Car buyers are more concerned with fuel efficiency than ever, but for
thrifty consumers, sticker prices on used cars are sometimes too high to
consider. Even though there are some great financing deals out there, people are
cautious about adding the payments to their monthly balance sheet. That drives
many people to look for fuel efficient used cars, and it leads to some tough
decisions. Newer models are generally more fuel efficient for their weight and
power, so a buyer needs to strike a balance between features and fuel. Used car
buyers should take heart, however: Buying used is an environmentally friendly
choice, since it saves the energy that would be used to produce a new vehicle launch
x431 v.
The staff at Del Mastro Motors has years of experience
catering to people buying preowned cars in Peterborough and as a result, know
how to steer clients to fuel efficient used cars. Here are four tips from Del
Mastro on how to pick a used car that saves you money at the pumps.
Get
the Car You Need: One of the biggest mistakes people make when they抮e trying to
be thrifty is buying a car that doesn抰 really fit their needs. 揥e do business in
Peterborough the Kawarthas, where icy country roads are a fact of life,?says
Mike Del Mastro. 揈very once and a while you get somebody who wants to save by
buying a compact car with a small engine, but the fact is that any fuel they
save from the vehicle they抣l lose whenever they get stuck in snow or can抰 manage
the traction to take a rough road.?He recommends taking a hard look at the road
conditions you抣l face all year round and turning them into minimum requirements
for the type of vehicle you抮e willing to walk away with.
Choose Manual if
You Can: If you can drive a car with a manual transmission properly, choose one
that has a tachometer or shift indicator. According to Natural Resources Canada,
driving standard with these features can save five to ten percent over
automatic. If you need an automatic transmission, the more speeds, the better. A
five speed saves three percent over a four speed, and a four speed saves about
five percent over a three speed.
Save Weight ?Lose Features: Weight and
engine characteristics are the twin pillars of fuel efficiency. Engine
efficiency is largely indicated by the vehicle抯 listed liters per 100 kilometers
(or miles per gallon) launch
x431. Posted tests usually apply just to the base model; weight-adding
features will reduce the listed range. For example, power windows and seats add
a surprising amount of weight. Pick the lightest car you can, but not at the
expense of safety.
Two Wheel Drive: Unless road conditions or the
vehicle抯 intended use demand four wheel or all-wheel drive, a two wheel drive
car should be your first choice for fuel efficiency. These days there抯 not much
difference in fuel consumption between front and rear wheel drive, but in older
models front wheel drive is generally more efficient ?and safer,
too.
Related Links