Car Talk Community forum

For those of you that get CarTalk Pussler notifications. Today’s Puzzler calls for the use of a fountain pen, I last had a fountain pen around 1966!

Someone please explain this, if E85 fuel is 85% gasoline, why doesn’t it cost at least 85% the price of gas? I have Googled this several ways and they always come back to the “ethanol is made from domestic corn and it is significantly cheaper to produce than crude oil-derived gasoline…” I understand that Government Subsidies from the various Federal Agricultural Programs lower the production cost of corn-based ethanol… But, even if the ethanol is free, why isn’t the cost enough to at least pay for the 85% gasoline?

TheWonderful90s: Newer cars have those things too, and more is the point But made with much improved materials that last considerably longer.

VDCdriver: The absolute best car audio system I’ve ever owned was the McIntosh system in my 2002 Outback Limited 3.0 VDC McIntosh is now being offered in limited Jeep vehicles . No idea what the option costs, but it probably won’t be cheap. keith: Personally I prefer Polk Audio speakers over Bose or JBL One thing I don’t like about Polk or Bose is neither one is very efficient speakers. You need significantly bigger more powerful amp to get the same sound level my home speakers. Polk has gotten better.

Gas Buddy used to list e85 prices but site is not updated anymore. I have seen a $1 swing from different stations. Some places had it 10% less then e10 and other had it at 25-30% or even more. Not sure why hyvee grocer near me has it at 2.29 now. Hyvee site used to be former Kmart store. They leveled old store and turned new building 90 deg so it faces main road now. They don’t have self checkout. Wink wink.

Yeah im a little grumpy tonight but just thought i think some of you are a little biased when it comes to what you consider old, not maintained, in favor of all the new bells and software. My daily ride was 16 years old and in oerfect shape. We dont have testing but no doubt it would have passed anyway. Our first car was ten years old. My daily before that was 20 years old. And yeah we did buy a new one but i never had a major accident with any if them and never at all felt unsafe driving. There really is little actual difference between new features and 15 year old features. A 40 year old pinto is a bad example as would be my 59 pontiac or vw. Of course there have been improvements but ya dont have to have brand new for safety. A few features like back up alarms and cameras comebin handy but the driver is the biggest safety feature.

jtsanders: riverofwind: The last time the shop did my oil they overfilled by a half quart and needless to say I was not happy. Not sure who I can trust the most. Rookie mistake. I have seen many 40 year veterans fill 1/2 quart extra for “good measure”. After all, no one will check the oil level during the next 10,000 miles. Don’t you want the extra reserve? bing: My not m6 Why not? You need a twin turbo V8 BMW M6 with 567 horsepower.

My not m6. I only do my own oil changes, not transmission, transfer case, and differential. Not that it matters as long as it is done.

30% less mpg is what the EPA rating shows. Or 70% the distance; 14 miles on one gallon vs 20 miles. Fuel costs for gasoline and E85 using prices shown on pump; BTW, ethanol is not gasoline so the title should read Cheaper fuel .

Your experience is what matters, and E85 saves you money. Can’t beat that.

riverofwind: The last time the shop did my oil they overfilled by a half quart and needless to say I was not happy. Not sure who I can trust the most. Rookie mistake. Quick lube places, like your Nine Minute Lube, are often new mechanics. If these mechanics learn their job well enough they will move to a shop that does more complex work and pays better.

I have seen 30% avg drop mentioned quite often. If it was 50% I’d think the internet would have such news.