Is the US finally ready for fuel efficient cars?

Question

Here's some Chevy's in the UK

http://www.chevrolet.co.uk/index.html

The little Matiz gets about 55 mpg highway US gallons.

You probably recognize the Kalos as the Chevy Aveo here.

The Lacetti is the Chevy Optima in Canada and Suzuki Forenza and Reno in the USA. In the UK, 40 mpg highway for these cars which are considered "family" cars.

My brother lives there and has one of the most common cars there, the Ford Fiesta

http://www.ford.co.uk/ns7/all_cars/-/-/-/-/-/-

It's a diesel and gets about 58 mpg highway. It does 0-62 in about 11 seconds, which is faster than many US subcompacts yet far superior MPG. If he chose gas, he'd get about 40 mpg and similar acceleration.

I'm ready for 40-50+ mpg. Are you? Are you so personally insecure that you need a large vehicle to prove you are a "real man"?

Answer 1

If you lived in England where petrol is heavily taxed & costs the equivalent of $20 per English gallon [ slightly larger than American Gallon]  70% of new cars sold are now diesel. My Saab 9.3  Diesel gets over 50mpg on long runs and 40+ on short urban journeys.

My wife has a Smart 4/2 which uses even less although it has an auto.gearbox.

Answer 2

It's sad and pathetic that the U.S. has such big trucks that suck down fuel. No, I do not need a big vehicle with a 300 hp V8 to prove I'm a man. That's for my woman to decide.

In 2009, Chevrolet will offer the Volt. It's 100% battery vehicle. Sadly, it will have a 40 mile range. What really chaps my butt is the lack of 4cyl diesels avalible everywhere else, but not in the U.S. Sure VW has a couple you can buy, but that's it. There was a 4cyl diesel Jeep Liberty offered in 2005-6. But it was pricey and avalible only in 4wd. That extra weight made it get crappy mpg's.

But, on a happy note, many cars are coming on the market that are E85 capable. That's good, but they are putting them only with V6 & V8 engines. But the cars are heavy so they still get crappy mpg's. Leaving no 4cyl E85 cars avalible. So what's the point.

Back to the big truck issue; I've seen it so many times. A scrawny 100 lb woman getting out of a huge SUV and she's not carrying anything but herself. She puts in $120 worth of fuel. It's like throwing money to the oil rich arabs and giant fuel manufacturers. I hope people realize what it is they are doing. I've also seen plenty of people buy those giant trucks and put so much ghetto bling bling on them for again, no reason.

For the record, I own a 2007 Chevy Impala V6. It gets 29-30mpg easily. But I admit, I could have gotten something more fuel efficient. And next year when fuel in the U.S. is $4/gal, I will. I just hope there are new diesels avalible. The big 3 makers here say there will be. We'll see.

Answer 3

i truly hope and pray the  trend in the  u s  is going to  electric cars and  wind power at each home to recharge the batterys  ready to say  good by to oil prices

Answer 4

Bravo.My friend.

The Doc says.   I live in the UK and drive a 7 seat car (Ford S Max)   I get just under 50 uk mpg and its a big and macho car.

WAKE UP USA. you dont need massive gas dumping cars to look good and have a good time. Trust me. Buy a British Ford (built in Belgium)