Aug 16, 2005 7:12 pm US/Pacific
Could You Save Gas Money By Driving A Model T?
by Hank Plante
(CBS 5)
As gas prices go through the roof, rumors are circulating that the Bush Administration actually wants to relax fuel efficiency standards on big SUV's.
You might be surprised how little progress has been made over the years in getting more miles per gallon. The current Ford Explorer gets the exact same mileage as the Model T.
Web Extra: Ten Tips To Save GasEd Archer of Hayward loves to collect and restore old Ford Model T's, and why shouldn't he? His 1921 sightseeing vehicle gets comparable mileage to current SUVs.
"I'm disgusted with it really," Archer says. "I cant imagine that we still have an internal combustion engine that does essentially (the same as) this engine, only it's 1000 times more complicated and it doesn't do that much more.'
In fact, data supplied to CBS 5 from Ford headquarters confirms how little progress has been made on fuel efficiency. The original Ford Model T got 13 miles per gallon in the city and 21 on the highway. That's an average of 17 miles per gallon. Today's Ford Explorer gets 14 in the city and 20 on the highway. Again, the average is 17.
A Ford Motor spokeswoman from Dearborn told CBS 5 that there are many reasons why the Explorer doesn't get better mileage than the old Model T, including the fact that the Explorer weighs 3000 pounds more. But in an era of $3 gas, a lot of people, like those at the Sierra club, feel we should be doing better at basic fuel economy.
"If you look at the miles per gallon, or the average fuel economy for vehicles in the United States, they're doing worse than they were 25 years ago," says Eric Wessmann of the Sierra Club. "It's obvious that the best thing we can do to save consumers money, and protect the environment at the same time, is to increase fuel economy standards."
He blames the auto companies and the government for not encouraging more efficient vehicles. In fact, the Bush administration is about to put forward a plan that would extend fuel economy standards for Hummers and Big SUV's.
As for the Model T, in fairness, it wasn't nearly as comfortable or safe as today's cars. And you also had to change the oil every 300 miles.
(© MMV, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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