Do you care about the gas mileage you get?

[MexicoCityM3]

The range in any of my cars in city driving is stupidly low: about 200 miles, maybe 230 in the E46. Highway I can get 300 miles tops.

[68_427]

Just calculated my average MPGs.  19.5mpg.

Fuck.  That's 83% highway as well.

[Soup DeVille]

Did he personally have some interest in Chicago, a weekend house or whatever?

I think it was just the nearest large city to Detroit, so he assumed it was a trip that many people would want to make.

[Vinsanity]

I think it was just the nearest large city to Detroit, so he assumed it was a trip that many people would want to make.

Yup, and on top of that, there were probably much fewer gas stations around at the time of Henry Ford; road trips were much more grueling in general, until the Interstate highways came along.

[Rich]

Sweet spot in the Mustang is about 45... I get about 36mpg at that speed.

[ChrisV]

All I know is that I spend less of my paycheck on fuel now than I did back when I was making $11/hr and gas was about a buck a gallon. I still care enough about mileage that I'm happy to get close to 30 mpg highway in the Mustang and the BMW, and that fuel mileage was part of the reason for choosing the Mini, though in both cases (Mini and Mustang) getting such a new car negates any fuel savings over a paid off old car that gets crap for mileage).