In 1970 a Nova did well at 20 MPG. Imagine what a V8 Nova MPG mileage was in a Nova? 15 MPG? And the point of my spare tire was my Malibu it didn't come with one, to supposedly increase in gas mileage. I had to add one, that I took off my sold 2002 Chevy Camaro, as sidewall blowout cannot be repaired by tire sealant at all, but a spare tire alone. Gas prices were dirt cheap until 1973. I should know as I was in the fuel distribution and sale of petroleum products, back then. OPEC increased the price of fuels and lubes in 1973, not us. The dude that bought my Camaro got a *very* good lower price on it; I feel no guilt or shame for snatching up the spare tire at all. I dont play the shame-game at all, and dont by into it at all.

 

wow so much improvement.

 

mountainmanjoe:
Why are you using 4x4 and pickups? How about using lots of cars?

A 1970 Nova I-6 at 20 MPG to a Chevy Malibu 2.5 liter that can get 40 MPG easily?

 

#1 - it clearly says Suburban 2WD
#2 -
Because it shouldn't matter. ALL engines in the lineup are "improved". In fact, GM puts a lot of their newest technology (AFM) into their pickups because they are gas guzzlers.
Once again, I think you are completely missing the point of my question so you can stop repeating about your Malibu. What if I can't drive a car? If that's all you have to add to the conversation, thank you. You can move on now.

 

You know, I like you MMJ. But I am likely older than you by a long shot. You may be a super-moderator here, but If we disagree on something, I think you need to let it go. In 1973 President Nixon instituted the nationwide 55 MPH speed limit. So lots of drivers like me ended up with speeding citations for going 65 MPH or so. My old Chevrolet Nova was not manufactured to go that slow, even with the I-6 250 GM engine. I was in the fuel and oil distribution system at the time. IMO, you need to keep your notions to yourself. I've nothing against you at all, MMJ, and I enjoy many of your posts here on Chevrolet Forum, but you do need to understand where I come from, being an older man. I love my 2015 Malibu, and I intend to keep her until I pass on. General Motors decided to be rid of spare donut tires to keep fuel mileage up, due to federal MPG standards. I GET that, but as a professional driver, I needed a real spare tire. I don't in any manner mean to harm your reputation here on C-F, but do try to understand that I am VERY mechanically inclined, and have done my best to help those who are not. I wish to keep on doing so if that is permitted. I am not in any way your enemy. But please try to allow me to agree or disagree with you on any subject. I am indeed glad you are here, and YOU do have a right to disagree with me, and I am with you, I hope that I have made myself clear and that we both remain here on Chevrolet Forum, no matter what. Best wishes, Mountain Man Joe (my middle name is Joseph)

 

Mind your own business.

This is my topic, but you can feel free to let it go any time you like.

what gave you the idea that anybody is trying to stop you?

clear as mud

 

they are pretty close 1to 2 mpg...it just seems really bad case the car is 3000lbs lighter and rwd. if i had a 4 speed lock up tcc the car would win

 

Well lets compare like to like. I believe 2005 was the last V6 Regal (they called it Lacross that year, but same car).
Not a significant difference over 20 year span. Economy improvements are minute. Only now everything is computerized, it takes an engineer to diagnose electronic problems. And sometimes if a control module fails, you might as well throw away the car.

 

14.7 is 14.7 carb or fuel injected. the 84 has 110hp the 05 has 200hp. I'd be curious to compare emissions.

they are more complex but do everything better. no more hard starts due to wet distributors or hard starts in winter...i could make a list.

its gonna get harder to diagnose...with all the driver assistance systems coming in; the computer speeds/data transfer needed to work them they have changed the entire network configuration. I am already seeing lots of glitches.😁

 

theoretically yes, but I don't think carbs were very precise. That was supposed to be a major improvement offered by FI. The mixture was computed hundreds of times per second, and with multi-port injectors and O2 sensors, each bank got just the right amount of fuel it needed.

but who cares if driving to work consumes the same amount of fuel as it did back then (only now gas costs triple). Extracting more power from each gallon SHOULD translate into better economy, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

catalytic converters made the biggest impact on emissions. I don't think they will be terribly different.


that's true. They do require less maintenance and tune ups.

exactly. Nobody is going to want to pay someone $150 and hour to sit there with a scope all day to diagnose a glitch because the windows won't go down or whatever. They'll either leave it be or get another car. And I think this is going to lead to a lot more cars going to the crusher. My TCM went out at 45k. Luckily for me, replacements were readily available at the time (for a handsome sum of $700). Parts are a lot harder to come by now, especially electronic ones. The module took out the transmission too which I had to replace for $4,500.