Ok here I go again do any new cars (non Hybrid) top this?

[retrorocket]

http://www.adclassix.com/ads/78datsunb210.htm

48 mpg is pretty good

I have been thinking about a new car but they just don't get good enough MPG.


Any news for next year?

Should I put my $99 down on a Smart Car?

I heard they rolled on the dear avoidance test.

I like this one and good MPG to boot.

Maybe a used CRX or Metro is the way to go?

I just would rather buy a new car.

Thanks for your comments.

[XFi]

Datsun B210...wow, that brings back memories. I sold mine for 250.00 (it was inspected too). White with two tone RUST.

89-94 Metro XFi was rated at 58mpg HWY

[SVOboy]

The thing is, the 1978 EPA estimates were prolly 30 or 40% above the current ones. So...36/48 isn't really all that fancy these days.

[Silveredwings]

I like the two-tone rust. I hadn't heard that one before.

[landspeed]

The most important thing, in that advert, is where it says 'California / High Altitude Mileage Lower'.

I guess California required different carb settings... But... Why is high altitude mileage lower?.

Some discussions on this forum suggest that high altitude driving gives better mileage due to better aero. Maybe it is just the carb that can't adjust to the difference in pressure, whereas fuel injection would?.

[GasSavers_James]

The 92-95 civic vx was rated 56 MPG highway when it was new.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by landspeed

The most important thing, in that advert, is where it says 'California / High Altitude Mileage Lower'.

I guess California required different carb settings... But... Why is high altitude mileage lower?.

Some discussions on this forum suggest that high altitude driving gives better mileage due to better aero. Maybe it is just the carb that can't adjust to the difference in pressure, whereas fuel injection would?.

I've also understood that higher altitude will give better gas mileage b/c the air is thinner, and therefore has less oxygen. Less oxygen = less fuel being used..

but maybe that's for fuel injected vehicles and not carbed vehicles.

[zpiloto]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

The thing is, the 1978 EPA estimates were prolly 30 or 40% above the current ones. So...36/48 isn't really all that fancy these days.

Not to mention we come light years ahead on emissions.

[Silveredwings]

Originally Posted by landspeed

The most important thing, in that advert, is where it says 'California / High Altitude Mileage Lower'.

I guess California required different carb settings... But... Why is high altitude mileage lower?.

Some discussions on this forum suggest that high altitude driving gives better mileage due to better aero. Maybe it is just the carb that can't adjust to the difference in pressure, whereas fuel injection would?.

We're spoiled. Carbs don't adjust the stoich ratio the way EFI does. I've seen cars from this era above ~8,000' and they make black smoke.

[Mike T]

Originally Posted by retrorocket

http://www.adclassix.com/ads/78datsunb210.htmShould I put my $99 down on a Smart Car?

I heard they rolled on the dear avoidance test.

Let me clear that up for you. After the Mercedes-Benz A-Class tipped onto its side on the Moose ("Elk") test in 1997, they tried a smart car, which was about to be released. It too was unstable.

So Mercedes decided not to release the smart car in 1997 and set about re-engineering it so they would pass the Moose test. The track was widened front and rear, wider tires were fitted on the rear, suspension geometry was changed, with more negative rear camber on the de Dion suspension, the centre of gravity was lowered by lowering the seats, the suspension was stifened and an electronic driving aid called Trust+ was fitted. All of these features were on the smart before it was first sold in 1998.

There were further improvements in 2003, when full ESP (electronic stability program) as fitted to all Mercedes-Benz cars was added to all smart cars. The ESP corrects skids automatically and intervenes before anything untoward (other than driving intentionally into a ditch) can happen. It's a fantastic system, and with the ABS, it makes for super-secure driving.

I've not yet driven one of the new model smarts that the US will get next January, but they should be better still in this regard.

Hope that helps.

PS: my last tank was 66 MPG US, mixed urban and mountain highway driving.