Are those numbers from a U.K. source?
Is that 34.4 miles per imperial gallon? Or U.S. gallon?

I'm not busting on you, just pointing out that a gallon isn't always a gallon. The ones in the UK are about 20% larger than the ones in the U.S., so it helps to know which one someone is using when calculating MPG.

Before somebody else in this thread gives me an earful: Yes, I too would really like to see a larger variety of modern diesel engines available in passenger cars and light trucks in the U.S. I have (wisely) never held my breath waiting for them.

Is that 4500 lb the normal "curb weight" people often use when comparing vehicles?

I would think that you would have to add a substantial load of passengers and luggage to come up with that number for a W124 E300.

Who says they have to emit anything? Being one who works in the refinery business, I can tell you that anything that comes out of a smokestack can be refined into something else instead, it's all just a matter of money. People who own fuel-inefficient cars should pay taxes to help pay for it, at this point it has become a matter of national security, and perhaps even the end of the species.

One bit of extra weight that can be eliminated are the electronic stability controls. Then people will be forced to drive a little better.

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1984 300TD

Hatterasguy has the right idea with the taxes, provided the revenue is used for a worthwhile purpose as opposed to more "nation building". It is the easiest way to modify peoples' behavior without all this fuel economy legislation. This idea doesn't seem to be hurting the Europeans too badly- that's why they have all the fuel-efficient cars that they do.

Actually I would, too. Assuming I could squeeze my fat @$$ into it.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Seat belts, airbags, ABS systems...let's cut the fat and return to the essence of the automotive experience circa 1946. Just don't hit a random squirrel crossing the roadway, else you smite the metal dashboard and the non-safety glass windshield.

thats GVW... the SDL weighs like 3700 lbs with a GVW of 4k... IIRC anything over 4999 GVW requires a CDL or certain endorsment

As an added health benefit, 0 to 60 in 14.2 seconds will help tone flabby spinchter muscles as you try to merge into 70 mph freeway traffic from a short, hilly entrance ramp.

In Florida? Go look it up, grasshopper!

I don't see the big deal either. My 2004 Jetta weighs 3000 lbs and easily gets 45 mpg. And the older ones get even better mileage because they have less power. Anyone who insists cars can't get 35 mpg 7 years from now must be smoking something. Heck, even the auto industry is going along with it this time, so what's the problem?

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Your E300 doesn't weigh 4500 lbs (that's the gross, not curb weight), but I agree with what you're saying. Even some of the smaller hybrid SUV's are already pushing over 30 mpg today. This is highly doable. I think what PaulC is protesting is the idea of saying goodbye to oversized poopboxes like the Hummer H2.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I never said we should do it, but I assume you had a little eco in college? Supply and demand, you need to raise the price to the point where other technoligy becomes affordable.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I've always liked that idea, especially if the tax was used strictly to pay down the national debt. But I'm afraid it's a political non-starter.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Never assume, you'd probably be wrong. Seems like Europe pays way more than we do, and have generally higher mpg for their vehicles......hm.....might be on to something here....

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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

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