Why mileage was better in the 80's than now.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:28 pm

Kevin Harvey wrote:

Ha, I am from Jawja. All of those sayings sound familiar.

Fortunately for me, my mother was a Kindergarten teacher. She used to correct us every single time we said something. That thar hooked own fonics stuff relly werks

Well, I agree somewhat with the article. HOWEVER, can you find me a single sports car from before recent years that had over 400hp and go gas mileage in the high 20s if not low 30s? There may be a few, but I recently got 28.6 mpg on the interstate in the 03 Z06 running with the cruise set at 75mph.

you're ruin't dude. :lol:

i agree Kevin, while most cars have become heavier the C5 Z06 got lighter and they get excellent mpgs.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:35 pm

Kevin Harvey wrote:

Well, I agree somewhat with the article. HOWEVER, can you find me a single sports car from before recent years that had over 400hp and go gas mileage in the high 20s if not low 30s? There may be a few, but I recently got 28.6 mpg on the interstate in the 03 Z06 running with the cruise set at 75mph.

Plus "400 HP then" would be significantly fewer now since the HP ratings have also gotten more conservative. Something to be said for a combination of "forced" and "market driven" technology investment. Some of us lived through the doom and gloom of the 60's and 70's (and the SMOG and horrendous highway death rates). Can you imagine the highway death rates with old tech car safety and new tech distractions (cell phones, texting) and traffic volume in so many more places?

Speaking of technology:

Any "insights" other than what a Google search provides on the upcoming Honda CR-Z? The concept looks even stranger than the CRX . . . which sold rather well. One of these days I have to break the Mustang habit. A CR-Z type of car might be kind of neat for a retirement around town car in a few years . . . especially if the stock market doesn't improve a bunch

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:24 pm

DickRasmussen wrote:

Kevin Harvey wrote:

Well, I agree somewhat with the article. HOWEVER, can you find me a single sports car from before recent years that had over 400hp and go gas mileage in the high 20s if not low 30s? There may be a few, but I recently got 28.6 mpg on the interstate in the 03 Z06 running with the cruise set at 75mph.

Plus "400 HP then" would be significantly fewer now since the HP ratings have also gotten more conservative. Something to be said for a combination of "forced" and "market driven" technology investment. Some of us lived through the doom and gloom of the 60's and 70's (and the SMOG and horrendous highway death rates). Can you imagine the highway death rates with old tech car safety and new tech distractions (cell phones, texting) and traffic volume in so many more places?

Speaking of technology:

Any "insights" other than what a Google search provides on the upcoming Honda CR-Z? The concept looks even stranger than the CRX . . . which sold rather well. One of these days I have to break the Mustang habit. A CR-Z type of car might be kind of neat for a retirement around town car in a few years . . . especially if the stock market doesn't improve a bunch

I have the press releases if you want.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2009 8:37 pm

Kevin Harvey wrote:

Well, I agree somewhat with the article. HOWEVER, can you find me a single sports car from before recent years that had over 400hp and go gas mileage in the high 20s if not low 30s? There may be a few, but I recently got 28.6 mpg on the interstate in the 03 Z06 running with the cruise set at 75mph.

The power coupled with gas mileage is dramatically higher today than any time I can recall (I'm 50). With the cruise set on 76mph, my M5 (400hp, 3920lbs) averaged 26.1 mpg on a recent trip to Greensboro from Raleigh, 3 people on board, A/C running, etc. My E90 330i always averages in the low 30 mpg range running in the mid-70mph zone...usually 31.5 to 32.5 mpg. For a 255hp, 3400lb car that is just phenomenal to me.

Mitchell Moore · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 3:11 pm **Posts:** 197

Dustin Fredrickson wrote:

DickRasmussen wrote:

"Cut the lights on/off" is certainly not a Western or Northeastern term

After 10 years in NC, this is the first time I've heard this used. I'm thinking it may just be an "east of I-95" thing.

I don't know if it is till there but the Blue Cross Headquarters in Durham had a sign as you entered the building. " Have you cut your lights out"

George Bright · **Posted:** Sat Oct 17, 2009 9:49 am

Mitchell Moore wrote:

Dustin Fredrickson wrote:

DickRasmussen wrote:

"Cut the lights on/off" is certainly not a Western or Northeastern term

After 10 years in NC, this is the first time I've heard this used. I'm thinking it may just be an "east of I-95" thing.

I don't know if it is till there but the Blue Cross Headquarters in Durham had a sign as you entered the building. " Have you cut your lights out"

Here is a sign at Millbrook High school. They are posted all over the school. The servers and all computers have a virus.

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:28 pm

i dunno man. the old crx was and is a mean track car. the protoge mazda may not have been a rocket, but that is where the 1600cc motor for the miata came from in 1989.while not a missile, it is a decent car.the golf gti. while the sport model certainly, was a good track car in the 80s. our old mg had alot of work ahead of it trying to keep up with the new crx.i know my subaru is a thirsty bandit.. but it is a awd turbo tank.. the general and the toyota are 80s economy cars, and while not powerful.. they do really well where power is not a main priority! 8)

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:54 pm

clinehall wrote:

Spoken from a man driving a Corvette!

The corvette can get 30mpg. Some people consider that an economy car!

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:15 am

Watch discussion split out here...

http://www.thscc.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=9776

MartynWheeler · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 9:30 pm **Posts:** 303

MikeWhitney wrote:

It's also funny -- it's a hobby of mine to spot people on the road with brake lights out or tires obviously low on air -- I chase these people down and try to talk to them at stoplights.

So, am I the only person to have told someone politely that their turn signal was out when I knew damn well they hadn't used it in the first place?

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

MartynWheeler wrote:

So, am I the only person to have told someone politely that their turn signal was out when I knew damn well they hadn't used it in the first place?

Did they understand what turn indicators were?

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