Julian wrote:
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
Now they've become quite common - in London at least, due to the
artificial tax advantages - just watch the way they are driven. Despite
claiming to have nippy performance they in practice accelerate like a side
valve Morris Minor - the owner obviously with his eyes clamped on the
economy gauge.

Which touches on an old thread. (IYR?) I'd bet that the Minor achieved a
similar or better MPG than the Prius, and you could probably manufacture two
or three Minors with the materials needed for one P. It may pollute a little
more out of the exhaust pipe, but it's always worth keeping a clear
distinction in the mind between pollution and green house gas.

My dad had many Minors and Travellers, I'm sure he always got mid 40's MPG -
can't ask now because he's dead. I do remember that he always tried to thin
the mixture off as much as the engine would tolerate by turning the big nut
on the underside of the SU carb.


Yup. The old A series with an SU carb in a minimally equipped 50's body
on skinny tyres would turn in around 45-50mpg.

If you kept it down to a daring 55mph or so ;-)

Which, considering the cooling, engine wear, adhesion and brakes, was
only wise.


Cat converters knocked about 15% off fuel economy, which was largely got
back via fuel injection and slightly lighter cars.

Modern low profile tyres reduce it a fair bit more.


Julian.