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Impressive numbers put up by untrained drivers in what some might consider FSP’s. (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=159026)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Q7_and_Q5_near_Yosemite.jpgWayne Gerdes – CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) – Oct. 21, 2008

Audi's stopped near Yosemite National Park.

The Audi Mileage Marathon concluded as all 23 Audi’s arrived safely in Santa Monica on Sunday after a grueling 4,887 mile drive. The Marathon included a caravan of 2.0 and 3.0L turbo-diesel powered Q7’s, Q5’s, A4’s and A3’s. 184 factory drivers and guides, celebrity drivers and Automotive Journalists from around the world took part as they made their way West to the final destination, Santa Monica, CA. From the Mileage Marathon’s launch in NY City, the drivers and vehicles took part in four major and 13 minor stages while crisscrossing the country through some of the most picturesque locations in the US.

Views

It all began on October 6 in New York City. The first stages were along the east coast as far as Washington, then inland to Chicago. After this came daily stages as long as 541 miles southward through endless farmland, with stopovers in Memphis and Dallas, Texas.

On the third stage from Denver to Las Vegas, the participants saw snow by the roadside as they crossed the Rockies. The following day, the caravan drove through Monument Valley and past the Grand Canyon.
Those driving the fourth stage saw possibly the best the country has to offer as drove out of Death Valley and into the Sierra Nevada’s where the drivers and vehicles actually encountered snow. After driving into and out of Yosemite National Park, the Marathon descended to Monterey on the Pacific coast to finish in the very well to do Santa Monica, CA.

Best America has to offer

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Q7_heading_into_Chicago.jpghttp://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/A4_in_MO_on_the_way_to_Memphis.jpg
Q7 heading into Chicago.-----------------------------------------------A4 in Missouri at dusk.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Q7_and_A4_in_front_of_Pump_Jack_near_Ft_Worth.jpghttp://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Q7_in_Monument_Valley.jpg
Q7/A4 at pump jack near Ft. Worth, TX.-----------------------------------------Lone Q7 in Monument Valley, UT.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Q7_on_Route_66_in_AZ.jpghttp://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Q5_and_Driver_-_Navigator_near_Sedona_AZ.jpg
Q7 stopped on Rt. 66 for a break.-------------------------------------Q5 and Driver/Navigator enjoying Sedona, AZ.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Lone_Q7_overlooking_the_Pacific_in_Monterey.jpghttp://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Audis_in_Santa_Monica.jpg
Lone Q7 overlooking Pacific in Monterey, CA.-----------------------------Marathoners arrive in Santa Monica, CA Sunday.

Fuel Economy Results

The European only Audi A4 Quattro equipped with the 3.0L TDI had a best segment fuel economy of 44.4 mpgUS. The new Audi Q5 crossover equipped with the same 3.0L TDI had a best segment of 38.6 mpgUS. The US bound Audi Q7 also equipped with the 3.0L TDI pulled a nice 33.1 mpgUS. That is impressive for an FSP! The highest Fuel Economy of all the vehicles that took part was of course the European only Audi A3 w/ the VW 2.0L TDI. It routinely averaged 47 mpgUS with a segment high of 50.0 mpgUS. All in, not only were the results decent, they were achieved with an average speed of 52.5 mph.

The excellent fuel economy achieved by each and every vehicle during the Marathon proves how efficient a modern day diesel truly is and how bad this country really needs an alternative that they will provide.
Previous coverage of the Audi Mileage Marathon results in chronological order from the concept and launch in NY City to the finish can be read in the following:
VW’s busy with Fuel Economy marathons as of late (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15705)
Audi’s diesel mileage marathon is finally underway (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16512)
Audi Mileage Marathon continues… (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16680)
Audi Mileage Marathoners blow through Vegas (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16802)
Audi’s Mileage Marathon finishes in CA – final analysis (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=159026)

Diesel is definitely a winner for FE and always has been. The first car I bought in my wild youth was an '81 Caprice with the infamous GM diesel and lawnmower transmission. EPA for the old diesel (using the '85 estimates from fueleconomy.gov as they only go back to that year) were 21/29 (pre-08) and 18/26 (2008 measure). As I recall, I'd get 17-20 around town and could get over 30mpg on the highway. In a 3650 pound 6 passenger car with a huge trunk. It had a factory block heater that worked pretty well, too. I bought the car because it was 1/3 the price of the same car with a gas engine, and my dad was a diesel mechanic and he said it'd last if I took care of it. And it did, until the injector pump went (my fault - I was running 15% kerosene for better MPG and so the injector pump wasn't getting the lubrication from straight diesel), and a junkyard gas engine/trans combo was cheaper than a rebuilt injector pump. But I drove that diesel around for years and I only filled the tank every two weeks. It was fantastic. Sadly, 25 year old memories of that engine are still keeping some people from seriously considering diesel power today.

It's certainly promising, but these are unavailable, expensive to maintain, fairly unreliable, luxury cars.

I want an all diesel Honda Odyssey, Ridgline, Pilot, Element, Accord, Civic, & Fit cross-country!!

nf

P.S. Still if I could afford it, I get me some diesel Audis!