[geeks] electric cars

[Phil Brutsche]

Sandwich Maker wrote:
> what little i've heard about the renault diesel hasn't been salutory.
> and underpowered?!?  but it's backed with the ax5, so the toyota
> swap again...

They used a few French components (diesels from Renault and
transmissions from Peugot) at a time when French cars had quality
comparable to a Yugo. Most knowledgeable people curse the Peugot
transmissions on sight and replace them wherever possible.

Unless I can buy 3 or 4 for spare parts I wouldn't use that engine today.

The power numbers I can find for it are 85 hp @ 3750, 132 ft-lb @ 2750.

Going by the numbers alone it compares relatively well with other ~2.0L
engines of the era (Chrysler's 2.2L was ~95hp / ~110ft-lb).

Underpowered? Probably. That's not much torque, especially for a diesel
(should be at least 20% higher), and the vehicle weighs 3200-3300lb.

I hear it got great fuel economy though (28 city, high 30s highway).

-- 

Phil Brutsche
phil at tux.obix.com