Joined: Mar 29, 2008 Posts: 70 Location: Ashland,OR
Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 9:44 am Post subject: Re: PO.com Members Miles Per Gallon Diet Club
Hmm. Little mazda mx-5 gets about 30mpg, nomatter what.
I just did the math on my DRZ-400 m/c, 2.9gal for 129mi, 42mpg.
If I could stop twisting the throttle quite as much, that could be 50-55mpg, but It is awfuly fun.
Mass matters, when you are doing stop-and-go. Trains get great milage, they never stop for pedestrians. What was the radio ad I keep hearing, one ton of freight-400miles-one gallon fuel.
Makes the 30mi my 1.25ton car can cover seem rather stupid.
Let alone the 42mi my(with my fat arse) 1/4ton bike can do...
Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 10:36 pm Post subject: Re: PO.com Members Miles Per Gallon Diet Club
I pulled ~20mpg pulling a four horse, w/ no horses. All my problems with fuel have to do with dirtbike riders, which up until recently have been minor, and I've ignored, since I'm not gonna split hairs about a few gallons every month. However, now that someone, not sure who, decided to take a whole 8 gallons, well then it's time for the barbed wire and video cameras. _________________
I bet that half the public thinks that hydrogen cars generate energy.
Clouseau2 wrote:
This invention destroys the engine of your car, thereby increasing gas mileage to infinite miles per gallon as you push it around town Flintstones style ...
It won't since it is just 2 pieces of plastic you attach to your car
Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 2:25 pm Post subject: Re: 20 Years Ago-57 MPG-Honda Civic CRX
BigTex wrote:
Does it bother you that we are using vastly more complicated technology today to achieve the same result as 20 years ago?
For some reason that bugs me.
I have seen the same sentiment regarding the GEO Metro which also had a model with very high EPA gas mileage. But it was a lot smaller than a Prius and used a 3 cylinder engine. The discontinued Honda Insight also uses a 3 cylinder engine. With gas going up we might see a return of 3 cylinder cars. Although the Prius is going the other way. Their new model is supposed to have a larger engine (but the car is supposed to get the same fuel economy) than the current one. Surprising to see that they feel that more power is necessary to keep Prius buyers happy or attract new buyers. I test drove a Prius and didn't have any complaints about its acceleration.
Joined: Aug 03, 2006 Posts: 4073 Location: Graceland
Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 3:52 pm Post subject: Re: 20 Years Ago-57 MPG-Honda Civic CRX
FiniteQuantity wrote:
BigTex wrote:
Does it bother you that we are using vastly more complicated technology today to achieve the same result as 20 years ago?
For some reason that bugs me.
I have seen the same sentiment regarding the GEO Metro which also had a model with very high EPA gas mileage. But it was a lot smaller than a Prius and used a 3 cylinder engine. The discontinued Honda Insight also uses a 3 cylinder engine. With gas going up we might see a return of 3 cylinder cars. Although the Prius is going the other way. Their new model is supposed to have a larger engine (but the car is supposed to get the same fuel economy) than the current one. Surprising to see that they feel that more power is necessary to keep Prius buyers happy or attract new buyers. I test drove a Prius and didn't have any complaints about its acceleration.
Vehicles for the U.S. market remind me of the U.S. government:
- They get bigger and more powerful over time, no matter what
- They are not nearly as efficient as they should be _________________
Joined: Feb 27, 2008 Posts: 57 Location: Washington State (US)
Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 1:14 pm Post subject: Re: 20 Years Ago-57 MPG-Honda Civic CRX
Don't know the year of the photo but obviously long ago. The caption claims that the oil in this tank farm will produce 10,230,000 gallons of gasoline, which is enough to "run your Tin Lizzie 204,600,000 miles".
80 years later and so little has changed. Sure, for 20 MPG you could tow a small boat, but mostly, people drive around by themselves hauling a big cargo of air.
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 11:40 am Post subject: gas mileage now vs then
how come in the early 80s a honda crx coupe got 50+ miles to the gallon and now 25 years later our best hybrids only get the same or less.it would seem to me we should be in the 75 + mpg buy now.
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 11:52 am Post subject: Re: gas mileage now vs then
Because, with gas in the 1-2 dollar range and everybody borrowing against every dime of credit they had, there has been very little demand for smaller, high-mileage cars.
Could we have produced a nice 3 cylinder getting 60 mpg? Of course.
Why didn't we?
No profit in it.
Now there will be, so between now and when gasoline is no longer available at your local station, you'll see a bunch of smaller, high mileage cars on the market. _________________ Massive Human Dieoff must occur as a result of Peak Oil. Many more than half will die. It will occur everywhere, including where you live. If you fail to recognize this, then your odds of living move toward the "going to die" group.
Joined: May 26, 2008 Posts: 576 Location: Chicago, IL
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject: Re: gas mileage now vs then
Sure engine size and design have a lot to do with gas mileage, but respectfully, those 50+ mpg cars from the '70s didn't have power windows, power locks, power seats, power steering, hydraulic brakes, ABS, A/C, 12-CD CD exchangers, DVD players, navigational systems, phones, 12 cup holders, 8 computers, plush interiors, etc, etc.
Back of the envelop here, but if you strip today's car back to 1970's comfort, I'm sure you can rid yourself of 400 pounds of stuff and improve your mileage.
I guess our hunger for comfort is part of the problem. But who's going to live like a moron?
Joined: Jan 03, 2005 Posts: 1159 Location: western Wisconsin
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject: Re: gas mileage now vs then
This subject has been discussed in other threads recently, I think. Even in the 90s, Honda and Suzuki (Geo/Chevy) made cars that got over 50mpg. Our 2000 Chevy Metro has air conditioning (which I never use) and gets over 50mpg highway. Honda's Civic VX of the 1992-95 era got as good or better mileage, and the Geo Metros of the mid 90s were available in models that got the best mileage of any American gasoline fueled cars. Those cars had the pollution controls and catalytic converters of modern cars, and the improved technology of computerized ignitions and fuel injection systems would probably allow even better mileage. As for power windows and other absurdities, what do you want, efficient transportation or a living room on wheels?
And by the way, cars back in the 1970s DID have hydraulic brakes. You guys need to do a little basic research on what you are talking about before you start.
Joined: Sep 25, 2004 Posts: 4424 Location: Boston, MA
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 10:10 pm Post subject: Re: gas mileage now vs then
What about the fact that the EPA changed the standards by which it calculates mileage?
Rather than use vehicles on perfect little racetracks, the EPA now requires that cars be tested under realistic conditions.
This dramatically lowers the measured fuel economy of many cars and stops the Prius from advertising 60MPG (which is theoretically possible under perfect conditions). _________________ "www.peakoil.com is the Myspace of the Apocalypse."
Joined: May 26, 2008 Posts: 576 Location: Chicago, IL
Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 6:58 am Post subject: Re: gas mileage now vs then
Hi, Jim.
You hit the nail in the head; gas mileage sucks because we want a living room on wheels, and add to that, a basement in the trunk.
Should there be a law to stop "motor-homes"?
(As for hydraulic brakes, I must have driven '50s cars in the '70s. LOL.)
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All my problems with fuel have to do with dirtbike riders, which up until recently have been minor, and I've ignored, since I'm not gonna split hairs about a few gallons every month. However, now that someone, not sure who, decided to take a whole 8 gallons, well then it's time for the barbed wire and video cameras.
