35mpg

Our '02 Echo has 125,000 miles on it now, and still gets 40-44 MPG. I think the Yaris' mileage isn't as good.

That's why it's a little frustrating to hear that any laws requiring improvement to 35 MPG have a lead time of 13 years.
 
I have a big ass 04 Ford Mondeo Estate (like that one but blue) but still average 45 MPG thanks to the fuel efficient turbo diesel engine (TDDI). The little cars with diesels over here average in the 60's.

Not sure why they don't market diesels in the States. They don't cough black smoke like the days of old and are very refined and quiet.
 
..............Not sure why they don't market diesels in the States. They don't cough black smoke like the days of old and are very refined and quiet.

Diesel engines cost more and Americans don't see the long term cost benefit. Plus, we made some really crappy diesel cars in the late 70's and there is still a bias lingering.
 
Go here and mouse over the different models to get an idea of the kind of fuel economy of just the Renault vehicles alone.

Renault UK - Car Range

How can one not see the cost benefit in 64 MPG?
 
My opinion only

They should have to 2009 to produce whatever they are going to sell in the USA to get 35 miles per gallon or better or they could not sell it in this country. If you don't put feet to the fire they will not respond.
 
It's my understanding that these engines don't meet the US EPA requirements.

And from my understanding if they are reworked to meet US EPA, the gas mileage drops substantially........
 
Go here and mouse over the different models to get an idea of the kind of fuel economy of just the Renault vehicles alone.

How can one not see the cost benefit in 64 MPG?

People can, but US folks remember the Car of the Year Renault Alliance...........and the memories are painful..........
 
Go here and mouse over the different models to get an idea of the kind of fuel economy of just the Renault vehicles alone.

Renault UK - Car Range

How can one not see the cost benefit in 64 MPG?

Trek, I agree with you. But we are taking about Americans here. The average Joe won't spend extra $ for added efficiency - too nebulous a concept. Many still think gas will return to $1 a gallon.

It is also true that the 2007 particulate standards have cut into fuel economy of diesels.
 
I'm amazed at how many of you are against the higher CAFE standards. You don't have to buy a fuel efficient vehicle if you don't want to! Nothing in the new standards forces you to buy something more efficient. You can still buy your new Hummer that only gets 10 mpg if you want to. It doesn't hurt your purchase possibilities if someone else might want to buy a vehicle that gets 45-50 mpg which is the kind of gas mileage you can now only get as a diesel or hybrid in the US at a much higher price. Wouldn't it be nice if an affordable vehichle (in the $10,000-$14,000 range) that got 45-50 mpg was available to people in the lower income levels (it is not now, with maybe one exception that I can think of...the Toyota Yaris).
 
People can, but US folks remember the Car of the Year Renault Alliance...........and the memories are painful..........

Aw, come on. The convertible was HOT! :p

I think it was the Le Car that did them in. But how could they go wrong with marketing like this?

14846.jpg
 
My Dad and Brother probably represent the attitudes of most Americans when Dad wont buy anything smaller than a Lincoln Continental and Brother swears by his Ford F-350 Dualie.I dont mind that they want to throw away vast sums of money on gas but please quit complaining about the price per gallon.
What they think of my Toyota Echo and my Mazda Miata would not be politically correct to print..
 
My Dad and Brother probably represent the attitudes of most Americans when Dad wont buy anything smaller than a Lincoln Continental and Brother swears by his Ford F-350 Dualie.I dont mind that they want to throw away vast sums of money on gas but please quit complaining about the price per gallon.
What they think of my Toyota Echo and my Mazda Miata would not be politically correct to print..

They probably still believe that they are safer in those big boxes.
 
My Dad and Brother probably represent the attitudes of most Americans when Dad wont buy anything smaller than a Lincoln Continental and Brother swears by his Ford F-350 Dualie.I dont mind that they want to throw away vast sums of money on gas but please quit complaining about the price per gallon.
What they think of my Toyota Echo and my Mazda Miata would not be politically correct to print..

Actually, if you look at statistics for new car sales, you'll find your dad and brother do not represent the attitudes of most Americans in regards to automobiles.
 
I guess gas is still so cheap in the U.S. that most don't mind paying it. I had an F-150 in Florida but it doubled as a work vehicle. Not a chance I'd drive a gas guzzler like that here with gas "only" at a touch over $4 a gallon. Do you think if the price of gas was $7 or $8 a gallon, like in some other parts of Europe, it would get people to look at more fuel efficient vehicles? Even diesels?

Look at these world prices from April.

You think we've got it bad? Gas prices kick world motorists - USATODAY.com
 
.............. Do you think if the price of gas was $7 or $8 a gallon, like in some other parts of Europe, it would get people to look at more fuel efficient vehicles? Even diesels?........................

Ironically, during the Arab oil embargo of the 1970's Americans did flock to small cars. And there was a small move to (the previously mentioned crappy) diesels. So far the increased, inflation adjusted, fuel prices are too small to even get Americans to slow down, let alone move to more efficient cars and trucks.
 
There are interesting loopholes in the European laws. Unless it's changed, for instance, Denmark (Sweden?) has a huge tax on vehicles, like 180%, but "classic" vehicles over 30 years old are exempt. So you'll see old U.S. Muscle Cars from the 60s and 70s over there, because they were probably cost effective. I pity the fuel costs those Vikings pay, though!

P.S. -- often overlooked is that fuel is a relatively small part of the total cost of operating a vehicle. I bet that's true until fuel gets VERY expensive. For example, generally does not make sense to buy a hybrid vehicle in the US, if you run the numbers.
 
PS many of us, if we could tell the honest truth, would probably rather have that 12-cylinder BMW instead of the hybrid diesel tin can, even if we could only drive proportionately less mileage per year >:D

At least more babes would give you a ride when you ran out of gas.

"Cash, ass, gas, or grass. Nobody rides for free." -- Bumper Sticker
 
I think it was the Le Car that did them in.

Le Car by Renault! Le Dent by Buick!

I saw one of the original teeny Geo Metro's on the road for the first time in years. It was sitting between a couple of F-250's with both of those drivers yapping on the phone.

Guy must have felt a little bit apprehensive.
 
Just read in Popular Mechanics that VW is going to sell diesels again in the U.S. Supposedly 75mpg!

I once had a Le Car for a loaner when my car was being serviced. The shift lever came off in my hand going into second while exiting the dealers' parking lot!:p
 
PS many of us, if we could tell the honest truth, would probably rather have that 12-cylinder BMW instead of the hybrid diesel tin can, even if we could only drive proportionately less mileage per year >:D

Thing is, you don't have to drive a tin can. You can get a huge luxury 7 series BMW with a quiet, efficient diesel with respectable performance and still beat 35 MPG.

Model: 730d SE Stratus Exclusive Edition
Price: £56,820
Fuel: Diesel
CO2 tax: 32%
Engine size: 2993cc
EU4: Yes
Fuel consumption: 35.8 mpg
0-62mph: 7.8 seconds
 
Just read in Popular Mechanics that VW is going to sell diesels again in the U.S. Supposedly 75mpg!

Here are the stats on a VW Polo 80ps TDI (diesel)

Pferdestärken* 80
Engine cubic capacity 1400
Fuel Consumption
Urban 51.4mpg - 5.5l/100km
Extra-urban 72.4mpg - 3.9l/100km
Combined 62.8mpg - 4.5l/100km
Engine emissions 119g/km
Engine noise levels 71.0dB
Engine maximum Speed** 108mph - 174km/h
Engine acceleration 0-62mph 12.8secs
Maximum output PS 80 at RPM 4000
Maximum torque 144 lbs.ft / 195 Nm at RPM 1800
Insurance group rating 5
 
Here are the stats on a VW Polo 80ps TDI (diesel)

Pferdestärken* 80
Engine cubic capacity 1400
Fuel Consumption
Urban 51.4mpg - 5.5l/100km
Extra-urban 72.4mpg - 3.9l/100km
Combined 62.8mpg - 4.5l/100km
Engine emissions 119g/km
Engine noise levels 71.0dB
Engine maximum Speed** 108mph - 174km/h
Engine acceleration 0-62mph 12.8secs
Maximum output PS 80 at RPM 4000
Maximum torque 144 lbs.ft / 195 Nm at RPM 1800
Insurance group rating 5

Remember if you're dealing with Imperial gallons which they use some places in Europe, they are 1.2 times bigger than the US gallons. So in order to find out what the comparable gas mileage is in the US, you have to divide by 1.2. So the 72.4mpg above would be 60.33 here in the US....still pretty good but not 72.4.
 
Back
Top Bottom