[geeks] Race Tracks

[Sandwich Maker]

" From: velociraptor <velociraptor at gmail.com>
" 
" On 4/19/07, Sandwich Maker <adh at an.bradford.ma.us> wrote:
" > " From: Sridhar Ayengar <ploopster at gmail.com>
" > "
" > " Sheldon T. Hall wrote:
" > " > BTW, if you want "a very nice, high mpg, smooth, quiet, comfortable little
" > " > car," try a Prius.  It ain't all that small inside, and it's got the "very
" > " > nice, high mpg, smooth, quiet, comfortable" bit down pat.
" > "
" > " Umm.  No thank you.  If I want something small with good mpg, I'll pick
" > " up a diesel Jetta.
" >
" > in spades.  from all i've heard, it's -extremely- difficult to
" > actually get the mileage they claim for it - and the benefits are only
" > in stop-and-go anyway, not highway cruising.
" >
" > and an echo turbodiesel - sold elsewhere on the planet - gets almost
" > as good mileage as the prius, all the time.
" >
" > btw the prius weighs ~800lbs more than the echo - ~2800lbs vs. ~2000 -
" > and apparently batteries and swoopy drivetrain don't account for
" > even most of the difference.
" 
" The hope is, with the changes to diesel fuel composition in the US
" that Toyota and other will start importing their diesels to the US.  A
" diesel Matrix would be quite nice.

there's some sign more companies will, though what it amounts to
remains to be seen.  but i'd expect models with any pretensions of
hip trendiness like the matrix would not be first on the list.

" For you modders--there's a company that puts out a kit to put a VW
" diesel into a Toyota pickup or Suzuki Samurai.  Apparently it's also
" possible to get Toyota L-series diesel engines in the US, just not in
" the pre-built vehicles.

funny you should mention that!  i've recently been considering
dieselizing a jeep cherokee with a 2L-TE.  i was led to the idea by a
confluence of transmissions; jeep bought from the same supplier [aisin
warner] that toyota does.

it's possible to get virtually any japanese engine and bits here; do a
web search on 'jdm engines'...  they talk mostly about performance
engines, but many will work to order.
________________________________________________________________________
Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen
adh at an.bradford.ma.us                       and think what none thought