicted though.

 

 

 

Haha, thanks Bill!

[akirby]

Wow, did better than my last roadtrip in my former Milan from GA up to MI. I got 24.5 average up there. Although I was flying between 85-90 the whole way. How the trooper in Ohio didn't bust my ass is beyond me.

 

I agree, I-16 in GA is one of the most boring out there. Did once months ago, and then just did it again this past weekend in my truck hauling a new toy home. I was very relieved when I finally found that rest area between Savannah and Macon.

 

Atlanta traffic has got to be one of the worst in the nation. It's all self-inflicted though.

Haha, thanks Bill!

 

Try driving it at 1 am while your father is in transit to Savannah Memorial for trauma surgery for a ruptured AAA (abdominal aortic aneurysm) and they don't know if he'll even make it to the hospital, much less through the surgery (he made it).

 

At one point I just got behind a semi about 10-15 car lengths and followed his tail lights. Absolute worst drive in my life. Coming back during the day was better (better circumstances, too) but it's still not fun.

[ctrcbob]

When I drive from Mount Dora (Orlando area) to Penfield (Rochester area), I have a choice on the "Western Road" or the "Eastern Road".

 

The Western Road is faster except going through Charlotte NC is a mess. If I feel that I will be going through Charlotte anywhere near rush hour, I opt for the Eastern Road. Western Road is I-95 to I-26 in mid SC. Then I-26 to I-77 in Columbia. I-77 (through Charlotte) to US-19 in Beckley WV. Then to I-79 through Pittsburg PA, to I-90 in Erie PA. Then I-90 through Buffalo to Rochester. This is the fastest way, but like I said, Charlotte can be a nightmare, so I sometimes take the Eastern Road.

 

The Eastern Road is I-95 to Falmouth VA. In order to avoid the Washington/Baltimore area, I then pick up US-17 to I-81 in Winchester VA. Then I-81 to US-322 in Harrisburg PA, then north on 322 to US-15 into New York State, picking up I-390 to Rochester.

I could go through Washington/Baltimore, but only if it is between 2am and 5am as that is the only time that traffic is light. In that case, at Falmouth VA, I just continue on I-95 through Washington/Baltimore and pick up I-83 to Harrisburg PA.

 

I know just how long it takes to the heavy traffic cities, so don't decide until I get to the I-95/I-26 split in SC.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

On the same subject of heavy traffic around some cities, I used to go through Houston TX. I sometimes got caught in heavy traffic jams. Now when I go to my "third abode" in Roswell NM, I take I-75 to I-10 near Lake City FL. I-10 to I-65 in Mobile AL. I-65 to Exit 5, (I think it is US-98) then to US-59 Hattisburg MS. US-59 to I-20 in Jackson MS. I-20 all the way to Sweetwater TX. (Never had problems in the DFW area as long as I stay on I-20). Then at Sweetwater, I pick up the road (think its US-84 but could be wrong) to Post TX where I pick up US 380 right into Roswell NM.

 

DFW is much easier (as long as I stay on I-20) than taking I-10 through Houston.