Wow, what a day, nearly 500 miles from W-S North Carolina to Tiffin Ohio. Based on fuel averaging, the MPG rating was 25.8MPG, not bad for a very heavy AWD vehicle with two people, one 80 pound Boxer pup, and 50 pounds of gear!

The first challenge was a massive sudden backup on the WVA turnpike while coming out of a near blind turn, I applied the brakes in moderation (not used to ABS quite yet), but realized that if I didn't do something the guy in front of us in his black Camry (while on the cell phone) would be toast if we hit him. A quick check of the right side mirror said all is clear, ie. drift right and gain 10 car lengths to the semi in the outside lane. No problem whatsoever to that point anyway, then I looked in the center rear view mirror and saw two big pickup trucks coming at us from behind at way too fast of a speed! I finally veered to the outside berm and into the grass to avoid the crash from behind. Final tally was a trashed F150, an accordion of a Camry, a C2500 PU that needed a flat bed, a semi trailer with wrinkled rear doors, and an XC-70 with muddy wheels!

I'm not trying to call the XC-70 an awesome handling car, but dang, this is the second time I've asked the impossible of it and she responded with a "give me more attitude!"

Finally, driving through Columbus, OH simply sucked, ie. highly aggressive drivers without a care in the world as long as their cell is plastered to their ear! If they weren't on the phone, they were trying to "gain pole position" on the freeway! I guess they could use a bit of Southern Driving etiquette!

In closing, 25.8MPG for a heavy XC ain't bad especially on 87 octane. The handling is highly deceptive due to its "softness", but I am now learning what she is capable of... I'm thinking that a bit of track time is in order to find the true limits!

jorrell
--
92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!