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Will Green Cars Be Exciting To Drive And Enjoyable To Own?

1161 messages,  Last post on May 14, 2013 at 1:36 PM

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Messages Page 80 of 117

#784 of 1161 Re: What is the range... [ateixeira] by andre1969

Sep 27, 2012 (2:39 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 27, 2012 1:46 pm)
What's the point of high MPG if you can't enjoy driving by gas stations again and again (and again)?
 
Yeah, especially since for every gallon of capacity you give up, you're only saving something like 6.2 pounds of weight.
 
I think it's a bit annoying that my new "hybrid" (hey, a few years back, the Hemi ads said it burned gas and rubber ) probably has a larger range, with its 26 gallon tank, than many economy vehicles.
 
One car that I thought had a really good balance of economy and range was the 2007-12 Altima. 20 gallon tank, and an EPA rating of 23/32 with the 4-cyl.
 
the 2013 is rated at an impressive 27/38...but the tank has shrunk a bit, to 18 gallons. At least cruising range actually went up though...to 684 miles in highway driving, versus an already impressive 640. But, of course, that's presuming you drive the car until it runs out of gas, and hopefully you have the common sense not to do that!
 
Looks like the 2012 Accord was around 18.5 gallons, and they shrunk it to 17.2 for 2013. The 2012 Camry is a bit smaller at 17. Not *too* bad though...that's what my Intrepid had. But, the 2011 had 18.5 gallons.
 
So, it looks like this fuel tank shrinkage isn't just happening in economy cars.

#785 of 1161 Re: What is the range... [andre1969] by robr2

Sep 27, 2012 (3:42 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Sep 27, 2012 2:39 pm)
So, it looks like this fuel tank shrinkage isn't just happening in economy cars.
 
I wonder if tank shrinkage might also be a result of consumers complaining about the cost of filling up. I'd venture to say that most say "It cost me $70 to fill my tank this week" rather than "It took 16 gallons to fill the tank this week."

#786 of 1161 Re: What is the range... [robr2] by gagrice

Sep 27, 2012 (4:03 pm)

Replying to: robr2 (Sep 27, 2012 2:30 pm)
God I hope I never fall into that rut.
 
There are literally hundreds of thousands of Retirees already using EVs for all the short trips. Most of the retirement communities are laid out ideally for using golf carts. The Villages in Florida is just such a place. My friends that live there rarely drive their RX350.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qrpq5A-KAoA

#787 of 1161 Re: What is the range... [gagrice] by robr2

Sep 27, 2012 (4:06 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Sep 27, 2012 4:03 pm)
There are literally hundreds of thousands of Retirees already using EVs for all the short trips. Most of the retirement communities are laid out ideally for using golf carts. The Villages in Florida are just such a place.
 
I'm well aware of that. My in-laws live in a retirement community about 15 minutes from the Villages. The Villages development is more of a self contained city (it's population is over 60,000) with it's own hospital, many chain stores and restaurants and the like. Because it's a planned community, they were able to incorporate the use of golf carts into it. My in-laws use a golf cart within their complex but it can't be used outside to reach shopping and doctors. And those golf carts are a little useless during the rainy season.
 
But the vast majority of retirees don't live in self contained places like the Villages. If I were to retire here in my town, I could get by with an EV because everything I need is close by. But I'd need something with greater range to reach the mountains and bike trails.
 
BTW, get a book called Leisureville - it's written by a younger man who went behind the Emerald City to expose the seedy side of the Villages. One rumor is that the Villages has a high incidence of STD's. Better bring some penicillin when you visit!!

#788 of 1161 green cars can be exciting. by steve_ HOST

Sep 27, 2012 (4:16 pm)

Lamborghini Aventador: Just Like a Prius? (WSJ)
 
The trickle down effect went in the opposite direction.

#789 of 1161 Re: What is the range... [robr2] by ateixeira

Sep 28, 2012 (7:59 am)

Replying to: robr2 (Sep 27, 2012 3:42 pm)
We have to communicate to the automakers, fuel tank size does matter!

#790 of 1161 Re: What is the range... [robr2] by andre1969

Sep 28, 2012 (8:33 am)

Replying to: robr2 (Sep 27, 2012 3:42 pm)
I wonder if tank shrinkage might also be a result of consumers complaining about the cost of filling up.
 
Yeah, that could very well be. On the flip side though, I've heard people make a comment like "I went XXX miles, and only used a half tank" thinking that they got really good fuel economy. But what they forget to mention is how big the tank is, and that the gauge isn't totally accurate, so the second "half" goes down a lot quicker than the first!

#791 of 1161 Re: What is the range... [andre1969] by hpmctorque

Sep 28, 2012 (2:54 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Sep 28, 2012 8:33 am)
"...the second 'half' goes down a lot quicker than the first!"
 
True, but why?

#792 of 1161 Re: What is the range... [hpmctorque] by robr2

Sep 28, 2012 (3:35 pm)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Sep 28, 2012 2:54 pm)
"...the second 'half' goes down a lot quicker than the first!"
  
True, but why?
 
Ah grasshopper. That answer is kept secret by the one who knows the whereabouts of the missing socks. It is a mystery best left unrevealed.

#793 of 1161 Re: What is the range... [robr2] by hpmctorque

Sep 28, 2012 (7:11 pm)

Replying to: robr2 (Sep 28, 2012 3:35 pm)
Oh well, okay. I'll just humbly accept that it's one of those complex mysteries of the universe that may never be answered. Maybe the shadow knows, but isn't telling anyone.

Messages Page 80 of 117

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