Hood-less is better??

[Raccoonjoe]

I removed the hood from Julie this weekend, so I can cut holes and install vents. Due to an argument I had with an angle grinder, the hood is currently removed pending some trimming on the holes, and I am continuing my daily commute hood-less. Looks cool, and lets you see just how much that motor moves, too......

Keeping in mind that the cd of a cinderblock is actually better than that of my Jeep, I pose the following question: Removing the hood would make for a messy area of turbulence to form over the engine bay. However, it seems that the Jeep runs fine down the highway (no buffeting), and my coasting times seem to be longer. I actually had to hit the brakes at the stop light today.....she was coasting better than usual! Any ideas about why this happened???