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Your Thoughts Regarding The New 54.5 MPG Mandate

158 messages,  Last post on Nov 05, 2012 at 2:02 PM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum.

What is this discussion about? Legislation

Messages Page 9 of 16

#80 of 158 Re: Mpg [andre1969] by fintail

Sep 09, 2012 (6:11 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Sep 09, 2012 9:02 am)
I guess it depends on how those 25K miles were earned. 25K rental miles = no thanks.
 
Some cars are better off buying new, as there's not much savings. Many highly economical new cars fall into this. Things like Civic especially.

#81 of 158 Re: Mpg [fintail] by berri

Sep 09, 2012 (6:40 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Sep 09, 2012 6:11 pm)
Maybe a lux car off lease, but face it - when you lease a car it's not really yours, so you are going to spend the least possible maintaining it. I think most popular 1-2 yr old cars are rentals. My guess is they get the least necessary care too. I had a Hertz vehicle that had the Oil Change message pop up. Hertz said either swap it out at the closest airport or they could give me the closest Firestone dealer to do the work and invoice them. I'm conscientious and had the time, most renters would probably just ignore it and continue to pile on the miles until turning it in. And Hertz seems to often have the best condition rental cars (of course you pay for that). I agree with you that if you are going to buy a popular car with a good image and quality record, you might as well buy it new. You won't save that much on a one or two year old model in that case, and if you're going to keep it a long time you can be sure of its maintenance.

#82 of 158 Re: Mpg [berri] by lemko

Sep 10, 2012 (5:05 am)

Replying to: berri (Sep 09, 2012 6:40 pm)
Seems Enterprise has the worst condition cars. They are often filthy, (especially by my standards) when you get them. I often return an Enterprise car in much better condition than when I received it.

#83 of 158 Re: Mpg [berri] by fintail

Sep 10, 2012 (8:43 am)

Replying to: berri (Sep 09, 2012 6:40 pm)
But if it isn't maintained by the book, there is a penalty in the lease, right? Or there should be.
 
Buying an old rental is the riskiest buy I can imagine.

#84 of 158 Re: Crazy idea [buistdavis] by ateixeira

Sep 10, 2012 (10:41 am)

Replying to: buistdavis (Sep 09, 2012 5:52 pm)
I brought my bike to DC for a while and got around much quicker than you could by car.
 
Plus you can park without having to pay $28.

#85 of 158 Re: Mpg [fintail] by stickguy

Sep 10, 2012 (11:52 am)

Replying to: fintail (Sep 10, 2012 8:43 am)
not really. I doubt they even know or check.
 
besides, these days, that is what, 2-3 oil changes tops?

#86 of 158 valve noise/loss of compression by torked

Sep 10, 2012 (3:45 pm)

Hello: I have never been on any forums before so please be kind. Look, this is a very special question about car sabatoge (to my car). I work a job that requires a vehicle- all maintained by me, an independent contractor- gasoline, repairs...everything. Due to animosity at work over me getting a very good contract...All of a sudden my Honda starts valve chatter at increasingly higher rpms and a loss of power, particularly on the hills I have to drive to do my job. I believe either a gas or oil contaminant was added to my car's system (Leaded?, metal filings?, graphite?.... I don't think deviantly so I am shocked and have no clue?...!) Has anyone heard of what can cause internal breakdown/valve chatter getting worse and worse/ loss of power such that not even the highway kickdown gear on the tranny will shift? In other words, yesterday fine ...today major problem. -T

#87 of 158 Re: valve noise/loss of compression [torked] by ateixeira

Sep 11, 2012 (11:19 am)

Replying to: torked (Sep 10, 2012 3:45 pm)
Year and model might help.
 
Do you have a locking gas cap? Any noticeable damage to the cap?
 
It may be an old wives' tale but I heard of sugar in the gas tank. No idea what that would really do.

#88 of 158 Re: valve noise/loss of compression [ateixeira] by steve_ HOST

Sep 11, 2012 (3:30 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 11, 2012 11:19 am)
Not much apparently, although you may have to get a new fuel filter.
 
Edmunds Answers

#89 of 158 Re: valve noise/loss of compression [steve_] by lemko

Sep 12, 2012 (6:07 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Sep 11, 2012 3:30 pm)
From Mythbusters:
 
Sugar in the Gas Tank Destroys a Car's Engine
 
This myth has been around almost as long as there have been automobiles. On Halloween, the older and less scrupulous trick-or-treaters go around the neighborhood putting sugar in the neighbor's gas tanks because it will destroy the engines. Or maybe an angry homeowner uses this trick to get revenge on a neighbor for the loud parties he or she likes to throw. The premise is that the sugar will caramelize and form a thick sludge that clogs your fuel lines and gunks up the carburetor. However, scientific studies have failed to produce evidence of such a reaction resulting in damage to an engine. Very little of the sugar even remains inside the engine long enough to do harm. Because sugar is particulate matter, it could conceivably cause damage to an engine the same way that sand and dirt can, but the sugar would have to be added to the gasoline repeatedly for any significant damage to occur. So you'll have to find a better method of getting revenge on the neighbor whose noisy car engine wakes you up early every Saturday morning.

Messages Page 9 of 16

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