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113 cars make over 40MPG

Probably things like bumper height standards and the like,you know...government regulations.

Yes UAL....Le Bike.....me too.
 
Probably things like bumper height standards and the like,you know...government regulations.

Yes UAL....Le Bike.....me too.

Looks like the bike needs a hat...... 😛

Wouldn’t the world be much better if everyone rode a bike?
Maybe some of these A$$H01E$ would even try to see us... 😱
(Except for the two wheeled un-motorized dweebs that do not adhere to the rules of the road :rant: )

B) UT
 
Probably things like bumper height standards and the like,you know...government regulations.

Yes UAL....Le Bike.....me too.


You eally should read the link before you comment..

“These cars sold in Europe meet or exceed U.S. safety standards, so there is no reason why they shouldn’t be made available to U.S. consumers,â€￾ said CSI President Pam Solo.

I have always wondered how this emissions argument worked. I would think that if you are using half the amount of fuel that would be a good thing. I have not looked but does anyone know if a direct injection diesel puts out twice as much pollutants as a gasser? Also, given the technology that is being developed, it's only a matter of time before they come out with clean diesels or even more efficient gassers.
 
You eally should read the link before you comment..

“These cars sold in Europe meet or exceed U.S. safety standards, so there is no reason why they shouldn’t be made available to U.S. consumers,â€￾ said CSI President Pam Solo.

I have always wondered how this emissions argument worked. I would think that if you are using half the amount of fuel that would be a good thing. I have not looked but does anyone know if a direct injection diesel puts out twice as much pollutants as a gasser? Also, given the technology that is being developed, it's only a matter of time before they come out with clean diesels or even more efficient gassers.

Emission standards vary from state to state.

Last I checked (3-4 years ago) I cannot buy a (new) diesel car in California but I can buy a used one (more than 1000 miles) from another state, or a currently registered (used) CA diesel vehicle.

But that really doesn't matter when we have cars, trucks, trains, planes, boats (ships 😛 ), etc... that are diesel that deliver our goods and provide tourism from all over the Americas.

Most emissions laws are stupid, and CA is the stupidest! :down:

So for me to have a new(er) diesel vehicle, I would have it delivered (and registered) to someone in another state, put it on blocks and run it until the OD reads over 1K then transfer title as a used vehicle. :up:

Is this BS or what? :shock:

B) UT

PS:
Just cause 'they' say it is true doesn't make it so... 😛

You must be talking about the "cyclo-facists" also known as the "spandex pixies".

Yep! That be them!!! 😛
 
I guess the part that I do not understand is that VW has been selling Diesels till last year (except in CA). The new emissions regs took effect in 2007 so they will not be selling any 2007 diesel VW's. Up until 2007, the rest of the world has been getting good quality, very efficient cars. When I was in Poland last year I was following a 7 series diesel BMW. That SOB was fast. I had a turbo 4 banger diesel with a 6 speed manual (It was GMC Opal) an I had a hard time keeping up.

I have a hard time believing that if these cars were offered in the US that people would not buy them. The new Mercedes diesel is actually faster than the gas version and makes much better mileage to boot.

I would not go so far as to say there is a 'conspiracy' but I do not think it is a stretch to say there is a concerted effort by the UAW/car manufactures/oil companies to prevent these vehicles from being sold here in the US. The only part of that equation that does not make sense to me is the car manufacture part of it. They are having huge financial issues because they cannot sell their POS's here in the US. Seems to me if they would just start making them, lower production on their big POS's like SUV's, trucks…. Etc people would 'have' to buy them.

The only other thing I can think of is that people correlate diesel cars of today with the POS diesels that GM put out in the 70's/80's. I was picked up in a diesel R class Mercedes the other day and I did not know I was in a diesel till the driver told me and I look at the back model number to make sure he was not lying to me. The SUV was quite as any gasser, and when he nailed it, I got shoved back in my seat.

Bottom line is something is going on. I don't know what, and I don't know who is to blame but we are getting screwed out of some really cool cars.
 
I guess the part that I do not understand is that VW has been selling Diesels till last year (except in CA). The new emissions regs took effect in 2007 so they will not be selling any 2007 diesel VW's. Up until 2007, the rest of the world has been getting good quality, very efficient cars.
Ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, which is a must for clean burning diesel engines, was not available in the United States until recently.

Mercedes is already selling the Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec which is available in 45 states.

For the moment, the E320 Bluetec clears only the 45-state standard, which is no small speed bump, to be sure. "Bluetec" actually refers to a suite of technologies that copes with inherent downsides of compression-ignition engines: that marbles-in-a-can clatter; the logy throttle response; the oily-sweet smell; the soot (particulates) and, most intractable, the emissions of NOx (nitrides of oxygen) generated by the hellish temperatures inside a diesel engine.

Like most current diesels worthy of the name, the E320 Bluetec uses a high-pressure common-rail fuel delivery system that, combined with advanced piezoelectric injectors, allows the engine computer to finely calibrate the fuel-air charge with respect to load and throttle demand.

All this pumping and spraying happens atop DaimlerChrysler's corporate diesel V6, an all-aluminum DOHC engine dressed out with a variable-geometry turbocharger. With a redline of 4,600 rpm, the engine doesn't produce significant horsepower (208 hp) but has torque like a nuclear attack sub: 388 pound-feet between 1,600 and 2,400 rpm.

Zero-to-60 mph acceleration is in the mid-6 seconds, but it's the passing power that leaves your tongue hanging out.

In the passing lane, this inoffensive burgher of the interstate pulls like a BMW M3.

Los Angeles Times - L.A. Wheels

Hopefully, Volkswagen will be following soon with their BlueMotion technology cars.

18 February 2007
POETRY IN BLUEMOTION
Quentin Willson

...VW have been quietly working away on their most economical Polo ever.

The BlueMotion uses a 1.4 turbodiesel engine, has reduced drag and weight and can squeeze a remarkable 72 miles out of every gallon [ed. note - Imperial gallon?]. CO2 is also mightily impressive at just 102g/km - which is less than a Toyota Prius...

Sunday Mirror - POETRY IN BLUEMOTION
 
You eally should read the link before you comment..

I eally did..... :lol:

“For years they have not been able to bring vehicles here that are going to displace their workers — this is a competitive challenge for the Big Three,†McManus said. “The unions have influence over the Big Three, and they can’t afford not to have the unions with them as they go through their restructuring. It’s hard to get the unions to agree to import vehicles when you are laying workers off. Overseas car companies like Toyota don’t have the same restrictions — they’ve been able to bring vehicles here from Japan to respond to consumers’ growing taste for more fuel-efficient cars.â€

And you think the Dem's are going to crap on their supporters?...Oh thats right...you don't pay no stinking union dues... :lol:

You really should research more Mr.Kitty.
 
I have a hard time believing that if these cars were offered in the US that people would not buy them. The new Mercedes diesel is actually faster than the gas version and makes much better mileage to boot.
When we were shopping for a new car for my wife, I asked the owner of the Honda dealership about the diesel Accord. She said that she’d take every one they’d give her, but they won’t be importing them until 2009. They’ve been selling them in Europe since March 2004!
I wouldn’t mind driving a 90 mpg Accord. I understand the planned U.S. model is only estimated to average in the high 40’s city and 60’s highway.
 
When we were shopping for a new car for my wife, I asked the owner of the Honda dealership about the diesel Accord. She said that she’d take every one they’d give her, but they won’t be importing them until 2009. They’ve been selling them in Europe since March 2004!
I wouldn’t mind driving a 90 mpg Accord. I understand the planned U.S. model is only estimated to average in the high 40’s city and 60’s highway.
"forty mile a gallon and their knees in their chest..Gonna save a lotta gas for all the rest...in a Yugo"
"In a Yugo",By Al Shanklin sung to the tune of "in the ghetto".
 
TWAnr,

Yes I know about the ULSD. The thing is, I can remember my dad b1tching about the crap diesel we had in the states back in the late 70's. Europe has been offering ULSD for years. When we were over there last year, all the stations we went to offered a bio-diesel blend.

The more I think about it the more I am convinced that several issues are at work.

We as a nation like power and do not want to give it up. One look at the prices of Barrett Jackson muscle cars of the 60's and 70's proves that. Look at the cars being produced here in the states today (Viper, 300C, Z06 just too name a few) and then look at the cars manufactured abroad. The large powerful cars manufactured in Europe have taxes so high only the very well off can afford them.

The technology to make fuel efficient safe vehicles has been around for quite some time. My wife has a 95 diesel that makes 35 to the gallon and will hold 5 people comfortably. Same internal size as a 300C.

We are the oil companies golden egg. The fact that the general public seems to be as dumb as a box of rocks seems to make their job much easier. They along with the car manufactures have managed to do away with most public transportation (Look at Los Angeles and what happened to the street cars). Now we are all hooked on cars. We want fancy, fast cars not something that is reliable, safe and fuel efficient. Just look at Csar Gyrene's statement above. We rented an Opel Astra 5 door. 3 people and a butt load of luggage. Nice little car, very fuel efficient and very comfortable (we put over 1000 km on it).

Until america and americans start to accept reality and stop being so bloody arrogant things will not change. People need to start looking at history books and actually pay attention instead of just looking at the pretty pictures. Nothing lasts forever. No world power has lasted more than a few centuries before someone else looked to take their place. Fossil fuels will not last forever. The sooner we start using what we have more efficiently and start looking in earnest for a replacement, the better off we will be. I do not have any children so I am not all that concerned, as most of you who do have kids should be. I am not the one who will have to look my kid in the eyes and give them an answer when they ask why we screwed them over.
 

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