tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2156536327610779049.post5571244968016294683..comments2024-02-23T11:23:45.971-05:00Comments on Lost Motorcyclist: 2011 Ford Fiesta Hatch for Fuel Economy Fans?Lost Motorcyclisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08873504561959138792noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2156536327610779049.post-60380630121850621392011-01-20T10:19:55.546-05:002011-01-20T10:19:55.546-05:00'Your mileage may vary' ... LOL!!
Actuall...'<i>Your mileage may vary</i>' ... LOL!!<br /><br />Actually, the overall results in that <a href="http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/comparison/hybrid-reality/page_4_-_reality_page_4" rel="nofollow">Road and Track</a> article are not surprising - at least to me.<br /><br />For the entire 336 mile (541 Km) tour the TDI turned in an average of 42.7 MPG, which equates to 5.5 l/100Km (significantly better than the EPA's 'combined' rating of 6.9 l/100Km). This is consistent with mileage feedback from TDI owners who generally report higher than EPA rated mileage.<br /><br />On the other hand, the average 54.5 MPG (4.3 l/100Km) for the Prius is only marginally better than the EPA's 4.7 l/100Km combined rating. And the Fiesta's average of 34 MPG (6.9 l/100Km) was almost exactly the EPA's (SFE) rating of 7.1 l/100Km.<br /><br />But I enjoyed following the exploits of the Australian husband and wife team of <a href="http://www.caradvice.com.au/83195/helen-and-john-taylor-worlds-most-fuel-efficient-couple-retire/" rel="nofollow">Helen and John Taylor</a>. They were able to average a certified 67.9 MPG (<b>3.46</b> l/100Km) in a <a href="http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/mileage-champs-break-another-record-in-vw-jetta-tdi/" rel="nofollow">coast to coast</a> drive across the U.S. in a 2009 Jetta TDI - without resorting to any exceptional driving techniques (except for using better than factory tires).<br /> <br />That <b>3.46</b> l/100Km certainly exceeds the EPA's <b>6.9</b> official combined rating ... LOL!<br /><br />'<i>Your mileage may vary</i>' <b>;-)</b>Madeyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593933575568389288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2156536327610779049.post-7121159116790674132011-01-20T08:49:59.841-05:002011-01-20T08:49:59.841-05:00It really is starting to look like the car industr...It really is starting to look like the car industry is deliberately trying to keep the best gas saving cars away from North America. I learned to drive in a car with only 50 hp, and if it had a Fiesta-like 6 speed dual clutch automatic, (instead of a three on the tree) it might have been adequate, even on mountain roads. More than enough on the flatlands like we have in southern Ontario.<br /><br />I'm surprised that 60% of cars in Japan are under 660 cc. No wonder they recently dropped the Honda Civic from the home market.<br /><br />On another topic, I came across an economy test by Road and Track magazine January 2010, where the Prius got the best gas mileage in every situation they tested, including straight 70 mph cruise control for 29.5 miles. They were testing the Prius, the Golf TDI, and a Fiesta. I don't know why the diesel didn't do better on the freeway. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/comparison/hybrid-reality/page_4_-_reality_page_4" rel="nofollow"> Reality - Comparison Test </a><br /><br />I noticed they also tested AC on and AC off and got about a 3 mpg difference. I consider that to be significant enough to shut the AC off, if I had one. Especially easy to do at this time of year.Lost Motorcyclisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08873504561959138792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2156536327610779049.post-38715505984280611492011-01-20T07:21:33.939-05:002011-01-20T07:21:33.939-05:00I expect that there are two primary lessons to be ...I expect that there are two primary lessons to be taken from those EPA lists:<br /><br /><b>·</b> Hybrids are more appropriate for urban drivers, as fuel economy actually decreases in highway driving (regenerative braking),<br /><br /><b>·</b> The smaller the displacement, the better, and preferably with diesel ignition (as the <a href="http://www.dieselnet.com/news/2008/02acea.php" rel="nofollow">Europeans</a> and <a href="http://en.ce.cn/Insight/200911/24/t20091124_20491884.shtml" rel="nofollow">Asians</a> already know, and as you recall from your little Honda).<br /><br />The auto manufacturers have to break the <i>deadly embrace</i> that currently exists between auto sellers and purchasers. The auto manufacturers believe it axiomatic that nothing under 100 BHP will sell in the North American market, and their marketing thrust continues to push larger, less efficient cars, and thereby convincing most North American buyer they need more than they actually do.<br /><br />For example, I'm extremely disappointed that Volkswagen Canada continues to drag its feet on introducing the highly rated <a href="http://www.driving.ca/Preview+2010+Volkswagen+Polo+Highline+diesel/2028812/story.html" rel="nofollow">Polo diesel</a>, with its ratings of <b>3.6</b> l/100Km highway and <b>5.1</b> city ... fuel economy that significantly surpasses that of the highly touted Toyota Prius (at <b>4.6</b> city and <b>4.9</b> highway) and much, much better than the Fiesta SFE (achieving in city driving the Fiesta's highway rating).Madeyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593933575568389288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2156536327610779049.post-7408152763796960272011-01-19T19:25:14.817-05:002011-01-19T19:25:14.817-05:00Our previous car, the Honda Civic VX, that Mary An...Our previous car, the Honda Civic VX, that Mary Ann is still unfairly comparing the Matrix to, was number 6 on the all-time EPA list (combined city/hwy). And its highway rating was better than the #2 Prius.<br /><br />In ten years when we plan to get our next car, I'm hoping all the dead end technology has either proved itself viable or dropped out.Lost Motorcyclisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08873504561959138792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2156536327610779049.post-13503069166954088122011-01-19T16:44:05.060-05:002011-01-19T16:44:05.060-05:00It's interesting to look at the U.S. Dept of E...It's interesting to look at the U.S. Dept of Energy <a href="http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/topten.jsp" rel="nofollow">'Top Ten'</a> lists.<br /><br />For 2011, the top ten are all (with the exception of the smart) hybrids. That figures, I suppose, but I still believe hybrids (especially parallel hybrids) are a transitional technology and a dead end.<br /><br />Also interesting, but again not surprising, is that <b>none</b> of the top ten all time, according to EPA ratings, is North American, and Honda pretty much owns that list.<br /><br />But what I find especially interesting is, that on the user-reported tab, excluding the hybrids, half of the remaining positions are held by the VW TDI. <br /><br />But, then, I suppose TDI owners are more likely to brag about <i>their</i> mileage <b>;-)</b>Madeyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593933575568389288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2156536327610779049.post-63753189675473532072011-01-19T11:43:47.232-05:002011-01-19T11:43:47.232-05:00Corrections, or at least questions. Ford says the...Corrections, or at least questions. Ford says the SFE package adds 3 mpg, the 6 speed auto adds two mpg.<br /><br />Also, one owner reports that this car's instruments do track average mpg, which is resettable.<br /><br /><a href="http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/2011-ford-fiesta-sfe-29-city-40-hwy-13408-4.html" rel="nofollow"> Ecomodder </a>Lost Motorcyclisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08873504561959138792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2156536327610779049.post-16172772401137426152011-01-18T13:26:39.276-05:002011-01-18T13:26:39.276-05:00The 'official' Natural Resources Canada ra...The 'official' Natural Resources Canada <a href="http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/tools/fuel-consumption-guide/fuel-consumption-guide.cfm" rel="nofollow">rating</a> for the Fiesta SFE is <b>4.9</b> l/100Km highway and <b>6.8</b> city. As you mention, that is with the SFE ('Super Fuel Economy') package.<br /><br />However, the U.S. Department of Energy <a href="http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm" rel="nofollow">ratings</a> are much less impressive: <b>5.9</b> highway and <b>8.1</b> city. <br /><br />As of 2008, the Americans revised their testing methodology to make it more realistic, adding more acceleration loads, air-conditioner use and colder outside temperatures. So, until the Canadian test methodologies are updated, I rely more on the U.S. numbers (we also have 'colder outside temperatures' here in Canada). <br /><br />For example, in shopping for my 2010 Golf TDI last year (with a fuel consumption readout on the dash!) I assumed that the U.S. ratings of <b>5.7-7.8</b> (better than the 2011 Fiesta SFE, by the way) would be closer to my <i>actual</i> results than the Canadian rating of <b>4.6-6.7</b>. (In fact my results are somewhere in between those two sets.)<br /><br />Although the Canadian ratings are useful for 'comparative' purposes, <i><b>your mileage may vary</b></i> considerably - especially in 'colder outside temperatures.' <b>;-)</b>Madeyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593933575568389288noreply@blogger.com