2012 Ford Focus = 40mpg.

"The new Ford Focus (with the SFE or Super Fuel Economy package) has been officially certified by the EPA at 40 mpg highway, 29 mpg city with a dry clutch six speed automatic transmission."

Jalopnik link.

It also has Active Parking Assist. Video at the link of how it works.

Ford is nailing it.

Also, be sure to mention in this thread that if any company built a car that weighed 1000lbs, had some sort of preferred engine configuration, and with no comfort or convenience options - that you would buy 5 and every other pizza delivery driver you know would buy 6.

Timely announcement as gas again begins to creep up in price.
I hate to but I predict $4/gal at memorial day.

I predict my ordering the needed front tire and chain/sprockets for my motorcycle this weekend. Hello 50+ MPG, hello weight less than 1000 lbs, and no comfort or convenience options (oh wait, I'll be ordering a tank bag shortly, there goes the convenience part...).

I will say that I want my next street car to be capable of at least 35 MPG highway. Which means that I will be either throwing a turbo on it, or an LSx into it...

Good for Ford though.

jrw1621 wrote: Timely announcement as gas again begins to creep up in price. I hate to but I predict $4/gal at memorial day.

I have heard that we will see $5/gal in 2012., and recently I have heard that it could be as soon as this summer :-(

So you guys are telling me now is the time to buy a Tahoe or HEMI Jeep huh.....

UGH!

just drove a new focus, it was nice.

mistanfo wrote: I predict my ordering the needed front tire and chain/sprockets for my motorcycle this weekend. Hello 50+ MPG, hello weight less than 1000 lbs, and no comfort or convenience options (oh wait, I'll be ordering a tank bag shortly, there goes the convenience part...). I will say that I want my next street car to be capable of at least 35 MPG highway. Which means that I will be either throwing a turbo on it, or an LSx into it... Good for Ford though.

Hope to be riding my HPV (bicycle) more this summer.

Good point on the LSx engines for the highway. But what about around town?

And yes, Ford is spot-on of late.

miatame wrote: So you guys are telling me now is the time to buy a Tahoe or HEMI Jeep huh..... UGH!

NOOOOO, wait till prices hit $5 THEN buy a Hummer/Jeep, prices on full sized pickups hit $13k for brand new V8 F150s or Dodge Rams...

I'm going to buy a Jeep Wrangler, hope gas HAS hit $5 by then!

Expect the same from the Cruze. I thought I read that the 1.4T/ 6spd auto (same trans), is good for 42 hwy.

In reply to rogerbvonceg:

Rarely use the car around town. That's what the bike is for, or the wife's TDI, which gets mid-thirties in town. And is fully paid for.

mistanfo wrote: In reply to rogerbvonceg: Rarely use the car around town. That's what the bike is for, or the wife's TDI, which gets mid-thirties in town. And is fully paid for.

Ah yes. A vehicle for every occasion.

As woof mentioned, the economy version of the Cruz will be boosted. Im hoping the fuel crunch spurs another econo-car war, and this time detroit will get in the fray. Boosted, lightweight stripper models may end up becoming the "in" thing once again, and I really hope I get a chance to reap the benefits. Cheap turbos for everyone!!!

I do think though that the general free market rules applying to the supply/demand of fossil fuels will bring on the hydrogen car sooner rather than later - like in the next decade.

I've always had a thing for stripper models. Or was that models who were strippers?

1988RedT2 wrote: I've always had a thing for stripper models. Or was that models who were strippers?

What's wrong with many of each?

jrw1621 wrote: Timely announcement as gas again begins to creep up in price. I hate to but I predict $4/gal at memorial day.

Gee, a regular Nostradamus! It's already$3.59 here. There really isn't a reason they (auto co.) couldn't have already had decent looking models with that kind of mileage, other than the Eco-nazi NHSTA and their asinine regulations. Why do I need six airbags? What ever happened to survival of the fittest and natural selection?

Agreed, but I have not just begun predicting $4 gas. I have believed that for months now and this week it has really begun to be true.

In this thread from the first week of Feb I also claimed $4 gas.
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/company-car-anyone-see-this-plan-before/31522/page1/

mistanfo wrote: I predict my ordering the needed front tire and chain/sprockets for my motorcycle this weekend. Hello 50+ MPG, hello weight less than 1000 lbs, and no comfort or convenience options (oh wait, I'll be ordering a tank bag shortly, there goes the convenience part...). I will say that I want my next street car to be capable of at least 35 MPG highway. Which means that I will be either throwing a turbo on it, or an LSx into it... Good for Ford though.

A tank purse?!

Kidding man. Those things are damned useful.

So glad I have 2 honda civics. And multiple bicycles.

EricM wrote:

jrw1621 wrote: Timely announcement as gas again begins to creep up in price. I hate to but I predict $4/gal at memorial day.

I have heard that we will see $5/gal in 2012., and recently I have heard that it could be as soon as this summer :-(

If I was a fuel exec, I would love these predictions.

Xceler8x wrote: Ford is nailing it.

Except for my pet peeve. From the configurator you cannot combine a manual transmission with four wheel disc brakes.

minimac wrote: There really isn't a reason they (auto co.) couldn't have already had decent looking models with that kind of mileage, other than the Eco-nazi NHSTA and their asinine regulations. Why do I need six airbags? What ever happened to survival of the fittest and natural selection?

Man, ain't that the truth.

Is it just me or has VW REALLY missed the boat by not bringing their twin charged 1.4L 170hp, 40-something MPG engine over here. WTF were they thinking?

I'm happy with 40 highway, 30 mixed, and a 1:16 power:weight

jrw1621 wrote: Agreed, but I have not just begun predicting $4 gas. I have believed that for months now and this week it has really begun to be true. In this thread from the first week of Feb I also claimed $4 gas. http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/company-car-anyone-see-this-plan-before/31522/page1/

Do you live off the grid in your log cabin with nothing but a sniper riffle and your old dog? haha jk

When I hear the end is near predictions I get that image in my head. lol

$4 gas by Memorial Day? one of my friends is predicting $8 gas by this summer.. he heard it on talk radio, so it must be true..

right now, we are at the stage where the people that have a lot of their money tied up in oil are going out and "predicting" that the price of oil will double- you know, Libya and what not.. which leads to people buying up oil while it's still "cheap", which runs the price up.. at a certain point, the very same people that predicted that the price of oil will go way up will dump all of their oil, which will cause them to make a ton of money and also cause the price of oil to crash..

which means that the current craze of everyone wanting to buy fuel efficient cars will end when oil is cheap(er) again and they can get the big comfortable cars and trucks they really want.