Return of the 55 MPH speed limit??? (gasp)

I still remember how slow 55 MPH actually is... it sucks!

Ever take a 500 mile trip at 55 MPH?

Should There Be a National Speed Limit? - AOL News

I will say this: At 55mph my car actually got the advertised fuel milage for hwy at around 34mpg. It was hard to do though, real hard.

if it happens my Ticket Attorney will get more business from me... so what if I want to burn major amounts of fuel, it's my right. More cars now a days are more fuel effient above 55 than at 55 since they have been built when the speed limit was raised. If I am so inclinded to increase my fuel economy then I will just change gears...

The speed limit on many interstates is 65 and 70, but the nominal speed is 80 to 85. So if everyone drove the posted speed maybe there wouldn't be a discussion on 55 MPH. Just a thought.

Thing about 55 mph speed limit is conservative drivers will cruise at 50 mph and never go over 55 mph when they're passing....

Trust me, it's a nightmare.

Congress has to learn about cars, besides knowing that there are two pedals, a steering wheel, and shifter. Back in the 70's, going 55 probably did help since no car had overdrive. However, all cars have overdrive these days so having cars now go 55 will probably decrease mileage (except for the four-bangers since those cars run at 3,000 rpm at highway speed) since the engine will be running at too low of a speed to provide any decent power. Hell, I get above the rated mileage of my Mustang going 90 and I get my best mileage going 80. I get the advertised mileage when doing 70.

If Congress was serious about helping us, they would drill domestically like the DOE says. Or, allow oil companies to put out higher octane fuels so that the automakers can make more efficient engines (the reason why cars in Europe get better mileage there as compared to here). The difference is low grade here is 87 and in Europe, low grade is 91/93.

My 85 camaro averaged 35 mpg at 85 mph going across new mexico in 100 degree heat with the air on...at 55 the car got 24 mpg.

slower is NOT always better, it depends on the car- If they want to do something, have the manufacturers go back ten years and publish the 'most efficient' MPH/MPG/octane/altitude per model, leave it to the drivers as to if they want to stretch thier dollars...I'm sure they had to collect this data when mapping the fuel injection controls.

same as the choice of driving a Prius or a Hummer, I dont want to be told what or how to drive, but would like to know the true 'most efficient' mileage speed at whatever altitude/octane for each car I own without having to take a long trip at various speeds in each to find out. My 06 mustang GT averages 20 mpg mixed on premium, only 18 on 87- yet the wifes avalanche averages 21 highway at 65 on 87 octane, but hers dropped to 18 on hi-test...if the manufacturers would tell us the truth about mileage/fuel/altitude we'd all save.

I have a Tremec TKO 600 in my Ranchero. Last year just before Labor Day weekend I left for a road trip. Between Richfield UT. and Grand Junction CO I was averaging 17 MPG @ roughly 80 MPH. Im sure if I put a holly on the engine and tuned the piss out of it and the dizzy I could get at east 20 MPG at freeway speeds. Oh and I am running a 400 boat anchor so yes it is possible to get good milage from a 335 series engine.

Just keep voting for liberals, and that will be just the tip of the iceberg.

I've drive across the US and points in between many times when the speed was 55. It didn't see so bad to me. Now it would be because of the faster speeds posted.
At 55 most drove 65, 65 most drive 75 so guess its more like a general speed to go as the cops can't be everywhere. I was a 55 and that was it driver back then. Now I might make it 5 or 10 over depends on what I'm driving really. I'm paranoid.