3-Cyl. Passat Illustrates ‘Extreme Downsizing’

[Daox]

Well, the Passat weighs more like 3500 lbs. So, its not a far cry from 2x your Echo's weight. Second, cD is only part of the equation. cD times frontal area gives you the actual drag of the car. So, even if the Passat and Echo have the same cD, the Passat is physically larger so the frontal area is larger which means the overall drag is higher.

So, to answer your question, yes, the smaller engine would get better mileage in the Echo.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by katiep

Let me preface this with how I think 40mpg is awesome and great since it's a HUGE improvement over most of the cars on the road!!

Those are 40mpg on the unrealistic EU cycle.
It wouldn't get a 40 mpg rating from the EPA.


But it would get considerably better FE in a lighter car, with longer gearing.

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by katiep

<stuff about engine swap>
I know other parts of the car come into play here.

Especially when different car companies and vehicle frames are involved. As an intellectual exercise, OK, but 'in real life' ... OWCH!

• motor mounts
• transmission/transaxle
• steering linkage
• computer(s) and wiring harnesses
• transaxle shifter and parking pawl
• accelerator cable vs. new engine
• half-shafts from transaxle to wheels
• suspension points for MacPherson struts

It would be unbelievably complicated and expensive. But you have a Chevy now so I'm curious about why speculate about a 2000 Echo?

It might be easier to find a used Prius or Honda hybrid and start with an integrated system that user reports already show better than 40 MPG including city driving.

Bob Wilson

[katiep]

Originally Posted by euromodder

Those are 40mpg on the unrealistic EU cycle.
It wouldn't get a 40 mpg rating from the EPA.


But it would get considerably better FE in a lighter car, with longer gearing.

Well THANKS for bursting my bubble!

Originally Posted by bwilson4web

Especially when different car companies and vehicle frames are involved. As an intellectual exercise, OK, but 'in real life' ... OWCH!

• motor mounts
• transmission/transaxle
• steering linkage
• computer(s) and wiring harnesses
• transaxle shifter and parking pawl
• accelerator cable vs. new engine
• half-shafts from transaxle to wheels
• suspension points for MacPherson struts

It would be unbelievably complicated and expensive. But you have a Chevy now so I'm curious about why speculate about a 2000 Echo?

It might be easier to find a used Prius or Honda hybrid and start with an integrated system that user reports already show better than 40 MPG including city driving.

Bob Wilson

It *was* more of an intellectual exercise. The Echo was my first car and I have a Chevy now. I like to keep a car as long as I can, and I'm going back and forth on whether to keep replacing parts in my current one until the end of time until a really fuel efficient car comes out that I feel comfortable buying OR when my engine fails, just getting something like an Insight or Prius.

And that's the reason I've become interested in the general idea of putting a different engine in a car. Half of it is fun speculation and reading neat stories and imagining I knew everything about engines lol aaaaaand the other half is curiosity with a more practical spin. Okay maybe it's more of an 80/20 split.

Anyway, would ALL those things on your list need to be replaced with a new engine in any case, or just when different companies are involved? The more I consider the practical part of it, the more I remind myself that it's easier and cheaper to get a different car.