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I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

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  • #31
    Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

    My '72 Ventura with a 250 six and a Glide and 3.08s got 21 mpg bone stock. With a 200 overdrive and some tuneup I bet it had potential for 25-27 mpg. Hence my concept of the Commuter Rod.

    These days, Chad and I are both driving B-bodies with 283s and Powerglides. We think his has 3.31s and mine has 3.08s. They both get 14 (which, to me, is "good mileage"). The Crew Cab also has a 283 and a Glide and I'm shooting for 25 mpg with it.

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    • #32
      Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

      My '62 Suburban gets 18mpg with OD manual trans, 3.55 gears (in a rear end that was eating itself), an out-of-the-box Edelbrock carb and HEI, and small diameter rams horn manifolds. And a TON of aero fouls. I'm swapping in 3.42 gears this month, and I should also swap to 2.5-inch 'horns and dial in the carb. By August for the Bonneville road trip, I plan to have the front end rebuilt (there's a lot of misalignment drag there now), lower it a little, add a valance behind the front bumper with short chin spoiler to keep air from stacking up under the hood, and close off a lot of unused radiator opening. I see no reason I can't get at least 20mpg highway. At that point, it's pulling better economy than my 2001 Dakota.

      I've also thought about going with a Q-jet carb with an adapter on top of the old Edelbrock C3B intake.

      -Brad

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      • #33
        Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

        Dan, I really like the term “Appliance”, that’s exactly what some cars are.
        My wife is currently driving a ‘95 Camry that fits that definition perfectly. Bought it for $2,500 and threw a bunch of parts at it for a few hundred more. It works well in the snow, is comfy, and gets 33 mpg last time we checked. This is the car we use as a family (4 of us) most often, if anything happens to it, no big deal.

        My non-snow Daily driver is a Dodge SRT-4, fits all of us, I got 29 mpg on a road trip (There were even a couple 3-digit passes), and has been totally reliable. Took it to the drag strip and ran a 14.2 with the kid seats in the back. Part appliance, part fun… is this a fast appliance? Whatever it is I REALY enjoy the car.

        Next new (or new-ish) car will be mostly my wife’s choice, we take turns. It will likely be a nicer ‘Appliance’ car. If we had to get something today it would very likely be a civic hybrid. Now if Chevy makes a new plug-in hybrid available we may look at that too. All things “equal”, I will buy American.

        Then there’s that Durango with the towing package and 390 gears that sits in the driveway collecting dust….. Invaluable during Wisconsin winters, but Ouch! at the pump.

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        • #34
          Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

          If you are buying a car for a DD/commuter it better get more than 25-27 mpg... Otherwise, why bother?

          I think it should be a little comfy with a/c and some tunes...

          Most importantly, the whole buy american thing has been hinted at in this post (what a shock)... Honda, Nissan, Toyota have all been building cars here in the USA for a long time... While the crappy three have been building cars outside the USA for a long time now...

          The focus should be on what you want and how you want to build it...

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          • #35
            Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

            If you are buying a car for a DD/commuter it better get more than 25-27 mpg... Otherwise, why bother?
            I think it should be a little comfy with a/c and some tunes...
            I agree, but would say over 30 mpg.

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            • #36
              Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

              Originally posted by mike343sharpstick
              Dan, I really like the term “Appliance”, that’s exactly what some cars are.
              I use the term "transportation module". I guess it means the same thing....and it's kind of depressing for a carjunkie to be stuck in one, but sometimes reality rears it's ugly head.

              I also make sure to figure depreciation into the formula. Wife commuted in her Dart for years, it has well over 300k miles on it, with a few rebuilds along the way. And it's worth a lot more now than when she got it! can't say that about any hondacars that I know of.

              My fabulous web page

              "If it don't go, chrome it!" --Stroker McGurk

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              • #37
                Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

                Originally posted by squirrel

                I also make sure to figure depreciation into the formula. Wife commuted in her Dart for years, it has well over 300k miles on it, with a few rebuilds along the way. And it's worth a lot more now than when she got it! can't say that about any hondacars that I know of.

                Good point!!
                www.realtuners.com - catch the RealTuners Radio Podcast on Youtube, Facebook, iTunes, and anywhere else podcasts are distributed!

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                • #38
                  Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

                  Here in the 'Rust Belt' EVERYTHING depreciates to a big fat Zero eventually, I would rather that be an appliance.


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                  • #39
                    Re: I know a lot of you won't like this, but I might as well confess...

                    yeah, that would make a difference.

                    My fabulous web page

                    "If it don't go, chrome it!" --Stroker McGurk

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