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I thought you'd all appreciate a "day-trip" adventure from Grand Rapids to Chicago in the 9-3 SE Auto.
First, let me say this "trip" was last minute in preparation. A full tank of Meijer 93 octane fuel and we're off!!
Road speeds average 75 mph (or more) in Michigan, entering Indiana, one sees the 55mph signs along I-94 but just about everybody maintains 70-75 mph-UNTIL:
The dreaded Indiana Turnpike/Skyway-to-Chicago exit---where all traffic was STOPPED. So off onto the Skyway---just breezing along towards Chicago, wondering how much pocket-change I was "really" gonna need UNTIL--
The "bridge" on the Skyway--and all traffic was stopped.
Did I forget to mention this was at 9 am on a Saturday? I only could imagine all the Friday night frustrations of travelers LEAVING Chicago.
Onto Schamburg, and the IKEA store. 85 degrees and seeminly a million cars in the parking lot--at 10 am Chicago time!!!
As I got to my parking spot (seemingly in Wisconsin!) I did check the mileage--and WOW 29.6 mpg!!!
After emptying my wallet at IKEA, now it was onto "the miracle mile" for a lunch--where else but the Cheesecake Factory ? I could not help but notice the agressive driving nature of the "locals" as 3-5 cars seemed to want to hit-on my little SAAB if I left more than 3 feet distance between me and the car in-front.
The roads---oh, my God-- the roads in Chicago are a complete and utter NIGHTMARE!! Potholes the size of small dogs are EVERYWHERE!!
Parking---a bargain at only $ 21.00 for 2.5 hrs. And of course the Skyway tolls to and fro-------------
Oh, and on the way BACK to Michigan--I sat in traffic on the Skyway exit of the Dan Ryan to the toll booth for OVER one hour in 87 degree heat!!
OT?? My EBC brakes HATED THIS. I have never heard skreeeches and squeals like this from ANY SAAB pads in my life. Travelling 10 feet at a time--the brake pads were letting the whole world know how I disliked being stuck in the trafic.
Braking effort was fine--but the pad noise was TREMENDOUS and certainly added to the lovely ambience of the "moment".
Finally after snaking over the bridge in a one-lane "chicken" match, we finally got rolling back to Grand Rapids.
Overall return mileage was 26.3--- factoring in the stop-and-go traffic for over one hour, this mileage was still very welcome.
The EBC brake pads never squealed again the entire trip--inclusive of one near "melt-down" panic braking effort to avoid a truck tire carcass that had just exploded on I-94 near Michigan City, In. on the return trip.
Ah, the joys of summer
Regards to you all,
TG
posted by 24.236.152...
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