If you’re doing the speed limit it doesn’t matter what lane you’re in, no one should want to overtake you anyway (and if I need to make a right turn later on down the road I’ll stay in the right lane doing the speed limit without regard for the idiots so that I’m in the correct lane from the start (unless there is a keep left unless overtaking sign or the speed limit is higher than 80)).

As for #6: I’ve seen some pretty funny typos in manuals. My laptop’s manual tells me not to treat it gently.

I drive a 2004 Toyota Celice GT-S (six speed). It’s fun and I HAD fun when I first got it. Jackrabbit starts, 80 mph, etc. And I was getting about 350 miles per tank (if I remember correctly). Deciding to stop the jackrabbit starts helps a LOT. I’m usually shifting gears at my 3000 rpm mark and now I do 70 on the highway with cruise control unless I need to pass someone or suddenly keep up with traffic. How has that helped? My gas mileage is REALLY increased. I’m now usually hitting 420 miles per tank. Having the sixth gear is great too. 70 in sixth gear puts me just a little over th 3000rpm mark.

Sure that sounds like I’m not using my car to it’s full potential but I’m not one of the car modders that I see out there with the annoyingly loud exhaust pipes and the carbon fiber hoods. Whatever.

I’m calmer on the road. I am usually driving WITH traffic too. If not a little faster even. And at that speed I still get behind people who don’t use their rear-view mirror to realize someone is behind them.

So, long story short. Stopping the jackrabbit starts is a BIG help for gas mileage too. What I want to test now is whether 75-80 will get me the same mileage, thus making it the jackrabbit starts that were killing my MPG.

And i suspect there are more than a few drivers (myself included) who would LIKE to be able to drive the speed limit but are often bullied into driving faster becus of everyone who is breaking the law by going faster.

We’ve got to start somewhere, right? So drive the speed limit (i wouldn’t drive under, purely for safety reasons vis a vis the maniacs out there) and stay in the right lane except to pass if needed.

I think my saved time is worht the extra gas consumption.

Even if you factor in a speeding ticket or two.

but then again if they’re minding their own business sticking to the slower lanes, I really have no beef with it. and yes, for most cars, you do save significant amount in terms of percentage when you drive slower.

during normal day to day trip, if you can keep it under 70 or 80 (or even 90), you’ll save oodles. for longer trips, it’s up to you to see if the time/cost ratio is worth it to you.

I gotta agree with Dan too, Charles’ view is a bit extreme — especially if there are open lanes for you to drive at the speed you prefer. I mean if you want to drive at the speed limit that’s fine with me.. but you’re sharing the road with others. Just as others shouldn’t speed like crazy or cut through traffic, driving too slow in certain lanes does add to problems for others too.

I’ve been trying to slow down after realizing all the hurrying in the world doesn’t really get me there any faster. And getting pulled over will make you a TON later than driving 65. But it’s been a difficult adjustment to have the majority of people flying by as you ‘putt’ along

I’m not sure - it is my sister’s car and I don’t know what she was getting before…I should have tested it to see…