OT: 1984 Honda CRX 1.5 - 67 mpg Options

[Elliot_Cannon]

All EV1s sold by Saturn were on Lease, and they were all collected by GM when the lease was up. They're sitting in a huge lot right now collecting dust. They were an experiment.

My take: a 65 mpg car would not sell. Such cars are loud, boring, slow, dont have creature comforts, and (most importantly) dont yield a big profit for the automakers. A big car with lots of options and a big sticker price will make more money per car then a cheaper alternative. Lee Iococa makes a really good description of it in his autobiography. Its basically the reason companies like Cadillac are in business.

I totally agree about the bigger profit for bigger more expensive cars. That's why Porsche will never build another car like the 914.

Elliot

[zymurgist]

I totally agree about the bigger profit for bigger more expensive cars. That's why Porsche will never build another car like the 914.

I suspect that's what happened to the MR-2 Spyder as well. No profit in it at that price point. Lotus can still sell Elises because they are charging roughly twice the price that Toyota did.

[MattR]

I totally agree about the bigger profit for bigger more expensive cars. That's why Porsche will never build another car like the 914.

Elliot

No, Porsche just stopped building rusty shitboxes in the 80s after the 944... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


I was trying to figure out why no car company had an inexpensive roadster, and I realized; all of us that want a loud, annoying, high maintence roadster already have one! There are so many old cars to go around it just isnt profitable for a company to design and tool up for a modern old car for such a small audience.

[Mr.C]

I am a bio-diesel wanna be. That is why I have Unkle Tyrone, my 75 MBZ. I am kinda pissed that the TDI stuff can not even be sold in some states.

Diesel must be worser than gas because you can see it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/jerkit.gif)

I met a bio diesel guy the other day and said he'd sell me a drum for $100. Seems like a good deal considering diesel is over $3 here.

[grantsfo]

I am a bio-diesel wanna be. That is why I have Unkle Tyrone, my 75 MBZ. I am kinda pissed that the TDI stuff can not even be sold in some states.

Diesel must be worser than gas because you can see it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/jerkit.gif)

I met a bio diesel guy the other day and said he'd sell me a drum for $100. Seems like a good deal considering diesel is over $3 here.

We have a station here in Santa Cruz that sells bio diesel now. I will have to check pricing one of these days.

[marks914]

The reason those 80s CRXs, Colts, and Fxs got such great mileage was the weight. Today's safety standards really increse the weight. Rember too that those cars usually didn't have A/C,Pwr windows, etc.
More power and weight robbing items.
Those are items that consumers want, and drive the MPG lower, incrementally.

Hybrids are not the answer, Less amenities, smaller cars, and alternative fuels (and by alternative I am meaning ethanol, diesel, biodiesel)are the answers.

Believe it or not I am an automotive professional.

Mark

[marks914]

I totally agree about the bigger profit for bigger more expensive cars. That's why Porsche will never build another car like the 914.

Elliot

No, Porsche just stopped building rusty shitboxes in the 80s after the 944... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


I was trying to figure out why no car company had an inexpensive roadster, and I realized; all of us that want a loud, annoying, high maintence roadster already have one! There are so many old cars to go around it just isnt profitable for a company to design and tool up for a modern old car for such a small audience.

Car companes do not make money on 2 seaters,
Most loose money
espescially if they are lower cost.

mark

[newto914s]

All EV1s sold by Saturn were on Lease, and they were all collected by GM when the lease was up. They're sitting in a huge lot right now collecting dust. They were an experiment.

Their is documentaly coming out soon(might be in NY and LA now) about what happened to the EV1s. They are not sitting in a warehouse. After GM collected them they crushed and shread them. 4000 people on waiting lists to buy them, and GM destroys them. Makes you wonder how they could be in financial trouble (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif)
Also a lot of the technology developed by us(USA) and used in these first EV1s. Japan took back home and eventually implimented in their hybrids.
How could this happen?
F-ed up American Corperate culture & the influance of Big Oil maybe
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[Thack]

[I was trying to figure out why no car company had an inexpensive roadster]

How about the Saturn Sky or Pontiac Solstice? Is $25K inexspensive?

[Brett W]

My 1990 Civic makes 140hp and I measured 45.7 MPG on my last highway trip and 32.0 mpg on my last all city tank of fuel. I could have AC if I wasn't making room for a big turbo and intercooler setup

My car weighs 2440 lbs with m, a tool bag and a full tank of fuel. It doesn't have power windows, door locks, but it does have a power sun roof, rear defrost, etc.

Now this car is not the best car for some people but I see many drivers on the road that could use a car like this very well. Plenty of power, room and excellent gas mileage. It handles great also. There is no reason why one driver needs to drive a big ass suburban on a daily basis. I can understand having one for certain occasions but not the daily grind into work.

Until Americans start acting more responsibly, socially and environmentally then nothing will change.

[marks914]

[I was trying to figure out why no car company had an inexpensive roadster]

How about the Saturn Sky or Pontiac Solstice? Is $25K inexspensive?

I don't think GM makes any money on these vehicles, just too low of a run.

Mark

[newto914s]

My 1990 Civic makes 140hp and I measured 45.7 MPG on my last highway trip and 32.0 mpg on my last all city tank of fuel. I could have AC if I wasn't making room for a big turbo and intercooler setup

Is that one of the VF models that shut down two cylinders(of 4) at cruz?

Until Americans start acting more responsibly, socially and environmentally then nothing will change.

Ouch! but abosolutly dead on. I'm probably going to buy a diesel Rabbit very soon. The teener is working great as a DD for the summer so I don't really need the rabbit, but I want to be ready for when gas hits $5

[MBowman325]

Their is documentaly coming out soon(might be in NY and LA now) about what happened to the EV1s. They are not sitting in a warehouse. After GM collected them they crushed and shread them. 4000 people on waiting lists to buy them, and GM destroys them. Makes you wonder how they could be in financial trouble

GM seems to take great pleasure in that for some strange reason. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Or at least you'd think they did with the number of times they've done it over the past twenty years.

The Pontiac Solstice and the Chrysler Crossfire look like some neat cars. The former may be the only car I'd buy from GM right now. Talked to an old Impala owner, and he wasn't impressed with the Crossfire, though i don't recall why. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) I've not driven either one enough to say much beyond comment on what I recall of the looks.

[Brett W]

s that one of the VF models that shut down two cylinders(of 4) at cruz?

No it is an Si with the SOHC Vtec engine from a 95 Si. The engine is built for boost so no big lumpy cams and lots of compression. The car is the heavier of the EF series civics.

I have a programable ECU so I can fine tune the engine for great mileage. Now I am running very lean at a cruise. Great for mileage but rough if you have emissions inspections. I expect to get at least 30 in town boosted and 37 on the highway. 300+ Hp and good mileage.

TOO bad I have to sweat like a MOFO in the summer. The price we pay for performance. I really want something rear wheel drive (read, A 914)

I would look to something biodesiel powered. VW has a really bad quality reputation right now. I really would like to look more closely at Ethanol. If I could distill my own that would be great. It may not be the end all solution but it could be a possibilty for some.

[914rrr]

My 1990 Civic makes 140hp and I measured 45.7 MPG on my last highway trip and 32.0 mpg on my last all city tank of fuel. I could have AC if I wasn't making room for a big turbo and intercooler setup

Is that one of the VF models that shut down two cylinders(of 4) at cruz?

Until Americans start acting more responsibly, socially and environmentally then nothing will change.

Ouch! but abosolutly dead on. I'm probably going to buy a diesel Rabbit very soon. The teener is working great as a DD for the summer so I don't really need the rabbit, but I want to be ready for when gas hits $5

Good luck in your search. Problem is..you're a bit late in picking up a Rabbit, or just about any used diesel car (or truck). I sold my Rabbit pickup for over $5000 a year ago w/ 150,000 miles on it. A really clean 80's Benz 300D Turbo Diesel just sold on Evilbay for over $10K. Results not typical, but it is getting crazy! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I'm still kicking myself for selling several used 96-97 VW Passat TDI's a couple of years ago (before they got popular). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/alfred.gif) It does help that I usually made good money on them (typically $2-4k profit per car).

I just picked up a 84 Benz 300D Turbo diesel for $2300 and I love it! Automatic, AC, Cruise, PW, PDL, new tires and brakes. Handles / rides great and decent MPG (25ish). I want to eventually do the WVO or SVO thing, and there is bio-diesel available in the area.

I STILL don't understand why VW won't sell the diesel Lupo here! They could sell jillions of them! And whatever happend to the diesel electric hybrid that was supposed to power the New Beetle when it was a prototype? I know the diesel fuel here is crap, but that will change soon, and the diesel car floodgates will open. The big three (and VW) will crap themselves when Honda starts selling their diesels here.

[newto914s]

Good luck in your search. Problem is..you're a bit late in picking up a Rabbit, or just about any used diesel car (or truck).

Dude, I know. I've been watching ebay and the prices for anything fuel efficient has gone through the roof. It's so high on some cars, they no longer make financial sence. I bought a nice, one owner Geo metro 4 years ago for $500. I see similar cars now going for $2000. Which that car simply is not worth.

The big three (and VW) will crap themselves when Honda starts selling their diesels here.

Honda Diesel. That sounds like 100mpg! or dam close.

[BMartin914]

Good luck in your search. Problem is..you're a bit late in picking up a Rabbit, or just about any used diesel car (or truck). I sold my Rabbit pickup for over $5000 a year ago w/ 150,000 miles on it. A really clean 80's Benz 300D Turbo Diesel just sold on Evilbay for over $10K. Results not typical, but it is getting crazy! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Very true. But they're still out there...

I just picked up a pair of complete diesel Caddy pickups for next to nothing.

Planning to sell one and make the other a driver.