Prius Looses MPG race against a BMW Diesel!

[JAXTOY]

Have you ever been behind a Bio-Diesel? They don't smell like French Fries!!! I was wheelin' behind one at Cruise Moab last year, I let a couple vehicles go by...I couldn't stand the smell!!!!!!

[jeshua]

JAXTOY previously said:

Have you ever been behind a Bio-Diesel? They don't smell like French Fries!!! I was wheelin' behind one at Cruise Moab last year, I let a couple vehicles go by...I couldn't stand the smell!!!!!!

The smell will change depending on were they get the used oil from and whether they do the last cleaning process that is optional.

[Fjamming]

They are comparing a Prius (subcompact?) to a 520 (midsize) and the Prius still lost. The 5 series is not a small car!

Stats based on the first article

Vital Statistics

Model BMW 520d SE
Engine 1995cc, four cylinders
Power 177bhp @ 4000rpm
Torque 258 lb ft @ 1750rpm
Transmission Six-speed manual
Official fuel/CO2 55.4mpg / 136g/km
Performance 0-62mph: 8.3sec
Top speed 144mph
Road tax band C (£115)
Price £27,190
Fuel used on test 10.84 gallons (50.3mpg)
Fuel cost £54.19 (diesel)
gallons (48.1mpg)
Fuel cost £54.64 (petrol)

Model Toyota Prius T Spirit
Engine 1497cc, four cylinders
Electric motor 50kW/67bhp
Power 77bhp @ 5000rpm
Torque 295 lb ft (motor) 85 lb ft (engine)
Transmission CVT automatic
Official fuel/CO2 65.7mpg / 104g/km
Performance 0-62mph: 10.9sec
Top speed 106mph
Road tax band B (£15, alternative fuel)
Price £20,677
Fuel used on test 11.34
Fuel cost £54.64 (petrol)

[Zem]

The piston-cylinder internal combustion engine has been studied intently by insanely wealthy companies hoping to improve it for over a century. So is it any surprise that they can make something slightly more fuel efficient than a technology that has finally gotten a little attention in the last few decades?

Our attention spans seem pretty short. Rotary engines, fuel cells, battery hybrids, etc... they get a little attention and then someone says "yeah, but it's got nothing on this one engine." The investment in dollars is orders of magnitude different.

I also find it pretty funny that anyone driving something getting less than 20mpg is giving **** to something getting 48mpg in a test by people clearly biased against it.

[Woodsman]

Zem previously said:

The piston-cylinder internal combustion engine has been studied intently by insanely wealthy companies hoping to improve it for over a century. So is it any surprise that they can make something slightly more fuel efficient than a technology that has finally gotten a little attention in the last few decades?

Our attention spans seem pretty short. Rotary engines, fuel cells, battery hybrids, etc... they get a little attention and then someone says "yeah, but it's got nothing on this one engine." The investment in dollars is orders of magnitude different.

I also find it pretty funny that anyone driving something getting less than 20mpg is giving **** to something getting 48mpg in a test by people clearly biased against it.

So what are you trying to say ?

I don't think any of us have anything against the hybrids. Diesel engines, however, have for many years had a reputation for being efficient, powerful(especially in torque), and long lasting. After 300,000 miles, there is little doubt that the Prius batteries will be littering our dumps and giving off whatever pollutants they give off.

There is one thing for certain, ethanol as we are currently trying to produce and use it is bad news. It is bad for smog, adversely affects the costs of competing crops, milk, etc. and is so inefficient to produce that it isn't amusing.

I find the idea of using more electric vehicles, or vehicles with on-board generating abilities (Chevy Volt) to be the most interesting. A very large percentage of out public could easily use an electric vehicle with limited range for a commuter.

[jeshua]

Zem previously said:

The piston-cylinder internal combustion engine has been studied intently by insanely wealthy companies hoping to improve it for over a century. So is it any surprise that they can make something slightly more fuel efficient than a technology that has finally gotten a little attention in the last few decades?

Our attention spans seem pretty short. Rotary engines, fuel cells, battery hybrids, etc... they get a little attention and then someone says "yeah, but it's got nothing on this one engine." The investment in dollars is orders of magnitude different.

I also find it pretty funny that anyone driving something getting less than 20mpg is giving **** to something getting 48mpg in a test by people clearly biased against it.

I saw no bias in this test they stated the facts and added a little story and a little back ground info. Results BMW got 50+mpg while the Prius got 48.1mpg. Also things to consider is the guy in the BMW was using the AC and radio while the guy in the Prius did not, trying to get the best millage possible and he still lost.

This things wasn't even fair to begin with like FJamming mentioned one of these cars was designed from the start to be fuel efficient while the other was designed to be a mid size family sedan and the "favorite" lost.

[Mtbcoach]

Zem previously said:

The piston-cylinder internal combustion engine has been studied intently by insanely wealthy companies hoping to improve it for over a century. So is it any surprise that they can make something slightly more fuel efficient than a technology that has finally gotten a little attention in the last few decades?

Our attention spans seem pretty short. Rotary engines, fuel cells, battery hybrids, etc... they get a little attention and then someone says "yeah, but it's got nothing on this one engine." The investment in dollars is orders of magnitude different.

I also find it pretty funny that anyone driving something getting less than 20mpg is giving **** to something getting 48mpg in a test by people clearly biased against it.

The truth of the matter is that there are many who would rather drive a diesel powered FJ or even a hybrid.

If anyone had any true sense, they would make a diesel power hybrid engine. While its running, it is running more efficiently on diesel fuel then when it can run off the batteries, its doing even better.

One of my father in-laws buddies has converted his sport fishing boat into a diesel hybrid of sorts. He has installed electric trolling and docking motors that are electric, charged via the main power plant running off diesel, charging the bank of batteries. Makes a lot of sense to me considering how much fuel those sport fishing guys burn idling away while trolling...

[tractorlegend]

I think a carbureted basic pushrod 4 cyl. 1976 Datsun B-210 got 38mpg... It seems with the advent of fuel injection, computerized timing, variable cam timing somehow we pedaled backward as far as MPG goes. It would seem it would go in the better direction.

[tahoe66]

Fjamming previously said:

They are comparing a Prius (subcompact?) to a 520 (midsize) and the Prius still lost. The 5 series is not a small car!

Stats based on the first article

Vital Statistic missing.....sticker price. 60K vs 23K. Not exactly apples to apples.

[Woodsman]

tractorlegend previously said:

I think a carbureted basic pushrod 4 cyl. 1976 Datsun B-210 got 38mpg... It seems with the advent of fuel injection, computerized timing, variable cam timing somehow we pedaled backward as far as MPG goes. It would seem it would go in the better direction.

There's a lot of us that wonder the same thing. Of course, many vehicles now are much heavier. Everyone has been getting carried away with power (engine size and increased fuel consumption), safety (more weight to compete with bigger vehicles), convenience (lots of additional electric motors and such).

I can tell you that my big ol' 1973 Chrysler Newport with 400ci big block, 2 barrel carb, and emissions controls was only listed at 185 hp and could get almost 20 mpg on the highway. Sure it was geared high but it was well over two tons and still fast off the line for a whale-mobile.