Efficiency Challenge (Volvo Vs. Escort)
 

Hey everybody.

Some friends and I are heading down to Delaware this week for a camping trip. There are enough people going that we need two cars, so I challenged the other (Richard) to see who could get the best mileage. It's approx. 325 miles one way.

Both cars have a good bit of temporary mods for the trip. Hooray for tape!

My car, it's a 1979 Volvo 245, with a 2.4 liter straight six turbo diesel engine installed, with a 4 speed /w overdrive. Pretty modified.

* Would post a picture but I don't have the post count *

My Friend Richards car, a 2000 something Ford Focus ZX2. Pretty stock.

* Would post a picture but I don't have the post count *

My car will be at a 20% handicap because it's diesel powered, whereas Richards is not. Coincidentally this matches Richard and I’s cars to approximately what they normally get mileage wise. Should be a pretty close competition.

We leave tomorrow, and I am really excited. About the whole trip definitely, but very much about this challenge. I'll let you know how it turns out.

-Eli

go volvo go.

..but if the escort cheats and lets you tow it....
I would say the escort would win then. :rolleyes:

I may be mistaken but I believe a ZX2 is an Escort and a ZX3 is a Focus.
JJ

So what happened? what mpg does the Volvo usually get? The Ford prob has less drag and lighter by far. I'm pulling for the Volvo just because that sounds cool as SH**!!!

Eli keep the speed low on the interstate and feather touch on the gas!! May be do some drafting!! GOOD LUCK!!

Although the old volvos are pretty badass, my money has to go for the ZX2. There was an older guy with a ZX2 pretty much bone stock that nearly beat my Civic w/ all its aero and WAI and instrumentation at the last the last AMEC run. They have a nice aero shape and apparently an insane margin for improvement over their EPA MPG measurement.

Go ZX2 Go!

I believe is was a Red ZX2 SR that nearly beat you. They came with a much better PCM than the standard ZX2. The EPA for the ZX2 was only 25mpg combined. As you can see by my average and percnetage over EPA, they are quite a capable car.

Results coming soon.

Sorry to keep you guys waiting. We're figuring out the final handy cap percentage.

Yes, you are correct. Richards car is a 2000 ZX2 Escort. I wrote the original post rather quickly. My bad.

Results!
 

Alright! We agreed on a 17% handycap. That is 20% for diesel vs. gasoline and an average of 300 more pounds being in my car at 1% per hundred pound.
Sources

It turned out to be 988.4 miles, and 3 tanks of fuel.

The final averages over the 3 tanks are as fallows.

Me ('79 Diesel Volvo): 40, 33.2 (after 17% handycap)
Richard ('00 Escort ZX2): 34.5

So, Richard and his Escort won...

If you would like the whole story, plus pictures of the cars and way to much numbers/calculations/information, check out my auto Blog.

http://www.RandomFlash.net/Bricks

One of my tanks I achieved 44.1 MPG (diesel), a massive personal best! I plan on making most of my temporary mods for this trip permanent. As well as doing more!

Thanks for rooting for me if you did!

What kind of speeds were you driving? Fun way to travel and have a camping trip.

Mostly 55mph. Rarely 60, and a good bit of 45 on secondary roads.

It was a blast.