Posted on 05/09/2008 10:07:16 AM PDT by dangerdoc
Although you can definitely pre-order an Aptera if you're okay with space-aged design, Volkswagen is hoping to provide another option for those looking for ridiculous MPG and a little bit of normalcy in construction. Okay, so maybe the 1-Liter isn't exactly standard fare -- with its plastic / magnesium shell and all-glass roof -- but at least it packs four whole wheels and an iconic VW badge, right? According to Motor Authority, the automaker will be producing said vehicle and pushing it to market as early as 2010, and while the minuscule engine will only take you to 75MPH, it will still seat two people -- one in front of the other, though -- and get around 235MPG. No word on a price or any of that good stuff, but we're hearing that they'll only be produced in "limited numbers" whenever they're launched.
The problem with these ultra high mileage cars is that they aren’t practical if you don’t live in an urban environment. I need a car that will run comfortably at 73 MPH for hundreds of miles.
For many, if not most rural dwellers in the USA, we require a vehicle that will haul rubbish to the dump, transport building and maintenance materials to and from our homes, and transport 4 or more people to destinations 100-200 miles away in reasonable comfort. We don’t live in apartments near the subway or even a bus or train station.
It is not realistic to expect decent public transportation any time in the next 25 years in my area.
So... We can improve mileage considerably, but if it won’t haul a utility trailer and isn’t comfortable on the super-highways, we can’t use it.
A recumbant motorcycle with a half faring and...say...a 350cc motor, would beat the pants off any car any ecotard can dream up. And I mean both in terms of performance AND fuel mileage. And it would cost about 1/10 as much to buy too.
“One liter car is a European colloquialism. It refers to a car that gets 100km/liter. “
A one liter car is a car with a 1000cc displacement engine. I have a one liter motorcycle. It goes like a raped ape and gets about 45 miles per gallon.
With the proper transmission and a light enough body, it could easily attain that same mileage as a car. “Our lady of blessed acceleration” would not be a factor in the automobile version. No more holy s**t moments under hard acceleration.
The only way you’re going to get that kind of efficiency is to go with vehicles so light you can literally lift one end off the ground. And the wheels will have to start resembling wagon wheels...very tall, very skinny, and almost no rubber...and the car will have to be shaped like a raindrop, or a chicken egg.
I understand rural vehicle needs. I live in the sticks forty miles out from where I work and 15 miles from the grocery store. I need a commuter car.
I have a pickup in the barn for chores, don’t need a new one.
BTW, I posted this because it was interesting, I’m not trying to sell you one.
“BTW, I posted this because it was interesting, I’m not trying to sell you one.”
I knew that. Somebody needs to whack the city apartment and condo dwellers over the head with the reality of rural living. We don’t drive large vehicles because we’re insensitive clods; We drive them because we have to.
I’m losing track of which replies you are replying to.
As far as a recumbant motorcycle with a half faring, the back end of the vehicle creates more drag than the front. It would be efficient only because of the minimal cross section. And you still have a motor cycle, cold weather, rain and all. College teams are already building vehicles with that cross section that get 1000+mpg.
As far as the vehicle under discussion, it has diesel engine, that would weigh a few hundred pounds, ditto for the frame and another hundred for the body. A couple of hundred pounds for various internal components. You won’t beable to lift one end off the ground And with proper aerodynamics you have a vehicle will have no problems hanging onto the ground.
This vehicle is not what I am looking for but I would love to have one of the small turbocharged diesel cars they are selling in Europe now. Nice driver that gets 60 mpg.
His response...
That's what a bloody trailer is for!
Apparently, in rural ireland, farmers owned tiny cars called morris minors with granny gears and towed trailers with them when they need to haul something...at least I think it was a car called a morris minor, it's been a few years.
“I’d think the tens of thousands of dead people and smashed cars every year are proof enough>”
Nope. Most are stupid jerks who like to drink and drive, phone and drive, and simply not pay attention and drive. Size of vehicle makes no difference. To say otherwise is just liberal-mined, emotionally driven, hate SUVs garbage. The average liberal is an idiot and drives like one.
I’ve heard that Toyota will soon have a car out that will go from coast to coast on one tank of gas.
I’m not sure I agree with you entirely. Like I said, I live in the sticks and the vast majority of my driving is by myself burning up miles to get from here to there.
About 10% of the time I need to move something, and that is usually on the farm. I have a tractor with a loader and a utility trailer. Occasionally I need to haul something back and forth from town, that is when I fire up the pickup. I probably don’t drive it more than a couple of hundred miles a year.
One of the facts about rural living that city dwellers don’t understand is that we have room for multiple vehicles. I bought my truck for $2500 ten years ago. I pay almost nothing in taxes and don’t have a monthly payment. I have a machine shed where it sleeps. There is no reason why most country folk would have to give up their heavy work vehicle in order to have a commuter.
“The Weapons and Nav officer sits in the back.”
LOL! “I call WSO!”
“One of the facts about rural living that city dwellers don’t understand is that we have room for multiple vehicles. I bought my truck for $2500 ten years ago. I pay almost nothing in taxes and don’t have a monthly payment. I have a machine shed where it sleeps. There is no reason why most country folk would have to give up their heavy work vehicle in order to have a commuter.”
Most rural dwellers don’t have a tractor. Assuming you want, have space for, and can afford two vehicles, a compact car and a pickup with a tow hitch are the way to go.
If you are limited to a single vehicle and many are, a pickup or SUV with a trailer hitch isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.
I have 4 motorcycles, 2 scooters and a pickup.
The fact is that as speed increases the time available for recognition of danger,deciding the best response,and taking action all lessen.
One problem in Hoosierland is the city folks have taken over the state government and they equate multiple vehicles with rich playboys who ought to be taxed;the notion that a rural dweller might want an old serviceable truck for those big loads,a van or station wagon for when everybody in the family goes somewhere,a commuter car, AND a sport vehicle like a Corvette is viewed as unreasonable.So they tax and tax, and the license fees and mandatory insurance add up!
I like the fiat 128 too. It’s a very sensible, practical car. But most americans laugh at them.
You do know that a fiat 128 and a YUGO are the same car right? Yep, the only difference is one is made in italy and the other is made in serbia. But it’s the same car...more or less.
Yes,one of my disagreements with Rush is his denigration of small ,as though Americans should not have the choice of driving a smaller car or truck that uses less fuel.I never quite got why paying vast sums of our money buying oil from people who hate us is a good patriotic ideal.
For as smart as he is, he sure can be stupid about some things.
I used to listen to Rush and soon thought his show was 30 minutes of material stretched to cover 3 hours.I can’t listen to any talk shows as they all beat the dead horse until all that’s left is horseshit.Good night.
Oh, I wanted to mention this too, but forgot. Awhile back, there was a thread here about the greatest cars ever made. People were arguing over the author’s list. I put down something like this:
1. ford model T
2. Volkswagen beetle
3. Yugo
4. ford f series pickup
5. mini
6. jeep cj series
7. checker marathon
etc etc
Boy did I get flamed for the yugo! I guess I should’ve put down “fiat 128” instead. My opinion of “worlds greatest cars” is a car that is produced in large numbers for very many years without too many changes.
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