Alright, so my current car (1992 Buick Skylark sedan) gets about 27 Miles Per Gallon (US gallons, not imperial) under my driving methods (I don't exceed 2,000 RPM, don't use A/C or heat, etc.) 27 MPG isn't bad, but I'd like to get something more fuel economical. So I've kind of had my eye on some different car models: the Smart Fortwo, the VW Golf TDI, or maybe an old Geo Metro. All of which get 45+ MPG.
Picture of the Smart Fortwo
Picture of the VolksWagen Golf TDI
Picture of the Geo Metro
Here's what I know:
When the Smart Fortwo was released about seven years ago, just about EVERY country except for the United States (where I live) were the cars released. The US government/EPA wouldn't allow the cars to be released here unless emission-related modifications were made to the car by a qualified company (even though the car got 55 Miles Per Gallon.)
Then of course there's the Geo Metro, the car that got 45-55 MPG. But they stopped making that after 12 years of productions. It was so fuel efficient, it's a wonder that it wasn't banned from ever being used here in the US.
And the VolksWagen TDI's were introduced in 1998, all of them had diesel engines and typically got gas mileage in the 40's and sometimes as high as the mid 50's. As of 2007, no more 2007 (and up) VolksWagen TDI's (except for the Tourareg) will be allowed in the United States. Why? Emissions, of course.
This is what pisses me off:
The EPA told Smart that they weren't allowed to sell their cars in the US because of emissions. Even though the Smart Fortwo gets upwards of 55 MPG (US gallons) on unleaded gas, and 85 MPG for the diesel version of the car.
Then recently the EPA told VolksWagen that until VW re-designed their TDI's engines in regards to emissions (which of course means less gas mileage), they would not be allowed to bring their TDI models (which get 45-52ish in most manuals) to America.
What's funny (actually, extremely aggravating) is that the EPA is SOOOO worried about emissions in cars that efficiently get 45+ Miles Per Gallon. Yet the EPA says NOTHING to ANYONE about vehicles like my old 1987 Ford F150 that I recently sold, that thing got 11 MPG! The EPA hasn't restricted Ford from selling F150's, they haven't restricted Kenworth from making and selling huge semi trucks that get 6 Miles Per Gallon.
The EPA downright REFUSES to allow this to be driven on the roads at 85 MPG:
Yet they say NOTHING about this International CXT which gets 8 MPG:
I'm proud to be an American. But I'm not proud of ANYTHING when it comes to fuel economy in this country.
Picture of the Smart Fortwo
Picture of the VolksWagen Golf TDI
Picture of the Geo Metro
Here's what I know:
When the Smart Fortwo was released about seven years ago, just about EVERY country except for the United States (where I live) were the cars released. The US government/EPA wouldn't allow the cars to be released here unless emission-related modifications were made to the car by a qualified company (even though the car got 55 Miles Per Gallon.)
Then of course there's the Geo Metro, the car that got 45-55 MPG. But they stopped making that after 12 years of productions. It was so fuel efficient, it's a wonder that it wasn't banned from ever being used here in the US.
And the VolksWagen TDI's were introduced in 1998, all of them had diesel engines and typically got gas mileage in the 40's and sometimes as high as the mid 50's. As of 2007, no more 2007 (and up) VolksWagen TDI's (except for the Tourareg) will be allowed in the United States. Why? Emissions, of course.
This is what pisses me off:
The EPA told Smart that they weren't allowed to sell their cars in the US because of emissions. Even though the Smart Fortwo gets upwards of 55 MPG (US gallons) on unleaded gas, and 85 MPG for the diesel version of the car.
Then recently the EPA told VolksWagen that until VW re-designed their TDI's engines in regards to emissions (which of course means less gas mileage), they would not be allowed to bring their TDI models (which get 45-52ish in most manuals) to America.
What's funny (actually, extremely aggravating) is that the EPA is SOOOO worried about emissions in cars that efficiently get 45+ Miles Per Gallon. Yet the EPA says NOTHING to ANYONE about vehicles like my old 1987 Ford F150 that I recently sold, that thing got 11 MPG! The EPA hasn't restricted Ford from selling F150's, they haven't restricted Kenworth from making and selling huge semi trucks that get 6 Miles Per Gallon.
The EPA downright REFUSES to allow this to be driven on the roads at 85 MPG:
Yet they say NOTHING about this International CXT which gets 8 MPG:
I'm proud to be an American. But I'm not proud of ANYTHING when it comes to fuel economy in this country.
