Originally Posted by
Slicks
Heh, BTW our fule prices are considered high right now, around me its $1.88 per gallon for regular.
Fuel prices in Europe hover around 1.1-1.2 euro per liter. (In the UK it is even more expensive). With a current exchange rate of 1 euro equalling 1.3 US$ and a US gallon being equal to 3.8 litres you can calculate the difference by yourself (I hope) but you are paying about one third of what we do. Consider that high.
That's why there is such a world of difference in the cars we are getting here and the ones sold in the USA.
Auto Motor und Sport this week tested the Chrysler 300 C Touring (sold in the USA as Dodge magnum). Its average consumption during the test was about 14 mpg. Its 5.7 litre hemi delivers 340 BHP and a torque of 525 NM (387 lbft) at 4000 revs. Quite impressive. Accelaration 0-100 6.5 seconds, top speed (governed) 250 kph.
From the same MB/Chrysler concern comes the Mercedes C320CDI. also tested this week which is admittedly a smaller car, (for this comparison I wish they had tested an E class with the same engine but you can't have everything). It weighs about 360 kg less than the Chrysler (2040 vs 1680 kg) Its average fuel consumption during the test was over 27 mpg. Ah you would say a slow diesel, but here are the specs: 3 litre V6 DOHC, 224 bhp, and 510 NM (376 lbft) of torque at 1600 rpm. From zero to 100 takes 6.9 seconds, top speed is a governed 250 kph.
The point of presenting this comparison? To show what happens when fuel becomes really expensive and scarce, a notion that has yet to sink in into the average american mind.
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