Random FE Conversations - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

mhmitszach · 04-07-2009, 11:10 PM

Today, I had a conversation with two other kids in a class of mine. He was looking at getting a zx2. Then a 90s cummins diesel. Now a Jeep Cherokee or some 97 buick.

Yesterday, I told him he'd pay out the ... to drive that jeep and that gas would only go back up. He was shocked/doubtful to believe gas would be more expensive again...

Today. He claims jeep's actually get pretty good gas mileage. "17 mpg is good" he said and his friend agreed with him. They even went on to defend it saying 17 really isn't bad at all.

My friend and I rebuked saying our car's getting 30 seem terrible to us and that no way could 17 have ever been considered good.

I wish this conversation had never happened.

Tygen1 · 04-07-2009, 11:17 PM

Mommy and Daddy must pay for his gas

UfoTofU · 04-07-2009, 11:37 PM

I had a car dealer tell me that was good too

jesse.rizzo · 04-08-2009, 12:13 AM

Anything below the CAFE requirements shouldn't be considered "good" by any sense of the word.

Christ · 04-08-2009, 12:16 AM

There are too many people in the world who are convinced by their parents that 20 MPG is an upper limit, and 30 MPG is a pipe-dream.

I've heard this I don't know how many times, that 15-20 MPG is "great mileage". Back in the early 80's and late 70's, that may have been true, but there were even cars back then that got 30+ MPG. (Beetles come to mind, as well as early Escorts.)

I've had it up to here (hand above eyes, as though saluting) with people trying to convince me that I should be satisfied with 20 MPG, when I've only had 1 road legal car that got less, and it made 500 HP. No one can tell me their lowly 200 HP Jeep should be getting 18 MPG as a high limit.

jamesqf · 04-08-2009, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhmitszach

My friend and I rebuked saying our car's getting 30 seem terrible to us and that no way could 17 have ever been considered good.

From my perspective 30 seems terrible, because I get over 70 - in a car that's fun to drive, too. And the '85 CRX I had before managed over 40 mpg, even the way I drove it :-)

zjrog · 04-08-2009, 10:53 AM

I drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Heavier than the regular Cherokee but a bit more shapely. I am getting better than that 17, but I've dipped now into the 19s and I've been above 22 a couple times. A lot of different factors to look into. But I also know if I take my Jeep offroad (which I do and I stay on trails...), my MPG suffers.

On the other hand, I do also have my Neon, which gets better than EPA too.

For me, the Jeep is a lifestyle vehicle. I take it offroad, it is mildy lifted and modified. And it sits on 31" tires. And I can STILL get decent mileage. And since I carpool to work with it, with 4 large adults, I'm still pleased with the mileage I get. Perhaps, when I have other projects out of the way, my 28 MPG, 6" lifted, 4 cylinder, 5 speed Ranger will be back on the trails again...

AND... If folks don't expect gas to go up again, why did it go up almost 20 cents inthe last two weeks?

Wonderboy · 04-08-2009, 11:06 AM

I don't know how willing they are to continue the debate or be wrong, but I'd simply tell them to check their facts first instead of deferring to what they've been told.

"Don't be a baby bird that waits eagerly for cherry-picked information to be regurgitated into you - the best information is attained by being your own investigator, triangulating sources, and figuring it out for yourself."

-roughly quoted from Scott Ritter, former U.N. weapons inspector.

I would believe 17mpg is good mileage if I'd never heard of anyone getting over 20, but a lot of people (and just plain cars regardless of how they're driven) get well over 17. The argument could be made that "getting insanely good mileage takes a lot of work and customization" , which could easily be proven incorrect as well.

Be prepared to win this debate, but also be prepared to be called a f@g or un-american or some similar bullsh!t. Even most jeep owners know they're not good, they're supposed to be "fun". Jeeps are designed for OFF-roading.

Christ · 04-08-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wonderboy

I don't know how willing they are to continue the debate or be wrong, but I'd simply tell them to check their facts first instead of deferring to what they've been told.

"Don't be a baby bird that waits eagerly for cherry-picked information to be regurgitated into you - the best information is attained by being your own investigator, triangulating sources, and figuring it out for yourself."

-roughly quoted from Scott Ritter, former U.N. weapons inspector.

I would believe 17mpg is good mileage if I'd never heard of anyone getting over 20, but a lot of people (and just plain cars regardless of how they're driven) get well over 17. The argument could be made that "getting insanely good mileage takes a lot of work and customization" , which could easily be proven incorrect as well.

Be prepared to win this debate, but also be prepared to be called a f@g or un-american or some similar bullsh!t. Even most jeep owners know they're not good, they're supposed to be "fun". Jeeps are designed for OFF-roading.

My wife gets mad at me sometimes for complaining about fuel mileage... as do other people.

Here's a hint: If you don't care what people think of you, they're more likely to stop hating on you. And you're more likely to do what's best for yourself, rather than what pleases others.

Wonderboy · 04-08-2009, 03:39 PM

I agree that some people should do what's best for themselves instead of doing what appeases others...however, some people should probably incorporate more responsibility, and less of what's good for themselves.

For example: Dick Cheney probably doesn't give a twit about what anyone thinks of him...If this is not the case I'm sure there are better examples. This does not stop people from hating on him, and arguably causes more people to hate him.