The kids have been thrilled about our new car (as have Heidi and I). We have dubbed it SB, which is short for Silver Bullet or Slug Bug. They now play the slug bug game (without the slugging) every time we go for a drive and are tickled pink that they get the first one free.
As for me, I'm happy that it is getting 42.5 mpg. I need to take it in and have the turbo looked at though, because it frequently loses oomph when the RPMs are between 2500 and 2900.
In my prior post, the 35 mpg fleet average remark is to do with an energy bill that Senate is working on currently. The car companies are wailing as usual that is just isn't possible. However, I think there are plenty of decent ideas already in existence that could make that goal achievable. The only thing that would be hard to do is maintain the status quo, which we've already established needs to change.
NOTE: Updated link to wikipedia's Scientific Opinion on Climate Change page. 6/18/2007
7 comments :
How do you play "slug bug" with out the slugging, and how do you get "the first one free", first one what?
Have a hybrid Civic waiting for us in Charleston. Wanted the prius at a whopping 50 and 61 miles per gallon. But, in the end, Mike won and got the Honda. Still, should be good.
Playing slug bug without the slugging is all about the glory in seeing it first. The first one is the one we're riding in.
Very cool Mimi. Reminds me of a thought I had of late that the real leaders of any society are not the elected officials. It is the people who lead. We can only hope that our elected officials are paying attention and follow our lead.
Honda's are awesome!! Hope you enjoy it. I love Minnie.
James, I agree with you that much better gas mileage could be attained by good engineering of automobiles.
The Honda Accord Hybrid (also other Honda V-6's)have a scheme by which they switch out three of the six cylinders when above certain speeds and constant speed. They claim about 40mpg highway. But they switch all six cyls back on if the accelerator is depressed just a little bit.
Similarly, on my Accord V-6 (~33mpg freeway), with the automatic transmission, they shift down if I depress the accelerator very much.
Now a gas engine (called the Otto Cycle, named after a German engineer) is about 21% efficient -- at best!, when it is operating at wide-open throttle. I doubt if the present automobiles ever operate at wide-open throttle except when the driver burns the rubber leaving a stop light. More likely they are operating with a slightly cracked throttle -- at an efficiency of about 4-5%
Can't reach a fleet average of 35-45mpg? Baloney!! Properly designed that Accord V-6 should do better than 45mpg highway and still be able to burn rubber at the stoplight.
Just to let you know, Abby saw a silver New Beetle yesterday on the road and other than recognizing cars that look like mine that was, I think, the first time she has been insistent to know what car it was.
What is that?
A beetle.
But what is it called?
A beetle.
Why is it so small?
Because that is the way they wanted to build it.
I told her that you guys have one now and that it would likely be driven to Seattle shortly. I think she is interested to see one up close.
Gotta like her taste.
Good Job! :)
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