When will we get serious FE cars?

[suprapsu]

There are certainly regulations that US carmakers have to meet in order to bring the FE cars to the US. Years ago we had the Civic VX, Civic HF and Geo Metro which easily got 50 miles to the gallon and didn't need the electric motors. Why? because they were so light weight and therefore not so safe if you got into an accident. US car makers have changed.

[Bill in Houston]

Originally Posted by northboundtrain

Yeah, If I could get an insight, I probably would since the mileage is close enough to what I'd like to see. However, with two kids and a dog, a two-seater coupe is not an option for me

Now I know many cars are capable of getting 75 mpg, but I'm talking about cruising on the highway at 70 mph, not relying on extreme p&g tactics, etc. Compared to the current offering of new and used cars, my Jetta does well enough -- 35 to high 40s mpg depending on speed and driving conditions -- that I'm going to stick with it until something significantly better comes along. Just wondering when something like the VW lupo will be sold here.

I think this is part of the problem. As an American, you won't really be impressed until you can get something at least as big as a CR-V, that gets 75 mpg at 70 mph. An Insight really and truly is just about the best FE car we are going to have in the next 10 years, and it just didn't sell well enough. I'm not bagging on you personally. I'm just saying that the car you described in your first post was offered to all of us to buy, and it withered away and died.

[basjoos]

Originally Posted by northboundtrain

Yeah, If I could get an insight, I probably would since the mileage is close enough to what I'd like to see. However, with two kids and a dog, a two-seater coupe is not an option for me

Now I know many cars are capable of getting 75 mpg, but I'm talking about cruising on the highway at 70 mph, not relying on extreme p&g tactics, etc.

At this point in time, the only way to get a car like this is to create it yourself. My current car, a 4 seater, can easily get 75mpg at 70mph in normal driving and can easily cruise at 80mph, but I had to modify an existing 45+mpg car to get it.

[repete86]

You can always build your own three wheel micro-car. It will take alot of work, but put a small diesel into it and you're set for probably much more than 75 mpg. I've been thinking about doing this, but I travel too much for work with alot of gear to be able to get away with this. My next step is veggie oil and heavy duty aero mods once the Honda dies.

[escortdriver]

Is it really that shocking that cars 10 years ago got the same or better fuel economy than today??

American's will get and buy more fuel efficient cars when people lose this fetishistic desire for more power. I don't need a compact sedan to have 150 bhp and neither do you! My 110 bhp escort is too much even; my 89 bhp horsepower escort was just fine thank you!

[repete86]

Actually, gas mileage has dropped about 1 mpg in the last 20 years.

[northboundtrain]

Originally Posted by repete86

You can always build your own three wheel micro-car. It will take alot of work, but put a small diesel into it and you're set for probably much more than 75 mpg.

I suppose I could, but there's other things I'd rather do. This discussion does make me wonder, however, what it would take to get 75 mpg at 70-75 mph (that just seems like a good number to shoot for for some reason) out of an existing 4 seater car. I'm sure some aero mods would be necessary, but, with no offense to anyone on this forum, I'd like the car to still look professionally built/modified. I'd be willing to sacrifice horsepower, but would like enough torque to get me up a mountain at a reasonable speed.

Any ideas?

[kickflipjr]

Originally Posted by repete86

Actually, gas mileage has dropped about 1 mpg in the last 20 years.

In the last 20 years:

0-60 times have decreased
hp has increased
average weight has increased

[VetteOwner]

Originally Posted by escortdriver

Is it really that shocking that cars 10 years ago got the same or better fuel economy than today??

American's will get and buy more fuel efficient cars when people lose this fetishistic desire for more power. I don't need a compact sedan to have 150 bhp and neither do you! My 110 bhp escort is too much even; my 89 bhp horsepower escort was just fine thank you!

lol my 64 hp chevette 2000lb metal car has trouble getting up hills...but it makes it! like a turtle... lol it only cost about $4500 new in 1980

my s-10 has around 96 is at the sheels and it hauls 900lbs of stuff in the bed and also has lots tourque for towing. sure it may not be super fast accelerating while towing or hauling but thats why we have hazard lights

[ZugyNA]

Get the facts?

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/


http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles...-vanguard.html


From families to farmers, drivers across the nation have been waiting for "no compromises" vehicles-cars and trucks that can help keep America running strong while countering the health, economic, and environmental threats posed by global warming pollution. UCS engineers have designed just such a vehicle?The UCS Vanguard.

"So why can't I get a Vanguard right now?"

Instead of employing their talented engineers to install the Vanguard's full complement of cost-effective global warming reduction features on their own vehicles, automakers are relying on lawyers and lobbyists to thwart consumer and government demand for cleaner vehicles. Their strategy?overturning existing laws intended to reduce global warming pollution in California and 10 other states?would deny drivers the "no compromises" vehicles we all desire. It's time for automakers to stop spinning and suing, and instead create safe, affordable, and cleaner cars and trucks (and the manufacturing and farming jobs that come with them).