10 Cars to Beat High Gas Prices

[Feanor]

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That's why Mazda's keeping Wankel rotaries on the front burner [because it's a simpler IC engine]. The rotary engine is very inefficient in stop-and-go city driving, but can be a very compelling option as a steady-state battery generator because of its small size, smooth operation, and efficiency under constant load.

I had a 1974 Mazda RX-2 with the rotary engine; (always a conversation piece at the local service stations). A great car over all but It's fuel economy was terrible. It had 3-speed manual. Mostly it would have got much better mileage with a modern 5 or 6-speed.

My RX-2 looked almost exactly like this one ...

[Woochifer]

I had a 1974 Mazda RX-2 with the rotary engine; (always a conversation piece at the local service stations). A great car over all but It's fuel economy was terrible. It had 3-speed manual. Mostly it would have got much better mileage with a modern 5 or 6-speed.

Mazda went all in with rotaries in the 70s. And the timing couldn't have been worse, as sales peaked right when the 1973 gas crisis hit. Mazda's fixation on the Wankel engine almost bankrupted the company. I still remember the Mazda small pickup trucks with "Rotary Power" emblazoned on the tail gate.



The issue with rotaries is their stop and go fuel economy and emissions. That's why they've been relegated to niche sports cars and specialty applications. But, their inherent light weight, balance, and smooth operation make them potentially ideal as a generator in a hybrid vehicle.

Owning a truck have its own set of advantages and disadvantages. One major disadvantage is that any time a coworker, friend or family is moving or buying a huge furniture or TV to take home, they always call you first.

Yep, that would be me. My in-laws have a pickup truck, which means I have one available to use on short notice, but don't have to drive one more than absolutely necessary.