Fuel Economy Rumors

[Jcp123]

Windows open do contribute to drag...you're breaking the smoother wid line and instead forcing it into a dead end in the car. Lower speeds? No big deal. Higher speeds it starts to suck more and more. And ac is always a huge killer on these little engines. It sucks about 5mpg or so, consistently, on the highway, and more like 8-10mpg in town. Bleagh.

[why?]

Originally Posted by Jcp123

Windows open do contribute to drag...you're breaking the smoother wid line and instead forcing it into a dead end in the car. Lower speeds? No big deal. Higher speeds it starts to suck more and more. And ac is always a huge killer on these little engines. It sucks about 5mpg or so, consistently, on the highway, and more like 8-10mpg in town. Bleagh.

Those numbers you are throwing out are all a decade or more out of date, and 100% dependent on vehicle type.

Your point is somewhat correct on the open windows, but not on the ac. We are in the era of more and more electronics and manufacturers are doing everything they can to get better gas mileage numbers, including electric ac, which does not hurt gas mileage as much or at all depending on the car.