http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/?p=195

Quote :

"According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the average gas mileage for new vehicles sold in the United States has 23.1 miles per gallon (mpg) in 1980 to 24.7 in 2004. This represents a paltry increase of slightly less than 7% over the 25 year period."

10/20/2006 8:55:43 AM

considering how much heavier cars have gotten with all the crash bullshit and sound insulation i'm actually supprised its not worse than it was.

10/20/2006 9:17:32 AM

In 1980 only 20% of vehicles on the road were trucks. Today that figure is like 60%.

It should also be noted that horsepower has dramatically increased without a drop in fuel economy, a marvel in itself. Hell even fucking camrys are coming out of the factory with like 250hp.

[Edited on October 20, 2006 at 11:16 AM. Reason : correction, 270 hp in the 2007 camry se]

10/20/2006 11:14:35 AM

Not just all the crash bullshit and sound insulation, but overall size and power gains as well. Americans in general have been spoiled fucking rotten by advances in power and luxury, and in a race to retain/sway new and existing customers, the automotive industries have been in a dead competition to push power and luxury as key selling issues for new cars.

Add to this that gasoline prices have NOT inflated at the average rate that everything else has, and it becomes obvious that fuel economy (and economy in general) isn't even a major selling point (and in the case of SUVs, not even a selling point at all) anymore.

I remember that, in 1982 (the first year the Nissan Sentra was introduced into the US market--the B11 body), the Sentra came standard with a 1.5 litre 8-valve carbureted engine (the E15), and produced around 70 horsepower. The car weighed around 2000 pounds. And it was entirely feasible to get around 40 miles per gallon (and in some instances as high as 42).

Today's Sentra has a 2 liter engine standard. And it produces 140 horsepower. Curb weight is up to around 2900 lbs. Interestingly enough, fuel economy is around 34 for the manual transmission, and 36 for the CVT transmission (highway mileage).

Granted, the newest Sentra is more on par with yesteryear's Stanza (which became the Altima), and has more room and more appointments than the original B11 Sentra...but that's the point I'm trying to make. Things keep getting bigger, heavier, and more powerful.

What's even more interesting? Nissan's new entry-level model, the Versa, STILL gets worse fuel mileage (not ANY better than the Sentra even though it has a 1.8 liter engine).

I want a goddam diesel Smart Car

10/20/2006 11:28:10 AM

Quote :

"Granted, the newest Sentra is more on par with yesteryear's Stanza (which became the Altima), and has more room and more appointments than the original B11 Sentra...but that's the point I'm trying to make. Things keep getting bigger, heavier, and more powerful."

No doubt. Just like the new Civic is probably bigger than the 80's Accord and the current BMW 3-Series is about the size of the 80's 5-Series.

10/20/2006 12:10:25 PM