Diesel Fuel Milage Discussion
-
yeah but none of the vehicles is a 20mph->50mpg improvement in the same vehicle just by swapping engines.
http://www.vw.com/jetta/completespecs/en/us/#/show_all
The factory sticker on 2009 jettas shows the gas engines at 20/29 and the TDI at 30/41. So it's about 50% better in town and about 35% better on the highway.
The initial acquisition cost is higher, but assuming a 1.80 vs. 2.80 price split, the jetta TDI is basically a "break even" vehicle. IOW, the higher cost of diesel makes it a wash.
-
I believe that all 3 vehicles that they tested there got higher than they were rated for. The Jag was rated at 35 mpg, and got 53 without trying. The Polo was rated at 70 mpg and got 80 being conservative, and i think the subaru was rated at 50 and got 62. I would guess that a gas AWD outback wouldn't get more than 30 so that is quite an improvement even at 50.
-
yeah, as an owner of 2 80s BMWs with the "USA 5mph Impact Bumpers" i am bitterly aware of the differences between Euro and US spec german cars
that said, if the discussion is about how well they'll do here, it's worth looking at the US-spec versions, don't you agree?
I think the jetta actually does better than 41mpg in real-world highway usage, so that's a point in its favor.
Unfortuneately, while Audi is bringing a TDI into the USA A4 in the near future, their transmission strategy has gone completely stupid. You cannot get a manual transmission in the A4 wagon, and the S4 won't be offered in wagon form any more. The TDI they are bringing over is the 3.0 TDI which is only going to get around 37 highway for about a $5k price bump over the normal A4. TDIs will also be automatic only, most likely.
BMW may do a better job of bringing over a kick-ass turbo diesel car in the near future.
-
3_Series;247628 wrote:
Diesel may have the mileage advantage, but gas = more fun to drive, at least if you like revs.When comparing the two you either get torque or revs, but not both.
I dunno, with my programmer on the 85hp tune my truck is around 300 rwhp and 640 rwtq. It's pretty fun to drive.
:icon_rr:
DaveH
'94 Supra- 7.77 @ 176mph -
DaveH;247636 wrote:
I dunno, with my programmer on the 85hp tune my truck is around 300 rwhp and 640 rwtq. It's pretty fun to drive.:icon_rr:
agreed....
I like living in the realm where 100hp+ injectors and oversize tires help my MPG
I pull 20-22mpg in a 3/4 ton, 4wd on I-state @ 80mph.......and still give it to the gassers in the anus
with DDP injectors, fuel plate, and other goodies
-
KA-T_240;247639 wrote:
^lol!Zac..... you need a bigger turbo on that thing
I don't think the gassers would appreciate even deeper penetration, haha
.
.
.
but seriously it needs something bigger badly, after the injector install i had to pull a bunch of fuel out of the pump because boost and especially EGT's were crazy on the stocker....even with fuel backed off i can still bury the 1600* pyro within 5 seconds
give me a nice phatshaft 62-14 and it would be super happy
-
There are two main reasons we don't get euro-spec vehicles in the US.
- Shitty gas
- Shitty laws
The 2nd point really encompasses a lot of things.. like the fact that each imported powertrain variant (i.e. engine blah + transmission foo) must be independantly tested for EPA compliance... at some 6 digit cost to the manufacturuer. Each chassis has to be crash tested, and the tests are different.
There are some rules like the car has to have a catalytic converter... no matter how clean it runs if you sniff it.. or that it needs air-injection and EGR systems... no matter how clean the engine runs.
In general, to comply with US emissions standards and bad US gas you lose a little fuel economy and a little horsepower. Then you add in all the vehicle weight... USA spec cars are very heavily optioned whe nthey make it over here, since you have to justify a higher price that was forced on you via the extra stuff you have to go through to get the car legally sellable here.
I drove a year 2004 BMW with no cruise control when i was in germany. And i think it had crank windows in the back but power windows in the front. (This was a common setup on Euro-spec BMWs to save cost).
-
In a diesel, the added 300lbs(saftey, cruise, AC, power window will do nothing to the fuel economy, and it should be still just as fast. Diesels love to do work!
You get shitty diesel filling up at gas stations. Go to truck stops and get your diesel where they actually sell lots of it.
-
my uncle actually got caught running died diesel in his pickup, the officer that pulled him over (not the currier inforcement surprisingly) let him off with a warning or something being his record was completely clean, although i think in sd, im not sure about nd, you can get like a $10k fine or some ridiculous shit
-
Grr;247647 wrote:
or out of the farm tank, like most of us......With the outrageous diesel mark ups at the pump right now probably be seeing this more often. Normally markup is less than $0.10, average now since prices have been falling is close to $0.60. Crazy when the tax is only $0.474, I guess some are fooled when the truck stops are saying they aren't making money.
-
beachbum_jon;247664 wrote:
my uncle actually got caught running died diesel in his pickup, the officer that pulled him over (not the currier inforcement surprisingly) let him off with a warning or something being his record was completely clean, although i think in sd, im not sure about nd, you can get like a $10k fine or some ridiculous shitI always thought 1500 for first offense.... I dunno though
-
The perception of dirty diesels might have something to do with the 350 diesels in some of GM's stuff from the late 70's and through the 80's. Noisy, nasty, smelly vehicles. Among others as well. The EDM tech vs USDM tech thing goes far beyond just diesel engines, ready yourself for some Ford humping.
The European Focus is a much much better car than its US counterpart. The Falcon, jumping to another continent, is a great car that's available with an amazing DOHC straight six that even is available with a turbo.
> Mitch Hedberg wrote:
> I'm sick of following my dreams, I'm just going to find out where they are going and hook up with them later.ASE certified parts specialist.
2004 Impala LS 3.8 -
Seems to me, euro companies keep the good stuff to themselves, japanese companies keep good stuff to themselves and europe, and the us companies dont make anything that great anyways at least not in the states...
Course then again, most of the cars with the better features, parts, etc... wont pass crash testing, emissions, etc...
-
For a private individual to get a euro-spec motor into the US, you need to go through a registered EPA importer and submit the car to tests totalling between $11,000 and $13,000. Any modifications required to the car to actually make it pass are extra money out of your pocket.
This is for an engine difference only; the car body must already be something that is sold in the US.
The specific example I am thinking of is the 1992+ BMW M5 euro spec. The USA car was a model year 91 USA car with an S38B36 engine. In 1992 european models got the S38B38 spec motor, which was the same engine with coil packs, a revised crank hub, 200cc extra displacement, and some different cam settings.
There are a handful of of the 3.8 liter 92+ M5s in the USA, and all of them had to pay this outrageous surcharge for EPA approval. Not the first guy that did it. Every guy that imported one.
It costs an individual over $10k to get a euro-spec motor. It costs the manufacturer over $100k to do type approval. It has nothing to do with keeping the best stuff for themselves; the USA is BMW's largest market and also BMW's largest ///M car market. I'm sure they'd be happy to not engineer things twice if they could avoid it.
Like I say about everything -- the government is fucking it up for us.
Under a thrash presidency, vehicle import restrictions for individuals would be abolished. The state government already has laws saying what constitutes a "vehicle" on ND roads (turn signals, headlights, height of bumpers, etc). No need for the feds to make everything dumber for everyone.
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login