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Hybrids & Diesels - Deals or Duds? - READ ONLY

5196 messages,  Last post on Oct 16, 2006 at 6:55 AM

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What is this discussion about? Alternative Fuels, Biodiesel, Hybrid Cars


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#2915 of 5196
Re: Hybrids [john1701a] by winter2
Mar 17, 2006 (7:05 am)

Replying to: john1701a (Mar 17, 2006 5:32 am)

As to "Designer Gas" you are only partially correct.
 
Gasoline is low sulfur but will be going to Ultra Low Sulfur (< 15ppm of sulfur). There still going to be specific "designer" blends for various regions of the country. And actually, it does matter. Sulfur poisons some of the catalysts used to control certain emissions, especially NOx. Sulfur also contributes to another serious problem or two, namely acid rain (in the form of an acid) and to global warming (same acid compounds).
#2916 of 5196
Re: TDI may be slow, BUT, [gagrice] by ruking1
Mar 17, 2006 (7:05 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Mar 17, 2006 6:35 am)

Yes that is an interesting question. I am not sure the market is going to suddenly create "Civic Corolla, Camry Accord type" demands for the hybrid GS450?? The current model is 45,000 at invoice. Any takers that the new model John speaks about will be less? I would guess it has more to do with higher end status and snob appeal.? Also the oems can get evenm much higher profit margins over the Prius. Most higher end cars do not get the "premium" fuel mileage. I would guess these consumers want to appear fuel conscious, while still having the "trappings." For the anticipated price of the 2007 model I can get 4/5 Honda Civics. At the current price of the current model I surely can get 4 Honda Civics.
#2917 of 5196
Re: TDI may be slow, BUT, [ruking1] by gagrice
Mar 17, 2006 (7:32 am)

Replying to: ruking1 (Mar 17, 2006 7:05 am)

The current model is 45,000 at invoice.
 
For the price of a GS450h you can just about buy a Honda dealership. They are supposed to start at $60k and go up from there. That is without the gouge factor. It is going to be built in such limited supply that the dealers will get what they want. I imagine most will go to Hollywood stars that are tired of driving the Prius and want their old luxury back with a green halo.
#2918 of 5196
Re: TDI may be slow, BUT, [john1701a] by moparbad
Mar 17, 2006 (10:17 am)

Replying to: john1701a (Mar 17, 2006 5:40 am)

Did Lexus take the pole at Sebring?
 
No.
 
Did a diesel engine powered Audi take the pole at Sebring?
 
YES!
#2919 of 5196
Re: TDI may be slow, BUT, [john1701a] by moparbad
Mar 17, 2006 (10:26 am)

Replying to: john1701a (Mar 17, 2006 5:40 am)

The newest hybrid from Lexus, GS450h launched yesterday in Japan, can go 0-62 MPH in just 5.6 seconds.
  
JOHN

 
E320 CDI 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds for only $51,825. 27 mpg city 37 mpg highway.
Thank you Rudolph Diesel.
 
GS450h mpg 27 city 28 highway mpg
#2920 of 5196
Re: TDI may be slow, BUT, [moparbad] by gagrice
Mar 17, 2006 (11:50 am)

Replying to: moparbad (Mar 17, 2006 10:26 am)

Did we say the E320 CDI will go about 800 miles on a tank of diesel. You can bypass the high priced states. You can hypermile the Mercedes diesel and get close to Prius results.
 
Our turn to drive the E320 CDI comes in a contest to determine precisely how little fuel is required to propel a vehicle weighing almost two tons over a course of 108 miles charted through the Texas Hill Country. We find that our car burns 2.42 gallons of fuel, which works out to 44.6 miles per gallon along the course.
 
E320 CDI review
#2921 of 5196
Re: TDI may be slow, BUT, [moparbad] by ruking1
Mar 18, 2006 (7:41 am)

Replying to: moparbad (Mar 17, 2006 10:26 am)

"E320 CDI 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds for only $51,825. 27 mpg city 37 mpg highway.
Thank you Rudolph Diesel.
  
GS450h mpg 27 city 28 highway mpg "
 
Yes, I reacted by scratching my head (metaphorically) at how the much lower mpg (than EPA readings) conundrum has not been addressed, other than to say the EPA ratings are not real world, dah!!! , but just glossed over and now put on high end vehicles!!???
 
Yet on the other hand, the diesel continues to be vilified. In 5 states, the sales of new diesels are BANNED!! They not only gets the EPA readings but in most cases EXCEEDS THEM. In my own case the Jetta TDI EPA is 42/49, yet my range is 44-62 !!! This is really off the shelf technology at potentially lower costs AND a 37% fuel advantage over like for like gassers.
 
So really here is a real world situation for discussion.
 
Greater Metropolitan Boston, MA area during the "commute". For folks that do it, it is a rolling parking lot, or a parking lot that rolls.
 
NO hybrid advocates are willing to say how many hybrids are needed to even make a MEASURABLE difference in MEASURED air quality, let alone a STATISTICALLY significant correlated difference!!!!
 
Further, if they are so concerned about diesel, then they should immediately BAN the burning of emissions unmitigated home heating oil (not only is the sulfur content many multiple times higher than #2 diesel fuel, but is emissions unmitigated and burns 24/7 in the winter) !! Or force the implementation of emissions controls that current diesels are equipped!!!
Clearly, the realities are to put it mildly disingenuous!!
#2922 of 5196
03/18/06 National Biodiesel Day! by moparbad
Mar 18, 2006 (7:48 am)
Today is National Biodiesel Day and it is Rudolph Diesel's Birtday.
 
I have B20 in my tank to celebrate.
#2923 of 5196
Re: 03/18/06 National Biodiesel Day! [moparbad] by ruking1
Mar 18, 2006 (8:04 am)

Replying to: moparbad (Mar 18, 2006 7:48 am)

YUP ! George Washington Carver, and to celebrate the American Hero, the famous Tuskegee professor that found biodiesel can be gotten from (among others) soy bean crops!!!!!
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_Carver
#2924 of 5196
Re: TDI may be slow, BUT, [ruking1] by john1701a
Mar 18, 2006 (8:25 am)

Replying to: ruking1 (Mar 18, 2006 7:41 am)

> In my own case the Jetta TDI EPA is 42/49, yet my range is 44-62 !!!
 
Wow! What an incredibly vague & misleading comment.
 
Where is your actual data?
 
What is your lifetime average?
 
Why didn't you identify the transmission type?
 
JOHN

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