View Single Post
Old 01-16-2008, 06:02 PM   #5 (permalink)
trebuchet03
MechE
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,151

The Miata - '01 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Thanks: 0
Thanked 22 Times in 18 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by basjoos View Post
Concrete pavement is the best, followed by smooth asphalt, gravel asphalt, brick/cobblestone, gravel, no pavement (grass, dirt, mud, sand, etc.). Your mileage losses on bumpy surfaces is caused by the energy lost by the movements of the suspension system.
I'm willing to bet grooved concrete doesn't fare as well (perhaps between smooth asphalt and gravel asphalt).... The noise itself is an indicator of energy losses....
__________________
Cars have not created a new problem. They merely made more urgent the necessity to solve existing ones.
  Reply With Quote