On May 16, 2008, at 4:25 PM, Loren Busch wrote:

> I'll add my observations and experience  to Matt's.  I take a lot of
> trips
> around Washington/Oregon that are mixed freeway/secondary road
> traveling.
> Most of the time I've plotted my route on Streets & Trips to figure
> the
> time/distance.  I set the options in Street & Trips to slower than
> normal
> travel, set in fuel, food and rest stops.  And still run about 20%
> or better
> longer till I get there than the predictions in the software say.
> Example:
> Last week the computer told me I'd drive for almost exactly 5 hours
> to get
> where I was going.  So I figured 6 hours.  And the 6 hours was
> almost dead
> on.  The predictions are based on ideal conditions on the road, not
> the real
> world, especially when passing through more populated areas where
> traffic
> congestion throws the 'average speed' concept out the door.
> And it still comes down to "It's the journey dummy."

to add my experience:  google maps says it takes eight hours to drive
from here
(knoxville, tn) to visit my mom in little rock.  i always stop
somewhere and eat so
i'm a bit slower than that.

in my syncro it takes me around 10 hours.  in my cadillac i usually
make it in
around nine hours.  in my mini cooper i also usually make it around
nine hours
but i have made it as quickly as seven hours - without stopping for
food.

the trip is all on the interstate.  i usually set my cruise control at
five miles over
the speed limit (gps speed) in the mini and the cadillac.  on my
syncro i set it at
60 or 65, but i can't maintain that in a few places between here and
nashville.

so in an emergency, i can make it in seven hours in a fast car
(without speeding
enough to attract the notice of the police) but i don't think i could
make it in less
than 9 in the syncro.

r

Ron Tipton
uther@dragonhome.org

Go to work
Send your kids to school
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Walk on the pavement
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