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5290 messages,  Last post on Oct 25, 2006 at 8:37 AM

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#5249 of 5290
Re: a sad story [tpe] by stevedebi
Sep 29, 2006 (12:55 pm)

Replying to: tpe (Sep 28, 2006 4:03 pm)

"I drove a Ford Pinto in college in the late 70's. This was definitely considered a compact, fuel efficient vehicle. I rarely got 20 mpg and that was only when I drove exclusively highway miles."
 
Do you realize that your 1970's Pinto probaby had a 3 - 4 Liter engine? I had a 1973 Gremlin myself - 232 Cu In, which is 3.8 liters. I could spin the wheels at stop lights, and it got about 22 MPG in all situations.
#5250 of 5290
Re: a sad story [stevedebi] by rorr
Sep 29, 2006 (2:00 pm)

Replying to: stevedebi (Sep 29, 2006 12:55 pm)

"Do you realize that your 1970's Pinto probaby had a 3 - 4 Liter engine?"
 
Ah, no.
 
From '71-'73 your engine choice was either a 1.6L or a 2.0L. From '74-'80 the base engine was the 2.3L Lima engine. The 2.8L Cologne V6 (making a HUGE 90hp ) was optional from '75-'79.
 
My best friend in HS had an early '70s Gremlin X; not sure what engine it had. He could spin the tires pretty easy from a stop but his car ran out of breath pretty quick (I used to be able to catch up to him on looooooooong straights in my '78 Corolla )
#5251 of 5290
Re: a sad story [stevedebi] by tpe
Sep 29, 2006 (2:11 pm)

Replying to: stevedebi (Sep 29, 2006 12:55 pm)

I honestly don't remember what size engine my Pinto had. I know in high school I drove a Fiat 128 that had a 1.2L engine that put out 50 hp and I could get close to 30 mpg. I doubt that car weighed over 2,000 lbs. In 1999 I drove a Toyota Corolla that had a 1.8L engine, around 120 hp and I was able to get 33 mpg. I guess my point is that hp and torque ratings represent available power. Increasing available power does not necessarily make a car less fuel efficient.
 
I had a friend who drove a Gremlin. It did seem fast in comparison to what was available at the time. The reality is that it probably did no better than mid 8's for a 0-60 time. BTW, that Pinto sucked. I'm amazed that Ford was able to sell them for as long as they did. The only thing I liked about it was its hatchback that made it easy to throw golf bags in it.
#5252 of 5290
Re: a sad story [rorr] by stevedebi
Sep 29, 2006 (3:16 pm)

Replying to: rorr (Sep 29, 2006 2:00 pm)

The Gremlin X had a V8, about 5 liters, I think. That was pretty severe overkill for that particular car.
#5253 of 5290
Re: a sad story [tpe] by stevedebi
Sep 29, 2006 (3:17 pm)

Replying to: tpe (Sep 29, 2006 2:11 pm)

"BTW, that Pinto sucked. I'm amazed that Ford was able to sell them for as long as they did."
 
Count your blessings that you were never rear-ended in that Pinto.
#5254 of 5290
Toyota’s Hybrids to be Lighter and Cheaper by larsb
Oct 05, 2006 (2:24 pm)
Old news, new link
 
Over the next three years, Toyota plans to cut the cost of its hybrid technology in half. Also to be reduced is the weight of the hybrid drivetrain, which will increase both fuel efficiency and performance. This next generation Prius is planned for 2009 with an anticipated fuel rating of 90mpg.
#5255 of 5290
Toyota getting "alt fuel" serious. by larsb
Oct 10, 2006 (7:20 am)
A huge part of the success can be attributed to the Prius, which runs on a combination of electric and gasoline power. Worldwide sales jumped from 28,083 in 2002 to 43,162 in 2003, and hit 175,157 last year. Toyota's goal is to reach 1 million in annual hybrid sales in the first few years of the next decade. From 1997 through July 2006, it shipped 552,657 Priuses--which accounts for 76.7 percent of the 720,516 hybrids shipped by all manufacturers.
 
So through July 2006 there have been 720,516 hybrids sold. That's interesting information !!!
 
Toyota SERIOUS about alternative fuel vehicles
#5256 of 5290
Re: Toyota getting "alt fuel" serious. [larsb] by gagrice
Oct 10, 2006 (7:39 am)

Replying to: larsb (Oct 10, 2006 7:20 am)

I did notice in your article that Toyota mentions their having "clean diesel" at least 3 times. Something many here have said does not exist.
#5257 of 5290
Re: Toyota getting "alt fuel" serious. [gagrice] by larsb
Oct 10, 2006 (7:47 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Oct 10, 2006 7:39 am)

Well, "clean diesel fuel" meaning Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel does EXIST, it's just not yet prevalent and available everywhere.
 
And "clean diesel cars" DO apparently exist, at least outside the USA. Even the "world's cleanest diesel car" was not clean enough for the CAFE states.
 
It's good to know that Toyota is working the "clean car" future from several different angles.
#5258 of 5290
Re: Toyota getting "alt fuel" serious. [gagrice] by gagrice
Oct 10, 2006 (7:55 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Oct 10, 2006 7:39 am)

Even the "world's cleanest diesel car" was not clean enough for the CAFE states.
 
There you go again. You know that is totally false. The reason that CARB is balking is they do not trust you and I to maintain the emissions system. Same as Toyota does not trust YOU with an EV switch in your hybrid.

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