An American Hybrid With Excellent Gas Mileage - The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

The most dominant car in the hybrid niche at the moment is the Toyota Prius, but now there is another major contender in place ready to take on challenge: the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. This car is sleek and good looking with a sharp three bar grille, offers excellent gas mileage and it can actually travel up to 47 mph on just the batter pack alone! The Fusion may be one of the best all-around hybrids on the current market and since it's a hybrid, it will save you lots of money in fuel costs.




Both a traditional and electric motor work together in order to give the Fusion its power. The gasoline engine is a 2.5 Ltr 4 cylinder gasoline engine with 156 hp and 136 lb feet of torque. The electric motor outputs 106 HP. The engine uses a Continuously Variable Transmission and as a result you can't even tell when the car switches from gas to electric mode; it's so smooth its undetectable. This car can reach 0-60 in 8.7 second which is fast for a hybrid auto. Now the best part is the mileage! Gas mileage is 41 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the freeway. On top of that, the cabin remains relatively quiet even during fast speeds plus the acceleration is smooth and effortless.



If you are environmentally conscious then you will be glad to know that the interior features eco-conscious upholstery and foam seats. Lots of soft fabric touches are found throughout the interior, which give the car a cozy and inviting aura. There is enough space to seat five individuals. Ford's voice activated Sync system is in place which allows compatibility with Bluetooth smart phones and allows you to place telephone calls hands free. Simply say out loud the word "traffic" and you will instantly receive traffic updates right through the audio speakers.



Other thoughtful options included are a dual zone climate control system, keyless power entry, a traction control system, an anti lock brake system, seventeen inch wheels and a premium audio system. It has been noted that the trunk space is a bit smaller at 11.8 cubic feet versus that of the traditional Fusion because part of the battery is stored inside the trunk.



One trim is available for this ride but of course you can add in any optional packages that suit your needs. Leather appointed seats and a navigation system can easily be included. You can even toss in a hard drive in order to store all your favorite tunes. The Moon & Tune option includes a sunroof and a Sony audio system with twelve speakers so you can crank up all your favorite songs



The base price of the 2010 Fusion Hybrid is around $27k which is a great deal considering that this may be one of the best all-around hybrid vehicles on the market. This car offers great mileage, a beautiful interior, a sharp exterior with a new front grille, lots of innovative technological gadgets plus it was built in the States!



Written by Jacqueline Star

Orange County Used Cars, Ford Riverside



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacqueline_Star

Slashing the Cost of Your Car

With the recession and the environmental crisis, many car owners have had to rethink their use of the car. General day-to -day car costs can make your car an expensive mode of transport, and then you have the added costs of insurance, tax, repairs and MOT's. There are few methods of slashing these costs, which will help you not only keep to your tight budget but contribute towards cutting down Co2 emissions.

Although investing a new car sounds like more costs, however, in the long term it could save you money. Exchanging your old environmentally unfriendly car for a car with low carbon emissions will not only save you money on petrol, as well as save the environment, it will cut down your first year tax costs. Low carbon emission vehicles include the environmentally friendly Smart Car and the fashionable but energy efficient Mini. Prices begin from 8,000 for the Smart Car and 11,000 pounds for the Mini, making them no more expensive than a regular high fuel consumption vehicle.

Another idea is to share your car, thus spreading the costs and limiting the co2 emissions on the road. This is already a popular tactic for saving costs around central Europe, which has been recently adopted in the U.K. There are a few trusted websites out there for car sharing or car pooling as it is also known as.

Try to also use your car only when you really need it. Using your car for travelling short distances only wastes fuel and drives up your expenses. When possible, walk or cycle places, - this will not only drive down costs, but help you to keep fit. If you're not interested in cycling or walking, why not try out roller bladding, which is becoming increasingly popular in the U.K.

Plan your journey! As planning where you're going will not only aid to cut down travelling time but fuel costs. Making sure you won't get lost is by far a good way to save on fuel costs and all it requires is a little planning time. Sat-Nav systems can be useful for this; however, the lower end of the market does not consider traffic, which affects the amount of fuel you use. If you have several things to do over the weekend, also combine all the journeys in one, which will save you fuel and leave a whole day free to do what you want.

Lastly have your car serviced regularly as high fuel consumption can be caused by an underserviced engine. An engine that isn't working to its optimum efficiency will have to work much harder than an engine in mint condition. Find a cheap but reliable garage in your local area to complete any services on your car. Also look around for cheap MOT's. Many small garages have lowered their prices during the recession due to high competition with the bigger firms out there; thus these days you can pay a little less than £50 for the yearly MOT.

In times of economic and environmental crisis, it's worth spending your money wisely. Cut down costs by looking around for deals, such as servicing an MOT deals, as well as using your car sensibly.

If you're looking for a cheap MOT Coventry, or other car services, take a look at www.binleywoodsservicecentre.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marie_Coles

Learn More About Fuel Saving Products

With the continual rise of gas prices it has become a wise decision to buy a car that saves fuel. A statistic says that as many as fifteen percent of car buyers reject a certain car model because they are not satisfied with its fuel saving features. Even more, some consumers rule out from the very beginner certain car models, such as SUVs, because they have very poor gas mileage.

Advice on how to improve gas mileage can be found almost anywhere - magazines, web sites, etc.- but can you really turn them into an everyday habit? Will you be able to drive slower every day or maintain the same speed at all time or use air conditioning to the minimum because it is known that fuel consumption will be increased . Of course, changing the oil and the air filters on a regular basis will ensure an improved gas mileage, but fuel saving won't be spectacular and these procedures are not cost-free. Therefore, more and more consumers turn to a product which saves fuel.

The fuel saving products on the market fall into several categories. One of them is gas additives. It is based on a very sound mechanism and it's very effective as far as costs are concerned. Its efficiency has been demonstrated scientifically and when using such a fuel saving product, you needn't worry about low performance or increased exhaust emissions or short engine life anymore.

The testing of these fuel saving products is done according to established standards. Not only don't they have a negative effect on the environment, but they are actually environment-friendly. How do these products work? The process is quite simple. The hydrocarbons in the gas have the tendency to curl up and form clusters, making it impossible for the oxygen to reach the fuel entirely. For this reason, the gas hydrocarbons burn only partially and what isn't burned will result into exhaust emissions. The fuel saving products work to ease this process and make exhaust emissions lower.

Fuel saving additives can be found in shops or on the Internet. Regardless of the form they come in, that is liquid or solid, s tablets, they share a characteristic, which is that every product which saves fuel needs to be added when filling up the gas tank. Like many other products in the field, fuel savings products need to be used several times before their effects will become apparent. It is also important that you stick to same fuel saving product and remember that the effects will be obvious only after several fill-ups of your tank.

Fuel saving products improve the maneuverability of your car and the drivability of your engine because they release the engines components in general and the fuel injectors in particular of any possible deposits, while others provide the fuel system of your car with moisture.

A product that saves fuel is most likely to have been tested and registered so it' s safe to use, but you have to make sure that these conditions are fulfilled. The fuel system of your vehicle will definitely not be harmed and you can relax about the exhaust emissions as well, because a fuel saving product will certainly not increase them. Tests of the products can be done in independent labs but that doesn't make them less reliable. The most common way to test a product which saves fuel is to compare the test results on the same car, tests which has been performed with and without a fuel saving gas additive.

An effective way to ensure low fuel consumption is to make changes in your driver behavior. However, since this will most certainly not be enough, your satisfaction is guaranteed with a fuel saving product.

For more saving fuel details or related subjects about saves fuel and even about fuel saving please visit this website http://www.ultimate-me2.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Groshan_Fabiola

10 Ways You Can Be More Environmentally Friendly

If you're looking to be more environmentally friendly, and help to save the planet, as well as money then here's what you can do.

1. If you recycle as much as you can, you'll be reducing the amount of rubbish that is sent to landfill. In addition, fewer trees and other raw materials will be needed, which is a good thing.

2. You can use less electricity if you think about. By turning off appliances that don't need to be on standby, unplugging laptop, phone and games console chargers as well as lights when you're not in the room, you won't use as much electricity, which means your bill will be less too.

3. By planning your journeys, and driving carefully, you can use significantly less petrol and diesel too. If you don't really need to make a journey, or you can combine it with another journey you can be more economical and get more miles per gallon, and more miles per tank of fuel.

4. You might prefer to walk short distances, rather than taking the car. As well as being better for the environment, you'll get some fresh air and exercise too.

5. Why not use public transport instead of driving? You might want to try the bus or the train, and see if you can save time and money, as well as the planet.

6. Maybe you'll ride your bike more. Perhaps you could easily cycle to work, or take it on the train with you. For short journeys that might have needed the car, why not take your bike and feel the benefits of fresh air and exercise. You'll soon feel better and get fitter too.

7. By flying less you can dramatically reduce your carbon footprint. Why not see if you can use technology so that you can have meetings face to face via the internet, so that you don't have to fly thousands of miles, and using all that fuel?

8. Why not find out how to donate your unwanted goods rather than throwing them away. Why not advertise them and see if people will take them off your hands. Perhaps someone will be grateful for your old TV or hi-fi, or your 3 piece suite.

9. Do you really need and use everything you buy? Why not stop to think whether you really do need the latest gadgets, or fashions, or whether going out every night is a good use of your money? Because you're buying less, you'll reduce the need for as much packaging, and transportation of goods. Even if you only do a little bit, it's better than nothing.

10. If you can then why gently encourage others to help the planet. Rather than preaching to them, you might want to explain the benefits of recycling or the consequences of relying too much on fossil fuels.

Now you know more about what you can do, perhaps now is the time for your to do your bit to save the planet.

Find out more about what you can do for the Environment, and how other people are going green, at ItsOurWorld.co.uk today. If you're looking for more hints and tips about how to lead a greener life, why not find out more by reading the Eco Warrior Blog

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=M_James

How to Save Gas and Money With Proven Techniques

Saving gas has become more than a nice way to economize; it has become a top priority with prices of gasoline and greenhouse emissions being what they are. As someone who managed multiple gas stations for one of the largest oil companies in the world, and as an ASE certified owner of an auto repair shop, I heard nearly every question on how to save gas and money you could possibly imagine. More importantly, I learned what works and what doesn't. As a result, I get 41 miles per gallon, highway, on a car that is EPA rated for 36 miles per gallon. When my wife drives the same car with all else being the same she gets 33 miles to the gallon.

1. Does filling up in the morning really save gas?

Absolutely! Gasoline expands and contracts with temperature changes. A tank can show 20 gallons of gasoline in the morning, have some gasoline taken out, and yet still show the same level of gasoline in the afternoon! Here's the thing; gas is sold by volume, so one gallon of cold gas will give the mileage of perhaps 1.1 gallons of warm gas (by way of example), but you're paying for just one gallon! Leave the house a little early and fill your tank up in the early morning when it's the coolest. And, of course, look for the lowest prices at REPUTABLE filling stations. A clean exterior usually means clean gasoline.

2. Does topping off the tank more often when prices are going up save gas and money?

What it does is save money ON gas. This may be hard to understand, but here goes: When evaluating any inventory that you are depleting, you want to take into account the cost of replacing that inventory. Suppose you use a gallon a day, you have a 22 gallon tank, and prices go up an average of one cent a day. Hopefully you're never letting the tank get lower than the last two gallons, so you go twenty gallons between refills. If you wait the full twenty days to fill up, you will spend 20 cents more per gallon, equaling an extra $4.00. But, if you'd been topping off each day, instead of 20 cents more for each gallon you will have paid one cent extra the first day, 2 cents extra the second day, etc., until at the end of the same twenty-day period you find that you've spent only $2.10 extra FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF GAS! That may not sound like much, but multiply that out for the year and it adds up. Furthermore, ask yourself this: If you were told by a gas station attendant that the pumps on the left would give you the same amount of gas but would cost you almost $2.00 less per fill-up than using the pumps on the right, which pumps would you use? Of course, the opposite holds true when prices are going down. In that case, which is all too rare, you would save money by waiting until you're nearly empty because each day that passes yields greater savings in cost per gallon.

3. Does proper tire inflation really save gas?

Not only does proper tire inflation save money on gas, but it can also save your life. Improper inflation is a leading cause of tire failure, but we're not talking about getting a flat tire - we're talking about catastrophic tire failure, where the tire explodes, disintegrates, or plain comes off of the rim while you're driving. Remember the Firestone/Ford debacle? Firestone's claim was that Ford was not using the originally recommended tire pressure, causing some serious accidents. That said, underinflated tires put more rubber on the pavement, increasing road friction, AND hindering the tire's ability to dissipate the heat from road friction, which causes a vicious cycle of creating even more friction and heat. The friction will hurt your fuel economy and the heat will hurt your tires - which in turn may hurt you if the tire fails.

4. I understand a dirty air filter hurting fuel economy, but doesn't a dirty fuel filter make your car use LESS gas?

Lessening the amount of gas to increase fuel economy may make sense intuitively, but that's not how to save gas and money! Keep in mind that intuition tells us that heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones, and Galileo proved that wrong hundreds of years ago. What actually happens is that a clogged fuel filter causes a leaner fuel mixture. That will make the combustion of the air-fuel mixture LESS efficient as it gets worse. Why? Without getting too much into chemistry, the fact is that gasoline burns best at the correct ratio of air to gasoline (14.7 pounds of air to each pound of gasoline). Not enough air causes inefficiency as does too much air. One of the clues a mechanic picks up on a car with too lean a fuel mixture is a high hydrocarbon and high oxygen reading of the exhaust fumes. Hydrocarbons are unburned gasoline resulting from the misfire caused, in this case, by not enough gasoline in ratio to the oxygen. In plain English, the engine now has to work harder to give the same amount of power. That always hurts fuel economy.

5. Can I save gas by opening the windows instead of running the air conditioner?

Sort of, maybe, but actually no. Assuming you're travelling at highway speeds, recent studies have shown that modern cars, with much more efficient air conditioners than their predecessors had, actually show very little, if any, difference in fuel economy between running the A/C and having the windows open - both shave off about 2% to 3%, assuming everything is in proper working order. This was NOT true for trucks, SUV's and other larger vehicles. Larger vehicles got WORSE fuel economy in these tests with the windows open than with the A/C on, likely because of the much greater interior volume acting almost like a parachute with such vehicles. Of course, you save the most gas and money by driving with the windows closed and the A/C off, but that's not always possible.

6. Should I leave the car on if I'll be idling less than three minutes since it takes even more gas to start the car?

Not anymore. Actually, that three minute figure was a rough approximation, at best. In any case, modern cars - many going back to the early 1980's and late 1970's - have computer-controlled fuel injection, making the amount of fuel required to restart a warm engine equal to as little as 30 seconds of idling. Clearly, letting the car idle for even as little as three minutes is not how to save gas and money. If you know it's going to be a few minutes and you're not in traffic you'd do better to shut the engine off. Additionally, modern cars don't need a warm-up period of more than about thirty seconds when cold starting - unless you're in extreme cold where you probably want to get a block warmer.

7. I keep seeing mechanical gadgets that are supposed to save money on gas. Do they work?

I've seen all kinds of gizmos and I'm sorry to say that, while many of them make sense on paper, most of them don't seem to work. I also have to admit that a lot of the problem is that people were trying to find a way around fixing important mechanical failures. Always keep your vehicle in good repair (one of the best ways to save gas and money in the long run) -- attaching some additional device to an engine with weak compression or some other defect is not likely to deliver favorable results. It's like trying to use a squirt gun to put out a major forest fire. As for cars that ARE in good repair, some things may work, but if your car is under warranty you need to be careful that the gadget does not void the warranty. Right now I'm following the "hydrogen from water" concept, where the car's electricity is used to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen, which is then drawn into the air intake. I've seen some impressive demos of them even being used by government agencies. I'm looking to install one myself.

8. Do additives save gas?

That's a broad subject. The broad answer is yes - depending upon the situation (please avoid fighting forest fires with squirt guns!). Brand-name additives for cleaning fuel injectors are generally effective in that dirty injectors and valves most definitely will hurt fuel economy. As a matter of fact, on older cars I was often able to save my customers a lot of money on carburetor overhauls by running a very high concentration of injector cleaner through the system. Obviously this was not for carburetors that had mechanical, "hard parts" failures. With newer cars you need to be careful and, with just about any car from the 1980's on up, make sure that any product that will pass through the intake and exhaust system is sensor safe! Also, rather than use premium gas on a car that doesn't call for it, I recommend using regular gas and pouring a bottle of injector cleaner in with a fill-up every two months or so, depending upon how much driving you do.

9. What about oil additives?

That's a highly conditional "Yes". There is the old stand-by, Marvel Mystery Oil, which many mechanics will tell you is really transmission fluid. Marvel Mystery Oil does two basic things: First, when added to your gasoline it burns off carbon build-up in the combustion chamber, thereby reducing pre-ignition. If you do this and see smoke coming from your tailpipe you either used too much or you most definitely DID have carbon buildup, meaning the temporary smoke caused by burned-off carbon was a good thing! Before detergent motor oils came along you used to have to "de-coke" your engine on a regular basis - same basic thing. Second, when added to your oil it provides an extra bit of cushioning and lubrication for your valves and valve stems. In either case, these situations should not be an issue on newer cars. STP Oil Treatment is good in that it is a viscosity index improver. Do NOT disregard the directions on the label as it will end up being similar to using too high of a viscosity motor oil. STP also helps reduce engine wear by leaving a protective film for when you start the engine, when most engine wear takes place since normally there isn't as much oil pressure at that time.

10. Do those oil additives with PTFE help save gas?

Yes, but according to study after study, only while it or its residue is present in the engine. PTFE undoubtedly does reduce friction. What is in doubt is the ability to get it to actually bond to engine parts. It takes extremely high temperatures to get PTFE to bond to metal - temperatures you don't get except perhaps in the combustion chamber itself, thereby excluding all of the bearings, the cam shaft(s), rocker arms, valve stems, lifters... well, you get the picture. But while the additive is still in your engine it DOES provide better protection. It's expensive to add that to every oil change, but for a collectible car you may want to go with it, though saving gas doesn't usually go hand-in-hand with driving a collectible.

11. The owner's manual says I only have to change the oil every 7,500 miles. Is my mechanic trying to pull one over on me when he recommends every 3,000 miles, or will I get better gas mileage this way?

You will get better gas mileage - especially in the long run. Frequent oil changes will help prevent engine wear and sludge, both of which will kill engine efficiency as they get worse. As for the discrepancy in recommended oil change intervals, they're both correct. How so? If you read the owner's manual carefully, as in the fine print, you'll find something to the effect that for hard or heavy duty you should use the shorter interval. Here's the issue: what constitutes heavy duty? Heat, cold, dust, humidity, stop and go traffic... I don't know about you, but I can't think of ANY place that doesn't have any of those conditions! So why do they print that in the manual? They want to be able to report a low cost of operation while giving you a realistic guideline. Go with 3,000 miles unless you're using synthetic oil. And, yes, synthetic is better and I would strongly suggest you continue using it in cars that call for it in the owner's manual. And use the manufacturer's recommended viscosity of oil. That, too, can make a difference in fuel economy and warranty coverage.

12. Do driving habits really save gas?

Well, yes -- if they're good ones! This is exactly why I get around eight more miles per gallon of gas than my wife does with the same car! Taking off from a red light gradually, not too slowly, but not jack-rabbit starting, makes a TREMENDOUS difference in the amount of energy used. Moreover, you always want to be in the highest gear at any given speed that is safe for the given road and traffic conditions. At 45 miles per hour on level ground I will be using fifth gear while my wife will be in third, MAYBE fourth, gear. I don't blame her - she's used to driving an ambulance, where the priority is saving lives, not gasoline. You don't drive a stick shift? Well, this still applies to you in the sense that most automatic transmission drivers don't realize that very often the car will not shift into the next highest gear because they're giving the engine just a slight bit more gas than needed. Once you've reached your desired speed lightly lift your gas pedal just a bit and you'll often feel the car shift into the higher gear, thereby using less gasoline to travel at the same speed. This is especially true at around 38-45 miles per hour, depending upon the transmission and driving conditions. Also remember this little rule: Every time you are pressing the brake you are wasting the gas that you used to get up to that speed. Obviously, that's not always true, but it does increase your awareness of driving too fast (you can virtually always lower your speed to save gas so long as you drive safely and above the MINIMUM speed limit). Look ahead so that you can just let up on the gas pedal, rather than having to go hard on the brakes. You also may want to take a look in your trunk to make sure you're not carrying around useless extra weight. I helped one man save a lot of money on gas by pointing out that when test-driving his car it felt like something very heavy was in the trunk. His jaw dropped as he remembered that his deceased mother's china was in there - inside a cedar chest! No word on whether anything got broken...

My intention in writing this article was to provide techniques to save gas and money and also give the reader an insight into why these techniques work. These are probably the most important pointers on saving gas that I, my friends, and my customers put into use. Drive safely and wisely!

Hi, I'm James Patrickson. If you'd like more information on saving gas please feel free to read my blog at http://faq-saving-money-on-gas.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Patrickson

Top 9 Tips for Buying A Fuel-Efficient Car

Whether you buy a new or used vehicle, fuel efficiency--good gas mileage--is high on the list of most buyers' concerns. The difference between choosing a fuel-efficient car or one that guzzles gas, will either save or cost you money over the life of the vehicle, which could be substantial. Fuel efficiency varies widely from one car to the next. Obviously you can check the EPA rating for city/highway MPG on the window sticker, although most of us know the average car never reaches those numbers.

You can also check consumer guides, car magazines and Web sites, Web site forums or ask friends, relatives and co-workers which vehicles they recommend as fuel-efficient cars. Don't buy more car than you need, as larger vehicles generally have bigger engines that are less fuel-efficient. Find the most fuel-efficient car in the size group you're interested in, whether a two-seater, compact, mid-sized, SUV or pickup truck. There are several online sites where you can compare fuel consumption ratings of any car.

Your choice of transmission can also affect the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Generally, a car with manual transmission is a more fuel-efficient car than one with automatic-assuming you shift properly. And a manual with overdrive, tachometer or shift indicator is the biggest fuel saver, saving up to 10% on fuel costs. If you do buy an automatic, which makes more sense for larger cars, the more gears the better.

Under normal driving conditions, smaller engines offer better fuel efficiency and economy than larger ones. All other things being equal, the larger engine and the more cylinders it has, the more fuel it consumes. Additionally, cars with smaller engines usually cost less and gas costs are lower because you don't need higher octane gas. That doesn't mean a bigger engine is never a good choice. In some cases, a larger, more powerful engine may provide the greater fuel efficiency. If you use your vehicle for work or often tow heavy loads, a smaller engine could burn more fuel if it has to work too hard and function beyond its most fuel-efficient range.

Depending on the type and size of motor vehicle you purchase, you may have the choice of front-wheel, rear-wheel, four-wheel or all-wheel drive. The majority of passenger cars and minivans have front-wheel drive, a design that supplies better traction and more interior room than rear-wheel drive. Although front-wheel drive was originally adopted to improve fuel economy over rear-wheel drive by reducing the weight and size of cars without giving up driving performance or interior space, there's really not much difference in fuel efficiency between the two.

And although four-wheel and all-wheel drive provide better traction and braking in certain driving conditions, the weight and friction of the additional drivetrain parts may increase fuel consumption by up to 10% over a two-wheel drive vehicle. Most often in SUVs and pickup trucks, four-wheel drive is enabled at will by the driver when additional traction is necessary. All-wheel drive is an option on some SUVs and a minority of passenger cars. Full-time all-wheel drive, however, makes for the least fuel-efficient car, because all four wheels are always being driven, drawing power from the engine and thus using more gas.

Another way to be a fuel saver, is by limiting the options you select for your car. You may not have realized that many conveniences from power windows, seats and mirrors to air conditioning and seat warmers decrease fuel efficiency and cost you more in fuel consumption. They add either weight, increase aerodynamic drag or pull extra power from the engine or through the alternator.
Aluminium wheels are one of the few options that actually reduce weight and thereby increase fuel efficiency.

Obviously, considering other fuel options such as a hybrid electric car, is another choice for a fuel-efficient car.

© 2004 AllAboutHybridCars.com. Any reproduction of this article in any manner is prohibited without the consent of AllAboutHybridCars.com. We give permission to use this article on your website or e-zine if you reproduce it exactly as it appears here including this notice. Visit http://www.AllAboutHybridCars.com/eBook.htm to order your FREE report, "7 Critical Facts Everyone should Know Before Buying a Hybrid Car."

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5 Ways to Save Gas

Stop wasting hundreds of dollars at the gas pump.

With prices the way they are this is far too expensive a habit.

I have comprised a list of the best 5 ways to save gas so you can start taking back control of your gas budget.

#1 Way to Save Gas.

Purchase your gas using a gas saving credit card.

Most of these offer 5-10% cash back when you purchase gas.

Potential Saving: $4000 annual gas bill x 5% = $200 saving

#2 Way to Save Gas.

If you don't need higher octane gas, don't use it. Using Premium when your vehicle doesn't need it can actually do harm and make it run hotter than it should. As Regular is on average 20 cents cheaper you can save a bundle too.

Potential Saving: $4000 annual gas bill / $4 x 20c = $200 saving

# 3 Way to Save Gas.

Regular maintenance and a good tune up will make your car better running and last longer. This alone can improve your mileage by 20%. You may have some costs in this one but the savings are well worth it.

Potential Saving: $4000 annual gas bill x 20% = $800 saving

# 4 Way to Save Gas.

Not only will incorrectly inflated tires wear out quicker but it will also make your car less efficient and cost more in gas. Just 5 pounds under inflated can cost you 2% extra on your fuel.

Potential Saving: $4000 annual gas bill x 2% = $80 saving

#5 Way to Save Gas.

This is the biggest saver but as there is some cost involved I've put it last. The cost is minimal compared to the saving and should be considered as an investment.

There are ready made kits available to simply just "bolt on" or you can build your own from readily available items. Either way you shouldn't be spending more than a few hundred dollars and probably much less. The average saving in fuel economy is 30-40% (depending on vehicle).

Potential Saving: $4000 annual gas bill x 30% = $1200 saving

Wow! A $1200 potential saving. Once you deduct the cost of the kit this saving is still one of the best ways to save gas you can find, in my opinion.

Convert to Using Water. Correct tire pressure.Have your car serviced.Use the correct octane fuel for your vehicle.

At Run Your Car Cheaper we are committed to finding solutions to the rising cost of fuel. Come visit us and start saving on your gas costs.

Join the free ezine for all the latest gas saving tips and get a bonus ebook on How to Beat the Gas Pump Monster CLICK HERE

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Gayler

Prius hybrid from Toyota

The Toyota Prius is the first car of its kind. This hybrid is not only useful but also helpful to the environment because if you drive at less than 30mph it relies on the electric part of its engine. This makes it a good car to drive in the town and in cities where your speed is unlikely to be very high because it means you aren't using fuel. This is one reason why the Toyota Prius is a good idea - it saves you money as well as saving the environment. Not only does the Prius's electric engine not emit lots of toxic gas but it won't emit much noise either so it's good for driving down peaceful country lanes and in built-up areas. In fact, it excels at driving in built-up areas so well it is the car of choice for Hollywood's elite, people you will join the ranks of if you buy one.

When going at high speeds though, the Prius relies on its normal petrol engine which isn't as good for the environment. It is still relatively green, though, considering the size of the car itself; a 1.5 litre petrol engine will do 66mpg, for example. This makes it frugal as well as efficient, perfect for a large family who have had to tighten their belts recently.

Looks-wise the Prius looks like an normal family car; nothing special, just classically car shaped, decent if you will. The size means that inside is perfectly spacious, it's possible to fit five adults without a problem. They also wouldn't mind being there because there's lots of head and leg room and there is lots of equipment that comes as standard. Interior quality is up to its usual Toyota standard as is the build quality.

To drive the car is lively with a decent grip although the power steering may feel slightly detached to some but the Prius is good to its passengers with its quick acceleration and smooth ride. It takes a steady 10.9 seconds to go from 0-62mph, not bad for a family car of its size.

Prices for used Toyota Priuses vary quite a lot depending on age and mileage. If you aren't too bothered about how old your Prius is you can find X registrations for about £1,700 but it's important to take into account that as the car is quite old it's done lots of miles, sometimes over 110,000. The most popular model of Prius for sale seems to be the 1.5 litre engine version (whether that be automatic or manual) and you can generally pick one up for around £5000 if you opt for an early model or £13,000 for a later one. If you're going to choose a Toyota this is a good model to buy, you'll save money and people on the street will love you for saving the planet.

www.sytner.co.uk/toyota-world/used-cars.aspx

Pete J Ridgard is a writer and a car enthusiast. He currently writes for the automotive industry. Here he discusses Used Toyota cars.

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