An overview of mpg, domestic vs import. USA wins.

[Scott Liggett]

Re: An overview of mpg, domestic vs import. USA wins.

Yup, the fullsize American trucks get as good or better mileage than the import full size trucks. Which is right where we started!

nah, the late model Fords suck gas and make poop for power. The GM's are the gold here.

You can have all 8 of our 07-08 Subby's. All have electrical issues (gas gauges, tire pressure monitor, check engine lights, ABS, Stability Control, Traction Control.....), half have needed new batteries, the other half have needed new diffs. Great big POS's.

[Mr4Speed]

Re: An overview of mpg, domestic vs import. USA wins.

Where we started was that American cars are competitive in fuel economy in each market segment-RIGHT NOW. Not ten years ago, or twenty years ago, or thirty years ago, but right now. (for the record the linked article clearly states that the figures listed are EPA figures and NOT the results of their own testing)

Where we ended up is that some people don't want to believe it.

[squirrel]

Re: An overview of mpg, domestic vs import. USA wins.

It's a matter of perception. Overall, American cars are bigger, and get lower mileage than the imports which are smaller vehicles overall.

Think domestic cars, you thing big. Think import, you think small. So yeah the imports get better mileage.

Unless you take the time to compare each individual class of cars...then they all look about the same.

And you know how the general public is...they eagerly swallow the 5 second sound bite.

[dieselgeek]

Re: An overview of mpg, domestic vs import. USA wins.

Yup, the fullsize American trucks get as good or better mileage than the import full size trucks. Which is right where we started!

we started talking about trucks? trucks are the *only* area where it seems the domestics compare... That is, until the domestics quickly whip up a couple "efficient" combos and set up websites that prove all along, it was just media conspiracy that held them down. Not economy, reliability, resale value, longevity.

[squirrel]

Re: An overview of mpg, domestic vs import. USA wins.

Yup, the fullsize American trucks get as good or better mileage than the import full size trucks. Which is right where we started!

[dieselgeek]

Re: An overview of mpg, domestic vs import. USA wins.

I guess Scott hasn't played with the cars that the carmakers want to be good...the big ones, where the money is. Wife bought a new 99 chevy truck, getting close to 200k miles, it still has the original belts, alternator, brakes, etc. And it gets great mileage for a 5000 lb behemoth that can haul a lot of cargo and people.

Little American cars are cheezy, and have always been cheezy, they are not a profit center for the big 3, never have been, never will be.

Ah yes, Fullsize Trucks. A Ford engineer once told me that during the late 1990s, over 90% of the R&D on new Ford vehicles was spent on the fullsize trucks. I believe it. There's no arguing that a 99 chevy half ton, or 3/4 ton, or 1 ton, is better than the Toyota equivalent. And a heluva reliable vehicle - I would agree that it's fullsize trucks where the American auto manufacturers were king. Unfortunately, with the cost of gas versus fullsize truck economy in general.... brings us back to the beginning of this thread.

[squirrel]

Re: An overview of mpg, domestic vs import. USA wins.

I guess Scott hasn't played with the cars that the carmakers want to be good...the big ones, where the money is. Wife bought a new 99 chevy truck, getting close to 200k miles, it still has the original belts, alternator, brakes, etc. And it gets great mileage for a 5000 lb behemoth that can haul a lot of cargo and people.

Little American cars are cheezy, and have always been cheezy, they are not a profit center for the big 3, never have been, never will be.

[olbuddybob]

Re: An overview of mpg, domestic vs import. USA wins.

SSSSHHHHHHHHHH.........that's a secret ;D

[dieselgeek]

Re: An overview of mpg, domestic vs import. USA wins.

just drink the damn coolaid already.

So just what is it makes American vehicles achieving decent mileage that make less than 1000 hp at the wheels on pump gas so bad?

very big grin.

Nothing makes the American cars bad! I want them to be the best!! but, from my own experience, up until maybe just the last 2-3 years. hardly any of the domestic cars compared favorably to their import counterparts when it comes to cost, reliability, service-ability, resale value, power potential/cost, and economy.

Where was the above web link when GM was putting the mighty Cavalier (pre-Ecotec) up against cars like Honda Civics?!?!? It all sounds awesome on a forum but good luck taking that Cavalier past 100,000 miles without a huge ton of mechanical BS. A lot of that has seemed to change, in just the past few years (well, at least power potential, not sure about service-ability yet), for the better. But it seems a bit far fetched to me to imply that all along there's been some widespread media conspiracy to bring down the reputation of these always-awesome domestic cars...

Maybe it's just me and that Contour with the pain-in-the-butt intake leaks, or that Cavalier I owned that burnt a ton of oil at 60,000 miles, or that wicked nice Jeep TJ that ate 3 trannies in 50K miles... or the Beretta my GF owned and the awesome coolant leaks / headgasket issues (she drove like a grandma and followed the maintenance to a tee) - compared to the 1992 Honda Civic I got her that lasted 190,000 miles before a dude with no insurance in a Cavalier t-boned her, totalling the car...

Nevermind the 06 GTO that spent more time with the "Check Engine" light on, that ate $300 "APPS sensors" - or the Cadillac DTS that had a ton of electrical gremlins...

[dieselgeek]

Re: An overview of mpg, domestic vs import. USA wins.



So what is it that motivates the Evil Media (convenient timing for it to be EVIL, eh?) and begat this long running, secret campaign to smear the truth that all American vehicles throughout all time, were always the most fuel efficient and amazing cars made anywhere?


someone please explain this for me.

???

[AllenK]

Re: An overview of mpg, domestic vs import. USA wins.

I got 15-16 mpg at 70 or so and a with lot of idling in my '64 C10 on the way to the Power Tour. Not bad for a 388! I do have a Richmond 6 speed and 3.08 gears,but I'm also running my buddy's 1000 cfm Stealth carb too. :D ;D The engine has CNC ported heads with 2.05/1.6 valves and an XE288hr Comp Cam. I was stunned when I filled up after that first trip. I know that carb is way too big BTW. He told me to run it until he needed it,and he hasn't called yet.

My wife's GTP got 33 mpg at 75 mph plus with the air blowing cold and fully loaded down with luggage on vacation this past year. I've gotten 29 mpg in my Formula in mixed driving.

As many of ya'll have said, the media has played a large role in this misconception.

[V10Mercury]

Re: An overview of mpg, domestic vs import. USA wins.

sweet TC, so GM scrambles and finally makes it to the top of an Economy list - I wonder how it compares if we start going backwards in time?

I don't know, but I can tell you that my 1977 Chevy truck with a 454 got 12-13 miles per gallon in the city. That's about the same as the Titan gets now, and my truck had a carburetor.

Also sure imports of the past got good mileage, but they didn't have any power either. I bet if they took these 250+hp 4 bangers of today and dropped their power to 150hp, they'd be getting crap loads of mileage out of them. But the problem is who wants to drive a gutless piece of crap.

I am not saying you are wrong about anything but when you have one of these 250+ HP 4 bangers they will usually still get great fuel mileage if they are tuned properly.
I had a 2.3l 4cyl turbo Mustang that ran 11.70 @ 115mph and got 30+mpg on the highway. If you stayed out of boost you couldnt get less than 26mpg anywhere in that car.

[squirrel]

Re: An overview of mpg, domestic vs import. USA wins.

just wait, that'll be here in a decade or two....

[TC]

Re: An overview of mpg, domestic vs import. USA wins.

sweet TC, so GM scrambles and finally makes it to the top of an Economy list - I wonder how it compares if we start going backwards in time?

I don't know, but I can tell you that my 1977 Chevy truck with a 454 got 12-13 miles per gallon in the city. That's about the same as the Titan gets now, and my truck had a carburetor.

Also sure imports of the past got good mileage, but they didn't have any power either. I bet if they took these 250+hp 4 bangers of today and dropped their power to 150hp, they'd be getting crap loads of mileage out of them. But the problem is who wants to drive a gutless piece of crap.

[Woodward_Dreams]

Re: An overview of mpg, domestic vs import. USA wins.

Yes. NHTSA requires electronic stability on all cars sold here as of Oct 2011. Don't you realize that you shouldn't be in complete control of a dangerous automobile?

Why doesnt the government just F***ing drive it for me!