Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Uncle Joe]

Which of these statements regarding classics are true, and which are false?

1) An early Citroen 2CV uses roughly half as much fuel as a Toyota Prius?

2) A Triumph Herald has a smaller turning circle than a Smart?

3) An american big block (7 litre) musclecar from around 1970 uses 50% less petrol than a modern Lambo?

[peter scott]

The official mixed motoring consumption of the Prius claims 65.7 MPG
The Smart seems to be quoted as 8.7 metres which is 28 feet
The combined fuel consumption for a 5 litre Gallardo is quoted as 16.6 MPG

Well the 1953 Motor Road Test of the 2CV quotes 54.7 MPG
I seem to recall the Herald turning circle as 24 feet
I'm not sure about the muscle car but 50% less would be about 33 MPG

So my answers would be:

1. False
2. True
3. False

[47Jag]

I would say they are all true under real world conditions.

I doubt the Prius can get the mileage claimed based on various motoring programs recently. The 2CV would have been actually measured by the road testers

I agree with Peter's turning circle

My opting for true on the big block is conditional that it has Quadrajet carb. fitted. I would say false if a Holley of any sort is fitted. A recent Top Gear show only got (I think) 4 MPG from a Lambo. But that was racing.

Art

[peter scott]

I was curious about the Prius as a possible replacement for my diesel Mondeo having been put off by reports of unreliability of the more recent electronic injection system of current Mondeo diesels and came across this road test:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/used_car_reviews/article3552994.ece

Very unimpressive!

Peter

[47Jag]

Peter,

That was from an edition of Channel 4's 5th Gear which is one of the reasons that I don't think the Prius will live up to the figures claimed for it. There was also a Top Gear show a couple of weeks ago that pitted it against a BMW M3 and the BMW bettered it's consumption. Anyway It's too expensive for what it is....a wee 4 seater saloon.

Art

[Uncle Joe]

Number two is true. A Herald can also carry four people and luggage, something that isnt really possible with a Smart. So which is the better town car.

Number 3 should actually have read that n american musclecar from 1970 can travel 50% further on a gallon than a Lambo....sorry guys.

Number 1 refers to the very first series of 2CV...Greeney and Old-Nail will know the correct answer to that one...

[peter scott]

The Motor Road Test 2CV was the one with the 375cc engine developing
9 bhp @ 3500rpm. The 54.7 mpg was calculated from 1325 miles driving hard. The steady speed fuel consumption figures were quoted as follows:

76.0 mpg @ constant 20mph
75.0 mpg @ constant 30mph
70.0 mpg @ constant 35mph

[Uncle Joe]

The only one of the questions that has a clear answer is the one regarding the Herald.

Of the others, its a question of where the info is obtained from.

My own sources would say False, true, true...

A Road test of a Lambo Murky-whatsit says 8 mp (Imperial)g, a Dodge Challenger 12mp(US)g

Still, irrespective of the correct answer, it does pose a few questions as to the direction cars have gone, doesnt it?

[Greeney in France]

Top gear test of BMW V8 5series following a Toyota Prius around their track the TP in front
the TP returned 17mpg for 10 fast laps around the track but the BMW was 19mpg
Its not the car but the way you drive that makes the difference
_________________
www.OldFrenchCars.com

We do these things not to escape life but to prevent life escaping us

[pigtin]

If I might digress a little: Claimed economy figures in many cases are Bull****.
I bought a new Kia Rio 1500cc Diesel last year. One of the reasons was the claimed economy figures 68.5 mpg.
Last week I complained that it wouldn’t do more than 46MPG, “Oh! 5% down.” They
said, “Hang on— I make it nearer 30%” I complained and was told I couldn’t realistically expect more than an average of 50mpg. If I suspected it of doing less they would do a check, at my expense, involving two tanks of fuel, full to empty. If it did less than 50mpg Kia would do something about it.
Checking various websites I found this complaint to be common. 46 mpg being claimed by many. I would be happy with around 60mpg on a long journey but I can find no reports of Kia actually doing anything to correct this economy problem.

[Uncle Joe]

Just checking through road tests, the overall figure for an early 2Cv was 64mpg. For a TP, 45. So from that, it does look as though the answer to my original question is false.

As regards diesels, I've just looked a two tests done here, one for an Audi A3, the other a Passat TDI. The first recorded overall 0.4litres/10km, the other 0.3. Which very very roughly is 60mpg and 70mpg...