Whats new coming out by 2010 model year?

- 2009 60mpg Diesel Jetta
- 52mpg Diesel Honda Accord
- 2009 Fusion ecoboost (rumored at 40mpg hwy)
- 2009 Fusion hybrid
- 2010 Hybrid Honda cheaper than the Civic
- Chevy Volt
- Plug in Saturn Vue
- Plug in Ford Escape

anything else?

 

Ford Fiesta

 

might as well cross off the diesels because when it comes to the cost of the engine plus the price of diesel not worth while. most consumers wont go for that.

 

How do you figure? Diesel costs roughly 15-18% more to buy, but gets up to 30% more miles per gallon.

 

Typically, at least with trucks, diesels tend to hold their resale value much better than their gas counterparts because typically diesel engines "run forever." So you need to take resale value into account. Also, if you do decide to actually keep the vehicle, engine maintenance costs should be very low.

AND.............................................

If you can get a connection with a local restaurant, like my fiend has been doing for the past 3 years... you can run it on homemade bio-diesel.

 

At least with regard to trucks, that 30% figure is no longer true.

I personally know more than one person who has bought a new Duramax and is getting nowhere near the mileage of their older pre-emissions diesels.

For example, my uncle is getting in the 15 - 17 range (unloaded) last I heard. He got 19 - 21 with his pre-emissions Duramax.

I get 13 - 15 with my gasser. Until recently I had my next truck pegged to be an oil burner. No longer. The increasing price of fuel combined with the decreased mileage means the diesel will never pay for itself even without adding in the higher cost of maintenance.

Nope, I'll buy another gasser and put the money I would have spent on the Duramax/Allison into a new aluminum trailer.

 

I was referring to cars, not trucks, as the topic is 40mpg+ cars. (And using the 52mpg v. 40mpg as my basis.) Sorry for the confusion.

 

setting aside the "plug in" energy source... ( I wonder how long it would take for the government to start charging "road tax" on electricity?)

Any chance GM is going to join in on the 40+mpg future?

 

What would a Big Block or S/C V8 powered by gasoline get? Maybe 10mpg so Diesel is still the more efficient choice for that kind of torque.

 

Once you've got the trailer rolling above 15 MPH or so, it's a horsepower game - and modern gassers and diesels are pretty close. GM's 6.2L V8 and Ford's 6.8L V10 are damn good at towing trailers.

 

are any of these diesel emissions stuff removable? how hard can it be to retune the truck and take off all the crap?

 

Yeah but I'm not really sure what point you're trying to make.

Sure, if you actually need a diesel and can afford one, they still rock.

In the past, a lot of guys who tow but didn't really need a diesel got one because the mileage advantage and cost of fuel put money back in their pocket in the long run. That has changed. That's my point.

Remember that this situation exists without even factoring in other costs (such as the 10 - 15 quart oil changes) associated with a diesel truck.

Loaded up for a weekend of racing, my open trailer is about 6500lbs. The truck is also probably about 6500 lb with gear and occupants. The 6.0L gas engine hauls it all just fine. Certainly a Duramax/Powerstroke/Cummins would leave me in the dust at will when climbing hills but it's not like I can't maintain the speed limit with what I have. I have no need or desire to tow at a steady 85 mph.

FWIW - Worst fuel interval when towing has been 10 mpg. Best has been 13 mpg. 65 - 75 mph speed limits out here.

Pretty hard if you're in an area that tests but I understand what you're saying.

 

One would think that the new "Smart Car" would get awsome gas mileage, like 45-50mpg or better. I read an article in Motor Trend about it and it only gets like 30mpg and it starts at 14k. I saw one in the local autotrader for 24k!! Who would want to pay that for basically a golf cart with a/c and no trunk space!! It looks like a cheap POS!

 

i read that too and was absolutly shocked! i was expecting at least 45mpg... what a waste.

 

yup, its totally retarded that it is tuned way more inefficiently here than in erurope where it does get 40+. There are also diesel and electric versions in europe that they do not have here. Stupid decision on penskes part...