> My dad's 1980 VW Rabbit Diesel got about 50 mpg on the highway and a bit
> less in the city.

I had a friend who had one of those, ran it on fuel that they pulled
for testing on 747s.
They couldn't put the fuel back in the system, and used to just dump it.
:)  50 mpg and $0/gal.

> > Why is it that now anything over 30 seems to be a big deal?
>
> Because the mileage standards on cars have not increased in a long time and
> before gas was over $3 a gallon in the US, most US consumers cared little
> about mileage.  Now that gas is higher, some people are starting to care
> more about mileage.  Still, big gas guzzling vehicles are a status symbol in
> the US.  Driving a Hummer H2 shows you have the money to not care about gas
> mileage.

I remember something gas powered from toyota(?) in the late 70's that
got 40+, and I seem to remember 50-ish highway.

For my money, disposable ceramic turbines with electric generators are
the way to go, the infernal contraption engine is a kludge.
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