Why are cars sold in other countries so much more fuel efficient than in the US?!

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

In spite of that, it's still a little more fuel-efficient

Not from what I read earlier.

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

It's not just about power. Old American iron also had a greater amount of torque

The Merc engine is no screamer, but agreed - you buy HP and drive Torque.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

One of the reasons that led to the use of the 300cu.in. straight-6 in the Brazilian F-1000 (a short-bed F-250) instead of the 302cu.in. Windsor V8 was due to the fuel consumption. Not a notably greater advantage, but the 300 was regarded as a better choice.

Anyway, I might confess I'd rather get a Chevrolet LS-series instead of any European or Japanese opponent if I were on the market for a V8

[Arragonis]

More a fan of 4cyls and under, Diesels preferred if I drove further than I do.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by RedDevil

You cannot be blocking traffic if your gearing allows your car to go as fast as the road allows for, and you do so. Something grippier might be held up slightly, at most.
Even so I let everyone pass that I can't shake off, as fun for me does not include cornering and braking close to the limit. Oh, and I hate caravans.

Obviously I don't know you and how you drive. I can only say that there are either a) a lot of underpowered cars driving around these here hills, or b) a lot of people whose idea of what the road allows for is dramatically different from mine. Or, of course, both.

I would even say my Insight is included in the somewhat underpowered class, as it doesn't go up some hills as fast as the road (and posted speed limits) allow for. Though it still manages to get closer than many...

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

What is the definition of "Seriously Underpowered" ?

As a working definition, how about "can't maintain highway speed up a fairly straight (so cornering isn't an issue) 6-7% grade"?

[Xist]

I cannot maintain the speed limit without downshifting...

[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Obviously I don't know you and how you drive. I can only say that there are either a) a lot of underpowered cars driving around these here hills, or b) a lot of people whose idea of what the road allows for is dramatically different from mine. Or, of course, both.

I would even say my Insight is included in the somewhat underpowered class, as it doesn't go up some hills as fast as the road (and posted speed limits) allow for. Though it still manages to get closer than many...

When drivers hold you up in the mountains that's usually not their cars fault, that was my point.
Almost any car should be able to do any slope, just downshift and boot it.
Fact is many people don't, and rather admire the landscape or doze off thinking about traffic unrelated stuff.
Even when I had the lazy '86 Golf D I seldom held up others, but got held up frequently (though that wasn't in the mountains, but I think it would have been the same there).

[niky]

Echo that. Again, my dog of a truck, two tons, eighty ponies, can maintain highway speed (50-60 mph) up a mountain pass.

The only car I've ever had that couldn't maintain speed up a slope was a two liter Nissan Vanette with a carburetor. And even there, it could pull up a 7 degree slope. It was once past 20 degrees that it was unable to maintain forward momentum.

Nothing modern, with electronic ignition and injection, is anywhere near that bad. Not even with half the displacement of my old van.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by niky

The only car I've ever had that couldn't maintain speed up a slope was a two liter Nissan Vanette with a carburetor. And even there, it could pull up a 7 degree slope. It was once past 20 degrees that it was unable to maintain forward momentum.

Nothing modern, with electronic ignition and injection, is anywhere near that bad. Not even with half the displacement of my old van.

I wouldn't overestimate the power of a 1.0L in a Vanette

Anyway, we might remember that gearing also has an important role in this matter.

[niky]

Oh, definitely. The Vanette had terrible gearing. But it also had a complete dog of an engine. 2.0, made power exactly nowhere. Whereas the carbureted 1.8 in the Mazda E2000, even with the bigger extended length body, could haul you comfortably up to 180 km/h or thereabouts, and could pull from a stop in fifth gear.

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Errh... not that I suggest doing that, though...