miataturbo.net-like debauchery thread (about the ND or something)
09-16-2014, 04:04 PM
#466
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Santa Clara, CA
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It's about taxes.
Most of Europe *doubles* the cost of fuel with taxes or more. The UK charges $3.56 (current exchange rates) in fuel tax per US gallon with a 20% VAT on top of that. Germany charges like $7.50. This makes high fuel-efficiency diesels more attractive, especially since a lot of these countries have at least slightly lower tax rates on diesel than on gas.
Empirically, it would appear that if fuel cost is not a major consideration then consumers prefer gasoline engines to diesels, but when you artificially increase the fuel prices by a huge margin then the preference switches.
Personally, I have no clue why anyone would actually want a diesel in a car. Sure, they make great low end torque, but just as it's getting interesting you hit the redline and need to shift. It's like driving big old American V8s around -- you know, the 350s in the 1980s that made 320 lb-ft of torque and 150 hp. Yuck, no thanks.
I *do* like the diesel in my truck, it works great for towing.
Why are we talking about diesels in a thread about the ND, anyway? Mazda would be idiots to put a diesel in it.
--Ian
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09-16-2014, 07:42 PM
#472
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They've been having reliability issues, like huge ones. It doesn't use urea injection and they tried to do something clever and it blew up in their faces.
I think that owners are being advised to check their oil at every fill-up and they have to change the oil super frequently. Something like 3k miles on 0W20 oil. It's been semi-well documented.
I think that owners are being advised to check their oil at every fill-up and they have to change the oil super frequently. Something like 3k miles on 0W20 oil. It's been semi-well documented.
I didn't hear about those issues but I kinda lost interest after I bought a car in February. Guess I made the right choice.
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09-23-2014, 07:58 PM
#478
If it had 200 horsepower, people would want 250. If it had 250, people would want 300. Etc. Keep going until you end up with the Hellcat. A huge five thousand pound tank with 707 horsepower you can never, ever use without go to jail.
Look at all the Miatas that get powered up here and basically stop being driven. 150,000 mile cars that don't see 10,000 miles in the five years after a turbo. Those that get sold.
Fun is what keeps cars fun, what keeps people wanting to drive them every day. Tenths of a second suspension and huge power usually end up as cars that get bragged about more than driven. There's a reason for that. Getting close to the limit as much as possible is fun.
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09-23-2014, 08:18 PM
#479
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I dunno, i put 700 miles on my red car this last weekend. Plus my blue one is daily driven 500 miles a week... 100% fun no matter what car.
What makes a car fun is personal preference. What makes a Miata fun is the simplicity.
What makes a car fun is personal preference. What makes a Miata fun is the simplicity.
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