Ford, bring your fuel-sippers stateside!!!

[MrFishingToughGuy]

Wondering if someone with more extensive knowledge of the reasoning behind this can help me out...

Why doesn't Ford bring its small TDi motors back here to the US? Are they not emissions-compliant (seems like they would be)? Was enjoying myself today until I happened upon Ford's UK site and discovered that both the international Focus and Fiesta are available with 1.4L & 1.6L TDi engines that achieve well in excess of 60 mpg combined city/highway ("combined cycle").

Stop giving us the excuse that the technology is not yet production-worthy or that we need to pursue hybrid technology more aggressively. Criminy, our hybrids here in the US don't come CLOSE to these diesel fuel engines!!! Even the gasoline-powered motors achieve better than 40 mpg combined!

http://www.ford.co.uk/ie/fiesta/co2_...diesel/-/-/-/-

Of course, maybe when our fuel prices approach 10 bucks a gallon (what's that, a year or two off?) we might see these cars over here... rant over.

Marty

[PanFisher]

Now come on Marty - You know Ford is NOT going to give up their kickback from the gas companies.

For heavens sake now - get real !!!

[Normand]

Wondering if someone with more extensive knowledge of the reasoning behind this can help me out...

Why doesn't Ford bring its small TDi motors back here to the US? Are they not emissions-compliant (seems like they would be)? Was enjoying myself today until I happened upon Ford's UK site and discovered that both the international Focus and Fiesta are available with 1.4L & 1.6L TDi engines that achieve well in excess of 60 mpg combined city/highway ("combined cycle").

Stop giving us the excuse that the technology is not yet production-worthy or that we need to pursue hybrid technology more aggressively. Criminy, our hybrids here in the US don't come CLOSE to these diesel fuel engines!!! Even the gasoline-powered motors achieve better than 40 mpg combined!

http://www.ford.co.uk/ie/fiesta/co2_...diesel/-/-/-/-

Of course, maybe when our fuel prices approach 10 bucks a gallon (what's that, a year or two off?) we might see these cars over here... rant over.

Marty

are u willing to give up your gas guzzlers for a diesel rollerskate??

[Clay]

My guess is that it probably has to do with either safety issues or standards or emission ratings on that vehicle as it is produced now.

GM is in the same boat. I just read where the Yukon XL sales are down 39% over last year. This is the GM version of the Chevey Suburban. Big surprise there huh? The new Volt has been recently given the go ahead for production, but there is more to saying "let's built it" than flipping a switch and it will probably be 2010 or after before it hits the street. The Volt is Chevy's electric car.

Personally I would like a car that get's 35 mpg, but for the cost of a new vehicle at $25K I can put a lot of gas in my car that gets 25 mpg. I'm just venting frustration because the oil speculation is effecting many people's livelyhood. I believe it is the people buying oil futures that are driving up the price more than it is the actual cost of the oil itself. I don't have any answers, but I sure am pissed off.

Rick

[dudley]

Use to have a 3 cylinder Geo Metro...made by Suzuki
52 mpg
They were so popular that even now there's a commercial on TV thats whole premise to to poke fun at them

[MrFishingToughGuy]

True, when the marriage between Detroit and the oil industry is over one day, we'll all be better off for it. Then again I figure by then we'll all be flying around with jet-packs, too.

FWIW we drive a MINI Cooper S and a Civic. So for all intents and purposes we're already on "rollerskates" LOL Never had and never will have a gas guzzler - even with our 3 dogs. My parents believed in carting me and my 6 siblings around in a VW bus, and then a station wagons. So the blob SUVs out there just ain't in my Yankee blood!

Marty

[nighthawk]

The new Fiesta is here:

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...ord-fiesta.htm

If this car runs a 125-140 horsepower engine coupled to a five speed manual not only should it exceed 40+ m.p.g. but could get you a serious speeding ticket too.

I currently drive a Ford ZX2 (Escort) :







I added the Bomz Racing Short Ram Intake, a Pace Setter catalytic converter back exhaust, MSD High Output Coil Pack, Massive Speed 8mm Superconductor Plug Wires and Autolite Iridium XP spark plugs. I also run Mobile 1 full synthetic 15,000 mile oil and change just the oil filter every 3,000 miles. Full oil change at 15,000 miles.

This car is quick, every bit as fast as my 1964 Mustang H.O. 289 4v, and gets 31-37 m.p.g. depending on how "hard" I drive her. Went from 130 horsepower to over 140 horsepower too.

In it's original configuration the car was still very quick and they handle great. The modifications were done only because I wanted to do them except for the exhaust. I had a leaking exhaust pipe and figured if I had to spend over $300 for a o.e.m. exhaust I would put out the $260 for the better high performance exhaust. Let that engine breathe and boosted torque as well as an increase in m.p.g. The only thing I wish it had was the standard 5 speed transmission.

There are plenty of the Escort ZX2 and 3rd-4th generation Escorts out there that won't break the bank, will save you on insurance and are miserly on gas. The ZX2 uses a bit more gas, normally 31-35 m.p.g. vs. 35-40 m.p.g. of the standard escort, but has enough power to get you both out of and into trouble. Oh, those mileage figures are in a 50/50 mix of city/highway driving.

Well, there are plenty of these cars out there to be had along with the Chevrolet Cavalier, Chevrolet Cobalt, Dodge Neon, Ford Focus, Toyota Priest, Mazda Protege and etc... Don't let miles in excess of 100,000 put you off either. These are all based on Japanese or German chassis/drive-train. As long as they have been maintained you can get 200,000-300,000 easily out of them. I paid $5,500 for my ZX2 with 66,000 miles on it and I love it.

[Marco]

It's just unbelievable how much "factual" info is expounded here regarding oil companies ( BIG oil), Detroit and other conspiracies. There's only ONE solution, tax them into submission. That'll surely solve the problem. Oh, and I almost forgot the windfall profit tax. Remove ALL incentive for them to operate gas stations and sell the stuff. Buy Citgo. Chavez can use the money to laugh at us and drill just off OUR shores where WE won't drill for fear of harming the environment. To all who are in a daze as to what to do with these RISING (clue "rising") oil prices , BUY OIL STOCKS instead of your Sage ZXXZLP10000 ( you probably have enough of them anyhow). Here's another little recognized FACT, Oil is a commodity which is traded worldwide. It's price is directly proportional to demand and an anticipation for that demand ( futures). The ONLY way oil prices will come down is if demand WORLDWIDE comes down and with China entering, with GIANT steps, into the global economy, THAT ain't about to happen. Someone PLEASE tell sen. Dick Turbin to shut his political posturing face about the price og gasoline. There "AIN'T no" local solutions except for tapping our OWN reserves. ( But even THEN, why should oil companies sell THAT oil to us at a discount from the world price?)
End of rant. ( first ever)

Mark

[MrFishingToughGuy]

I'd be careful about making a statement like "buy oil stocks." You would blow your cerebral cortex if you knew how many oil companies are paying dividends not from their own profits, but from LOANS (clue "the money isn't theirs").

All I'm saying is that there are existing technologies that will blow the pants off our 40+ mpg Civic and 35+ mpg MINI (which, with a 15% supercharger reduction pulley, 2.5" exhaust, K&N "hot air" intake, NGK Iridium plugs and Kingsborne wires making - at last dyno test - nearly 190 hp), they're just not accessible to us here in the US. Yet. Like I said before, maybe it will take $10/gallon gas to do it. It would be akin to paying less than $2.50 per gallon of gasoline again - getting 2-3 times more than the national average for fuel economy on $5/gallon diesel fuel (i.e. do the math).

Don't forget to read through the guidelines for posting in this forum. The last thing we need is political barb-trading in what could be some sort of reasonable discussion. Thank you.

Marty

[danbob]

Pictured here is my DREAM TRUCK. It's not available in the USA, this one was in Nicaragua. If I can ever find one in the USA, consider it sold. This one was likely made in Brazil.

It's made by Land Rover, called the Defender, and sports a small but torquey 4-cyl diesel that sips fuel rather than guzzling it. Aluminum body work. Extreme heavy duty off-road everything, from suspension to drivetrain to brakes. Nice interior.

The USA version was mucked up in all the wrong places --- big V8 petrol engine, SUV version only (no pickup), air conditioning (gimme a break...what a waste of fuel and weight), different lighting scheme, and such. It's demise in the US was mostly due to the fact it could not be fitted with airbags to meet new US laws. First it was airbags....next it'll be reverse gear backup video cameras and heads up displays and night vision and dozing driver alerts that are required to meet US standards.

Nissan also makes a similar truck, with sheet steel bodywork instead of aluminum. Also not available in the USA.

I consider it a crime that this truck never made it to the US in its original, great diesel mileage format. I don't need the GUVMINT to protect me from a crash on the road....my slow, careful and defensive driving has done the trick for me so far (sorry if you had to pass me on the interstate!).

End of rant! DANBOB