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Bartine, for that kind of driving, your greatest disadvantage is the overall final drive ratio of your performance Honda.
Both my old VX (now sold) and my current 2008 Altima Coupe ran Fairly low RPM at higher sustained speeds.
when you can go 72 MPH at 22-2400 RPM the engine has a fairly low but decent load and efficiency is greater.
Most of the performance Hondas have gearing that would have the RPM ranging from 3200-3600 and even higher at speeds above 70 MPH, which is less load and lower efficiency.
My old 76 280Z, built for performance had a .75 5th gear overdrive, and originally had a 3.54 rear axle ratio. It worked out to about 85 MPH, at 3000 RPM in high gear with a 5 speed out of an 82 ZX. I later changed it to a 3.90 which helped performance but cost me some MPG, which at that time (15 years ago) was not the priority it is today.
It was a best of both worlds compromise, with 30-60-90-120 max speeds in 1-4th gears, while 5th added 33% to the 4th gear top speed. In reality it probably would not go any faster in 5th than in 4th, but the low RPM high speed cruising capability was good for close to 30 MPG as long as you kept the speeds close to the 65 limit in Va.
regards
Mech
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