Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf
But that is you driving in South Carolina, no? I would bet your mpg would drop just a bit if most of your driving was done in the Sierra Nevada, or the Nevada desert. Let's see: Highest point in South Carolina: Sassafras Mtn at 3560 ft. My house down here in the valley: 4800 ft. Pass I climbed today to go skiing: 8911 ft. Reported snowfall for the past 72 hrs: 44 inches at Mt. Rose Ski Area (but only about a foot down at my place).
See why comparing your mpg with mine is maybe not quite as simple as matching numbers?
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There may be a few more variables involved than those mentioned above. I do most of my driving in western North Carolina, which believe it or not does contain a few steep mountains. Part of my daily commute is a steep 3rd gear climb from 1300 ft in South Carolina to 2200 ft in North Carolina. I also have several other steep grades on that drive that will easily propel me to over 70 mph on the downhills if I didn't engine and friction brake and are full throttle climbs in the reverse direction. Also you have the advantage of operating at a higher altitude where the thinner atmosphere gives well known mileage benefits whereas I spend my time operating in the thick soupy atmosphere found closer to sea level to the detriment on my own mileage.
North Carolina does get regular snows in the winter (the Asheville NC area has gotten 40" to 50" total inches so far this winter), which is the reason I run Hakkapeliitta R snow tires on my car. When South Carolina does gets its ocasional snowfall, there is no fleet of snow removal equipment to quickly remove the snow from the roads (it is mostly left to melt in place), so when it snows, I am often cutting my own tracks through the snow while making my early morning commute.