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Consider Fuel Efficiency When Buying a
Car
When you need to purchase your next car make sure that fuel
saving doesn't get lost in the scuffle. Buying a compact car
with better gas mileage is both friendly to the environment and
your account book. You will savor the savings throughout the
life of the vehicle.
There is a lot to consider when purchasing a car. If you are
buying a used car the status of the clutch, brakes, engine and
transmission system will play a big role in how much that car
will cost to operate. Even minor troubles can result in $300 in
repair cost.
With new models you need to find the make and model that has a
proven track record and accommodates your needs. Make sure that
fuel efficiency plays a role in your decision making. If you
come out from the car buying process with a fuel efficient car
you will burn up less cash in your tank and have more money to
expend on things that matter.
Capitalize on what is
recognised.
When it comes to vehicle upkeep, the one thing you can easily
and precisely predict is how much gas you are going to consume.
Gas prices may fluctuate but most people can pass a week or two
logging their gas expenditure and get a good idea of how many
gallons they utilize. If you don't already, track your gas
expenditure so you can use this information when buying a
car.
Make it the #1
priority.
One way to be sure that fuel efficiency is considered is to
start by looking at cars that get good fuel consumption rate.
Make it the #1 priority and see where that directs you. The
problem with today's car market is car makers know that gas
mileage is not a major consideration when buying a new vehicle
for many U.S. customers.
Crunching the
numbers.
When you are assessing a car's fuel efficiency, ask yourself
how long you reckon you will be driving the car and check how
much gas will cost.
Suppose you want to get a used car for $5,000 and hope to drive
it for 5 years. Below are some 5 year gas cost estimations
based on driving 15,000 miles per year and buying gas for $3.40
per gallon. If gasoline is more costly than $3.40, the monetary
value will be even higher.
Sample Used
Cars:
1) 1994 Ford Explorer SUV (2WD)
5 year gas estimate = $13420
2) 1994 Honda Accord Sedan
5 year gas estimate = $9440
3) 1994 Honda Civic DX Sedan
5 year gas estimate = $5790
Sample New
Cars:
1) 2004 Ford Explorer 2WD
5 year gas estimate = $15000
2) 2004 Honda Accord
5 year gas estimate = $9110
3) 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid
5 year gas estimate = $5420
4) 2004 Toyota Prius Hybrid
5 year gas estimate = $4640
This is a small sampling of automobiles but you get the point.
Unless you truly need an SUV or large truck, you can save a lot
of money by purchasing a fuel efficient compact car. You will
forfeit size and sometimes luxury when opting for fuel economy
first. Part of this is because bigger cars and trucks are
heavier and will of course get worse gas or fuel consumption
rate. But it is also a function of consumers not caring about
gas mileage when they make a decision on buying a new or used
car.
A good site for comparing cars fuel economy is
http://www.fueleconomy.org. At www.fueleconomy.org you can
compare several makes and models of both new and used cars and
set the default gas prices to reflect the current prices. The
numbers above are based on a $3.40 regular gas price which can
still go up given the current trend in crude prices. I
Put fuel saving first and you will find yourself with more
money in your pocket and a more sustainable future for our
children.
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