Posted on 03/18/2008 7:59:57 AM PDT by ZGuy
New Euro standard is 10ppm (has been mandatory to have “available for 3 years, mandatory all vehicles/fuels comply by January 2009.
Somewhere, someone has to have available 10 ppm is not the same as the industry using it.
I heard the volume on the radio in a Prius goes up to 11, whereas most other cars only go up to 10.
Well, we do have more gears these days. Back in the 60s, you were lucky to have four gears...today six is common.
Also more technologically advanced, newer, and much more expensive. I think it's pretty impressive that they've gotten that kind of fuel economy out of it, though.
The Prius, I'm less impressed with. Yes, it gets better mileage than my Corolla. It's also smaller, and the guy had to drive like Adrian Monk (if Monk drove ...).
I drive pretty much the same way the MW guy did.
They are using imperial gallons. An imperial gallon is about 1.2 U.S. gallons.
Got it!
While honeymooning in Scotland last August I rented a Volvo XC station wagon with a standard shift and a diesel. It was very peppy for a diesel, and averaged in the high 30's for fuel mileage. I asked, and they do not sell them here, or I'd be in the market for one. My new wife's lease is up in June on her Nissan Murano, and we're looking at a Mercedes R class diesel (28 mpg advertised).
My daily driver is a 2001 Ford Super Duty Diesel which I've had tweaked with an aftermarket turbo wheel, larger stainless exhaust, and a performance chip. It puts out 500 or so horses and gets about 20mpg when I don't get on it too hard.
Normalizing for the cost of fuel, the BMW costs 9.19 cents per mile. The Prius costs 7.81 cents per mile. That is based on your MPG figures and the current cost of fuel in my town today. 85 octane gas at $3.13. Diesel at $3.85. The Prius still wins on lower initial cost of acquisition and lower cost of fuel. As a former owner of a couple Porsche cars and a Toyota pickup, I'll lay bets that the maintenance costs for the BMW (parts & labor) will be much higher than the Toyota product. A fine German car is a joy to drive, but you really have to be prepared to pony up the $$$ for maintenance to keep it that way.
Hybrids do shine IF they are driven in city conditions in relatively nice weather. Once the temperature extremes require use of the heater or air conditioner, the advantage is lost in the need to operate the internal combustion engine to provide the heating or cooling. The Prius driver knew enough to avoid using either in the story. The BMW driver opted for comfort as there is only a small penalty for a vehicle that has to run the internal combustion engine full time anyway. My 2008 Mariner Hybrid can achieve 32 MPG in mild weather and city conditions. On the road it will average 28 MPG. Winter temperatures can drop the MPG to as low as 21.8 MPG. As Spring is approaching, our long term average is running around 25.7 MPG.
7K pounds, is a lot of money to pay for a less that .5 gal difference.
I know that one, but I see someone else has already answered it.
So, what's the difference between a Harley and a Hoover???
I’d lost to a Beemer and I was disappointed; I had never driven so slowly or carefully for so long in my life. I’m considering buying a V8 Range Rover and opening my own oil well in protest.
I got a good chuckle from these last couple sentences.
Fuel prices are variable. Six months ago, diesel was cheaper than regular unleaded gasoline. Currently, cheapest regular unleaded in the Portland, Oregon area is 3.29; the cheapest diesel fuel is 3.83.
Furthermore, they intentionally compared apples and oranges here. A big sedan vs. a smaller hybrid sedan.
If you compared a 118d versus a Prius, you would see an even larger mpg difference.
While gasoline/electric hybrids aren’t really very efficient on the highway, they are a good fit for someone who drives primarily in congested areas, or for delivery vehicles.
What is going to be interesting is the Chevy Volt, which GM is calling an EREV (Extended Range Electric Vehicle). It will be most efficient in the same applications as hybrids, but will be able to be used without running the engine for a 40 mile range. And the engine only recharges the batteries; it does not drive the wheels.
BTW, I wouldn’t be so sure about the maintenance being cheaper on the Toyota. Their quality is tanking, as they’re ramping up to try to overtake other automakers.
Maybe at some local station but certainly not when looking at the average.
Monthly Retail Gasoline and Diesel Prices
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_dcus_nus_m.htm
it was a buck more than regular where I got gas yesterday.
I believe the use of those older diesels will meet the US standard but some states, California notably but others also, have stricter standards. The new BlueTec engines meet all standards. Of course, I fully expect Kalifornica will pass much stricter standards soon because they hate diesels on principle.
It is still cheaper to operate a diesel vehicle than a typical gas guzzler. with the higher cost of diesel.
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