• Cars

    Big-Ticket Beaters

    By Posted on 5.16.2008 6 Comments

    A rust-dappled Hyundai for $3,000, a clapped-out Geo Metro for $5,000, and a censurable Ford Festiva for six grand? Welcome to upside-down world. The rising price of dinosaur champagne has already decimated the large-SUV business, and now the realities of gasoline economics are elevating what was once the lowliest segment of the used-car market into Croesus' territory.

    5.16.2008 at 10:13pm - Comment by VazzedUp

    30mpg, guess you've not driven one. I am a happy owner of a 91 Ford(kia) Festiva, and even with a ladder strapped to the roof, stuffed full of gear, with fat tires and driven with a lead foot at 6500ft in Colorado it still gets between 38 and 42mpg. I'd rather have a euro diesel doing 60mpg + but I'll settle for my little skittle. I also see no reason why they can't still be built to do the same or better, the added weight of the safety features would be easily compensated by newer materials elsewhere.

  • Cars

    Not All Fuel Standards Are Created Equal

    By Posted on 4.29.2008 13 Comments

    Could new federal fuel mileage regulations kill sports-car specialists like Porsche? Probably not, but those companies may have to pay heavy fines as the cost of doing business or radically change their US product mix. That's AutoWeek's interpretation of new rules proposed by the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

    4.29.2008 at 11:13pm - Comment by VazzedUp

    It could be done similar to Europe and set the standard based on engine capacity, i.e. so many mpg per cc of engine size. You could have various levels and would then be able to adjust to promote better fuel consumption in specific markets like SUV's whilst maintaining real world targets. 1Liter and below 25mpg, 1 to 2 liters 40mpg, 2 to 3 liters 35 etc etc.



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