Why You Can't Buy a Car With 50mpg as Listed by the EPA

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by Lord Biron

and also... where could I pick up a CRX-Hf?

Sounds like a fun, and rewarding project car.. or a curse! ha

I did not see them much on ebay and it's a good bet they go quicker.

A good second-hand 5-speed Insight is essentially a hybrid CRX-HF with airbags and up to 30% better fuel economy.

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Originally Posted by B.L.E.

So, don't expect super tall overdrives to turn a 35 mpg car into a 50 mpg car. The engineering students who compete in SAE gas mileage competitions using custom built cars mostly all choose to use intermittent engine runs rather than putt along in a super high gear for that reason.

So they use P&G?? Cool!!!

Originally Posted by Delta Flyer

A good second-hand 5-speed Insight is essentially a hybrid CRX-HF with airbags and up to 30% better fuel economy.

Just 30%?

[Chuck]

One of my greatest auto regrets is not treating my 99 CRX-HF better. Drove it at times like the CRX Si pocket rocket. An incompetent tune up resulted in a near engine meltdown and 30% loss in power/FE. At 1800 lbs, its almost identically the weight and size of the Insight...the engine is 1500cc instead and probably not LEV. It's 1st gear was so high lugging was inevitable unless you were starting down an incline.

[toastblows]

Originally Posted by danbudy

I averaged 48 to 50 in a festiva that I had in college, and that was plain mechanical valves and a carborator. I don't understand why a honda VX cannot be built today. Why not a ford festiva. The new fit and yaris, are small, but the milleage payoff just isn't there. I'll drive a corolla, or a civic first, comfort matters.

Auto makers need to step up to the plate! I still don't understand why we don't get more miles per gallon.

Danbudy.

VX was 8 valve 4 cylinder so its NOx emissions would fail after 2005, just as TDI failed in 2007. Kind of wondering which is worse...55mpg with NOx or getting 25mpg and burning 2x the fuel...same thing eh?

Anyway, I agree with you 100%. Get rid of these airbag, side impact, front impact, **** i dont want. I want an unsafe 1992 honda civic vx. My choice, ill sign a waiver from the manufacturer if needed saying i take all liability in injury or death. Its worth the risk.

[Chuck]

Maybe we should think out of the box on car safety - could there be a way to be safe and lighter?

What about strech bumpers with long crumple zones that are also streamlined? Maybe airbags can be reinvented?

[warthog1984]

B.L.E.- The reason I suggested more gears and taller overdrives is that most engines and cars are tuned for 45-60 mph as optimum constant cruise. If an engine's happiest at 2k rpm and it has the power to maintain 70mph or more at that speed, why not throw in an extra gear specifically for those going 70-75 mph on the interstate instead of either regearing the entire tranny with tall gears or sacrificing the FE on the interstate?

If, we could do this, everybody's FE would go up, even without much help.

[vtec-e]

Originally Posted by toastblows

I want an unsafe 1992 honda civic vx.

[99HXCivic]

A 4 star rated Honda Civic like new VX type car with the 2005 HX engine and a 6 speed MT would be awesome!

My minivan goes 0-60 in 16 seconds, and it seems fast enough! Yeah, they should make high FE slower cars here!

[Dan]

Ok... hats off to an "automotive" journalist for writing about FE, but man... I'll have to take a breather after some of the stuff he was railing in that piece.

-Really railed on the Smart.
-Made SUVs sound like the safest thing since a bomb shelter (we know better).
-Drank the volt Koolaid that a 100 mile trip burning 1 gallon gas and 10 kWh elect = 100 mpg (it doesn't).

I'll need to cool off before I dig into this one.

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[Dan]

Originally Posted by Lord Biron

and also... where could I pick up a CRX-Hf?

Sounds like a fun, and rewarding project car.. or a curse! ha

Here's one:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...er_id=53967471

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