I've read that too. It doesn't seem to pan out in real life. This car has
make the same trip with the windows closed and the AC on. The result was 3
mpg worse mileage. Apparently, at least with this TL, the increased drag
from having the windows open requires less energy to overcome than the
increased load on the engine from the AC.

On 9/7/04 12:47 PM, in article t-ydnTNgRs-yaaDcRVn-rw@comcast.com, "Batong
Buhay" <batong.buhay@comcast.net> wrote:

> I read somewhere that, on recent model (better streamlined) vehicles, at
> high speeds you may get better mileage with AC-on/windows-closed that you
> would with AC off/windows-open. It explains that open windows disturbs the
> streamlining greatly increasing the drag to the point that it draws greater
> engine power than the AC. I haven't tried it myself - just wondering if you
> folks have experienced this.
>
>
> "Lee Florack" <lflorack@rochester.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:bi8qj05f79t5q3i9sn1k5i8b8v57e29dvl@4ax.com...
>> On Tue, 07 Sep 2004 01:21:35 GMT, "E. Meyer"
>> <e52.meyer0SPAM@ieee.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> The best my '00 TL has never done was 33 MPG, and that was only once and
>>> involved driving out an entire tank of gas non-stop from fillup to empty
> on
>>> the Interstate with the cruise control set at 79, the AC off and the
> windows
>>> & sunroof open. Otherwise, on the highway it gets 28-30 and around town
>>> 20-23.
>>
>> I agree with your best -- 33 at 78 w/o A/C. Back and forth to
>> work, I average between 24 and 26.
>
>