OT: how far we've come?, 35 years of non-progress Options

[lapuwali]

Hybrids are the buzzword now, and people marvel at how the latest Civic hybrid gets 50mpg.

Autoweek had a short article on the early Civics, which got 55mpg with a carb. 1.2L, 50hp, 1500lbs. Sure, they were slow, but they were described as still being fun to drive. The way most people drive modern Civics, I doubt they'd notice if they suddenly only had 50hp.

(yes, I know emissions are much better, it's quieter, it crashes better, yada, yada...)

[bd1308]

well look at it this way....

we're taking money out of OUR pockets, and giving it to oil lords in the middle east for something we MUST HAVE.

yeah there's a mileage difference, but you have to look at it this way...

Companies pay people to work, and those people go to the gas station to put gas in thier cars. People in the middle east get the money from the sale of gas(well crude oil which is then refined yada yada) but just in the sale of gas (and some other products--Steel for example) money doesnt go back into the US economy.

If bean farmers made BIODIESEL (indirectly or directly) they could sell it to the gas stations for a profit. Well when people fuel up thier cars, US PEOPLE benefit from this. US people pay US people money for gas. Or steel. It makes sense to me, but i just woke up.

E85 is offered here in KY in one station, and i've yet to try it (exhaust rusts out and rubber FI seals go bad) but if i got those in check i'd love to try it.

b