Ot 78 Mpg

[JIPJOBXX]

I found this most intersting and thought I would pass it along.

http://video.staged.com/localshops/vw_passat_785_mpg_in_the_uk

[austinsailor]

The mileage claims are absolutely true. 

 

I have a Honda Insight, the original one. I get 55 - 60 not trying. I can get 70+ if I try.  We had friends visit from the UK and I was talking about the mileage my car gets. He was not impressed, he has 2 cars, they both get far better than that. It's common there, and they are not little tiny 2 seaters.

 

Back in the 80's I had a 2 Ford escorts with Mazda diesels. My wagon got just shy of 50 all around, dropped to 35 if I was hauling a trailer full of junk. The little hatchback got 55, 60 if you were careful. Nobody bought them, they dropped them after a couple years.  My Honda was available from 1999 to 2006, hardly any were sold.

 

My take is that the government doesn't want high mileage cars, and people won't buy them if they are available, so what is the complaint?

[TodFitch]

Smog standards are different in the US than elsewhere so I can see where some engines, particularly diesel engines, might not be available here. But I also wonder if the there might be a difference between Imperial gallons and US gallons on the numbers. That would be about a 20% difference changing a 45 MPG (US) rating to a 54 MPG (Imperial).

[JIPJOBXX]

Well got to do some research in that department-Jon

[JIPJOBXX]

But the idea of getting twice the mileage is appealing just for a second car.  I get 22 to 24 mpg with my HHR and wish I could get just a little bit more as the window sticker stated 22 town 29 Hwy!  I do try to drive as carefully as I can and I can't even come close to that 29 mpg.   I really think the automotive companies kind of lie about the true mileage of our cars just for sales purposes.  I did have a Honda 2003 and it did get on the Hwy 32 to 35 not bad and it was pretty close to what the window sticker stated.  Is there any consumer complaint departments that one can write too about faults window sticker mileage?  I know KIA and that other Korean brand just got sued about fault finding on there mileage and they lost in a court action.

[JIPJOBXX]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/passat.asp

[Young Ed]

I'm not sure I agree with all the snopes argument has to say. I agree some of it is conversion factor. So if 78.5 is 20% too high because of the difference in gallons thats still 62.8MPG. Even if you say they have less strict MPG ratings in the UK thats still a large margin that I don't believe can be blamed solely on being strict.

[Don Coatney]

When I first viewed this film clip a few days ago I sent the following message to a group of friends (many of you here have already read this).

 

Way back when auto smog testing first came into being I asked myself the question that in one gallon of fuel there are X number of smog producing chemicals. If we stretch that gallon of fuel to cover as many miles as possible the smog level would be reduced (because there is not as much fuel being burned) and the atmosphere would be "saved". In other words attack the issue by using less fuel and not by clogging up the engine with smog reducing devices that in reality burn more fuel. I asked my self that question because nobody else would listen as they were brainwashed into beliveing what was being told to them by the powers to be. Now today many light years later I was sent this short film clip. I now understand what the brainwashing was all about. But in my opinion it is still brainwashing. I will now get off my soapbox.

 

Don Coatney

 

48Dodger AKA Tim sent me this  interesting response.

 

Hey Don,

This is is an old issue. The US goes by HC output and Europe by MPG. And all because of taxes. The Hybrid guys are fighting a State Bill in California that would track them thru GPS, report the miles logged and send a tax bill to said car owner. HC's are basically unburned gas.....so containers and dispensors of fuel are regulated heavily in Ca. too (ie more taxes). Tony Capanna, Land Speed Racer and fuel developer, was contracted by Chrysler in the late 60's/early 70's to improve gas formulas. He was probably one of many independent racers who were given factory support to do this. Not by our government. He developed a diesel car that got 50 plus mpg, I believe in 1970. Back when 15-20 was thru the roof. He was ignored and quickly realized that the driving force behind it was money. Every now and then, someone sees the problem with our system and writes and article or in this case a video. But world racers have known about this since the very begining. Its only a good technology if the government can make a buck.  

 

Tim

 

http://www.wilcap.com/webdoc7.html

 

A few details are left out of this promo article, but you get the idea of his work with MPG. 

[cheap chad]

fuel is taxed  by the gallon...  not the dollar amount??? correct??? So....then tell me again how it's all about saving the planet and not really about lining the pockets.