<Light green is the new black. Or the new definition of environmentalism.The Oil DrumDrumBeat: May 15, 2006>

38 comments on A short-term closure of a theme perhaps, and a song?

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ThatsItImout on May 15, 2006 - 3:42am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

You want to slow down?  Do what I did and buy a German car!  Not just any German car, mine is an ancient Mercedes Benz 240D Diesel, 4 cylinders and 4 speed stick...the option of "slowing down" will no longer be optional!  :-)

Roger Conner  known to you as ThatsItImout

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Engineer-Poet on May 15, 2006 - 10:28am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
I've got a German car with a 4-cylinder diesel engine and a 5-speed.  It climbs mountains and accelerates to freeway speeds from 40 MPH in top gear.  Its top speed is at least 100 MPH.  Slow down?  It sure won't make you.

The only thing that helps is the real-time MPG reading on the trip computer.

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jokuhl on May 15, 2006 - 11:42am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
EP:
  Is your TRIP COMPUTER part of the car, or an add-on?  I mentioned this the other day, thinking that people would probably behave differenly if the MPG info was right in their face all the time.

  Is there a device that connects to the engine's computer-data-plug that can yield that readout? *(most US cars have that now, for servicers to do diagnostics, right?)

Bob Fiske

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Engineer-Poet on May 15, 2006 - 2:44pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
It came with the car (part of the VW dash cluster).  I can't say if it's standard equipment or not, but it probably should be.
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RickD on May 15, 2006 - 7:48pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
http://www.scangauge.com/

http://www.jcwhitney.com/   Search for "Miles"

MILES-PER-GALLON GAUGE
JC Whitney Price: $27.99

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Substrate on May 15, 2006 - 11:06pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
The JC Whitney gauge is a vaccuum gauge in miles-per-gallon gauge clothing.  Could probably help in keeping you from romping on the gas pedal (probably just wig out if you have a turbo), but I doubt it'll really tell you what you're getting for your gallon.
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Bryant on May 15, 2006 - 11:06am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
That's not entirely fair...I have a '76 240D and it goes fast...down steep hills.  It also has a feature to discourage tailgating; voluminous clouds of acrid black smoke, generated when ever the accelerator is depressed.

All I want for christmas is a turbo.

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AlanfromBigEasy on May 15, 2006 - 9:37pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
I also have a 1982 M-B 240D, manual transmission.  Low mileage, pristine condition.

I get 31 mpg in the city.

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