First road trip and worst mileage yet!!!

[94toy22re]

i have a 2012 L 5spd hatch. My journey started in Norman, OK and went to Big Bend national park in Texas 1218 mile round trip 3 adults + luggage. On my way their i had 20mph headwind going the speed limit, 75 to 80 mph with cruise control on. it took 2 1/2 tanks averaging 33.5 mpg worst yet.We spent a couple days relaxing and went on couple hikes. On the way back i was expecting the normal south wind but no a cold front came though so their was 30-40mph head wind most of the way back. started the strip home and Prius passed me going 90 and i though if he can do it i can do to and that started my bad habits on the way back. The 2012's have a average mph gauge and mine was at 91 mph on the first tank with a mpg of 26 I'm not really complaining theirs probably very few cars that could even achieve those numbers in the same conditions. My avg commute mpg has been about 41 since i bought the car in October.

[fnkngrv]

Even with my fuel maps aggressive for my land speed runs I still was averaging between 29-30mpg when my speed was sitting above 100mph for the bulk of the duration for each pass. Each pass being 1.5 miles. This is on 93 octane, not racing fuel. I have been pretty happy with that too!

[Kaotic Lazagna]

I say that's not bad considering you were smashing on it with all that headwind.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by 94toy22re

i have a 2012 L 5spd hatch. My journey started in Norman, OK and went to Big Bend national park in Texas 1218 mile round trip 3 adults + luggage. On my way their i had 20mph headwind going the speed limit, 75 to 80 mph with cruise control on. it took 2 1/2 tanks averaging 33.5 mpg worst yet.We spent a couple days relaxing and went on couple hikes. On the way back i was expecting the normal south wind but no a cold front came though so their was 30-40mph head wind most of the way back. started the strip home and Prius passed me going 90 and i though if he can do it i can do to and that started my bad habits on the way back. The 2012's have a average mph gauge and mine was at 91 mph on the first tank with a mpg of 26 I'm not really complaining theirs probably very few cars that could even achieve those numbers in the same conditions. My avg commute mpg has been about 41 since i bought the car in October.

I wouldn't be concerned. The headwinds and crosswinds (from a driver's perspective) in that part of Texas are the worst I've encountered in any state, and I've driven in all of the 'lower 48' states. IIRC, the worst MPG on any tank for me was 32 point something (just under 33). Most of that tank was on the 85 MPH portion of I-10 (from mile marker 60 something (the Hudspeth County line) to just west of Boerne) and under the strongest winds I've ever driven in in Texas. I was the only occupant, so just me and my luggage. You had triple that. I would think that would make quite a difference. I don't think I've ever seen a Prius going 90 MPH. I wonder what the MPG was for the Prius during that stretch.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Kaotic Lazagna

I say that's not bad considering you were smashing on it with all that headwind.

My first thought was 'wind is part of the equation' AFTER reading the title of the thread, but BEFORE clicking on the thread.

[94toy22re]

i hate West Texas, the smell going though Midland and Odessa is terrible. The car was a little shaking at times but not bad, after riding motorcycle's the last few years it has changed my perception on how easy even the smallest car is handle in high wind.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by 94toy22re

i hate West Texas, the smell going though Midland and Odessa is terrible. The car was a little shaking at times but not bad, after riding motorcycle's the last few years it has changed my perception on how easy even the smallest car is handle in high wind.

I've often wondered what the Midland and Odessa areas are like. I've driven fro m Fort Stockton, TX (where Hwy 285 meets I-10) to Santa Fe, NM on Hwy 285 (through Pecos, TX (where Hwy 285 crosses I-20), and Roswell, NM etc) and I've been around the Metroplex, but I haven't been anywhere on I-20 between the Metroplex and Pecos. At some point I'll conjure up a reason to go to the Metroplex before going to California and will take I-20 to get to the westernmost point on I-10 as directly as possible (miles wise) after leaving the Metroplex.

[94toy22re]

I go to DFW a lot, a little under 3 hours from the okc area. I used to live in Plainveiw its about 1/2 between Amarillo and Lubbock, i don't miss it. But if you get a chance defiantly check out Big Bend, just bring your own food; not much down their buts it beautiful

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by 94toy22re

I go to DFW a lot, a little under 3 hours from the okc area. I used to live in Plainveiw its about 1/2 between Amarillo and Lubbock, i don't miss it. But if you get a chance defiantly check out Big Bend, just bring your own food; not much down their buts it beautiful

[Kar98]

Driving in Dallas:

http://i.imgur.com/H6gZWBk.jpg

'specially on 635.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Kar98

Driving in Dallas:

http://i.imgur.com/H6gZWBk.jpg

'specially on 635.

[charles nelson]

My 2008 Yaris with auto-trans typically gives me 40 mpg. This morning going into town on the Interstate, I was pushing against 20-30 mph head winds.
I got only 29-32 mpg! Returning a short while later with the same tailwind, my mpg was 42-49 mpg! The little 1.5L engine just couldn't push the air out of the way. I usually expect a 10-20mpg drop when driving on a Freeway into a head wind and a +10mpg with a tailwind. You just need to time your driving so you only have tailwinds!

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Tailwind is the best!