Aah, how about the back end of a new Toyota Solara....if that isn't ugly and bloated, I don't know what is.
Ben Pender <ben_pender@yahoo.com> wrote: Dave,
Sounds like you made a good choice. However, you
can't argue with my point about weight. Just pick a
car and look how it has become bloated over the years.
First gen Honda Civic? I don't know for sure, but
I'd say it weighed about 1400 pounds or so. The new
Honda Civic? Again I don't know for sure, but it
wouldn't surprise me if it was getting close to 3000#.
Not convinced? First gen VW Golf/Rabbit. About
1700#, A2 Golf-about 2200#, A3 Golf? 2600#, Current
(new) Golf? Again, approaching 3000#.
What was the average weight for the average car 20
years ago? What about 10 years ago? What about now?
In most countries, like the USA, Great Britian,
France, Germany, it has steadily increased. Weight is
weight. A ton of feathers weighs the same as a ton of
lead. More plastic and aluminum? Less steel/iron?
Doesn't matter. Cars weigh more now than they ever
have. Period.
More weight requires more power to acheive the same
performance. Fortunately, technology has been good
and allowed more efficient engines so that more power
is produced without increased fuel consumption. But,
for every gain in efficiency, there has been a penalty
in terms of weight. Can you imagine what kind of
milage you would get with something like a 1.9 TDI in
a first gen (A1) Jetta? You probably wouldn't need
the whole 1.9l! You could make the much more
efficient engine something like 1.3l and get
phenomenal milage, much like the VW Polo or something.
Just imagine the fuel efficiency we could be getting
if we kept developing the engine technology, but kept
our cars from becomming big fat, bloated things.
50mpg in a gasoline car would not be the exception,
but rather the rule by now. But, we're too lazy and
driven by the desire to be stylish for that to happen.
Regards,
Ben Pender
- David Owen <d_j_owen2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> As to Ben's comments on toys in the car. The
> materials used in todays cars are much lighter and
> so do not add greatly to the weight, the engines
> produce more power for their size and operate at
> greater efficiency giving more miles to the gallon.
> On my 1.9 TDI the book states 40 mpg round town and
> 60 mpg on a run. On most of the tanks I have put in
> so far the lowest mpg I have acheived is 47.6 mpg
> the best 56.3 mpg. This is from a car the same size
> as an Audi A6. I did not opt for SatNav as I could
> not justify £1800 for it and the Leather seats with
> heaters did not appeal to me and again would add to
> the price.
>
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
Recommended format for your email subject lines:
Model # [Model Letters] Year Subject
Examples:
505 88 V6 Mileage
405 Mi16 89 Ignition Coil source?
To unsubscribe from this list send a blank email message to PEUGEOT-L-UNSUBSCRIBE@EGROUPS.COM
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
Visit your group "peugeot-L" on the web.
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
peugeot-L-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
Find your next car at Yahoo! Canada Autos
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Recommended format for your email subject lines:
Model # [Model Letters] Year Subject
Examples:
505 88 V6 Mileage
405 Mi16 89 Ignition Coil source?
To unsubscribe from this list send a blank email message to PEUGEOT-L-UNSUBSCRIBE@EGROUPS.COM
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/peugeot-L/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
peugeot-L-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Received on Mon Jan 23 17:05:46 2006
