Why hasn't fuel mileage increased over the years?

[FastEddie]

I was looking at new F150s online. When I looked at the '08 window sticker and compared it to the one from my '96 I was shocked. My '96 was listed at 15 city and 19 highway. The '08 was listed as 14 city and 20 highway. My '96 has a 5 speed manual trans with a 4.9L engine. The '08 has a manual trans as well, but only a 4.2L engine. Any ideas? I've always tried to buy American products but this really irks me.

[rottendog93]

There are physical laws involved here that you must consider. To propel X weight at Y speed takes a given amount of energy. How the energy is developed and delivered is the key. I'm sure they can build a truck that can get 55 MPG, but what do you give up to get to this point? You would have a truck that couldn't tow 800 pounds or haul it either. Now you have defeated the idea behind buying a truck. Until technology advances far beyond what is available today, a 55 MPG truck with capability would be cost prohibitive. Would you give $92,000.00 to $107,000.00 for a vehicle like that? You now have a different looking Prius.
If mileage is why you buy, buy the Prius. If capability is what you seek, buy the truck.

[gearnofear]

There is likely a weight difference in the two trucks. the new fords are quite a bit larger then the older 90's models. any time you add more weight to the car your mileage goes down. this is the most likely cause for the difference in mileage. Also the Fed gauges MPG differently now then they did in the 90's. this is also a contributing factor.