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Robb

(39,665 posts)

12. Americans were not fond of the low horsepower engines.

Reply to tjnite (Original post)

Tue Feb 5, 2013, 12:49 PM

Feb 2013

The current Prius produces something like 120 hp. My 1980 diesel Audi produced about 60, and would regularly get 50 mpg (stick).

But lord help you if you were behind me going uphill. Low speed and a smokescreen; I was universally despised.

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MPGs. What happened? [View all] tjnite Feb 2013 OP

we got addicted to increased size and also increased HP phantom power Feb 2013 #1

Hybrid cars often have small engines rated under 100hp. kentauros Feb 2013 #10

sure, but the total power train output is substantially higher phantom power Feb 2013 #15

Okay, I thought you meant engines only, kentauros Feb 2013 #17

Those 1960s Beetles were around 1600lbs. EOTE Feb 2013 #26

It didn't even have a gas gage, although it did have a nifty little reserve tank. Bandit Feb 2013 #18

Creature comforts, sound deadening and especially electronics had a huge impact kysrsoze Feb 2013 #35

Diesel? Higher particulates, more expensive engines Recursion Feb 2013 #2

I've had three vehicles with diessel engines and I'm definitely not military...just sayin'. nt snappyturtle Feb 2013 #3

I had an awesome diesel Mercedes. Had to push a button on the engine to make it stop running Recursion Feb 2013 #4

Diesels have cleaner emissions tjnite Feb 2013 #6

Lower *carbon* emissions. Higher particulates Recursion Feb 2013 #9

It is a trade-off between the benefits of gasoline vs. diesel. kentauros Feb 2013 #11

Particulates are relatively easy to deal with and Diesel engines are inherently more efficient. Egalitarian Thug Feb 2013 #24

Car manufacturers got caught greatly "overstating" their MPG claims back in the 1970s-1980s... OldDem2012 Feb 2013 #5

Backlash against diesel. Brickbat Feb 2013 #7

Getting better all the time. bluedigger Feb 2013 #8

Americans were not fond of the low horsepower engines. Robb Feb 2013 #12

You needed the smokescreen sharp_stick Feb 2013 #16

"Low speed and a smokescreen; I was universally despised." workinclasszero Feb 2013 #21

Duh duh duh-nah duh-nah duh-nah... Recursion Feb 2013 #27

Vehicle weight, safety features, and ethanol madville Feb 2013 #13

^^^^^^^This Blue_Tires Feb 2013 #25

The C7 should come in at around 3000 lbs. EOTE Feb 2013 #30

I'm in the office now, but in the March '13 C+D interview with the Corvette team Blue_Tires Feb 2013 #32

Ronald Reagan. n/t trackfan Feb 2013 #14

I had a 1981 Plymouth Horizon Miser TC3 in mid-80's, got 45 mpg hwy, 35 city. nt Mnemosyne Feb 2013 #19

Here's a Hummer of a reason PLUS a tax break! think Feb 2013 #20

6,000 lbs? Wow aint_no_life_nowhere Feb 2013 #23

We covered the car show nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #22

EPA tests now report more realistic and lower fuel economy predictions Kolesar Feb 2013 #28

Finishing up an antique Nissan Z (very slowly because money is tight) that gets better mileage Egalitarian Thug Feb 2013 #29

I Had A Black 1984 Turbo That Kicked Ass! HangOnKids Feb 2013 #31

It was an exceptionally well designed and well built car. Egalitarian Thug Feb 2013 #33

Higher safety requirements Higher emissions standards kenny blankenship Feb 2013 #34