1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
I just completed a 2.5-day, 2200 mile journey from San Diego to Atlanta in my 1999 9-5 wagon (2.3lpt – 5 spd) that becomes a testimonial for the reliability of this car.
I started Friday morning at 10:30 am with just over 74,000 miles on the clock and ran all day at 80 to 85mph spending the first night in El Paso – 755 miles into the trip. I should mention that I had a good 300 to 400 pounds of personal belongings stuffed in the back – lowering the stance of the car by a good inch. I ended up removing some 150 pounds of stuff after my initial packing job as I just wasn’t comfortable with how low the car was sitting.
Day two started at 7am. Some of the flattest landscape in the world as I transitioned from interstate 10 to 20 for the long haul to Shreveport. 85 to 90 mph all day (3000 rpm +/-) slower during the 3 or 4 downpours I encountered west of Abilene and through Dallas. I only stopped to fill the car's tank and empty mine. 12 hours later and 824 miles, Shreveport’s bustling gambling industry found all motels full on a Saturday night– so I enthusiastically got back on the highway for another 115 miles to Monroe, LA. 938 miles total for the day.
The last day and only 524 miles to suburban Atlanta – through the rest of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama (past the Mercedes factory – huge.) and into Georgia – where I saw the only state troopers lying in wait under overpasses within the first 20 miles of the state.
I arrive at 4pm – not a single hiccup, just rock solid performance and renewed respect for this car. Roughly $150 for gas and 28.7 mpg according to the in-car computer. I am only now getting used to crawling at 65-70 on local freeways…what a car!
posted by 68.71.181...
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