Potential vs. EPA?

[StealthTDI]

Some car profiles feature a box called, "Potential Savings Per Fuel-up" and some feature, "EPA Estimates" (Here's how this mileage compares with the EPA estimates for this model). I'd rather show how my car compares to EPA estimates. Can I change my profile to show this info?

[pb]

It's not an either/or situation, we try to show both options for all vehicles if we have the data available. The data we get from the EPA lists models in a different way and the system doesn't always match up model names precisely. I took a look at '98 Diesel Jettas and that was the case.

If you go back to your vehicle profile page now, you should be prompted to select your specific model from the '98 Jetta EPA models we have. Once you do that the EPA estimates should show up on your page.

[StealthTDI]

Ahhh. That did the trick! Thanks!

[StealthTDI]

BTW, I noticed the EPA numbers presented are the "old" numbers... the ones which appeared on the sales sticker. Would reflecting the "new" EPA standards be a steep challenge?

[mathowie]

The EPA doesn't make the new data available to us yet, but as soon as they do, we'll update them.

[jhu]

The new EPA numbers are on the fueleconomy.gov website. Or are they not in a format conducive to automatic updating?

[mathowie]

The EPA provides a data download package of all their data, but they update that separately from their live website. It's a bummer, but it's a bit too much work to scrape their live site for the latest data. They really need to update the downloadable data but it seems to lag behind their site data by many months.

[ericbecky]

I'm looking forward to seeing the "new" EPA numbers in the database. Many of the cars will suddenly be beating the EPA estimates.

I was just looking at a 2001 Insight in the database and it's currently showing 63 MPG.

Based on "old" EPA Estimates this is just under the estimated 64 MPG combined.

But the car would be way above the "new" EPA Estimate since the new estimate is only 53 MPG combined.