DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
5 comments:
our government is nuts
I've been driving tdi's for over 10 years, used to be hard to find one, usually out of canada. Now vw is selling them here, not quite the same gas mileage but better than anyother car on the road, even the tree huggers dream Prius or otherwise known as POS. I travel all over the world and it is a damn shame when ford and gm sell diesel cars overseas that get phenominal mileage compared to what is offered back home. If you can't understand or figure out why things are the way they are just follow the money, and you'll know why things are the way they are!
Salisbury's dysfuntional government is a case in point!
248-I too love the TDIs, it's just diesel passenger cars have never become popular in the States. I don't know why, 40+mpg and it'll run for 300K+ easily. Plus, it's NOT a prius lol. What can I say, Americans are stupid.
Here is an explanation as to why this guy is wrong:
Explanation from VW
Here is what Mark explained about the situation. His title is: Manager, Product and Technology Communications, Volkswagen of America Inc.
There are at least five things that factor in here.
First, VW used to sell the same (or similar?) Passat as is sold in Europe here in the US. But it didn't sell very well. It was too expensive and too small in the mid-size sedan segment. So they came up with a larger version with a better price point; and of course the size effects the mileage. [Americans are not nearly so concerned with mileage as Europeans are.]
Second, the way the US' EPA calculates mileage is different than the way the European equivalent does it. "The cycle is different," he said. The driving course and rigor set in the dynamometer is different. The fuel types used are different. The EPA estimates for diesel mileage tend to be lower than reality. For example, while the EPA says the Passat is 44 mpg, the Consumer Reports number comes in at 51 mpg.
"The number for the combined US cycle for the US Passat is 35 mpg, whereas the same powertrain in a European Passat gets 61.2 mpg on the Euro cycle."
Third, a US gallon (3.79 L) is less than an Imperial gallon (4.546 L).
Fourth, the US government doesn't stipulate to an automobile company what vehicles they can and cannot sell, other than setting the regulations for things like emissions, with which the manufacturers are required to comply.
Fifth, dealers are independent from VW and are not always aware of certain aspects of the auto business.
This explanation seems rational to me, and accounts for the seeming discrepancy in mileage between the US Passat and the European Passat.
Why is everyone signed 'Anonymous'? Is it against the law to comment on cars?
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