ucw458 Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 We all hate high gas prices. We also hear the government saying car manufacturers are required to make their cars more fuel efficient. But that's a load of BS. Half the small to midsize new cars we can buy today get worse MPG than my wife's 1994 ford escort. So after 18 years of government saying cars must be more efficient not much has changed. Sure we have some more efficient cars but not many. The Toyota prius has been awarded the most efficient car in the US for a number of years. It gets around 45 MPG. Which is just a hair more than a twin turbo diesel Jaguar xj6 tdvi gets. But we can't have those here, no but Europe gets them. Over there you can buy a 70+ mpg car that isn't a hybrid. But we can't get them here. I've been looking at new cars with the thought of getting my wife something but why. Her car gets the same if not better mpg than the cars I've looked at. It's cheaper to repair, cheaper to register, cheaper to insure, similar if not better mpg and it's paid for. I would get her a new 60+ mpg car if it didn't cost 30k+ or was the size of a shoebox. I think the oil and car industry just wants to keep up buying inefficient cars and lots more fuel to run them. Not only that but alot of cool cars we can't get here. All the new hot hatches and other affordable cool cars simply aren't sold here. I think as americans we are getting the short end of the stick. What are your thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Komeuppance Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 I think you talk about that escort more than any normal person would... -Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badazzquest Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 Even the "Same" cars we can get here fall way short of the UK performance mark. It is unheard of here to go 800 or a 1000 miles on a tank of fuel. Or the performance numbers are lower. There wouldnt be "Japan spec" parts/engine if things were the same. I agree that we are being kept back in this society and most are to lazy to say anything about it. When "oil" is brought up, all of a sudden something else happens to make us change our aim. I think America as a country is very A.D.D. and instant gratification, get distracted very........................SQUIRREL!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucw458 Posted March 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 I think you talk about that escort more than any normal person would... -Robert You don't like that example, fine. How about the 45 mpg VW diesels sold in the US in the 80s-90s. They still sell for $4500+. VW doesn't sell anything close to that efficient here in the states today. But VW does sell 70+ mpg cars in Europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 3 letters= EPA, the requirements in US for exhaust emissions kill fuel mileage and drive up the cost- even new semi trucks have EGR's and cat converters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neverfastenuff87tsi Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 The so-called "clean air trucks" these days cost about another $15,000 more for the exhaust system alone, and if you blow a turbo and keep driving it they deny your warranty and you will have to pay for a new exhaust burner out of your pocket. Gotta love the EPA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedy2222 Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 so you're saying vw doesn't sell a 45mpg vw jetta anymore? you must be in the dark then. 100% agreed with you on all this "hybrid" bs.. there's one that just came out and claimed 30mpg... FROM A HYBRID, they said it like they were proud. personally i want a ute from australia, and i feel like there'd still be a somewhat big market here for them too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 so you're saying vw doesn't sell a 45mpg vw jetta anymore? you must be in the dark then. 100% agreed with you on all this "hybrid" bs.. there's one that just came out and claimed 30mpg... FROM A HYBRID, they said it like they were proud. personally i want a ute from australia, and i feel like there'd still be a somewhat big market here for them too. If you chip the VW Audi TDIs they get over 50mpg and gobs more tq Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 Theres tons of cars around the world that we will never see because of the govt' and fhe EPA claimed fuel economy for new cars and hybrids are a load of bs. Prius dont get 50mpg like they claim, thats only if drive on flat ground all the time, drive really slow, never carry any passengers and dont come to any stops. BS In the 80's and 90's Toyota Corollas and Tercels yielded crazy gas mileage. An 88-91 Honda Civic or CRX HF yielded 40+ miles per gallon, no need for hybrid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indiana Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 I got better mileage out a my 68 Sedan Deville in high school in the 70s than I do from my Tundra and the Cadillac had more power, could pull more, went much faster and was more comfortable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_StarionTSI Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 yeah, I think we should be able to get all the reasonable cars over in america and vise versa. I would love a new Ford Falcon from aussieland Hell, we can't even get a focus rs500.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verde2002 Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 Class action lawsuit for the Civic Hybrid for not meeting the MPG claimed. Saw it on the news today. Many more lawsuits to follow I am sure. None of my cars have ever met the MPG claimed, it's a number I guess you can get if all conditions were perfect which will never happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_StarionTSI Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 Class action lawsuit for the Civic Hybrid for not meeting the MPG claimed. Saw it on the news today. Many more lawsuits to follow I am sure. None of my cars have ever met the MPG claimed, it's a number I guess you can get if all conditions were perfect which will never happen. Saw that on Yahoo news a few weeks ago. She won't the case Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verde2002 Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 Saw that on Yahoo news a few weeks ago. She won't the case The one a few weeks ago was a lady who took Honda to small claims court and won. This is a class action lawsuit that involves all Honda Civic Hybrid owners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucw458 Posted March 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 (edited) so you're saying vw doesn't sell a 45mpg vw jetta anymore? you must be in the dark then. 100% agreed with you on all this "hybrid" bs.. there's one that just came out and claimed 30mpg... FROM A HYBRID, they said it like they were proud. personally i want a ute from australia, and i feel like there'd still be a somewhat big market here for them too. I looked at their website again and found only one 42 mpg diesel Passat but it's a station wagon. But a base model will still cost you 26k + tax and registration. For the same price or less you can get a fully loaded compact car from other car makers. Take smart cars for example. People think those horrid little ecoboxes are really fuel efficient. But it only gets 38 mpg. But it is cheaper than the Passat. Lets look at a VW available in europe. A VW Polo blue motion. I like the way it looks. Nice little car. It gets 91 mpg hwy. Even the gas powered 140hp gti version gets 55 mpg. The blue motion model costs 24k and gets more than double the mpg of the american version Passat diesel. Tripple what my wife's car gets now. I showed it to her and she likes it. We would consider buying one but we can't get one here. Edited March 17, 2012 by ucw458 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 Class action lawsuit for the Civic Hybrid for not meeting the MPG claimed. Saw it on the news today. Many more lawsuits to follow I am sure. None of my cars have ever met the MPG claimed, it's a number I guess you can get if all conditions were perfect which will never happen. When I worked in politics, part of my perks package included a vehicle of my choice, free gas, free maintenance, free insurance. I alternated between hybrids, Prius and Honda Civic mostly. The Prius I gotta say drives nice, has some power. The Civic on the other hand was terrible, you hit the pedal and that sucker just revs the engine like its in neutral. It yielded less than impressive gas mileage. So I'm not surprised they have not been sued earlier. The Prius should definately have a class action lawsuit behind it as well, it does not yield no 50MPG even in the most ideal real life conditions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted March 18, 2012 Report Share Posted March 18, 2012 I looked at their website again and found only one 42 mpg diesel Passat but it's a station wagon. But a base model will still cost you 26k + tax and registration. For the same price or less you can get a fully loaded compact car from other car makers. Take smart cars for example. People think those horrid little ecoboxes are really fuel efficient. But it only gets 38 mpg. But it is cheaper than the Passat You can get a Jetta TDI 6 speed for 22K. Once they are reflashed/chipped you get 50+ easy. Its been done since VAG offered the TDis in 99. If you want to save money look into a MK4 TDI (99-2004) and chip that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucw458 Posted March 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2012 You can get a Jetta TDI 6 speed for 22K. Once they are reflashed/chipped you get 50+ easy. Its been done since VAG offered the TDis in 99. If you want to save money look into a MK4 TDI (99-2004) and chip that. That's extra work that most people wont do. I'm talking about unmodified new cars that most people drive. In other words, what the car companies are offering. Not what mods a few people do to improve them. The prices I'm quoting are straight from the manufacturers websites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted March 18, 2012 Report Share Posted March 18, 2012 Chipping them is actually really common Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucw458 Posted March 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2012 If chipping them is so common and gets better gas mileage then why weren't they set up that way from the factory? The diesel is sold for economy not performance. So if it was that easy to make it more ecinomical then why didn't VW do it? Seems like a good way to get americans to buy more fuel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted March 18, 2012 Report Share Posted March 18, 2012 (edited) They actually already do. It started with the Audi dealers and its making its way to VW. They offer tons of aftermarket products that also have a warranty that matches dealer. They make brake upgrades, suspension upgrades, exhausts, full blown supercharger kits for the R8s, and yes even ecu chipping. The company is called Stasis. I used to work for them Edited March 18, 2012 by RonnieJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyWadd Posted March 18, 2012 Report Share Posted March 18, 2012 I can relate. Lets see my brother had one of those escort wagons 35 mpg, i had a 1978 civic 40 mpg, a 1987 accord 2 door with carb it got 40 and a 1987 accord four door got 35 with 4 people in it plug luggage, my brothers current car a toyota tercel got 42 mpg freeway to idaho and back carrying a four wheel drive transmission and t-case, even my 1989 ford probe gt turbo got 37 driving over the mountain pass and back. All these new cars shaped like boxes and cubes how the flip are they supposed to be aerodymanic? And every car has 17 inch and bigger wheels, Friggin' idiots those big hunks of metal take more power to turn. And im not just saying that because i read the article i've noticed it in a few cars myself. And the new powerstroke deisels get worse ecenomy than the early chipped 7.3's and have thousands of more moving parts and such under the hood and crazy liquid cooled catylictic convers that fail and cost high dollar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pumpedTSI Posted March 18, 2012 Report Share Posted March 18, 2012 Hell back in the early 80's I was getting 35-40 mpg consistently at home in my Renault on my round trip to work.......nowadays at home (N.Ireland) my dads citroen gets over 50 mpg all day... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucw458 Posted March 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2012 They actually already do. It started with the Audi dealers and its making its way to VW. They offer tons of aftermarket products that also have a warranty that matches dealer. They make brake upgrades, suspension upgrades, exhausts, full blown supercharger kits for the R8s, and yes even ecu chipping. The company is called Stasis. I used to work for them That's not the point though. You say it's common to chip them. Well I bet that's only 10% of owners if that. I know 10x more people who wouldn't ever think of modifying their car then people who do. It boils down to buying a car then if you want it to save gas you have to buy something else. That car could and should have been more efficient from the factory. We complain about spending 1k to tune a MPI car. I have no doubt oem manufacturers can spend around 1,000x that much. Yet some company can spend a couple grand to develop a handheld programmer that makes the oem setup better? The only explanation that makes sense to me is manufacturers are making them inefficient on purpose. They don't share in the aftermarket companies profits so why would they drop the ball on efficiency? It doesn't make sense unless they are working with the oil companies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted March 18, 2012 Report Share Posted March 18, 2012 Im just giving yo options. The manufacture always thinks what put out is the best. There are always other options. If gas milage is that much of an issue to the buyer they will do research and find out. There is no perfect system again just giving you options as you pointed out the flaws Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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