Two Unrelated Topics

[djminfll]

1. Earlier this week, I was driving West on a multilane road, approaching an intersection with a stoplight. The North-South traffic got a green arrow to turn, and the old lady driving the car turning left to head East turned into the Westbound Lanes, heading straight for me! I honked my horn and tried to swerve around her. Fortunately, she stopped, and realized what she had done. She then made a U-TURN on the same side of the street, and came up behind me in the turning lane. All I kept thinking was "Please stop, Please stop, Please stop", which she did. When i got the arrow to turn left, she was behind me and made a u-turn to go where she originally had tried to turn. But I must say, it was pretty scary to see a car coming east in a westbound lane heading straight for me!

 

2. We took a trip to visit the in-laws today - we are in Fort Lauderdale, FL, they are in Cape Coral, FL, about 140 miles each way. I took "Alligator Alley", speed limit 70, but I was driving 65mph the entire time (using cruise control). I was expecting great mpg, because the road is pretty much flat and straight, no traffic, no stops. When I got to their house, my dash told me I had only gotten 42mpg on the trip. HUH???? So I was expecting the same going home. Same weather conditions, same weight in the car, no tailwinds or headwinds in either direction. Going home, I got 48.5mpg. Not sure how that happened, but it was a pleasant surprise on the trip home!

[nv rick]

Do you have navigation? If you do, there is a menu item that will show your elevation. If you drive that route again, you can see if you are gaining or losing elevation while you drive. If there is a gain in elevation while driving west, there's your explanation.

I generally get about 42mpg driving between Pahrump and Las Vegas NV. I travel through a gain of about 2700ft through Mountain Springs pass, and I drive about 70mph when outside of LV. Home is about 2700ft and LV is about 2200ft., so I not only have the hill climb, but my whole trip is at a much higher elevation than anywhere in FL, which explains my 'poor' fuel mileage.

btw, I now get mid 40 to mid 50mpg when driving near home in the relatively flat Pahrump valley.

[md13ffhguy]

Do you have navigation? If you do, there is a menu item that will show your elevation.

Somehow, I've missed this. Where do you see elevation displayed?

[djminfll]

Do you have navigation? If you do, there is a menu item that will show your elevation. If you drive that route again, you can see if you are gaining or losing elevation while you drive. If there is a gain in elevation while driving west, there's your explanation.

I generally get about 42mpg driving between Pahrump and Las Vegas NV. I travel through a gain of about 2700ft through Mountain Springs pass, and I drive about 70mph when outside of LV. Home is about 2700ft and LV is about 2200ft., so I not only have the hill climb, but my whole trip is at a much higher elevation than anywhere in FL, which explains my 'poor' fuel mileage.

btw, I now get mid 40 to mid 50mpg when driving near home in the relatively flat Pahrump valley.

I didn't opt for navigation, so I can't do that. But there must be a way to find it online. Thanks for the suggestion!

[corncobs]

I didn't opt for navigation, so I can't do that. But there must be a way to find it online. Thanks for the suggestion!

Yes you can find the elevation for example here

 

http://veloroutes.org/elevation/

 

There is also have an app that records your route so you can see it (this is a ski track app)

 

It's all covered here

 

http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/6713-trip-elevation-mapping/

Edited October 5, 2014 by corncobs

[hybridbear]

md13ffhguy, on 05 Oct 2014 - 08:45 AM, said:

Somehow, I've missed this. Where do you see elevation displayed?

I'm wondering the same thing!

[nv rick]

Somehow, I've missed this. Where do you see elevation displayed?

OOOPS!

My previous post was based on my previous 2009 and 2011 MKS navs. I just checked my 2014 MKZ-h nav and it only displays long and lat. In the MKZ you get to it in nav>menu>Sirius travel link>Where am I.

 

I checked this in my garage, so maybe elevation displays when moving and/or with a better sattelite view. Next time I'm out, I'll try to remember to double check.

Edited October 6, 2014 by nv rick

[tr7driver]

I miss the elevation that was available on my 2010 under the info tab. I downloaded GPS Altimeter to my phone. Its ok, but driving through the Rockies it was nice to have it available on the nav screen.

[Cooling Tower Guy]

The change in elevation from Lauderdale to Cape Coral must be at least 20 feet