[combsdon]

.....Just heard on the radio (not talk) that we Americans are using 1.75% more gas than a year ago and if we would use as little as 2% less than a year ago the prices would drop anywhere from 50 cents to a dollar a gallon..........

[BanditFlyer]

Originally Posted by combsdon

.....Just heard on the radio (not talk) that we Americans are using 1.75% more gas than a year ago and if we would use as little as 2% less than a year ago the prices would drop anywhere from 50 cents to a dollar a gallon..........

That's a fairly small increase. I would think we could make it disappear by simply driving slower.

Got any terms that the radio used that might give some hits on google?

[spudmister]

people buying more fuel efficient vechicles..Money talks and with Ford, GM, & Chrysler getting their collective a$$e$ kicked by the more efficient imports (again)...Maybe they will finally (hopefully) get their act together and start really coming up with vechicles that get better mileage than we are getting today (not changed much in 20 years either). There really is no reason why cars made today cant get 40mpg on average except for money involved..If the automakers had spent the same amount of time & money in R&D that they spend lobbying congress to keep from increasing the CAFE standards then who knows where we might be.

[combsdon]

Originally Posted by BanditFlyer

That's a fairly small increase. I would think we could make it disappear by simply driving slower.Got any terms that the radio used that might give some hits on google?

.....pretty sure it was the Osgood File............

[TooBad]

Originally Posted by spudmister

people buying more fuel efficient vechicles..Money talks and with Ford, GM, & Chrysler getting their collective a$$e$ kicked by the more efficient imports (again)...Maybe they will finally (hopefully) get their act together and start really coming up with vechicles that get better mileage than we are getting today (not changed much in 20 years either). There really is no reason why cars made today cant get 40mpg on average except for money involved..If the automakers had spent the same amount of time & money in R&D that they spend lobbying congress to keep from increasing the CAFE standards then who knows where we might be.

No the gas mileage has not changed in 20 years, but the horsepower of today's cars is double what it was 20 yrs ago, except for the big "muscle cars of the 60's. Cars are becoming more efficient, but we Americans, for the most part, are car crazy and want a fast safe car/truck that will be as much fun to drive as it is practical or impractical for that matter. In those areas, the imports still blow the doors off anything coming out of Detroit. US cars have made big strides in quality, but they are still way behind. Sure some US cars get great "initial quality" ratings, but how are they doing after 100,000 or 200k miles??

[AKA Arizona]

I was actually impressed with the mileage I got outa my 2003 Yukon XL with 95,000 miles on it, prior to my Yukon I had an Intrepid R/T with 56,000 my Intrepid got 28 hwy and around 20 in town, everything was crammed in the intrepid on our vacations in the Yukon I get 18 hwy and 15 around town the ride is so much more comfortable then the Intrepid, and nothing is crammed anywhere in the Yukon, that 10 mpg is worth it. I'm not sure what the original sticker mileage was supposed to be on the Yukon. Its an 03 Yukon XL loaded with the 5.3l v8 if anyone knows....

[TooBad]

Originally Posted by AKA Arizona

I was actually impressed with the mileage I got outa my 2003 Yukon XL with 95,000 miles on it, prior to my Yukon I had an Intrepid R/T with 56,000 my Intrepid got 28 hwy and around 20 in town, everything was crammed in the intrepid on our vacations in the Yukon I get 18 hwy and 15 around town the ride is so much more comfortable then the Intrepid, and nothing is crammed anywhere in the Yukon, that 10 mpg is worth it. I'm not sure what the original sticker mileage was supposed to be on the Yukon. Its an 03 Yukon XL loaded with the 5.3l v8 if anyone knows....

Yes the trucks/suvs are much better than the cars for longevity as they are built to handle off-road and most are not used off-road. I'm glad you have had good luck with both. There are always exceptions and that means there are import lemons as well as US vehicles that will last and not break. Doesn't change the trend though.

[AKA Arizona]

I am kinda anal when it comes to maintenance and stuff, I have a sunday afternoon routine I do this with all my cars, I check tire pressure, fluids, belts, hoses, lights, and under the vehicles for crazy stuff, tree limbs, small animals, leaky shocks/struts etc. and when I find something I fix it right then no wasting time, time is fuel mileage and do the regular maintenance at 3,000 miles some say 5,000 but thats just to long for me. So far I have 168,000 on a 4x4 Chevy truck 95,000 on my Yukon and 26,000 on my Jeep OH and I use mine off road, I say why bother if your not gonna use it for what it was designed my 4x4 has taken its fair share of punishment over the years

[keithns]

In 1973, my wife had a Honda Civic with a 1200cc 50hp engine & a 4spd manual. On the highway it could get about 30 to 32 mpg.
Today I have a 2003 Honda Accord coupe with a 3000cc 240hp engine & a 6spd manual. On the highway, it gets between 30 to 33 mpg.