Gas Buddy Archives - Big Green Purse https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/tag/gas-buddy/ The expert help you need to live the greener, healthier life you want. Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:20:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 Comparing Hybrid Cars, the Honda Civic Came Out on Top for My Dad https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/comparing-hybrid-cars-the-honda-civic-came-out-on-top-for-my-dad/ https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/comparing-hybrid-cars-the-honda-civic-came-out-on-top-for-my-dad/#comments Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:20:43 +0000 https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/comparing-hybrid-cars-the-honda-civic-came-out-on-top-for-my-dad/ Buying a car any time is a big financial outlay. In this era of penny pinching and fuel scarcity, it’s particularly important to consider not just a functional car but one that gets great gas mileage. What choices do you have that won’t break the bank? Big Green Purse intern Rachel Haas filed this report: “What’s the most …

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Buying a car any time is a big financial outlay. In this era of penny pinching and fuel scarcity, it’s particularly important to consider not just a functional car but one that gets great gas mileage. What choices do you have that won’t break the bank? Big Green Purse intern Rachel Haas filed this report:

“What’s the most fuel-efficient car I can buy to meet my commuting needs?” That’s the question my father asked recently after he passed his used car on to me and began looking for a small or mid-sized vehicle for himself. We decided to go on the hunt together, with our primary criteria being that the vehicle should be affordable, a hybrid if possible, and highly fuel efficient—achieving an average of at least 40 miles per gallon.

Only three vehicles fit the bill:

HONDA

 Insight-Hybrid-LrgGal01 Insight:
MPG: Estimated mileage of 40/43 city/highway, average of 42 mpg
FUEL ECONOMY: With gas prices around $2.60, the annual fuel cost amounts to around $929. You can make calculations for your own region by finding local fuel prices at GasBuddy.com and using the chart at fueleconomy.gov.
COST: The Insight EX with navigation (a GPS system) has a ticket price of $23,100. NOTE: Because it’s a brand-new model, dealerships are less willing to negotiate on price.
SPACE:  Overall smaller interior space than the Civic Hybrid, but as a hatchback, the Insight can fit almost three times as much cargo with the seats folded down, 31.5 cubic feet.

Civic Hybrid:
MPG: estimated mileage of 40/45 city/highway, estimated average of 42 mpg
FUEL ECONOMY:  same annual fuel cost as the Insight
COST: The Civic Hybrid with navigation has a ticket price of $25,650, plus the option of leather seats (unlike the Insight) for an additional $1,200.  We were able to negotiate the price of the Civic Hybrid with navigation and leather to about $22,700.
SPACE: The interior space is slightly larger than the Insight, but the cargo space is significantly smaller, only 10.4 cubic feet.

TOYOTA

Prius 3rd Generation Prius:
MPG: Delivers the best mileage and power of any hybrid on the road today with an estimated mileage of 51/48 city/highway, estimated average of 50 mpg
FUEL ECONOMY:  The annual fuel cost is about $780
COST:  The 2010 Prius with leather and navigation has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of  $28,350. Like with the Honda Insight,  dealerships are less willing to significantly lower the price of this brand-new model.
SPACE:  The Prius has more interior space than the Civic Hybrid, especially in the backseat, with an inch and half more leg room.  The Prius also beats the Civic Hybrid in cargo space, with 21.6 cubic feet.
ADDED BONUS:  You can buy the 3rd generation Prius with a solar roof.  Why is that so cool?  The solar roof literally cools the car by using the sun’s energy to power an air circulation fan, eliminating the need for owners to blast their air conditioning in the hot summers.  Unfortunately, the solar roof adds about $1,800 to the ticket price.

Rachel h After test driving all three vehicles and comparing both fuel efficiency and price, my dad happily settled on the Honda Civic Hybrid (left). He opted for a slightly roomier interior over more cargo space, since he doesn’t need to transport much in his car. Both price and mpg met his critera. Plus, he likes the way it drives. “This car has a lot of pep!” he says.

NOTE: You don’t have to be in the market for a new car to improve fuel efficiency when you drive. Getting a tune up on the vehicle you currently drive will improve fuel efficiency by 4%. Pumping up your tires to the proper PSI (pounds per square inch) will get you another 3.3% improvement in your MPG. Or skip owning a car altogether for “wheels when you want them” via ZipCar. Here are more ways to beat the high price of gas.

Looking for a different car? Check fuel efficiency ratings for all vehicles at fueleconomy.gov.

Interested in a mid-size, highly fuel-efficient family car? Stay tuned for our review of the Ford Fusion Hybrid.

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Beat High Gas Prices: Save $20-$50 Every Month on Gasoline https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/beat-high-gas-p/ https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/beat-high-gas-p/#comments Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:03:37 +0000 https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/beat-high-gas-p/ With gas prices approaching $4 a gallon, there’s never been a better time to conserve fuel. The following tips will help you save from $20-$50 a month at the pump. Added bonus? They’ll protect the environment, too, since every gallon of gas burned generates the carbon equivalent of a 20-pound bag of charcoal briquettes! 1. …

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Gas_pump With gas prices approaching $4 a gallon, there’s never been a better time to conserve fuel. The following tips will help you save from $20-$50 a month at the pump. Added bonus? They’ll protect the environment, too, since every gallon of gas burned generates the carbon equivalent of a 20-pound bag of charcoal briquettes!

1. Drive smart – Avoid quick starts and stops, use cruise control on the highway, and don’t idle. (Using cruise control alone can improve fuel efficiency by as much as 14%!).

2. Drive the speed limit – Remember – every 5 mph you drive above 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.10 per gallon for gas.

3. Drive less – Traveling a mile or less? Walk, bicycle, use a scooter or moped. Have lots of errands to do? Combine trips. Researching, making conference calls, and writing? Telecommute, and do those jobs at home.

4. Drive a more fuel-efficient car – Consider one of the new hybrids; at the very least, choose from among the EPA’s “Fuel Economy Leaders” in the class vehicle you’re considering.

5. Keep your engine tuned up – Improve gas mileage by an average of 4.1 percent by maintaining your vehicle in top condition.

6. Carpool – According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, 32 million gallons of gasoline would be saved each day if every car carried just one more passenger on its daily commute.

7. Use mass transit and “Ride Share” programs – Why pay for gasoline at all? (Search “ride share + your city” on the Internet to find options).

8. Keep tires properly inflated – Improve gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Replace worn tires with the same make and model as the originals.

9. Buy the cheapest gas you can find – Buy gas in the morning, from wholesale shopper’s clubs, and using gas-company rebate cards. Track neighborhood prices on the Internet.

10. Support higher fuel-efficiency standards and the development of alternative fuels – Ultimately, our best hope for beating the gas crisis is to increase fuel efficiency while we transition to renewable and non-petroleum based fuels. Endorse efforts to boost average fuel efficiency to at least 40 mpg. Support programs that promote research and development of alternatives to transportation systems based on oil.

For more ways you can save gas and money, see Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World.

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