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08 Saturn VUE XE V6 - 23.3 MPG |
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In late October 2007 I rented an '08 Saturn VUE equipped with AWD, V6 engine & auto transmission that has an EPA rating of 15/22 MPG. I drove from Sacramento to El Cerrito, then to Sebastopol, Santa Rosa & Calistoga. From Calistoga I drove the winding road up to Lake County where I connected with Hwy 20 to Williams, then I-5 back to Sacramento. This 396 mile trip included city and highway driving. I obeyed posted speed limits and did not exceed 55 MPH with a few exceptions, such as on I-5 even at 60 PM I was being passed by every other vehicle on the road, including big rigs doing 65 plus. The Saturn used 16.96 gallons of fuel for this 396 mile trip, which works out to 23.34 MPG, 1.3 MPG better than the EPA rating!
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Speaking at a climate change conference in Miami, California Governor Arnold Scwarzenegger said drivers can do a lot to cut fuel costs by driving slower.
"Who can cut (costs) down is you, you, you and you," Schwarzenegger
said. "You can cut it down. Take your car, for instance. Go and get the
perfect tire pressure. Tune up your engine. Drive slower." He went on to say "energy prices are not going to go back to the good
old days" and it is "bogus" for politicians to promise otherwise."
"Politicians have been throwing around all kinds
of ideas in response to the skyrocketing energy prices, from the
rethinking of nuclear power to pushing biofuels and more renewables and
ending the ban on offshore drilling," Schwarzenegger said. "But anyone
who tells you this would bring down gas prices any time soon is blowing
smoke. I think that people should really be in charge of their
own destiny and how much they want to pay for fuel, not wait for the
politicians," he said.
The Drive 55 Conservation Project is delighted with the Governor's message and hand delivered a Thank You letter with Drive 55 bumper stickers to his office in Sacramento today. Leadership in the legislature also got a letter and some Drive 55 bumper stickers hand delivered to their offices in the Capital, inviting them to 'Lead by example'.
Quote sources:
Sacramento BEE
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/1042081.html
LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/
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