intresting article about fuel economy and car weight using a honda accord as example

[Civic Accord Honda]

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009...el-economy.php

thought this was pretty intresting

[Dr_Snooz]

Definitely interesting. Weight reduction is really the holy grail of auto performance. When you lose weight, both MPG and performance improve. With any other mod, you lose one of those. Unfortunately, cars have bulked up since the 3gs were made. Not all of it is bad. New cars boast air bags, ABS, sat nav, stability control and other undeniable safety improvements. Of course, they also boast four wheel drive, dubs and 57 Big Gulp holders. And 0-60 times as low as 5 seconds. Hopefully we will see a lot of improvement again in MPG. It sucks shopping for 20 year old 30 mpg cars because no newer cars get mileage like that.

[Vanilla Sky]

Lighter cars are more fun, too. That's why my Saturn is kinda fun, it's not a pig of a car.

[snoopyloopy]

yea, article says what i've known for awhile. i mean, it's not hard to instead of tuning the engine to get 20 more hp, they tune it to get 5 more mpg on highway. (especially if used in conjunction w/ aero styling of car.)

[stezie]

The newer Accord in Europe is going the right way since they started putting the new diesel engine in it a few years ago. I'd easily get 500 miles of mostly town driving to a tank of fuel and on a motorway journey at 60mph could easily get 650miles to the tank. slightly over 61mpg with sensible driving.

Only had the one proper road trip in my 3g and as far as i remember the fuel light came on after 380miles on mostly motor way.

[2drSE-i]

They just need to put these new cars on a diet. These motors are getting more and more sophisticated, squeezing 30 mpg and 300hp out of a motor the same size (or smaller) than a 5.0 Mustang that made 200 hp and 8 mpg (not real numbers, honestly have no clue.)

Again, using the accord as an example.

1989 Accord (EFI Sedan) = EPA estimated 25/30 mpg, at around 2800 lbs. 120 hp, 112 tq
2009 Accord (4 cyl Sedan) = EPA estimated 22/31 mpg, at around 3230 lbs. 190 hp, 170 tq
2009 Accord (6 cyl Sedan) = EPA Estimated 19/29 mpg, at around 3567 lbs. 271 hp, 251 tq

Now just imagine how quick and efficient these cars would get around if they dropped 600 lbs.


Or, for more fun, imagine how quick our 3geez would be if they had a new motor in them

[greentee76]

They just need to put these new cars on a diet. These motors are getting more and more sophisticated, squeezing 30 mpg and 300hp out of a motor the same size (or smaller) than a 5.0 Mustang that made 200 hp and 8 mpg (not real numbers, honestly have no clue.)

Again, using the accord as an example.

1989 Accord (EFI Sedan) = EPA estimated 25/30 mpg, at around 2800 lbs. 120 hp, 112 tq
2009 Accord (4 cyl Sedan) = EPA estimated 22/31 mpg, at around 3230 lbs. 190 hp, 170 tq
2009 Accord (6 cyl Sedan) = EPA Estimated 19/29 mpg, at around 3567 lbs. 271 hp, 251 tq

Now just imagine how quick and efficient these cars would get around if they dropped 600 lbs.


Or, for more fun, imagine how quick our 3geez would be if they had a new motor in them

I agree entirely, unfortunately you'll have the saftey police breathing down your neck in a heartbeat. Evidently it is a right to not die in an accident you caused because you don't know how to drive.

[2drSE-i]

I agree entirely, unfortunately you'll have the saftey police breathing down your neck in a heartbeat. Evidently it is a right to not die in an accident you caused because you don't know how to drive.

Damn airbags and crumple zones!!!

[Tomisimo]

Damn airbags and crumple zones!!!

3Geez has Crumple Zones!!! both in front and in the rear. and from where i'm sitting being swaping engines in my car, I noticed that the engine designed to go under the car during collision.. So when you crash, crash smart