Ford Fiesta vs. Yaris

[firebob]

Ford stopped work on the Fiesta during the auto makers bail out. This was done because it was not a hybrid. As far as I know they are going to keep the door open to the money but they want the GM stuff worked out first. If they put money into a non hybrid it will nock them out of the money option.

Aclark
I think the E90 law started in 2007. I think this dropped the MPG from 40 to 35 mpg. By this time next year we till be driving E85 so it will drop one more time.


In the next 4 to 5 years I do not see a 4 wheel US car getting a better gas mileage then the Yaris unless it is a 3 cylinder, a hybrid, or high test gas.

[mryaris]

Originally Posted by firebob

I think the E90 law started in 2007. I think this dropped the MPG from 40 to 35 mpg. By this time next year we till be driving E85 so it will drop one more time.

I'm not sure what you mean by this, but I suspect you just mistyped. Right now E10 is the predominant fuel mixture (10% ethanol & 90% gasoline).........E85 can only be run in flex fuel cars and is 85% ethanol & 15% gasoline. I think you just got it backwards.....what you call E90 is actually E10, etc.

FWIW, we have always had oxygenated gas here in Colorado (at least as long as I've lived here/been driving). Originally it was MTBE, but that was phased out several years ago as it pollutes ground water pretty substantially, now ethanol has claimed the throne.

That said, I use E10 and have used E10/oxygenated gas in all of my cars since the mid-80's and have never noticed any appreciable drop in fuel economy. I average 37 MPG in my Yaris HB and hit 40MPG on my last tank.

As for the Fiesta.....it is a very nice looking car. I don't care much for Ford's either, but it is still a sharp car. I'll have to go check one out at the dealer. I happened to see one in Boulder on Memorial Day and wanted to get a closer look, but I was running a 10K race and stopping would have hurt worse than if I just kept running! :)

[firebob]

I’m not a chemist and don’t under stand it all…

So I have it backwards. We are currently using E10 right now but soon it will be replaced by E15. E85 is flex fuel.

I do know that ethanol is an oxygen additive and the older popular one was MTBE. Are they now using both now in some places?

I have tested gas right out of the hose from time to time and the largest amount of ethanol I have found was about 38% using one of these things.