|
I was feeling rather tantrumental that day.
100mph isn't a big deal for a 5-speed 240. That engine is really nice, and loves to be run on the highway. It's used to it, so to speak. With the 240, if you have a beastly headwind, you are sometimes relegated to the lower side of the speedometer.
On the day in question, I had maybe a 30mph tailwind. Since wind force is exponential rather than linear, it really gets slow when you get to 95. But on this day, it was pretty easy, even with the big Thule rack with 2 bike trays and a fairing.
Usually, getting to 75 is the hardest part for the 240. I take fourth to 70mph when I'm in a hurry.
In fifth, after 80mph, the engine is in much better power. A swift kick from Kenneth Cole takes me from 80-90 in a heartbeat. After 90 it slows again with respect to acceleration. At 90mph, I show exactly 3000rpm. 100 is less than 3500. Fifth gear is a pretty good ratio for highway cruising at higher speeds.
Honestly, my favorite range for the 5-speed 240 is between 80 and 90. Ninety is the high end of where I like to comfortably cruise. And as this particular car ages, I am taking it a little easier on it. The car sings at 80 and above. More than 90 and it moves from singing to screaming.
Strangely, overall mileage on the last tank (the 100mph one) was amazingly 26. That's what I always get. If I drive 3 hours at 90mph, I still get like 25... so this was about right.
|
