ORIGINAL: joeyr
ORIGINAL: RLSH700
It depends on how things go. If we decide to strangle the oil companies with price freezing, it will be the 70s all over again. If we decide to strangle the environmentalist that refuse to allow more refineries, drilling, allow fuel efficient technologies to come in such as Diesel engines, then the problem will be resolved. If we quit chasing ideas that don't work such as Ethanol and Hybrids, and go with fuels that actually work such as Butanol, then the problem could possibly improve.
I agree with the theory that if SUVs are still being sold with the terrible fuel mileage they get, then the Challenger will be successful. I think a powerful V6 option would be a good idea for the Challenger for this reason. It will appeal to those who want a faster car while being able to get the fuel economy they desire.
I dont know if I fully agree with the ethanol and hybrid part. The problem is that none of this methods are powerful unless they have lobbysts polictians and celeberites on their side. For example corn ethanol is not as clean as sugar ethanol but has support and marketing from gm "go green" and BP(beyond petroleum) along with a strong support from lobbyists. And until hybrids can be build, sold, and repaired cheaper than they are know they will be have a stigma similar to that of diesels of former decades. So the best alternatives is to build cars that marry horsepower, and fuel economy, which may never happen espically with a congress whose
GAS IS PAID FOR BY US WHILE ON CONGRESSIONAL BUSINESS! I find it hard to belive people who do not have to deal with something actually worry about it. (Hell even the some of the lobbyists and politicans in favor of alternative fuel sources do not drive hybrid or fuel efficent cars.)
Well what I'm refering to is the fact that Ethanol is not a solution do to the fact that ethanol doesn't put out as much energy as gasoline and as a result costs more to use than gasoline. The only reason why Ethanol is sometimes cheaper at the pump is due to tax incentives, which we pay for. Ethanol is more costly to transport because it can't be transfered via the pipeline like other fuel can be due to the water collection issue that Ethanol has.
My problem with Hybrids are they are death tramps. If the car is included in an accident, the outside of the car electricfy which traps the driver on the inside. Rescue crews have to be specially trained to rescue people from these cars. Even then the fact that they don't get anywhere near what they are rated at doesn't make it worth while. I have a friend who owns a V6 Escape and another friend who has a Hybrid Escape for work. I have asked both of them what their average fuel mileage is they both told me 24 mpg. They are over hyped.
The solutions I will support are Butanol, Diesel and Bio-Diesel, and increasing the production and refining capacity of oil. Here is the previous discussion we had about Butanol incase your interested.
https://dodgechallenger.com/forums/m_3854/tm.htm
Don't get me started about the politicans who "support" alternative fuels. A drunken, slime-ball senator who will remain nameless who is an environmentalist and "supports" alternative fuel sources seemed perfectly happy about windmill power until it would cost him his favorite yachting spot![:@]
The solution for the mean time is DCX and Ford need to start making their transmissions with taller gearing. That would improve things a lot. Tall gearing is how GM gets the amazing mileage they get. That and VVT systems. They need to abandon those stupid CVTs, they don't save any gas, they guzzle it even more than normal automatics.
So what do you think about that?