What's with the gas-guzzling small cars?

[n0rt0npr0]

Most motors I've seen are Bi-Metal!
haha! I thought you had to own a $60 thousand dollar sportscar to have an all-aluminum engine, but what do I know!
A cast-iron head is a rare sighting.

[SVOboy]

Oh, well, mine's bi-metal. Most of the normal honda engines are, but I think some of the more extreme ones I going all aluminum, but I'm not so up on the new ish.

[Compaq888]

My altima had a cast iron block. Great engine for boost. The problem was the weak pistons. There is now a KA running like 800whp.

[SVOboy]

Pssh, 800whp.

[tomauto]

I always read car magazines and they would always tote, all aluminum this all aluminum that...

I am reading now that 2006 and 2007 cars have cast aluminum blocks, but it very well could be a misprint.
http://www.realtor.org/rmomag.nsf/pa...5?OpenDocument

[tomauto]

http://dwolsten.tripod.com/articles/jan96a.html

[GasSavers_Diemaster]

another thing u got to understand is the cars today are heavier and have more crap in them like airbags, abs, etc.... to meet crash and saftie requirements. there also got more stuff in them for emisions (small things [upto 6 o2's as aposed to one, and that wiring adds up.]) strip the car down to the esentals like lets say the LX 91 civic did and u'd get the same milage.

[schmeep]

it is true that they design these cars to have some zip and fe suffers because of it,
i read that toyota rearranged the gearing with the yaris (compared to gen1 and echo) to make it quicker,
the yaris also has a drive-by-wire system and electronic steering, this apparently gives it small fe improvements, but probably don't compensate for the gearing issues.

toyota offers 4 different yaris engines in europe from a 1.0L petrol to a 1.4L diesel, apparently in n.america, we want power, which is kind of ridiculous even with a 1.5L engine. if you want power- don't get a yaris!

[argylesocks]

Originally Posted by schmeep

if you want power- don't get a yaris!

haha. exactly.
i was amazed to read about the yaris kids trying to find ways to add power....
im like "hello... its a YARIS" even if you get it up to 140hp. its still a slow econocar.


....which, by the way, is exactly what i traded my 230hp saab in for....

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by argylesocks

even if you get it up to 140hp. its still a slow econocar.
....which, by the way, is exactly what i traded my 230hp saab in for....

I so enjoy seeing people make statements like that.