Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Angel
Agreed... look at my fuel log in my sig (Eco MT). This is with careful driving, but I'm still averaging above the HWY figure of 42 MPG. The combined rating of 33 MPG is the same as the Eco.
The Cruze TD will have all of the Eco's toys, including the active shutters, belly pans, LRR tires etc. Some reports claimed the aero of the TD was even better than the Eco, but I have yet to see any details to back this up.
The TD will weigh more than the Eco. It is a loaded model with an automatic transmission, leather, even more sound deadening than a standard Cruze (the Eco has less), and a urea tank in the spare tire well. There's also no mention of special wheels, so I'm assuming the car has heavy cast wheels like the other Cruze models (the Eco has 17.8lb alcoa forged wheels, 17x7).
This is my fear as well. Very few people go looking to spend $26k on a Cruze, especially those who are looking for fuel savings... people who want a high tech "luxury car" are, unfortunately, not lining up at Chevy dealerships (yet).
My greatest fear is not that GM will give up on diesels, but that other manufacturers will based on GM's experiment. Let's face it; fuel efficiency is not the #1 concern of the average buyer in our markets. At $26k there are MUCH nicer cars available than a Cruze, especially since the Cruze TD LOOKS the same as a base model... they could have at least dressed it up a bit with the LTZ RS body bits to make it look a little better! It doesn't even have fog lights!
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I worked for Gm and specialized in the Cruze :-)
What I know is that automatics sell more pure and simple and they are only looking at the numbers of the many and not the few. So they think they can offset the price difference by going automatic. Personally I would have liked to see a manual option as well however they do have the automatic geared pretty well for fuel economy and the diesel powerplant. I think they will sell but I am unsure just how much. The cruze is appealing to many people but the fact still remains its diesel and here in the states it takes a back seat to gas powered vehicles. Only time will tell and I am looking forward to its debut in the US marketplace.
GH