Just for Fun, Edumacate Me (On going)

[KarlCarrera]

Here's the question, (and I think I know the answer, but what the He**)

Long ago, I owned a 1972-3 Datsun 1200 "Fastback"........Why was I able to achieve, on a used car, over 50 mpg in 1977-78 at 65-70mph on un-leaded fuel with 60,000 on the clock, and todays cars think that 40-45 is a he** of an achievement? I know weight, and performance have increased dramatically but WOW. Even the Hybrid's at this rating think they have something special.
This is early 70's technology with a carburetor, granted few (if any) creature comforts in the car, but for a daily driver it worked well.
Seems as though we have added alot of Crap (and weight) that alot of us don't need. I can read a map, the gauges, and the odometer.

Just a Question
88 Targa
Karl

[dentist90]

Maybe your math was bad back in the 70's and you weren't really getting 50mpg?

Seriously, even the Honda Civic cvcc 1200 only boasted 30mpg hwy EPA in 1978. Cars didn't come much smaller than that. Your figure sounds more like motorcyle mileage.

edit: just found a Datsun enthusiast site where a B110 coupe owner claims 38mpg hwy. This is still pretty good. I would have to think that the 1.2L motor, 2100lb weight and 9sec 0-60 time would contribute to such good mileage.

[idontknow]

Wasn't the EPAs mpg rating based on calculations involving engine size and oil capacity?

1981 Rabbit 5 speed got 42/56 mpg EPA city/highway. Not too shabby though it was diesel.

[KarlCarrera]

Dentist

You could be absolutely right. But if you fill it up till it "clicks" check the odometer, drive it, fill it up, and check the odometer, gallons divided by miles should equal mpg. Still using the same formula and the 911 is getting 27 on the highway.

Your right, my 71 Yamaha 650 twin didn't do a whole lot better.

Shoot, I got 38 mpg on a 94 Jetta (5 sp, gas) over a 600 mile trip.... My last speeding ticket as well,... 89 in a 75.

idontknow,...... about the EPA ratings, but a brother-in-law has a 2002 Golf diesel, 5-sp, over 100,000 miles and highway mpg is regularly around 50.

Is it mostly the weight, and performance? Considering both, the current mpg is admirable but....


Just for fun
Karl
88 Targa

[dentist90]

Maybe gallons were bigger back in the day, eh?

All I remember about my old cars is not having enough $$ for gas!

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by dentist90

Maybe gallons were bigger back in the day, eh?

All I remember about my old cars is not having enough $$ for gas!

The gallons was denser (kinda like bigger) back in the day an' gave more farpower.

The gallons is less denser today cause of the global warming got their mollycules all active an' pushy so they ain't room for as many in the gallon...sooo, less farpower and miles...is how I sees it.

Damn global warming.

[KarlCarrera]

Yep, Maybe so.

I thought $10 for the week would kill me. Had alot of additional expenses back then as well. HA

Karl
88 targa

[Racerbvd]

Don't forget the crap like ethanol(speeling, sick & tired today) killing gas mileage. A friends old GMC motor coach just caught fire yesterday and the mech thinks because of it's age, that might have been park of the cause (the kept it fully maintained too)
I know my 81 Rabbit diesel pick up averaged 45 MPG, loaded with Fuchs..
If I didn't already have so many cars, I would love another one, but since I'm still not driving for Med reasons, doesn't really matter.. If I could only hold enough in a VW, I would have kept it..

I thought $10 for the week would kill me. Had alot of additional expenses back then as well. HA

I went from $10 a every few weeks in the VW to a full size Chevy X-tra cab with long bed & 40 gallon tank, wanna talk about a change....

[porsche4life]

Byron those wheels are worth more than that truck.

[sammyg2]

I drove a datsun B-210 for a while way back when, it got 35 in the city and a real 40 on the highway.
Never got close to 50 mpg tho.

Cars nowadays are very heavy. Crumple zones, air bags, safety equipment, all kinds of crash tests, etc have added lots of extra weight to cars. Thanks to the lawyers.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by dentist90

Maybe your math was bad back in the 70's and you weren't really getting 50mpg?

Seriously, even the Honda Civic cvcc 1200 only boasted 30mpg hwy EPA in 1978. Cars didn't come much smaller than that. Your figure sounds more like motorcyle mileage.

edit: just found a Datsun enthusiast site where a B110 coupe owner claims 38mpg hwy. This is still pretty good. I would have to think that the 1.2L motor, 2100lb weight and 9sec 0-60 time would contribute to such good mileage.

I drove my 1978 Datsun B210 a couple of round trips per year between Texas and NY. It would get 39 mpg actual on the highway. It had a ~65hp 1.6l engine, a good low drag shape, skinny tires, and weighed 1900lbs empty. I expect that if the carb had been replaced with a modern FI system, it would have done 40+ mpg.

Accelleration was poor. Max speed was about 80 mph, and the car felt like it would come apart. 70-75 was the maximum safe cruising speed.

[KarlCarrera]

Thanks guys!

I think the B210 was quit a step up from the MASSIVE 1200. HeHe
Your right, I'm sure the increased weight is a huge factor (the 1200 couldn't have weighed more than 1900lbs, as is the gas (ethanol), and the increases in performance.

Byron, you need to get better bud.

Thanks
Karl
88 Targa

[john70t]

Quote: "ethanol(speeling, sick & tired today) killing gas mileage.
I know my 81 Rabbit diesel pick up averaged 45 MPG,"..............." loaded with Fuchs.. "