Will A Four REALLY Do It?

[dwgriff1]

I have a 03 Dodge 1500 (4.7 with a 5 speed auto) that gets close to 20 mpg on the road bobtail. All of my trailers are large -- compared to an ultalight: (a 22’ travel trailer, a 6 by 12 box trailer, and a 6 by 15 flat bed).

The Dodge pulls them all easily, but mileage drops according to the size of the trailer and the load. The Dodge would pull the ultralight very easily, but I am hoping to use my Chevy Cavalier instead.

That little 4 banger gets 32 on the road. What will it do pulling an ultralight. I don’t know yet.

But, I am getting close to a real life experiment! In a few weeks I should be able to do some real life driving to see what goes.

I am pretty sure that the bitty car will pull the ultralight fine, but who knows what the mileage will be.

If it comes out at 19, I'll be unhappy!

dave

[Cary Winch]

Steve,

Why make such a big jump for a guy who is used to V8s? Why not just get something with a good sized 6 cylinder in it? That would be a noticable improvement in mileage for you and then there is no question of towing a teardrop. I see lots of good sized 6 cylinder cars getting mileage in the 30s. While a 4 cylinder might up that a couple mpgs you personally might not be happy with it.

Now if the manufacturers could get their act together and start offering for sale here the diesel versions of the cars and trucks that they already offer in other countries. That is a big gripe of mine and alot of other people I know.

Cary

[SteveH]

Cary,

Good point, and that is one of my options being considered. It's just that the 4's make better mileage, and with gas at $3, who knows what it will be in 3 years. For an example (maybe not a good one, but an example) the Dodge V6 pickups only get about 1 MPG better than the small V8, which I have, and some people report even worse mileage. So, that is the whole reason for starting this thread and asking people's opinions and experinces with the 4's.

With respect to the Diesels, don't know for sure, but I think it has to do with the emissions laws in the US. I did see on TV yesterday where one of the major car makers had a prototype Diesel/electric hybrid sports car that got rediculously good mileage and with relatively good performance (0 to 60 in 6 seconds).

[TRAIL-OF-TEARS]

Steve,
back in 1992 I bought my first new car a 92 Grand Ma errr Grand Am 4 cyl 5 spd, a real dog. Just to keep from getting run over I had to put my foot in it quite a bit, it gave me around 23-26 mpg. After 2.5 years with that POS I bought a 1994 Camaro v6 auto plenty of pep and I would get 30-32 mpg. I think the bigger engine did not have to work so hard to get the thing moving so I was able to get better mpg. Also same with the Suburban and our Escape the the v8 suburban is 2.5 times the size of the escape (v6, 4x4) but they get the same mpg. Good luck.

[Cary Winch]

Steve,

That is what I see too. The bigger vehicles that should have a V8 don't do so well with a 6 and the smaller vehicles that should have a 6 don't do so well witha 4.

My wife had a Lesabre with the 3.8 6cyl in it that would get 33-34 all day. Craig has two of them and rarely does he see less that 30 out of either and they are both very tired. When my wife got rid of the Lesabre she got a Grand Prix with a 3.1 one it and was only getting about 30mpg. So, go figure the bigger lesabre with the bigger more powerfull engine got better mileage.

I talk to alot of customers about mileage towing their teardrops. Most with a 6 cyl will lose 2-3 mpg at reasonably speeds. With a 4 cyl. I see mileage losses of 4-6 mpg towing. Cranking it up to interstate speeeds tends to take another 2 mpg or so out when towing a tear.

I don't really buy the emmisions issue with the diesels. The reason I say that is because I get over to Germany once in a great while. About half the cars there are diesels, most being cars we have here not in diesel. Pollution standards in Germany are probably the strictest anywhere. Heck you can only mow your lawn a few times a year to cut pollution, lots of rock gardens and shrubberies there.

Cary

[remarquian]

Steve,

Now if the manufacturers could get their act together and start offering for sale here the diesel versions of the cars and trucks that they already offer in other countries. That is a big gripe of mine and alot of other people I know.

Cary

Actually it's going in the opposite direction. VW pulled their TDI Passat and Jetta Wagons this year

Anyone know why?

rob

[madjack]

Steve,

Now if the manufacturers could get their act together and start offering for sale here the diesel versions of the cars and trucks that they already offer in other countries. That is a big gripe of mine and alot of other people I know.

Cary

Actually it's going in the opposite direction. VW pulled their TDI Passat and Jetta Wagons this year

Anyone know why?

rob

...because in their present form, they couldn't meet gov't emissions guidelines, so they have been discontinued until they could............
madjack

[remarquian]

...because in their present form, they couldn't meet gov't emissions guidelines, so they have been discontinued until they could............
madjack

But they continue to offer the TDI Jetta and Bug....

Pardon my whining.

rob

[billnut]

VW can not sell there Diesel cars in 2007 on count of they well not meet CA smog laws for 2007 the VW pickup is ok to sell it is not a Diesel car
Bill

[IndyCubby]

...because in their present form, they couldn't meet gov't emissions guidelines, so they have been discontinued until they could............
madjack

But they continue to offer the TDI Jetta and Bug....

Pardon my whining.

rob

Rumor has it that all the vw diesels will disappear for the 2007MY due to the increased emissions standards. Supposedly they are moving to Common Rail injection across the entire product line and the diesels will be reintroduced here in 2008.

http://dieselforecast.com/ArticleDetail ... icleID=282

Same for Jeep....Jeep has stopped production of the CRD Liberty. All that are left are the ones left on the lots. They stopped taking orders about a month ago.

Crazy EPA!

[madjack]

...because in their present form, they couldn't meet gov't emissions guidelines, so they have been discontinued until they could............
madjack

But they continue to offer the TDI Jetta and Bug....

Pardon my whining.

rob

I believe that will be pulled offa the market for 2007 leaving only the VW Touraeg(sp) as their only diesel offering(it's classified as a truck...go figure)...the diesels should reappear in '08
madjack

[tupelosue]

The timing of this thread (and the other about mpg when towing) couldn't be better for me.

I'm waiting for a definitive diagnosis on my subaru forrester. Per the dealer it may have "an internal problem" (don't we all??) and I have it into another shop tomorrow for something a little more specific. My fear is cracked block or something along those lines, and it being a '98 I don't see replacing the engine.

I've been looking around at the options, and that was before i read this thread!!!

What i want my next car to do:
get good gas mileage (i drive for a living)heck, why not GREAT gas mileage!
easily tow a teardrop (not sure of the wt)
carry 2 kayaks on top
carry a scooter (vespa) either inside, on , or on a rack, while towing the teardrop!!

Is this asking too much? so far i've considered subaru baja, honda element, honda crv, ford escape hybrid, nissan frontier (i don't think i want a pick-up, tho)

any experiences with these would be welcome, and I'll just keep on reading.

thanks, this forum is well worth the admission fee

[alaska teardrop]

I'm waiting for a definitive diagnosis on my subaru forrester. being a '98 I don't see replacing the engine.

to do:
get good gas mileage (i drive for a living)heck, why not GREAT gas mileage!
easily tow a teardrop (not sure of the wt)
carry 2 kayaks on top
carry a scooter (vespa) either inside, on , or on a rack, while towing the teardrop!!

Sue,

:thinking: Maybe, it just deserves a new engine!

Fred

[asianflava]

Subrau engines are easily avaliable from engine brokers. My uncle called me one morning and asked if I could find him one. I called a place in NC where I'd bought an engine and they had the exact one I needed.

It was a mess because they were driving from Tampa to Biloxi and it broke down in Tallahassee. I think he checked the oil and forgot something. I had them trans-ship the engine to the shop in Tallahassee and my cousin paid for it with his credit card.

This was about 5 or 6 years ago, I think I had to fly out to CA later that afternoon. They still have the car.

[McTeardrops]

Steve

If one four won't do it for you, try this: