Sunday, January 22, 2012

Price limit at gas pumps


I thought it was an urban legend-- That in order to mitigate credit card fraud, gas pumps shut off at $75.  This one shut off at $74 this morning.  The Popemobile needed another couple of gallons for a fill-up.

After 2 1/2 months of ownership, the car gets about 15 mpg (6.4 km per liter) in the city and 22 (9.4) on the highway.  It is best at a constant 70 mph.  It is worst in the streets of San Francisco.

8 comments:

Peter Secor said...

I used to hit this limit in my old 1970 Merc 6.3 occasionally, as well as in a 1967 Lincoln Continental. If you squinted just right, I think you could see the gas gauge move on the Lincoln when you floored it.

Maxichamp said...

@Peter: Short, local errands are terrible for gas mileage. This is definitely a long-distance cruiser.

On a different note, I really pushed the 4Motion AWD system this weekend in the rain. It's superb.

m4ff3w said...

That's better than my Biturbo and my wife's 190E 2.6.

Fuel isn't nearly as expensive here in Tejas though.

Maxichamp said...

@m4ff3w: Saw your comment on Hooniverse. What's keeping the BiTurbo on the sidelines?

m4ff3w said...

Somehow the a/c belt got behind the timing cover and between the timing belt & timing gear. Bent valves in 2 cylinders on the passenger side bank.

Awaiting funds to replace. I can get a known good engine for the price of a complete gasket set & valves. So that's the direction I'm going to take, things just keep getting in the way of funds - Christmas, paying for school, kids, etc.

Hopefully no more than a month or two out.

Maxichamp said...

m4: I salute you and your intestinal fortitude!

Lukas said...

6.9 official figure = 4km/L. :(

Your fuel costs ~$1.04/L - we're on about $1.50. More :(

Maxichamp said...

@Lukas: Brutal!