Author Topic: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage  (Read 5175 times)

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Offline Wretched Excess

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BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« on: April 03, 2008, 09:41:26 PM »
BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage

Readers of London's Sunday Times kept telling the auto reporters that the official mileage numbers for the Prius were overstated by about 15 imperial mpg. Intrigued, the Times decided to test things out by running a Prius against a BMW 520d with regenerative braking from London to Geneva, a 460-mile trip. Then they added 100 miles of urban running to give the Prius a chance to recover ground on its proper turf.

The verdict: the conventional diesel with Efficient Dynamics beat the full hybrid by 2.2 imperial mpg, or 1.8 US mpg. This means that an executive sedan with all the mod-cons and 500 extra pounds beat the mollusk-shaped sip-tastic wunderkind known as the Prius. And the diesel's CO2 emissions are just 32 g/km higher than the hybrid poster-child, to boot.

Admittedly, we find the test a bit unfair -- the Prius is not meant show its muscle at "75-mph into a headwind," and adding 100 miles of urban driving doesn't make up for 460 miles of autoroute. Reverse those driving conditions and then let's see who won. Still, for all of us diesel fans out there, it's a feather we won't mind putting in the cap.

Linky


unbelievable.  even with the highway driving and the regenerative brakes.  factor in the fact that lighter
is ultimately much less save in a collision, and the loss of comfort while you are still living, and it makes
you wonder why anyone would put themselves through the ordeal of owning a prius.

unless, of course, it's about how you feel about owning a prius. :-)

Offline Chris_

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Re: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2008, 09:43:31 PM »
BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage

Readers of London's Sunday Times kept telling the auto reporters that the official mileage numbers for the Prius were overstated by about 15 imperial mpg. Intrigued, the Times decided to test things out by running a Prius against a BMW 520d with regenerative braking from London to Geneva, a 460-mile trip. Then they added 100 miles of urban running to give the Prius a chance to recover ground on its proper turf.

The verdict: the conventional diesel with Efficient Dynamics beat the full hybrid by 2.2 imperial mpg, or 1.8 US mpg. This means that an executive sedan with all the mod-cons and 500 extra pounds beat the mollusk-shaped sip-tastic wunderkind known as the Prius. And the diesel's CO2 emissions are just 32 g/km higher than the hybrid poster-child, to boot.

Admittedly, we find the test a bit unfair -- the Prius is not meant show its muscle at "75-mph into a headwind," and adding 100 miles of urban driving doesn't make up for 460 miles of autoroute. Reverse those driving conditions and then let's see who won. Still, for all of us diesel fans out there, it's a feather we won't mind putting in the cap.

Linky


unbelievable.  even with the highway driving and the regenerative brakes.  factor in the fact that lighter
is ultimately much less save in a collision, and the loss of comfort while you are still living, and it makes
you wonder why anyone would put themselves through the ordeal of owning a prius.

unless, of course, it's about how you feel about owning a prius. :-)

The Automotive Industry tries to make its point on MPG. 

But the real measure is SPG -- Smugs Per Gallon.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2008, 09:47:27 PM »
The 520d is the diesel model?

Honda sells a diesel Civic (everywhere but here) that gets 50 MPG.  Informal mileage tests by some test drivers got that number up to 70.
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Offline Wretched Excess

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Re: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2008, 09:58:52 PM »
The 520d is the diesel model?

Honda sells a diesel Civic (everywhere but here) that gets 50 MPG.  Informal mileage tests by some test drivers got that number up to 70.

yeah, but I think the ironic note that they were attempting to strike was to put a mid-high end BMW up against the prius, which is only slightly more comfortable than a torture chamber.

I just thought it was amusing.

Offline Miss Mia

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Re: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2008, 11:07:48 PM »
Another bonus for diesel.   :-)
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Re: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2008, 11:10:29 PM »
The 520d is the diesel model?

Honda sells a diesel Civic (everywhere but here) that gets 50 MPG.  Informal mileage tests by some test drivers got that number up to 70.

Too bad diesel is now 80 cents more than f'n regular. Is it a savings?
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Offline Wretched Excess

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Re: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2008, 11:10:35 PM »
Another bonus for diesel.   :-)

there is a comments section at the link, and there are some seriously hard core diesel advocates posting there.  I never considered diesel vs. gasoline to be one of those "religious issues", but apparently it is. :???:

Offline Chris_

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Re: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« Reply #7 on: April 03, 2008, 11:13:44 PM »
The 520d is the diesel model?

Honda sells a diesel Civic (everywhere but here) that gets 50 MPG.  Informal mileage tests by some test drivers got that number up to 70.

Too bad diesel is now 80 cents more than f'n regular. Is it a savings?

It is if you factor in the improved mileage.  Diesels work best in larger applications... a Chevy half-ton pickup with a gas 5.7/350cid would be lucky to get double-digit miles per gallon, while a similar truck with a 6.2 Duramax will get about 20 MPG.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« Reply #8 on: April 03, 2008, 11:15:08 PM »
Another bonus for diesel.   :-)

there is a comments section at the link, and there are some seriously hard core diesel advocates posting there.  I never considered diesel vs. gasoline to be one of those "religious issues", but apparently it is. :???:

You can make diesel fuel out of almost anything... coal, sewage, industrial waste, and pond scum.  I'd love to have one.
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Offline Wretched Excess

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Re: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« Reply #9 on: April 03, 2008, 11:25:07 PM »
Another bonus for diesel.   :-)

there is a comments section at the link, and there are some seriously hard core diesel advocates posting there.  I never considered diesel vs. gasoline to be one of those "religious issues", but apparently it is. :???:

You can make diesel fuel out of almost anything... coal, sewage, industrial waste, and pond scum.  I'd love to have one.

it would just jack up the market price for industrial waste and pond scum.  look at what ethanol has done for corn. :-)

Offline Chris_

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Re: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« Reply #10 on: April 03, 2008, 11:28:56 PM »
Check out this article (and the mugshot)...
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Man Arrested For Stealing Burker King's Grease, Biodiesel Blamed

A man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly stealing a South Bay, Ca Burger King's used cooking grease. Burger King normally pays contractors to remove and dispose of the inedible and previously worthless oil, but the franchise's manager called police when he found 49-year-old David Richardson pumping the storage bins behind the burger joint clean.

It's assumed that Richardson intended to convert the grease into biodiesel that he could then use in his own vehicle to save money on fuel, or to sell for a profit. It's not known what penalties he'll face.

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Offline Lacarnut

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Re: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« Reply #11 on: April 03, 2008, 11:35:57 PM »
Once the Prius gets over 60 mph per hour, the gas mileage sinks like a tank. Factor in the initial extra cost of the vehicle and price of a new set of batteries and your saving are nill. Try selling it in its 4th year in service and the resale value drops considerably.

Offline Chris_

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Re: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« Reply #12 on: April 03, 2008, 11:42:28 PM »


That is a nice looking car.
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Offline Wretched Excess

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Re: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« Reply #13 on: April 03, 2008, 11:45:52 PM »


That is a nice looking car.



the prius is, uh, ummm.  well, this one is silver. :-)

(hot bandwidth alert)

Offline Lacarnut

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Re: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« Reply #14 on: April 03, 2008, 11:53:57 PM »


That is a nice looking car.



the prius is, uh, ummm.  well, this one is silver. :-)

(hot bandwidth alert)

The BMW is a beautifull car. The Prius reminds me of an inverted bathtub but it cost $20k less.

Offline Miss Mia

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Re: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« Reply #15 on: April 03, 2008, 11:57:55 PM »
The 520d is the diesel model?

Honda sells a diesel Civic (everywhere but here) that gets 50 MPG.  Informal mileage tests by some test drivers got that number up to 70.

Too bad diesel is now 80 cents more than f'n regular. Is it a savings?

I get 42 mpg, it's worth it. 
Another bonus for diesel.   :-)

there is a comments section at the link, and there are some seriously hard core diesel advocates posting there.  I never considered diesel vs. gasoline to be one of those "religious issues", but apparently it is. :???:

OMG it is.  :)  Really in life there are two sets of people, diesel or hybrid.  I'm fully on board with diesel.  I read a while ago, they're working on converting algae into biodiesel.  Biodiesel is where it's at, as long as we can get it from something other than soy beans.  It's cleaner to burn and if we can get a way to use it with something like algae, then an endless supply would be available, and it won't raise food prices like ethanol or a soy biodiesel.

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Offline Chris_

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Re: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« Reply #16 on: April 04, 2008, 12:40:59 AM »
the prius is, uh, ummm.  well, this one is silver. :-)

(hot bandwidth alert)

*snerk*

It's not any worse than the Insight that Honda was selling.  I think they're making a hybrid version of that as well.

The new Euro Civic looks nice: http://jalopnik.com/356307/2007-honda-civic-22-i+ctdi
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Offline Chris_

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Re: BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage
« Reply #17 on: April 04, 2008, 12:46:28 AM »
OMG it is.  :)  Really in life there are two sets of people, diesel or hybrid.  I'm fully on board with diesel.  I read a while ago, they're working on converting algae into biodiesel.  Biodiesel is where it's at, as long as we can get it from something other than soy beans.  It's cleaner to burn and if we can get a way to use it with something like algae, then an endless supply would be available, and it won't raise food prices like ethanol or a soy biodiesel.

They are doing some very cool things with biodiesel and algae.  If you're on FreeRepublic, ping Uncledave and get on his Alternative Energy list.  This came up the other week:

http://claytonbodiecornell.greenoptions.com/2007/06/14/algae-biodiesel-startups-plan-large-scale-algae-farms/

Plus you get cool headlines like "POO POWER: Giant Vat of Crap to Produce Natural Gas for California"
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