1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Fiesta smokes Pruis!!!

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Driven_M60, Jul 3, 2008.

  1. thepolarcrew

    thepolarcrew Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2008
    4,426
    271
    0
    Location:
    North Dakota
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    We were in Italy this xmas and our host had a 5 door Ford hatchback that was a small diesel, twin turbo, I believe with a stick, it got around 45mpg average, better on the slower back roads. It would seat 7, but almost impossible for an adult to sit in the very back. They have a scale for EPA and he said his was the highst rated as of when we were there.

    It wasn't bad for four adults and some room in the back for cargo, but at $4.71 who in the H wants diesel!
     
  2. Stefx

    Stefx Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2008
    336
    4
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Any competition in the fuel economy segment of the market is good, so bring it on.

    However, again I just see another concept at another car show. We already have a wide collection of those "concepts". I'd rather see cars on the dealer lots instead.

    We need solutions now, not in 2010-2015. The more competition, the better it is for the consumer.
     
  3. Genoz World

    Genoz World ZEN-style living

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2008
    797
    21
    0
    Location:
    La Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I HAVE read through this whole thread.

    i see many constructive posts by the other members here, but i have to admit that i feel the OP was done by a TROLL.

    i'm out
     
  4. PoulStaugaard

    PoulStaugaard Now a PriusOwner

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2007
    95
    1
    0
    Location:
    Copenhagen, Denmark
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Ford and GM aren't the only ones to make assumptions about what the various markets will buy. In Europe, Toyota (together with Peugeot) builds and sells the little AYGO, which is smaller than the Yaris. It has a 3-cyl 1.0 liter gasoline engine and actually gets better mileage than the Prius on the road (albeit not in the city). Prrice ? You get three AYGO's for the price of a Prius. You can also get it with a Peugeot diesel engine, if you buy it from Peugeot (in which case it's the 107). The diesel doesn't get better mileage than the gasoline, though.
     
  5. autoxic

    autoxic Commuter

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2004
    111
    4
    0
    Location:
    Richmond, VA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Fortunately, we PriusChat members are smart enough to view the article, figure out the facts, and see how meaningless the comparison is. I don't consider the post to be a harmful troll.

    Diesel costs 20% more than regular gas here in Virginia. I'll keep my Prius for now, thanks.
     
  6. McDonald

    McDonald New Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2008
    264
    3
    6
    Location:
    Boston, MA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I'm sorry but IT UGLY
     
  7. donee

    donee New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2005
    2,956
    197
    0
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
  8. freshmtt

    freshmtt Dachshund Addict

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2008
    532
    4
    5
    Location:
    Chicago Suburbs
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I drove an Opel Astra in Ireland in March for 10 days, the gas mileage was awesome,,, however, now that GM brought the Astra over here and it is being sold by Saturn, they drastically changed the car. The Astra in Ireland has the electronic shifting just like our Prius does, even has the same shift knob, but NOT the Astra here, it has the regular gear shifter like the regular automatic cars have here, big turn off, and the gas mileage here with the Saturn Astra is nothing compared to the gas mileage I experienced with the Astra in Ireland.

    So even if GM brings those cars here, they will change them and the MPG will probably not even compare to what they are in Europe.
     
  9. Lexus_Prius

    Lexus_Prius New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2008
    38
    0
    0
    Location:
    Midwest USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Seems like a viable alternative......some complain about how diesel is more expensive but diesel has a long track record for reliability and low maintainence. Not having to deal with batteries and electronic motors and the weight disadvantages posed by those is good. For most people a diesel might be a better option especially with potential biodiesel subsidy in the pipeline

    Don't worry though, Toyota will likely eventually release a prius diesel with or without a hybrid drive drivetrain....or risk being routed.
     
  10. Driven_M60

    Driven_M60 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2008
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    Next Door
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    To all the fellow members that called me a "troll", that was totally uncalled for. Here I come on this site to spread my knowledge and this is what i get in return.




    Thank you to everyone else for your opinions. This seems to be quite the hot topic.

    More opinions are welcome :).
     
  11. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2005
    10,339
    14
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    What about learning a little something while you're here?
     
  12. hotcakes

    hotcakes New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2008
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Portland OR
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Ford vs. Toyota is no comparison when it comes to quality and resale value.
    Nor when it comes to being clean.....
     
  13. bac

    bac Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2008
    863
    52
    0
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Really, that's enough for me.

    ... Brad
     
  14. Picasso Moon

    Picasso Moon Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2006
    117
    0
    0
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    What is are the mileage estimates under the new 2008 EPA guidelines so we can make a fair comparison? VW already tried to seek one by on us by using some wildly optimist estimates that were not even close to correct.

    What kind of mileage will it get when tuned/cleaned up to meet the current US BIN5/LEV II emissions requirements?

    What kind of mileage will it get when tuned/cleaned up and reengineered/modified to meet the current US safety requirements?

    What kind of mileage will the Ford that is in the same, or even close to the same size class as the mid-sized Prius get? Not some mini-car like the Fiesta but an honest mid-sized car.

    When can one purchase these cars in the US. Hmm, that's what I thought.

    What will happen first? Ford files for bankruptcy protection or the new Fiesta comes to the US. My bets are on bankruptcy.
     
  15. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2005
    10,339
    14
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    I'd like to see resale value for the teenie car.

    I just did BB on my 2005 Prius 30,000 miles. It's pretty much 100% of what I paid for it three years ago. Not bad.
     
  16. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2008
    3,033
    708
    75
    Location:
    Ballamer, Merlin
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Bill,

    you're right. Five posts now, all of the same type.

    He claims to be here to spread "knowledge," vitriol would be more correct.

    It's time to dispose of this irritant.

    *
     
  17. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2004
    13,439
    639
    0
    Location:
    Winnipeg Manitoba
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    I'm going to provide some data for you and let you think about it

    In the EU, indeed the rest of the world outside the USA - except for Japan - official fuel economy figures are stated in litres per 100 km, often presented as l/100km. Furthermore, in countries like the UK when fuel economy is stated in mpg, it is ALWAYS in miles per IMPERIAL gallon

    Now pay attention

    1 Imperial Gallon = 4.54 litres
    1 US Gallon = 3.78 litres

    Just like at suv and truck boards, where everybody pisses and moans about what "great" fuel economy some car or ute gets overseas, and what s*** fuel economy a similar car gets here. Because you are NOT comparing apples to apples

    The UK Prius fuel economy is rated similar to the Fiesta you mentioned. If you don't believe me, look it up yourself:

    Welcome to Toyota GB

    Ford :: home

    Much like how FJ Cruiser owners want the turbodiesel from the Prado, thinking it will somehow double their fuel economy. After you compare the Prado V6 to the diesel, the difference is under 7 miles per Imperial gallon. Hardly worth it when you factor how much more diesel fuel is
     
  18. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2007
    10,664
    567
    0
    Location:
    Adelaide South Australia
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    This reputation is because diesels in the past have been big heavy slugs of cast iron producing about half the power of a similar size petrol engine. The reliability of these lightweight high speed diesel engines is an unknown quantity. They all have turbochargers which although proven reliable in heavy haulage have had a somewhat checkered record in light passenger vehicles.
    Have you ever seen the price to replace the high pressure fuel pump in a diesel? Let me tell you maintaining a diesel isn't cheap. This new bread of common rail injected engines have high tech electronic injectors which have tolerances measured in microns, 1.5 to 3.0 microns, and electrical windings perched on top of a vibrating diesel engine or worse buried within the hot cylinder head. This is a whole new, relatively untested engine technology.

    My question to anyone who thinks diesel is better than Prius is, what steps does a diesel take toward a zero emission vehicle which doesn't use fossil fuels? And before you say used chip oil, would there be enough for everyone? And if you mention commercially grown oil seed like canola would that displace food crops in a world where food is becoming more scarce? I guess we can take Prince Charles' approach and run our cars on wine, only takes 8 litres of wine and plus 0.15 litres of petrol to make a litre of E85 this way.
     
  19. donee

    donee New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2005
    2,956
    197
    0
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Hi Jayman,

    Thanks for the links. Lets see. Prius - 65.69 mpg UK combined, Fiesta Diesel - 64.2 mpg UK combined. Hmm, I see no smoking going on. What are they talking about? Converting these to US Gallons, we get Prius - 54.69 mpg US (UK combined), versus the Fiesta Diesel 53.45 mpg US (UK combined).

    Hmm, I wonder if this is why VW has anounced its going to be making a gasoline electric hybrid car ?
     
  20. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2004
    8,972
    3,501
    0
    Location:
    Kunming Yunnan China
    Vehicle:
    2001 Prius
    Whenever a diesel engine vehicle "smokes" a Prius I can only imagine one thing: The dark gray cloud emitting from the diesel vehicle in front of me.

    I know the new diesels start out clean (except for NOx) but will they / can they really be maintained that way? One would hope so, but the old diesel fleet smokes my optimism.