posted on May 8, 2006 11:28:21 PM newPain At The Pump: Government Gas Secrets
Mon May 8, 1:42 PM ET
The government has been keeping a secret about automobiles under wraps for the past 30 years.
Reporter Michelle Meredith teamed up with Consumer Reports to explain why your car probably does not get the mileage advertised.
The Consumer Reports' auto test track in Connecticut looks like it could be a new theme park in Orlando.
And when it comes to testing cars, Consumer Reports leaves no stone unturned, no lug nut loose. And here's the question Consumer Reports set out to answer -- does your car get the gas mileage promised on the showroom sticker.
It's the mileage you probably used to decide if the car fit your monthly budget.
First, Meredith took a look at how carmakers come up with these numbers because you could be in for a big surprise. The guidelines for the tests were set by the federal government decades ago, in the late 1970s. Gerald Ford was president and disco was king.
And under these guidelines by the Environmental Protection Agency, carmakers are allowed to test miles per gallon by running the vehicle not on the road, but on what's essentially a treadmill for cars.
During an EPA spot check, the car ran with no air conditioning, no inclines or hills, no wind resistance and at speeds no greater than 60 mph.
There's hardly anything real world about it, but it gives carmakers what they want -- the highest possible miles per gallon to put on that sticker.
"People are going into showrooms, they're looking at that sticker that says miles per gallon and they're saying, 'Oh it get goods miles per gallon,'" said Consumer Reports' David Champion. "In reality, they're being cheated."
Consumer Reports conducts their test on a track and in the real world.
First, they put them through a simulated city course. Next the highway -- a real highway. For the third test, they take the car out on a 150-mile day trip throughout Connecticut.
All the while, a special miles per gallon meter is ticking away. Their results? Many numbers you see on those stickers are off way off -- one as much as 50 percent.
For example, Chrysler says the four-wheel drive diesel version of the Jeep Liberty gets 22 mpg in the city. Consumer Reports tested it and found it got more like 11 mpg.
Honda claims its hybrid Civic sedan gets 48 mpg in the city. Consumer Reports found it only gets 26 mpg -- a 46 percent difference.
Chevy's Trailblazer EXT four-wheel drive is supposed to get 15 mpg in the city. For Consumer Reports, it was 9 mpg.
"It's an unrealistic sales and marketing tool that they are actually using. They are saying you're going to get 35 mpg, and you're really only going to get 21," Champion said.
Why is this allowed? Meredith asked the EPA's director of transportation.
"We cannot have a perfect test," said Margo Oge.
Oge said for so long, nobody really complained. Meanwhile, everything has changed.
"All the cars today have air conditioning, which was not the case in the mid-80s, and we drive at higher speeds because we are allowed to drive a higher speeds. And technology has changed," Oge said.
Carmakers know their number is up. Several have been to Consumer Reports' test track to see how they test real world conditions.
"I think it's desperately time for a change," Champion said.
The EPA has said a change is coming in time for the 2008 models, but is that soon enough? Consumers need real world tests with real world numbers now because with the price of gas constantly climbing, the real world has become a very ugly place.
The EPA said even though the new test will reflect more real-world conditions, there is no perfect test.
posted on May 9, 2006 08:49:02 AM new
It's a North American auto industry, Bear. It was a news story and not meant as a slam against the US government. Canada and the US do testing and should be responsible for more accurate information for the consumer because it concerns almost everyone.
Here is a site with lots of useful links for autos, calculators, electronics, mortgages, etc
posted on May 10, 2006 08:14:53 AM new
Another "secret" that is not so secret, nor is any conspiracy present.
As stated on the sticker, the mileage rating is NOT an indicator of real world mileage. It is to be used to compare 1 vehicle against another ONLY.
The tests are run on dynamometers under controlled conditions to eliminate external influences like drivers, atmospheric conditions and terrain. The computerized test has been found to be biased toward highway runs so it is being reformulated to include more "local" cycles. Plus no matter what the sticker says, the average twit complained that he didn't get the mileage posted on his last visit to grammy.
The car mfg didn't set this up, the EPA did. If you want to expose conspiracies, you should at least know what you're talking about.
PS: The "Energy star" label on your water heater is to be used to compare it with other water heaters, so if it costs $20/mo for hot water instead of $18, don't slit your wrists or blame GE.
[ edited by desquirrel on May 10, 2006 08:16 AM ]
posted on May 10, 2006 09:28:10 AM new
This has been around for over a year now, people have been complaining and the auto makers just ignored it. Now it seems that they may take action.
Do most people really care what mpg their vehicle gets or just they like the vehicle?
posted on May 10, 2006 10:10:34 AM new
Ron-I think its both.When my wife went shopping last August a big concern was gas mileage since she has to commute to work.We first looked at some mid-size cars,because she wanted a comfortable ride.But they were more expensive then the compacts and their gas mileage was also worse.We came down to 2 cars-the Suzuki sedan the Honda civic.I personally like the Suzuki better-it was nicer looking,the interior was more roomier and was comfortable to sit in-it was also alot cheaper then the Honda.The mileage(sticker) was close to the Honda.I went to Edmunds.com to find out what consumers thought of each car.Almost everone that bought a Suzuki said the Mileage sticker was waaaay over inflated and they werent happy about the gas mileage they were getting.Almost everyone that bought the Honda were very pleased with it including the gas mileage,so we got the Honda.
To answer your question-I think the way gas prices are going people ARE concern about the gas mileage.
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If you dont want to hear the truth....dont ask the question.
posted on May 10, 2006 10:11:16 AM new
The auto makers have nothing to do with it.
The tests and certifications leading to the mpg sticker are all a product of the EPA.
What the mfg DO do however is to calibrate the car so that it most perfectly "fits" the parameters of the test and so scores higher. This is why we have dual stage cooling systems so that cars warm up quicker, or why a tranny might shift at 28 instead of 35 if the portion of the test req the car to accel to 30 and run 4 minutes, etc.
posted on May 10, 2006 02:17:59 PM new
People are definitely concerned about gas mileage. Just ask a car dealer. They're practically giving away big trucks, and I presume big SUV's too. This is a lousy time to be selling a big pickup but it's a great time to be buying one. I have my old 2000 Ford diesel 4door 3/4 ton out on the highway with a for sale sign on it, and it's been there for a month with a dirt cheap price and no takers. On the other hand, the new and similar GMC I just bought ended up costing almost 12k LESS than I would have paid for it a year ago. The wife and I now regularly argue over who gets to take the Honda to town, trips in the trucks are limited to need-only.
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posted on May 10, 2006 02:48:11 PM new
Im still getting 18 to 19 mpg on my 94 Ford F150 SC w/255 k miles on it. Guess I'll keep it til thw wheels fall off.
"“More Iraqis think things are going well in Iraq than Americans do. I guess they don’t get the New York Times over there.”—Jay Leno".
posted on May 10, 2006 09:38:38 PM new
bear, I would have kept the Ford too, but it's gone through 3 rear ends in 6 years and there are stress fractures in the bed section of the frame...You'd think a 3/4 ton diesel could pull a six horse trailer...I have an old GMC half ton that can do it, although slowly. Heck, my 94 Suburban half ton can do it too. I usually think the only way to get your money out of a vehicle is to drive it into the ground, but this Ford was a swap for two horses and I got it cheap. I don't want to throw good money after bad so it's bye bye, assuming I can find somebody to buy it. Otherwise I guess it'll become a stump puller or something.
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posted on May 10, 2006 09:43:19 PM new
or an Armada
or a Tahoe
or a Sequoia
I buy trucks that will actually tow something desquirrel, not soccer mom toys. The new 06 GMC I just bought came out 12K less than the same model 05 I priced a year ago, thanks to factory incentives, and the dealers need to get rid of the inventory languishing on his lot.
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posted on May 11, 2006 03:18:53 AM new
And that 2006 is the same as the 2005 which was the same as...
Your point that "big" is less sellable just isn't true. What is true is that well known models are being absolutely abandoned by consumers looking for the maximum return for their dollar. Ford could equip a small country with unsold, decade plus design Crown Vics, but Chrysler 300s are running 3 shifts, Hemi included.
posted on May 11, 2006 03:28:49 AM new
And "maximum return for their dollar" has nothing to do with fuel economy??? If it doesn't, then people deserve to pay through the nose for gas.
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posted on May 11, 2006 04:28:38 AM new
Fuel economy is only one aspect of a vehicle people consider when planning a purchase. If you think people plan on getting a Highlander and then switch to a Yaris, your cards have been shuffled a few too many times.
In surveys taken in which the question is asked "How much would fuel have to cost before you gave up your present vehicle", the statistical mean is like $7/gal. Before that people claim they will sacrifice other things like dinners out, etc.
Sales of older huge GM SUVs tanked along w Ford, but people simply switched to imports. GM moved huge numbers of these old tanks with their giveaway sales promotions last year. Now the redesigned 2007s are out and may single handlely save GM. At 50k they are selling well even as gas prices continue to rise.
posted on May 11, 2006 06:00:16 PM new
I understand your point, which probably goes to most buyers. But in my personal experience, I'm finding that the people who a year ago were bugging me..."don't sell that pickup without you let me know first"...are now nowhere to be found. They won't commit to buying another gas hog. Also, the GMC heavy duty trucks, ie; 2006 models, are still the ones for sale. There aren't any 07's yet. An 06 is the one I just bought, a 2500HD current model, and it was as I said 12k cheaper than the 05 I priced last year. Also, there won't be any significant differences when the 07's come out in terms of fuel economy. Even the hybrid half tons GM is selling only offer a bit less than 10% better fuel economy, and significantly reduced towing capacity...hardly justifying their added cost.
Fuel costs are part of my overhead and as such, deductible on business taxes. I need a real truck to haul livestock, not an SUV with advanced everything. Those trucks still get crummy mileage and get the job done and that's not going to change much in the forseeable future.
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