Gas tank size?

[JimmyTwoTimes]

One of the first things I plan to do after I get my 2015 Mustang GT and do a couple thousand miles worth of breaking in is a cross-country drive -- New York to San Diego and back. I'll be doing it solo, in a week -- leave Friday afternoon to beat rush-hour traffic out of Manhattan, return to NYC the following Sunday. I have the whole trip planned out, never more than 750 miles in a day so I don't feel the need to speed or drive tired, etc.

One of the things I'm concerned about is gas tank size. I'll be driving through some pretty desolate deserts on the way there, and mountains on the way back, and I don't want to get stranded - has anybody seen any info on fuel tank size?

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[Horse]

http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php/2015-mustang-s550-986.html

16 gallons GT

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php/2015-mustang-s550-986.html

16 gallons GT

Thanks! That was one I'd missed.

So, figure 25 mpg on a pure interstate drive... 400 mile range? I'm hoping that's sufficient to make it through New Mexico or Colorado wilderness.

 

[Steve-OO]

Since you have your answer, I have two comments:

1. There are few spots in the CONUS where you are more than 100 miles from a gas station, so tank size in that respect is pretty much a non-issue.

2. Nearly 6000 miles in 9 days solo is not my idea of fun. :eyebulge:

 

[spanner]

There are some desolate and dangerous stretches out here,
but few over 100+ without full facilities.

Id worry more about having a FS spare. Good luck finding
a 17/18/19" tire after hours, on a weekend, somewhere
deep in New Mexico or AZ

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

There are some desolate and dangerous stretches out here,
but few over 100+ without full facilities.

Id worry more about having a FS spare. Good luck finding
a 17/18/19" tire after hours, on a weekend, somewhere
deep in New Mexico or AZ

Oh, trust me, I will be bringing a full size spare and heavy duty lift jack along with the compressor and spare fluids. It's obnoxious that Tire Rack forces you to input the car before you can order a wheel / tire set, since they don't have the 2015 Mustang in the system yet, but I already know I need a 19x8.5 wheel with a 5 x 4.5" bolt pattern and a 255/40R19 P Zero Nero on it. I'll also probably be bringing snow chains in case it snows in the mountains - I'm an expert at driving in snow, and even at driving a Mustang in snow, but I've never driven in mountains bigger than the Appalachians and so I want to be careful.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

Since you have your answer, I have two comments:

1. There are few spots in the CONUS where you are more than 100 miles from a gas station, so tank size in that respect is pretty much a non-issue.

2. Nearly 6000 miles in 9 days solo is not my idea of fun. :eyebulge:

Driving is my favorite passtime. So relaxing and tranquil. I've never done more than a one-day road trip before, but I've done some LONG one-day trips. Most every summer for vacation I drive to Miami and then back (21 hours each way) in a single shot; I used to do NYC - Detroit - NYC in one day pretty regularly when my sister lived in Detroit for a while. My job involves, essentially, thinking constantly, really hard, for 14 hours at a time; there's nothing I like more than to just shut my brain off, get on the highway, and cruise.

The tentative itinerary I have (leaving NYC around 1-2 on Friday afternoon) is this (leaving some time in San Diego and Denver for dinner / drinks with friends there):

Friday night: Columbus, OH (533 miles)
Saturday night: Vinita, OK (749 miles)
Sunday night: Albuquerque, NM (709 miles)
Monday night: Barstow, CA (676 miles)
Tuesday night: San Diego, CA (176 miles)
Wednesday night: Green River, UT (735 miles)
Thursday night: Denver, CO (343 miles)
Friday night: Columbia, MO (726 miles)
Saturday night: Pittsburgh, PA (718 miles)
Sunday night: Brooklyn, NY (376 miles)

Total: 5741 miles

 

[Steve-OO]

That's cool. My business involves a fair amount of driving (35K+ miles per year on my Excursion) so road tripping for relaxation is one of the last things I want to do.

I once had an 82 year-old aunt drive non-stop from her house in Sarasota, FL to mine in Dearborn, MI when I lived there. Thought she was nuts to do that at her age. To be fair, she was mostly nuts anyway.

Assuming you're planning on doing this in October, I'll be shocked if you need those chains. I live in the CO mountains (you'll be going thru my little town, BTW) and it will be pure luck if you run into a storm going over the hill into Denver. Doesn't hurt to have 'em, though.

 

[Mriley]

One of the first things I plan to do after I get my 2015 Mustang GT and do a couple thousand miles worth of breaking in is a cross-country drive -- New York to San Diego and back. I'll be doing it solo, in a week -- leave Friday afternoon to beat rush-hour traffic out of Manhattan, return to NYC the following Sunday. I have the whole trip planned out, never more than 750 miles in a day so I don't feel the need to speed or drive tired, etc.

One of the things I'm concerned about is gas tank size. I'll be driving through some pretty desolate deserts on the way there, and mountains on the way back, and I don't want to get stranded - has anybody seen any info on fuel tank size?

Jimmy, that is one epic road trip you have planned. Kudos for having the patience and fortitude for that kind of journey b/c I sure don't

One thing tho...I'm in the city as well and I think it's fair to say there is no such thing as beating rush hour out of Manhattan on Fridays, much less Fri afternoon. Leave in the morning if you'd rather not be twiddling your thumbs in the Holland Tunnel to start off your trip.

 

[SeventhWard]

Jimmy, that's gonna be one helluva trip in that brand new Mustang. Brand new American pony car, driving from coast to coast - that's the stuff of legend. You'll tell stories from that trip for years.

When you get to San Diego get the papers, get the papers.

-SeventhWard

 

[Esfoad]

I love driving too but those 700+ mile days will be long. However, you will be in a new Mustang so ............. NEVER MIND!!! Enjoy! Sounds like a great trip.

 

[HrsePwr]

If you've only ever done 1 day road trips, I'd suggest a two or three day trip first. Drive west for a day and a half, then turnaround. I love to drive too, did the cross country trek from NJ to AZ in just over 48 hours. After a couple days though, you want it to be over, no matter what you're driving.

 

[EXP Jawa]

I did something similar 15 years ago when I bought my SVT Contour, and I've made cross country trips 6 or 7 times since. I also drive back and forth to Detroit for work often, so I'm used to making long distance drives.

A couple of things - there may be few places that there are services more than 100 miles apart, but in some of the more desolate areas, hours of operation may be shorter than you expect. You've got to plan refueling on the 1/4 tank, rather than 1/8 or less like you might around town. But if you do your driving during daylight hours you'll do ok (I've had to camp out at gas pumps waiting to open). Keep in mind that highway MPG ratings assume 55 MPH, and higher speeds erode mileage. But at the same time, once you get out of NY, you'll find 70 MPH - and then 75 MPH - speed limits, so you won't be traveling at 55. Of course, we don't know what the new car is rated for yet anyway.

Also, it took me a trip or two to figure out that I needed to factor time zone changes into my planning. You "gain" time going west, but loose it coming back. That eats into the plan. So does time for gas stops, food, etc. You've probably noted this on the trips you have done, but bears repeating. Along the same lines, if you can make time to sit down in real restaurants, do it. Fast food on a long distance trip isn't ideal. Also, it helps to take 10-15 minute breaks every 3-4 hours to keep from getting fatigued.

When you're in Albuquerque, stop at the Route 66 Diner. The food is good, the place has history, and the milkshakes are huge.

 

[Esfoad]

Wife and I have a 2009 Corvette convertible. Went from NJ to FL this Feb and averaged 500 miles a day. One day we did 800 miles. I am in my 60's (hence the Vette and why I'm thinking of the Mustang LOL), not saying how old the wife is. Neither of us had a problem. Very comfortable for the whole 2 weeks and would do it again! Married 37 years and we still have things to talk about. Maybe next trip in a new Mustang? BTW packing for a 2 week trip in a Vette vert is interesting but we made it!

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

A couple of things - there may be few places that there are services more than 100 miles apart, but in some of the more desolate areas, hours of operation may be shorter than you expect. You've got to plan refueling on the 1/4 tank, rather than 1/8 or less like you might around town.

Thanks for pointing that out -- that's something I remember being struck by the first time I did an overnight NYC-Miami run, leaving at 3:00 p.m. and getting in at noon the next day. I just assumed that everything on the highway would be open 24 hours -- nope!

But if you do your driving during daylight hours you'll do ok (I've had to camp out at gas pumps waiting to open). Keep in mind that highway MPG ratings assume 55 MPH, and higher speeds erode mileage. But at the same time, once you get out of NY, you'll find 70 MPH - and then 75 MPH - speed limits, so you won't be traveling at 55. Of course, we don't know what the new car is rated for yet anyway.

Doing 70 on the cruise control in my 2011 V6, I get 33-34 mpg on pure long distance runs (i.e., fill up, get on the highway, don't slow down again until the next fillup). So I figure that doing the same thing in a GT should net me around 25 or so.

Thanks for the advice!

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