To make sure you are getting the most miles out of your hard earned dollars, you should begin by making gas mileage comparisons between cars. This will allow you to save money on your future daily drives.
Choosing a new car
Choosing a vehicle these days requires more than just looking at the shiny brochures and picking the fanciest options. Cost of maintenance and fuel economy also need to be included. Total cost of ownership has never been on my mind when buying a car but it makes sense to have a good look at the figures before you commit to a vehicle that will have to serve you for many years to come.
The importance of gas mileage comparisons only became apparent in the USA since oil prices went crazy in 2008. Not only will it allow your vehicle to respect the environment, but it will also provide you with a way to save a lot of money.
The rising prices for gas and maintenance is making it increasingly important to make sure that you are able to get the most miles out of every drop.
Calculating your MPG
Starting with calculating how many miles you are getting per gallon will allow you to take the first step in gaining the knowledge needed to drive more efficiently.
You can find your miles per gallon by setting your odometer to zero when you fill up your tank. When after a few days you fill it up again, you will write down the number of miles as well as the number of gallons that you have driven. You then divide the miles by the gallons, which will give you an estimate of how many miles per gallon you are getting on average.
Comparing Gas Mileage
These initial figures are not really helpful if you want to compare your car to others. There are many factors that determine how much gas your vehicle will use. Do you spend more time on the highways or in city traffic?
There is a standardized method of measuring gas mileage, set up by the EPA or environmental protection agency. They publish fuel economy figures for all cars on the US market so you can compare side by side at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm
Most car manufacturers publish these MPG estimates as well and your dealer should be able to share them with you.
There has been a lot of research lately to build cars with better fuel economy. One of them is the famous Toyota Prius. It is a great mid-sizes family car but it will not suit you if you need a small truck of course.
By doing a gas mileage comparison for different car models you are interested in, you will be able to make an informed decision about the fuel economy before your next purchase.
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