Wind Effect ?

[agfs]

Decided to conduct an experiment . Wind forecast for this area at 11 a.m. today was WSW 24 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Drove down the M5 from Jn 21 to Jn 30 which averages roughly NE to SW (225 degrees) between these junctions. The wind was generally coming in at an angle of about 245 degrees so I was virtually meeting it almost head on. With the cruise control on 66 mph throughout the car averaged 54.8 mpg. The road is virtually flat apart from a couple of hills at the Devon County border.

Returning at 1700 with the wind at my back (forecast was average 18 mph still gusting to 40 ) and with considerably more shelter when going through cuttings, still at 66 mph, the average was 64.9 mpg. Whether the 10 mpg difference was due to the 6 mph reduction in the wind strength is a matter for conjecture but the wind certainly seemed to make a difference.

[benw123]

The Prius is sensitive to crosswinds. I'd read about this before buying the car but even on tonight's commute home from London it still surprises me how much gusts can pull at the car, and how much you often have to correct the steering.