PT cruiser buying decision help

"Matt Whiting" > wrote in message
...
> Carl Keehn wrote:
> > Snip
> >
> > The CD for the PT Cruiser is .38, for comparison the CD
for a Ford Focus is
> > .32
>
> That is hardly a huge difference. I wonder what that
computes to in
> mileage difference? I'll bet it is small. I suspect the
flat plate
> area difference is more significant than Cd due to fenders
and "non
> smooth" sides.
>
> Matt
>
> Matt

Going from a .32 Cd to .38 is an increase of almost 19%.
Also, remember that total drag is proportional to the SQUARE
of the velocity. Therefore, if you double the speed you
quadruple the drag. It's easy to see why the PT does not
get better mileage on the highway. It is pushing a lot of
air.

Al