Automakers exagerating mileage

[Scouzer]

I searched.

Link to the goodness

EDIT: Cool charts and stuff on the left

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Scouzer
I searched.

Link to the goodness

Topic Title: Automakers exagerating mileage
Topic Summary: Consumer Reports tests what we already knew

Especially when it comes to SUV's.

Most that posted 16mpg on the sticker in fact get half of that.

That's what any American deserves for making that decision to begin with.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Should read "Old, busted testing methods exaggerate mileage."

From TFA:

The EPA ratings are the result of 1970s-era test assumptions that don't account for how people drive today. Automakers also test prototype vehicles that can yield better mileage than a consumer could get.

- M4H

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Should read "Old, busted testing methods exaggerate mileage."

From TFA:

The EPA ratings are the result of 1970s-era test assumptions that don't account for how people drive today. Automakers also test prototype vehicles that can yield better mileage than a consumer could get.

- M4H

So you're defending the Automakers being wrong and deceitful???

 

[MasterAndCommander]

No way...at least they are honest about HP ratings, right? :laugh:

 

[Kelemvor]

Once again, COnsumer reports wasting time comparing things everyone already knew existed. Does anyone actually expect to get the same gas milage as is printerd on the window stickers? Hello... McFly...

It'd be far more accurate than they are now if they just took a model of all the new cars out to the INdy track and drove them for a while. At least they'd actually be driving them then.

 

[Scouzer]

http://www.consumerreports.org/main/det...3C%3East_id=389451&bmUID=1126528133719

 

[Linflas]

So you're defending the Automakers being wrong and deceitful???

Almost from the dawn of EPA testing in 1975, automobile buyers have complained that the government rating was impossible to achieve. In 1984, a rising clamor from consumers prompted the EPA to shave its test results by 10 percent for city mpg and 22 percent for highway mpg. But the agency did not change its test protocols and rules, which the Government Accountability Office had criticized in 1981. This ?adjusted mpg? is what you find on a new car's window sticker today.

Perhaps you might want to take that up with your local representative since the automakers do not run the EPA.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Should read "Old, busted testing methods exaggerate mileage."

From TFA:

The EPA ratings are the result of 1970s-era test assumptions that don't account for how people drive today. Automakers also test prototype vehicles that can yield better mileage than a consumer could get.

- M4H

So you're defending the Automakers being wrong and deceitful???

But legally, they are not. They are following the rules set forth by the government. This is why they are immune from deceptive advertising lawsuits.

This is a perfect example of the train wreck that is over-regulation. Had government stayed out of it, automakers would be kept in line by class action lawsuits for deceptive marketing. As it stands, they are perfectly legal.

And, as CU points out, what the automakers do is what we ALL do, which is the best we can within the rules given for a test.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Scouzer
I searched.

Link to the goodness

Topic Title: Automakers exagerating mileage
Topic Summary: Consumer Reports tests what we already knew

Especially when it comes to SUV's.

Most that posted 16mpg on the sticker in fact get half of that.

That's what any American deserves for making that decision to begin with.

my SUV is rated 12/15 on the sticker. 10 years later, I'm still getting 14mpg.

 

[radioouman]

The only car that I have not been able to get the rated mileage out of is my wife's Saturn L100. It is rated at 34 mpg and I get 33 mpg out of it.

My truck is rated at 13/18, and I can get 19 on long trips but it drops to 12 when I'm towing.

I don't see the problem here...

 

[GeneValgene]

i have no complaints...i guess it just depends on how you drive

for my car, i have a 2004 honda accord I4 5AT sedan, and my best mileage is 38 MPG, even though it is manufacturer rated at 34 MPG freeway

for my girlfriend's car, she has a 2003 honda civic hybrid CVT sedan, and my best mileage driving her car is 53 MPG, even though the manufacturer rating is 47 MPG freeway

main thing for me is never to accelerate hard, always coast into red lights and stop signs, and never try to maintain speeds goign up hill (e.g. use your momentum to carry you up hill, and accelerate down the hill)

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Especially when it comes to SUV's.
Most that posted 16mpg on the sticker in fact get half of that.
That's what any American deserves for making that decision to begin with.

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
So you're defending the Automakers being wrong and deceitful???

You gotta love the schizophrenic value system here.

What the automakers are doing is bad and deceitful (we've proven that wrong).

Yet, if you buy an SUV you deserve to be deceived.

WTF???

Dave, do you THINK before you spew this crap???

 

[Tommunist]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Once again, COnsumer reports wasting time comparing things everyone already knew existed. Does anyone actually expect to get the same gas milage as is printerd on the window stickers? Hello... McFly...

It'd be far more accurate than they are now if they just took a model of all the new cars out to the INdy track and drove them for a while. At least they'd actually be driving them then.

i think most people expect to get within a 2-3 mpg of what the sticker says. i was unaware that the numbers were as far off as they were as i knew little of how the sticker numbers were determined.

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: Tommunist
i think most people expect to get within a 2-3 mpg of what the sticker says. i was unaware that the numbers were as far off as they were as i knew little of how the sticker numbers were determined.

Especially that Liberty Common Rail Diesel - that gets 11mpg to the claimed 22mpg. That's a significant difference in mileage and would effect a lot of people's decisions to buy one.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Make & model..........Vehicle type...Tested model year City Highway Overall*
......................................................................................EPA.....CR.....EPA....CR......EPA....CR

Jeep Liberty Diesel.Small SUV.............2005...................22...11......27......26.......24.....18

I was real excited about the liberty diesel till I started looking at MPG figures, If you'll notice Jeep/Daimler/Chrysler hasn't peen pushing it very agressively and I suspect that's why, if enough people buy them, there'll be a backlash about the MPG.

 

[kranky]

My 2005 6-cylinder car is rated 20 mpg city (I get 25) and 29 highway (I get 37 if it's not hilly).

My city mileage could be even better but there are too many hills. I do make an effort to drive efficiently.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Hmm...I'm interested to see what I get in my '97 Legacy GT Wagon (2.5L auto). Its got a rebuilt engine (~20K on the engine, 200K on the car) and the previous owner said she got like 23-24MPG in the city, but the fuel gauge is wacked out and drops quickly & then supposedly stays at one level for a LONG time. I'm on my first dead full tank, so far got 230 miles with 15.8 gallon tank. The first tank I had in there I wasn't driving nicely Hoping I break 20mpg this time

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Amused
You gotta love the schizophrenic value system here.

What the automakers are doing is bad and deceitful (we've proven that wrong).

Yet, if you buy an SUV you deserve to be deceived.

WTF???

Dave, do you THINK before you spew this crap???

I just ignore what that moron posts.

- M4H

 

[Jzero]

Everyone knows the numbers aren't realistic, but they seem to offer a good enough basis for comparison. This car is rated 26/30, that car is rated 31/35.

You tell me which one you think will get better fuel economy.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Jzero
Everyone knows the numbers aren't realistic, but they seem to offer a good enough basis for comparison. This car is rated 26/30, that car is rated 31/35.

You tell me which one you think will get better fuel economy.

I think that is actually stated on the sticker with the mileage info. It actually states that it is to be used for comparison purposes and real world mileage may differ.

 

[Nick5324]

Overall: EPA 33 CR 29. I can live with that. I knew the EPA numbers were a joke, at least it wasn't way off.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: Jzero
Everyone knows the numbers aren't realistic, but they seem to offer a good enough basis for comparison. This car is rated 26/30, that car is rated 31/35.

You tell me which one you think will get better fuel economy.

I think that is actually stated on the sticker with the mileage info. It actually states that it is to be used for comparison purposes and real world mileage may differ.

Thus the expression "Your Mileage May Vary."

- M4H

 

[Soccerman06]

You guys dont really read the fine print on the sticker do you? They say the mpg could vary anywhere from 0-20% depending on conditions and driver habits. And for those of you who drive on highway a lot, the hw rating is for 55mph, not 65 or 75 (and you would be lying if you said you dont speed sometimes). All those hybrids and 4 cylinders that make 140hp wont get great mpg on hw (above 65mph) because you have to pritty much rev the engine above 6k to even make enough power to pass someone or even keep at speed. My mom recently drove a Scion XB and was amazed that when driving at 65mph the engine was reving at 3500-4500 rpm, just keeping the speed.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Soccerman06
You guys dont really read the fine print on the sticker do you? They say the mpg could vary anywhere from 0-20% depending on conditions and driver habits. And for those of you who drive on highway a lot, the hw rating is for 55mph, not 65 or 75 (and you would be lying if you said you dont speed sometimes). All those hybrids and 4 cylinders that make 140hp wont get great mpg on hw (above 65mph) because you have to pritty much rev the engine above 6k to even make enough power to pass someone or even keep at speed. My mom recently drove a Scion XB and was amazed that when driving at 65mph the engine was reving at 3500-4500 rpm, just keeping the speed.

My Civic disagrees with your pessimistic rating of econoboxes (3000rpm @ 70mph, high-40's in mpg) - mind you, it's a lot more aerodynamic compared to the rolling refridgerator you used as an example.

- M4H