VW TDI's possibly discontinued in US

The vehicles in this country do poorly for gas because the people will do nothing. A simple boycott of all new vehicles would go a long way in bringing reform. Also if there got to be an underground in cars that would help. Get some people that know how to work with altering titles and vehicle documents and just start smuggling the overseas counterparts into the country. By the time there were over 100,000 smuggled vehicles with a continuous pipeline they couldn't start putting a dent in getting them off the roads.

VW will not discontinue the diesel engine cars in the US, their market share of that engine is too great. If the US built engines can meet the requirements VW can too.

Bobg

When comparing fuel economy of US to European vehicles, are you using US gallons (128 oz) or Imperial gallons (160 oz)?

I wonder if it could be ..... patents.

I seem to remember something a long time ago about how we could get better fuel efficiency, but the oil companies bought some patents for said efficiency. Not sure how true that is.

Just imagine: If we doubled the efficiency of all of our vehicles, we would no longer depend on oil from the mid east. As demand drops for fuel, perhaps the price would drop back down to 50 cents a gallon.

And to toss one more wacky idea on the pile: Suppose those semi trucks were able to get 12 mpg - like they do in Europe. Then we convert it to be an electric/diesel hybrid and the mileage goes up to, say, 20mpg. And then the roof of the trailers are big solar panels - maybe the mileage could go up to 30mpg on a sunny day!

Maybe our own personal cars could do something similar and see milage exceed 100mpg.

Lessee .... 30 mpg ... $2.50 for a gallon ... 30 miles for $2.50 .... 8.3 cents per mile. In looking here I get the impression that an all electric vehicle would cost about 1 cent per mile here in the northwest. Less if the oil companies would let people use the improved battery technology (patented and locked up by the oil companies). This would be like 300 to 500 mpg. And then imagine tacking a solar collector on the roof! While you are at work, or at the store, the batteries could be getting recharged. Perhaps during most of the summer, fuel costs could be zero!

Check out www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com

After it shows the preview for this excellent movie, look at the FAQ.

We have a conundrum. On the one hand, I'm all for businesses buying patents and making money from those patents. On the other hand, it seems messed up that we don't get to use those ideas because it could cut into the profits of some company.

My choice to own an electric car is made prohibitively expensive because it would otherwise cut into the profits of an organization. Our gas/diesel vehicles get poor mileage because (speculatively) it would otherwise cut into the profit margins of big corporations.

That seems wrong. Very smart and very legal on the part of the oil companies. And yet ... it seems to be a flaw in our American system.

I think that the capitalism+democracy system is a good one. We just have to make sure we put ethics ahead of profit. I don't think this is an ethic failing of the oil companies, but an ethical failing of the gub-mint. Possibly we have some gub-mint people that are a little too influenced by oil company lobbyists.

Water/Hydrogen fuel .... this is the first I have seen or heard of this. This is amazing!!!!!

I believe that all they are doing is using electricity to split the water molecule into hydrogen and oxygen. We did this in eighth grade science class with a battery. We collected the gas in an inverted test tube. When the gas displaced all the water in the test tube, we were allowed to light it with a match and we got a mini explosion. The hyrdogen and oxygen ignited and returned to water.

So, unless I'm missing something, people have known about this forever. The drawback is that the electrical energy needed to split the water molecule (thru electrolysis) is more than the energy released when you ignite the hydrogen and oxygen.

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This is the government the Founding Fathers warned us about.....

Sorry to cut this up a bit Paul.....I agree whole-heartedly. What's more - every single issue I have EVER researched, and I've researched a lot of them - all comes down to what you have said here. It isn't only cars. This flaw has trully infiltrated at every level. It's the medical, insurance, and pharmeceutical industries, the food industries, the war on drugs, etc, etc, ad nauseum. In fact, I don't think I can find ONE SINGLE issue that I've looked into that didn't have this at the bottom.

Seems communism,socialism, capitalism + democracy all put a little too much faith in the inherant goodness of man and his ability to overcome greed. Maybe, just maybe all those countries that despise 'American greed' are on to something. Funny thing is, most right here feel the same way about AMERICAN GREED. So if it isn't American - how do we hold 'them' accountable? Might take ours a bit longer to decay, but decay it is - as the government grows larger and larger, and the corporate fat cats profit.

Niki

pony,

There are no straight bolt up engines for the CJ7. I used to own a 4 wheel drive shopo where all we built were custom rockcrawlers and did different inhouse custom builds for customers.

Look at using a Cummins IB4 with a Scout or Muncie tranny you will have to use a 205 transfercase since the DANA 300 will not bolt up. I will dig around for some pics as I did this build up for a customer that came all the way from canada.

Honestly, with the price of new and very late model used vehicles as high as they are, most people aren't selling or trading their high mileage vehicles because at least they are paid for and repairs are still cheaper than monthly payments. Both of the vehicle dealerships in my Missouri county are overstocked with vehicles and the Ford dealership still has brand new vehicles left from the 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000 model years, though I grant they are perhaps two to four vehicles left in each of those model years. They are the full size SUVs and F-Series trucks that generally sell the best around in my area too.

There is little need to boycott the new vehicles when they aren't selling well anyway. For that matter, the price of a brand new vehicle keeps dropping, due to lots of sales incentives, to the level of two to three year old used vehicles of the same trim level and equipment packages.

That's just my take on it.

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I would challenge anyone here to think of a question upon which we once had a scientific answer, however inadequate, but for which now the best answer is a religious one. – Sam Harris

The deal is WE AMERICANS do not REQUIRE the US auto makers to produce the same milege they export.

We should. They do produce "export" vehicals and inland use vehicals.

THATS A FACT.

The exact same pick up in our country DOSN'T get half the milage it dose over seas.

There is a reason this vehical can not be exported. Its comes down to one thing folks. I know its hard to say it.

JOBS. Whe have to protect our jobs. That is why this system is like it is. If the vehical lasted longer you would replace it less. If it used less fuel you would use less. I know it sounds so out there. I am not a conspiricy type of guy. Its just a fact.

Do some research on export vehicals. Check the milage that the EU requires. We ship hundreds a week that meet a pick up truck getting 39 miles per gallon on gasoline and 53 on diesal fuel.

VW gold getting 60 miles per gallon is easy to do. IN KNOW I HAVE ONE.

I guess this depends on how we define "greed". I think that it is healthy for people to earn a living, or to find a place in the business world to provide a service and get paid for it - and keep that money. And sometimes, somebody invents something that lots of people want - I hope that person becomes a millionaire. But I think a lot of people would choose to label that person as "greedy" - and I don't think that is right.

I think wanting more is okay. Willing to sacrifice the health or well being of others for more is where things go wrong.

The word "greed" is just too squishy for me to do anything with.

I hope in health and well being of humans you are not talking about the use of diesal. In the 70's and 80's yes, road fuel was much more carbon polluting then gasoline. That is not the case now. Gasoline dosn't even come close to the lower level of air particals and life of diesal. Gasoline has been played out. The only reason we have it is because we use it on this continent as a primary fuel source. The rest of the world uses much better fuel that also give longer vehical life.

When I visited Germany the place I was born. I was shocked to find most gas stations DO NOT SELL gasoline. They also do not allow GM and Ford to sell the same modles they sell here. They sell the same modle, just with MUCH higher mpg.

Ya know I deliver the trucks you are talking about to the ports I see absulutely no diference between the domestic and export units

So do we...a 1997 Jetta TDI with 490,000 miles on it. Body's a little rough, but it runs great. Very reliable car. Got it for $500 a year ago. GREAT buy!

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Dust is a protective covering.

The ENGINES are what are classified as export or not.

Example. JB Hunt uses 1250 EXPORT engines last year. They traded in 1250 export ONLY trucks. These trucks can not move to their lease program. They are only available for export.

Look in a truck trader some time and notice the heading EXPORT ONLY.

Then do a small search and see what the EU is adveraging for milage in their trucks. In the US many think a Semi getting 6-7 mpg is good. In MOST countries. Even AFRICA. They WILL NOT RUN THAT TRUCK. They can not afford too. :1pig:

so what happens if you have one and move to one of theses states? Do you have to buy a different car.. it won't pass inspection?

Just curious as we may be moving to a green state (both literaly and figuratively).

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"Let the beauty we love, be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground." Rumi