|
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
02-28-2010, 04:08 PM | #1 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 92634
Join Date: Aug 2005
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
|
Car weight and MPG over the years
I whipped together some data about automobile curb weight and MPG over the years, as I wanted to see for myself whether the perception that cars have become thirstier and larger is true. It turns out that the latter is most definitely true but not necessarily the former, at least for the hopefully-representative few models that I picked.
Data were sourced from Edmunds and Fueleconomy.gov. Charts are original content by this author, shikataganai, not stolen from some other site.
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
|
02-28-2010, 04:14 PM | #2 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 200517
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Vehicle:09 Subaru WRX WRB |
Interesting, but just imagine the fuel economy if the weights would go down.
|
02-28-2010, 04:16 PM | #3 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 53222
Join Date: Jan 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: chicagoland
Vehicle:'10 Genesis Coupe '99 Miata |
Was the mpg measured using the same test procedures and standards?
|
02-28-2010, 04:19 PM | #4 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 92634
Join Date: Aug 2005
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
|
|
02-28-2010, 04:29 PM | #5 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 138000
Join Date: Jan 2007
Chapter/Region:
BAIC
Location: et ament meminisse periti
Vehicle:Buy Nate's coffee west coast roasting |
im actually surprised at some of the weight data. I can tell you that the 2003 accord data looks to be shy by about 300lbs.
|
02-28-2010, 04:36 PM | #6 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 92634
Join Date: Aug 2005
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
|
Quote:
|
|
02-28-2010, 04:52 PM | #7 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 39541
Join Date: Jul 2003
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Northern VA
Vehicle:2002 WRX & 2004 STI WR Blue |
How does this correlate to anything? Engines are not the same over the years for a specific model, neither is the body style. When aerodynamics and engine efficiency are not constants how does this tell us anything? It would be interesting to see the numbers by swapping engines from the 90 and 08 Accords or the the same for any of the other models listed.
|
02-28-2010, 05:08 PM | #8 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 92634
Join Date: Aug 2005
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
|
Quote:
|
|
02-28-2010, 05:51 PM | #9 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 174581
Join Date: Mar 2008
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: NOVA, VA
Vehicle:2010 Ferrari 458 Red |
good data, but for comparing data over a period of time, line graphs ftw
|
02-28-2010, 06:05 PM | #10 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 92634
Join Date: Aug 2005
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
|
|
02-28-2010, 06:08 PM | #11 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 99707
Join Date: Nov 2005
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Missouri
Vehicle:2018 WRX Premium CWP |
Dont knock airbags up the wazoo till you have to use them...
You will be rather thankful for them saving your wazoo. |
02-28-2010, 06:34 PM | #12 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 92634
Join Date: Aug 2005
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
|
Quote:
|
|
02-28-2010, 06:59 PM | #13 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 7887
Join Date: Jun 2001
Vehicle:2023 Tangerine 2023 3 Cylinder |
It'd be interesting to see the performance as well. My 1.8L 1993 Impreza AWD was downright dangerous when trying to merge onto WV's 70mph interstates when things were a little crowded. I'm willing to bet that the 0-60 performance is significantly better than 20 years ago, even on the 4cyl models.
|
02-28-2010, 07:31 PM | #14 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 232
Join Date: Sep 1999
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Ft Wayne, IN
Vehicle:99 RS-T RIP 02 Forster-S |
shikataganai, good work! A couple of things don't jive though. First, you're mixing engines in almost all vehicles (i.e. Mustang engine switched from 5.0L to 4.6L in 1995, Camry motor switched from 2.0L to 2.2L to 2.4L to 2.5L in 2010). Also, for even more interesting data, compare the ratings on the automatics. Almost 100% across the board the economy has improved, very drastically in some cases.
|
02-28-2010, 08:59 PM | #15 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 92634
Join Date: Aug 2005
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
|
Quote:
|
|
02-28-2010, 09:15 PM | #16 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 92634
Join Date: Aug 2005
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
|
Quote:
Not as easy to read but workable. Note the big step backwards of the 4.6L 1994 Mustang GT . Whoops, Ford… |
|
02-28-2010, 09:57 PM | #17 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 65751
Join Date: Jul 2004
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Redmond, WA
Vehicle:'10 VULVA |
I think I could have used that power to weight chart in an argument a while ago. Thanks for putting them together. I don't know why some people have such a negative attitude about them, you can pick apart any set of data if you don't like it.
Arguments like "well they use different engines now than before" No ****, that's kind of the point. Although the cars have gotten heavier/bigger, it seems like some of the manufacturers have been able to keep the same efficiency by using different engine technologies and increasing aerodynamic efficiency. |
02-28-2010, 10:04 PM | #18 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 117504
Join Date: Jun 2006
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Baltimore
Vehicle:2015 WRX Limited Lighting Red |
|
02-28-2010, 10:12 PM | #19 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 232
Join Date: Sep 1999
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Ft Wayne, IN
Vehicle:99 RS-T RIP 02 Forster-S |
Quote:
If you're going to compare data, the data must be comparable. |
|
02-28-2010, 10:38 PM | #20 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 72042
Join Date: Oct 2004
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Sunshine
Vehicle:2002 V7 Impreza WRX The Blue Mammoth |
Nice data. It shows how technology has come a long way. Even though weight has gone up, due to safety and more equipment, fuel consumption has maintained and even decreased.
Yes a car would have even better gas mileage if it is made lighter, but in reality, no one is going to buy a 2010 Civic that has the features and safety of a 93 Civic. If you want a lighter civic, strip it out, or buy a old car, simple as that |
02-28-2010, 10:42 PM | #21 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 239576
Join Date: Feb 2010
Chapter/Region:
TXIC
Location: Fort Hood, TX
Vehicle:2010 463WHP Stock 5-speed |
|
02-28-2010, 10:52 PM | #22 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 65751
Join Date: Jul 2004
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Redmond, WA
Vehicle:'10 VULVA |
|
02-28-2010, 11:52 PM | #23 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 117504
Join Date: Jun 2006
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Baltimore
Vehicle:2015 WRX Limited Lighting Red |
Quote:
And now we have cars like the Camry and Accord with 270 HP V6 options. Ok I understand the appeal of the V6, but these aren't supposed to be sports cars and I don't understand the need for that kind of power. However, the market has taken us there. No automaker is going to soley go backwards and sacrafice the competitive advantage. Will we have a 300 HP Camry in the next 5 years? God, I hope not. |
|
02-28-2010, 11:53 PM | #24 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 39541
Join Date: Jul 2003
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Northern VA
Vehicle:2002 WRX & 2004 STI WR Blue |
Quote:
You can't compare how the manufacturers adapted because there are too many variables, which was BOY's point as well. shikataganai, do you have data that covers a single model that kept the same size engine over several years? That would be an interesting one.... |
|
02-28-2010, 11:56 PM | #25 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 117504
Join Date: Jun 2006
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Baltimore
Vehicle:2015 WRX Limited Lighting Red |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Finalists for the 2009 North American Car of the Year and Truck of the Year awards an | AVANTI R5 | Non-Subaru News & Rumors | 1 | 12-20-2008 10:30 PM |
What have been the best car names over the years? | snvin | Off-Topic | 83 | 02-23-2007 09:52 PM |
The de-musclification of muscle cars over the years | SinisterMinister | Off-Topic | 42 | 09-26-2005 09:20 AM |
North American Car and Truck of the Year Winners Announced | Janq | Off-Topic | 5 | 01-19-2004 12:21 AM |
Ugh.... Car and Truck of the year... | SalKhan | General Forum Archive | 21 | 01-10-2001 08:50 AM |