121MPG, Gimic or what?

[leumas12]

Slightly off topic but a 1989 honda civic hatchback with the HF (High Fuel) package gets 41 city/50 highway, even more if you drive it nice. Now we are supposed to be happy when the overpriced hybrids get 40 city and 38 hw? Theres SOMETHING to say for the fact that mileage has decreased over the years. You'd think the auto makers (even with heavier cars) can AT LEAST keep the same MPG as they once had but they dont...all seems a bit fishy to me...

 

[MAKG]

Slightly off topic but a 1989 honda civic hatchback with the HF (High Fuel) package gets 41 city/50 highway, even more if you drive it nice. Now we are supposed to be happy when the overpriced hybrids get 40 city and 38 hw? Theres SOMETHING to say for the fact that mileage has decreased over the years. You'd think the auto makers (even with heavier cars) can AT LEAST keep the same MPG as they once had but they dont...all seems a bit fishy to me...

Want a scary stat?

The FIRST time GM pooped their pants over imports was the introduction of the 1974 Datsun (later Nissan) B210. Shortly after the OPEC oil embargo.

With a lame-ass simple carbureted engine, it got 26 MPG. While Detroit was still cranking out 350s getting 8 MPG. Does this story sound familiar?

I can get 40 MPG out of my 285,000 mile Prizm (which is really a Corolla) if I'm really nice to it. It keeps up fine on the highway and doesn't break very much. But hey, it has a 95 HP engine, so I must have a small penis. Everyone knows you have to have 200 HP to have balls.

Want an answer to poor mileage? Smaller sizes. As for hauling, if you've seen what Vietnamese can haul on bicycles and 100cc two-strokes, you would never want to see another 7.0L turbo Diesel again. I saw one of them pedaling a yard of bricks....

 

[krugford]

But hey, it has a 95 HP engine, so I must have a small penis. Everyone knows you have to have 200 HP to have balls.

Someone has to say it....4.0L SOHC FTW!!

 

[Sunk]

My mom's old 93 Tercel with the 1.5 got mid 40's highway with a 4 spd. Then it dropped the #3 cylinder and she kept driving it until it dropped another.

My 650cc bike gets a bit better, but then again I'm not as nice.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Want an answer to poor mileage? Smaller sizes. As for hauling, if you've seen what Vietnamese can haul on bicycles and 100cc two-strokes, you would never want to see another 7.0L turbo Diesel again. I saw one of them pedaling a yard of bricks....

Yeah, that would be all and great until the DOT pulls you over, then the big diesel would start to look pretty again.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

My sister had a 88.5 Escort with a TBI 1.9L and a 4sp. It would consitantly get 40-45mpg.

The 1980 F150, Standard cab, 2wd, with a auto and a 302 was rated for 15 city/20 hwy.

The 07 or 08 F150 standard cab, 2wd, with a 4.6L and an auto was rated for 14 city 18hwy.

WTF?

Back in the day 300 equipped F150's with 3sp/od trannys and 2.96 gears were rated for 30MPG hwy!

later,
Dustin

 

[Skid Vicious]

About 25 or so years ago, my uncle worked for Delco Remy. One of his friends was a engineer for the company. He told me a story,no way to validate it thou, that the engineer guy had developed a type of carb for gas engines that would give 50+ mpg. He sold the idea to a undisclosed auto manufacture and signed a contract to not develop the idea any further. The idea was mothballed due to some kind of monitary arangement between oil companys and the auto company.

Even thou the details could easily be inflated for a good story, I have seen practices like this in manufacturing of all kinds of products. When company A buys out company B and elimates items company B makes to increase company A's sales/profitablity. Regardless if company B's product is better or more functional.

Just my 2 pennies worth on the topic

Vonrak

I can't tell you how many times i've heard that story. or variations of it. Here's a thing to ponder. With the big 3 on the verge of bankruptcy, oil prices at historically high levels, don't you think they would have marketed and sold such a fabulously great gas miser of a car?

 

[fastpakr]

Back in the day 300 equipped F150's with 3sp/od trannys and 2.96 gears were rated for 30MPG hwy!

later,
Dustin

And what day was this?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Around 83 or so.

Granted it does say actualy ratings may be lower based on driving habits...but still, it cant be more then 2 or 3 MPG off.

Heres the link to the whole video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmMlKbSJGHM

later,
Dustin

 

[superdave1984]

Methinks simple may be better.

 

[Jason]

Peterbilt made a truck model 372 that was nicknamed "Darth Vader." Back when everyone else was getting three and four mpg out of semis, it was getting ten mpg. But it was ugly, so nobody like it. Just now other trucks (including peterbilt's) are just creeping up on seven and eight mpg. All of the major truck makers have been adding aerodynamic elements to their trucks in the last couple of years, so it shouldn't be too much longer before all semis are butt-ugly.

Depending on the load weight, my Kenworth T660 could get anywhere from 6 mpg (loaded to the 80k pound limit) to 10.5 mpg bobtail. Those diesels are impressive little bastards.

 

[Cheaplabor]

I think if you investgate the mpg ratings of many mid 70s to early 90s cars you will find a lot of small cars that could hit the 30 and 40 mpg marks. There were v6 hitting the high 20s. Id realy like some one to explain to me how with all the light weight materials and advanced fuel injecton systems that they have now they cant do any better. But then we still cant get the automakers here to build cars with small diesels either. A guy I use to work with owned an old VW rabbit that he used to deliver parts he would load the back seat with 500lb of mill plates twice a week a drive 40 miles. He usually refuel it like once a month and said he never let it get below half a tank because it seemed like he drove forever and the tank never went down.

 

[TheTopher]

offtopic:

If I remember right the original model T was somewhere in the ballpark of 17/23 city/highway. Seems like in the 100 years since that car, we've improved everything except gas mileage.

On topic:
That product looks like yet another crap scam. The only gas mileage enhancing device I have ever believed in was the scanguage, simply because it doesn't improve mileage...it shows you diagnostics on your car so you can learn how different conditions and driving habbits effect your mileage, and helps you learn to improve your driving. Using all the eco tricks I managed to squeeze 32mpg city out of my old Integra (auto trans) that was rated for 21mpg city

 

[superdave1984]

I think if you investgate the mpg ratings of many mid 70s to early 90s cars you will find a lot of small cars that could hit the 30 and 40 mpg marks. There were v6 hitting the high 20s. Id realy like some one to explain to me how with all the light weight materials and advanced fuel injecton systems that they have now they cant do any better. But then we still cant get the automakers here to build cars with small diesels either. A guy I use to work with owned an old VW rabbit that he used to deliver parts he would load the back seat with 500lb of mill plates twice a week a drive 40 miles. He usually refuel it like once a month and said he never let it get below half a tank because it seemed like he drove forever and the tank never went down.

Prolly has something to do with the quality of fuel.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Ford flathead in a 51 Merc got 18MPG.

later,
Dustin