Get the most out of your mileage to beat high gas prices
06/02/2011
Cars Home / Stuff to Buy Channel / Bullz-Eye Home
Here we are, once again, talking about gas prices. The last time for this talk was around 2008 when gas was hovering around the $3.50/$4.00 mark. Now, speculators are predicting a worst-case scenario of $5.00 a gallon this summer. However, these five strategies can help you minimize the hurt on your wallet.
Change your driving habits
The easiest and cheapest way to improve your gas mileage is to change your driving habits. Gently accelerate away from a stop and coast to a stop if at all possible. The best way to practice this is to pretend that there is an egg under your accelerator and gas pedal. Turn the music down and try to listen to slower tempo tunes. Listening to fast-paced music has been known to increase aggressive driving habits.
You can also roll your windows down when driving around town and just use the air conditioning on the highway. If you can, try to plan your routes ahead of time that have the fewest number of stoplights. The route may be longer, but you will often arrive to your destination faster while using less gas. Also try to travel during off peak hours to avoid gas-sapping traffic. Tap your inner Mr. Myagi and drive like a Zen master to save gas for free!
Keep your car
Buying a new car may not be financially viable at this time so keeping your current car may be your only option. However, there are a variety of things you can do to ensure you are getting the most mileage possible. First, perform scheduled maintenance. Make sure to replace all items specified by your owner's manual according to the schedule, especially such things as oxygen sensors, fuel filters, air filters and spark plugs. Also, make sure your fluids like oil and coolant are up to date. These items will keep your car operating at optimum efficiency and will guarantee that you are getting every advertised mile out of a gallon of gas. Also, if your tires need replacing, look into a set of low rolling resistant tires. There are a variety of brands out there and you can check car tire sites to see if such tires are available for your make and model of vehicle. Most importantly, check the air pressure in all your tires since low tire pressure will adversely affect your mileage.
Buy a new car
It might just so happen you are in the market for a new car. This is an excellent opportunity to look at a more fuel-efficient choice. However, if you are going to buy a new car only to save money on gas, that may not be such a wise choice. You may save money on gas, but your monthly payment may be more than what you save on gas. To see if you should make the switch, there are a variety of tools online to help calculate the savings. One of those tools can be found at Edmunds.com.
Public transportation
The next option is taking public transportation. It may not be the most attractive option, but public transportation has many benefits. Not only can it save you money, you may be able to avoid traffic and all the other negligent drivers on the roads while they twitfacetext their SUV into a guardrail. Also, you might be able to get work done or at least read the paper during your commute. Of course, public transportation may not be an option for you if it is not readily available in your area. The savings may also not be enough for you to take the plunge. Here's a handy tool to see just how much you can save on average.
Join a car sharing service
You may not be able to completely give up a car in favor of public transportation but that doesn't mean you still have to own one. Services like Zipcar give you the ability to rent a car for certain blocks of time. You pay a monthly fee but can rent any car at any time for up to a couple days. Various cars are available so you can cater your choice to the task at hand such as a BMW for business meetings and a Mini for errands. Best of all, gas is free with the Zipcar gas card located in the vehicle. You also don't need to pay for registration, title and license fees, and city stickers. In the coming years, auto manufacturers may also start offering this service. Both Peugeot and BMW are running pilot programs in Europe as we speak. Car sharing services are perfect for those who need a car, but don't need all the hassles that come along with them.
Three years ago, this same conversation about gas prices was taking place. Then the recession hit, gas prices went down and the people went back to buying SUVs. This time, prices may not recede as quickly, especially with instability in the Middle East and the craziness in the speculation market. So it might just be the time to take the plunge and purchase a more fuel-efficient vehicle, fix the one you have, or consider taking public transportation.
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