02-26-2013, 09:42 AM
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#31 (permalink)
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Rat Racer
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Route 16
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I was looking at a Mazda 5 or a Dodge RS (01-07). The Mazda had slightly better mpg rating, the Dodge had every other possible category including price. My wife wanted something newer so we got a Dodge RT (08+). She doesn't care about mpg and gets around 20 combined. She loves it and I still can't believe how much it holds.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sheepdog44
Transmission type Efficiency
Manual neutral engine off.100% @∞MPG <----- Fun Fact.
Manual 1:1 gear ratio .......98%
CVT belt ............................88%
Automatic .........................86%
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02-26-2013, 09:56 AM
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#32 (permalink)
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Do more with less
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: North Eastern Missouri
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I'll leave the key in it along with an address for you to send your donation check!
It is perfect for holding a liner in the back.
Quote:
Originally Posted by arcosine
Dave, I may take you up on your offer, but leave the van behind, It will take 2 or 3 days to ride there.
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“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it.” George Orwell
“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe.
The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed.”
– Noah Webster, 1787
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02-28-2013, 12:36 AM
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#33 (permalink)
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It's all about Diesel
Join Date: Oct 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mechman600
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I always liked the Pontiac Trans Sport. If I could get one for cheap back here I would already have some ideas to take lots of weight off and replace the A/C with an evaporative cooler. Its automatic transmissions kill lots of power, but the manual Getrag 5-speed used in the Chevy Cavalier, Cobalt, Saturn Ion and Astra is not so hard to bolt into.
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02-28-2013, 08:56 AM
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#34 (permalink)
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Master Ecomadman
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Chicago area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr
I always liked the Pontiac Trans Sport. If I could get one for cheap back here I would already have some ideas to take lots of weight off and replace the A/C with an evaporative cooler. Its automatic transmissions kill lots of power, but the manual Getrag 5-speed used in the Chevy Cavalier, Cobalt, Saturn Ion and Astra is not so hard to bolt into.
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Looks aero with that nose. Its got a galvanized space frame and plastic body panels, like the Fiero and Saturn. Dash is too long. Too bad it's a V6. Sitting in the middle of the vehicle, you'd think it would rate good in the crash test, but the dummy's metal foot was severed.
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- Tony
Last edited by arcosine; 02-28-2013 at 09:06 AM..
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03-01-2013, 01:33 AM
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#35 (permalink)
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It's all about Diesel
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arcosine
Its got a galvanized space frame and plastic body panels, like the Fiero and Saturn.
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That's one of its features I like the most.
That's true. Well, at least it has some weight that can be taken away 
Some overseas-market versions had the Oldsmobile Quad-4 engine, bolted to a manual transmission. I've already seen one US-spec repowered with an Iron Duke... |
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03-01-2013, 01:29 PM
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#36 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Indiana
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG
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I'm not sure what a stock Mazda 5 is capable of, but the stick sure gives you a lot more options when it comes to technique.
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Anyone who likes the 5 but wants something used and cheap would do well to check out a 1st gen Saturn Vue. My wife has one with the 2.2 "Ecotec" and a 5sp. She consistantly knocks down 26mpg in mixed in-town driving and I've seen as high as 34 on the highway. 30+ on the road is childsplay from it. With some more extreme eco-driving I think close to 40 is possible.
Just stay FAR away from the auto version (as if that's a major problem here ). |
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03-01-2013, 01:34 PM
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#37 (permalink)
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Hypermiler
Join Date: Dec 2007
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How many seats in the Vue? It's not exactly a minivan.
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11-mile commute: 100 mpg - - - Tank: 90.2 mpg / 1191 miles
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03-01-2013, 01:49 PM
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#38 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NY state
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I wouldn't trust a Caravan / Grand Caravan unless it was a 5 speed. Chrysler put out some craptastic transmissions for a while!
Getting a 5 speed to bolt into the windstart isn't as easy as stated above. The Tauruses with 5 speed transmission used a Yamaha engine, but the transmission on those would only bolt up to the Vulcan 3.0 IIRC.
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03-01-2013, 02:44 PM
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#39 (permalink)
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Rat Racer
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Route 16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Miller88
I wouldn't trust a Caravan / Grand Caravan unless it was a 5 speed. Chrysler put out some craptastic transmissions for a while!
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Yeah, my boss talks about the days when we had a whole wall with transmissions lined up against it. Long time ago- of course, I never would have bought mine without the lifetime service contract. Nowadays the biggest transmission complaint we get is rough shifting from folks who didn't realize that hitting the "Econ" button would actually change something.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by sheepdog44
Transmission type Efficiency
Manual neutral engine off.100% @∞MPG <----- Fun Fact.
Manual 1:1 gear ratio .......98%
CVT belt ............................88%
Automatic .........................86%
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03-01-2013, 02:51 PM
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#40 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ellington, ct
Posts: 830
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Miller88
I wouldn't trust a Caravan / Grand Caravan unless it was a 5 speed. Chrysler put out some craptastic transmissions for a while!
Getting a 5 speed to bolt into the windstart isn't as easy as stated above. The Tauruses with 5 speed transmission used a Yamaha engine, but the transmission on those would only bolt up to the Vulcan 3.0 IIRC.
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Those mopar AOD fwd trannies were horrible, but, they sorted it out sometime in the late 90s-early 00s. I had an 02 GC that shifted like new on its original tranny when I sold it at about 130K.
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