I Improve My Gas Mileage Almost 40% - Without Spending A Dime!
August 30, 2008
I improve my gas mileage, without spending a dime, by up to 40%! I don’t spend any money to do it, but I end up effectively saving almost half on what I spend on gasoline!
In order to prove my gas mileage, I have to know what my car in gas mileage is. By using a very simple gas mileage calculator, I can figure out exactly what my current miles per gallon are. This is done by writing down how much I’d fill up, and how far I drive, then dividing the miles I went by the gallons I used.
Now I can improve my gas mileage. The first step is basic core maintenance. By simply checking might air filter and wail, I can boost my gas mileage by as much as 10%. Dirty oil makes the engine run hotter and harder, using more gas.
I can get an extra 5% on my mileage by making sure I have a clean air filter. If the air filter is dirty work clogged, less oxygen and goes to the engine, which means poor combustion. When the engine doesn’t run efficiently, it requires more gas to go the same distance.
A big boost to improve my gas mileage is by insuring my tires are properly inflated. Tires with low air pressure are harder to roll, again making the engine work harder to move the car. I make it a point to check my tire pressure every time I get a fill up.
I can also improve my gas mileage by reducing the weight in my car. My mileage goes up by 1% for every 50 pounds I take out of the car. This makes for a good excuse to clean the trunk and backseat.
One of the biggest gas mileage improvements comes from, how and when I drive. By doing my errands during off-peak hours, I avoid stop-and-go traffic, congestion, and idling, using up gas without even going anywhere.
I manage to improve my gas mileage by almost 40% this way. I simply combine basic core and maintenance, with a little bit of planning, and common sense driving. By putting these altogether, I can go and nearly twice as long between fill ups, which means I am effectively paying 40% less for gas. And at today’s gas prices, that is a lot of money!
Get Right With The Environment - Use Hybrid Vehicles!
August 30, 2008
“I conceive that the land belongs to a vast family of which many are dead, few are living, and countless numbers are still unborn,” as said by a Chieftan from Nigeria. It is easy to see that we are ruining our children’s most important inheritance the earth. What good is money if they don’t have a clean place to live. Every one of us needs to think of ways in which to be more environmentally friendly, and with the way gas prices keep going up, a good way to do that is by getting one of the new hybrid vehicles.
Specialists in the environment look favorably on these new hybrid vehicles. Even the makers realize that consumers are asking for them more and more and the future looks very bright for vehicles that use alternative fuels. This is a big change compared to that of just a few years ago, when these cars were very hard to sell.
A hybrid vehicle is a car that is a combination of both an electric vehicle and a gas powered car. They have both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. This type of vehicle shares both gas and electric energy when it is in use. Today there are two types of hybrid vehicles on the roads, the mild Hybrid, and the Full Hybrid.
The Mild hybrid uses more gas than electricity and the electric motor is used only as a support to the gas engine. These are not as gas efficient as the full hybrid. They are not as environmentally friendly as the full hybrid but compared to normal vehicles, they are much more efficient.
True hybrids can function on either electric energy or gasoline independently and when the car works off of electricity then those harmful emissions are not going into the air.
The following are the different types of hybrids available:
Cars 1. Toyota makes two vehicles that are hybrids, the Toyota Prius and the Camry. Both of these cars get more than 40 miles per gallon in the city and 40 on the highway. 2. Honda has two hybrid vehicles, the Honda Accord and the Honda civic. The civic gets 49 miles per gallons and the Accord gets 25 MPG. Trucks 1. Chevrolet has the Chevy Silverado Classic 15 which comes in both 2wd and 4wd. This truck gets 18 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway 2. GMC Sierra Classic 15 comes in 2wd and in 4wd and reaches 21 mpg in the city and 18 on the highway.
Cars * Honda Civic Hybrid gets 49 mpg in the city and 51mpg on the highway. * Honda Accord Hybrids get 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway * Toyota Prius gets 48 mpg on the highway and 54mpg on the highway * Lexus GS 450h gets 25 mpg in the city and 38mpg on the highway * Nissan Altima HEV gets 42 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway * Nissan Altima gets over 40 miles per gallon and 36MPG on the highway * The Lexus GS 450h gets 38 mpg on the highway
Trucks * GMC Sierra Classic 15 hybrid comes in 2WD and 4WD. The 2WD gets 18 mpg in the city and 21 mpg in the highway. * Chevy Silverado Classic 15 Hybrid comes in both 2WD and 4WD. The 2WD gets 18 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway. The 4WD gets 17 mpg and 19 mpg on the highway.
Honda Offers Something New and Different
August 30, 2008
I don’t usually like change. Alright…I hate it. Change is bad is a mantra that I can’t keep from repeating over and over in my head. So it’s no wonder that I never embrace new products immediately. I typically can’t imagine why I would need it. I never have before, right?
That may make sense to you, but more than likely it seems crazy and illogical. And that’s alright. I’m aware of the implications! When it comes to something exciting and really, really new (as in not been done before) in the car industry…designers would probably like to think it happens all the time. But I’d have to disagree. The car industry definitely offers new vehicles every year, but for the most part, the evolution in design and function is quite slow (probably because most of us are nervous with huge change).
But that doesn’t mean there are never any exceptions! Every now and then something will show up in a new vehicle line up that is so different from everything else available that I find myself annoyed at it a little bit. My first reaction (however silly) is that I don’t need that odd, new vehicle. Sometimes my obstinate nature is rewarded by the failure of the vehicle, but sometimes I’m dead wrong.
At least I can admit when I’m wrong, I guess. Two such vehicles are the Ridgeline and the Element. Both are Honda vehicles and both brought on my ridiculous knee jerk reaction of instant dislike when they were offered up to the public.
The Ridgeline just seemed too much of a car to be called a truck. I know, I know. That’s quite silly considering that was the point. And I understand at this late date and recognize the Ridgeline in all its brilliance. You can have the truck bed for moving furniture, etc. and the cab that feels like a car. Unless you’re looking for a commercial vehicle the Ridgeline has most of the “truck” features you’re going to want to use randomly combined with a comfort that we all want in our everyday vehicles.
The Element was a stand out design. And I mean that literally. It stood out on the road. Other vehicle designs were embracing the curvy, and the fluid and the Element popped out looking definitely boxy. But it broke up the dominant look and made a space for itself. It still stands out on the road.
Both Honda vehicles, the Ridgeline and the Element, are great examples of the car industry coming up with something vital and new! And it’s obvious (at this late date) that my initial reactions were wrong. Drivers love both of the designs. You can’t deny it when you see them on the road, on the highway, in parking lots, in drive thru’s and in drive ways. And that’s where the Ridgeline and the Element find themselves…everywhere!
Working the Hyundai into MASH
August 30, 2008
Did you ever play MASH as a kid? Or maybe you still play it. I don’t know. I always liked finding out who I was supposed to marry the most Then after that my favorite part was to watch whether the M, the A, the S or the H got circled at the very top designating mansion, apartment, shack or house.
But the next most important factor was always the car! And the funny part looking back is that I didn’t know what kind of car I wanted…did anyone when they were 8? I would put down odd combinations of 4 different vehicles like:
1. Bug
2. Ferrari
3. Truck
4. BMW
I know, I know. Feel free to make fun. It’s a ridiculous list, but I was just a child and laughing too hard would be mean. So you should probably stop now. Since then (and I won’t tell you exactly how long it’s been “since then”) I’ve gotten a bit better at identifying what I like and what I don’t like when it comes to the cars that I drive. And I also wonder why my small, young self had never heard of the Hyundai! They’ve got such a great lineup. The Accent is perfect as a first vehicle with its affordable price. The Elantra is an environmentally friendly car and also offers more room than its closest competition.
The Sonata is the next step up from the Elantra and is even classified as a “large car” through the EPA classification system. It’s got a lot of really great safety features that come standard. The Hyundai Azera received the JD Power & Assoc. APEAL study recognition twice. The Tucson has a great crossover combination of car and SUV. The Santa Fe and the Entourage are both “Top Safety Picks” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Veracruz has the Hideaway seat offering a third row. And we can’t forget the Tiburon that is just plain eye catching with the sport tuned suspension to support the sporty look!
So…if any of you feel like playing MASH I’d like to venture out a little bit with my list of vehicles. I don’t want a slug bug, my husband has a truck and I don’t need the BMW (it’s just for the name anyway). But…I may leave the Ferrari on there just for kicks!
Auto Insurance. What has Common Sense got to do with it?
August 30, 2008
Who says common sense won’t save you so much in car insurance? You might be surprised at how much you can save by just using your good sense of judgment. Let’s make things clearer with a couple of examples…
You need to employ common sense from the point of car purchase. Different cars have varying premium demands. Certain Cars are more expensive to Insure than others. If therefore you had this in mind before buying a Car, you would get a car that meets your Auto requirements and is comparably cheaper to insure. You would of course need to ask people who know.
Your car type as it regards its cost would also if really considered, determine the coverage that makes sense for you. If you bought a car for $10,000 and took up a collision policy of $20,000 would you be hailed as an icon of wisdom? Remember you would also pay deductibles if you make a claim. The value of your car depreciates with time so this is not a smart choice.
People would always get expensive cars and get comprehensive coverage for them. This is all well and good it is not against what I am advocating. I am simply saying we all should be aware of the things that increase our insurance costs and always learn to make sure our insurance policy is not expensive but eventually useless to us.
There is no universal standard because our needs differ from person to person but simply applying our common sense in every situation would seriously affect the choices you would make regardless of your situation.
Let me conclude by saying that even if the options we choose would result in an increase in our insurance expense, with the right information, we can still find ways to save on your car insurance.
International Rental Auto Insurance Requirements
August 29, 2008
This article has been written to give advice on how to save time and money when you next come to renew your auto insurance. There is a huge range of auto insurance companies and types of auto insurance and it all boils down to what you actually require. Some of the components of auto insurance are bodily injury liability, property damage liability, medical payments coverage, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, comprehensive coverage, and collision coverage.
Getting an insurance company to supply you with a realistic quote was once hard work but the internet has made things much simpler. Now, some online sites will actually compare the car insurance rates from several auto insurance companies for you so that you can see at a glance which one would be best suited for your needs. So, if you are looking for the best quote for your auto insurance then there is no reason why you should not use an online service to do it.
In calculating an auto insurance premium, there are many factors to consider that will affect the end cost, including what town or city you live in and whether or not you have an alarm fitted or a garage to park the vehicle in as well as the cost of repairs and the cars power. However, you can be sure that if you reside in the city, your auto insurance premium will be higher than someone who lives in the suburbs or out in the country. There was a time when you had to pay your auto insurance premium up front but most reputable companies will allow monthly installments nowadays which should help soften the financial strain.
Experts advise that you should always ask for free quotes on auto insurance from different insurance agents well before your present insurance expires. For those people that drive high risk sports vehicles, comprehensive auto insurance may be too expensive so looking at a more basic insurance policy might be worth your while. Comprehensive insurance does have its benefits though, in particular when it comes to paying for medical treatment or time lost from work even if the policy holder was to blame for the accident. Insurance cover with this type of policy also extends to the driver and passengers of both vehicles providing they are not related by blood to the driver that caused the accident.
Switching to a new auto insurance company is best done when the old insurance is about to expire and not during the course of the plan. One thing to note though is not to cancel your policy from your old auto insurance company until the insurance is actually in effect with the new insurer. Some companies also give a discount if you decide to have your home insured with them in addition to your vehicle insurance; so it is worth checking this out in advance. Often just a few simple pieces of advice like this can help the seasoned driver as well as the novice driver save some time and money when searching for their auto insurance.
How To Improve Gas Mileage And Save Money
August 29, 2008
As fuel prices continue to go up you may be figuring out how to increase gas mileage. If you are looking for ways to improve gas mileage or increase fuel efficiency there are several do it yourself solutions available to consider as part of your standard vehicle maintenance.
A tune up could get you better gas mileage up to 20% or even more if a bad oxygen sensor is discovered. This is an extreme example but if your engine is idling roughly or hesitating and spiting smoke out the muffler then you should and get a engine diagnostic tune up and this could increase gas mileage and possibly extend the life of your engine saving hundreds or thousands of dollars in maintenance.
Check your tires pressure often. Most people fail to check this simple maintenance item and it should be checked monthly. When you keep your tires at recommended pressure as stated in the owners manual you can increase gas mileage by two to three percent. This could also save hundreds of dollars of more because when your tires are inflated properly it also increases the life of the tire.
Your driving habits can have a real affect on gas mileage. Driving habits could include finding the shortest way to work or the route that is the most direct and has the least amount of stops to your destination. If you have been asking yourself how to improve gas mileage this is a major factor. Check with a free online map service that shows you direct routes.
Do you use your vehicle or car trunk as a free mini storage? For every 100lbs in your vehicle you could be decreasing gas mileage by a percentage point. Some people are so extreme in this extra weight that they may only keep their gas tank filled half the way to reduce weight. Gas weighs about 6.1 pounds per gallon at room temperature. So if your are wondering how to get better gas mileage there are several solutions or methods you can do to help help improve gas mileage.
What to look for in a Reliable Car Insurance Company?
August 29, 2008
Due to there being hundreds of companies for car insurance out there it has become challenging to decide on the right one. The company that you choose has to offer the services you require and be there for claims to be filed as needed. In order to decide upon a car insurance company that is not only dependable but that can meet the needs that you have as a customer. To do this there are things that have to be considered. When making your final decision there are a few vital considerations that you will want to keep in mind.
How good is the customer service provided?
You want to take a look at the customer service provided by the company before deciding to use their services. A car insurance company that does offer an adequate amount of customer service is the last thing you need. If you have friends and family that have experience using a company ask them about the customer service provided. To see if many complaints have been filed against the company you can check with the Better Business Bureau to learn about the customer service. Finding out if the company is reliable and offers top of the line customer service is something this will help with.
Are they financially sound?
It’s also important that you look at the financial strength of a company if you’re looking for a company for auto insurance that is going to be reliable. One great place to look for this information is at the Standard & Poor’s rating, which will help you get a look at the financial strength of the company you are considering. No one wants to make a claim, only to find out their car insurance company is totally broke and can’t pay it. So, make sure that the company is very strong financially, and don’t go with a company that has lower than a BBB rating with Standard & Poor’s.
Consider Their Prices
Rates that are associated with the coverage are a vital aspect of car insurance. The reliability of a company will be reflected in the rates. Incredible service and rates that are of a competitive nature are offered by reliable companies. There is a reason that one company has extreme rates when others do not. When making this choice price is vital to the process.
These are three of the most important things that you should keep in mind when you’re looking for a reliable car insurance company. If you look for great customer service, financial strength, and competitive prices, you’ll be sure to find an excellent company that will meet all of your car insurance needs.
What Is So Special About Womens Car Insurance?
August 29, 2008
Women drivers are well known for their well, it really depends on the perspective you are looking at them from. If you are a male driver that has an unbelievable need to put your foot down then they are nothing but a nuisance. However, if you happen to be a car insurer then you will probably be more than happy to offer them car insurance at a cheaper rate than you would a man of the same age, driving experience and make and model of car. Womens car insurance is a big sector of the insurance industry at the minute and there are plenty of reasons why.
Before looking at those reasons, it is important to check out just how much of a difference there can be between a male and female car insurance quote. Mr Bickley and his wife, Mrs Bickley, obtained quotes online for their brand new Ford Focus.
Both Mr and Mrs Bickley are 29 years of age and enjoy rural life. As a result, their home is in a low crime area. They also have a garage and an alarm system fitted just in case. Mr Bickley does have one more years no claims bonus than his wife, but their circumstances are identical otherwise.
As an experiment, they both went to E-Sure and CIS for car insurance quotes to see how much it would cost them to insure the car individually. Despite the extra year no claims for Mr Bickley, Mrs Bickley would have obtained the insurance for 107 cheaper.
Women receive lower car insurance quotes than men because they tend to have fewer serious accidents than men. In fact, they statistically have fewer accidents in general, and fewer claims as a result. Fewer claims ultimately mean that the individual insurer is far less likely to have to pay out high amounts and thus have a greater profit. This profit is passed on to the woman in the form of a discount!
Taking this into account and the coupling it with speed will also make a difference. Men have a need for speed that women do not seem to have. They tend to have more convictions for speeding than women because they drive faster and fail to concentrate as much!
Men also tend to buy more powerful cars. According to some insurers, women are more likely to choose a car out of practicality rather than aesthetic appeal, which is completely the opposite of their male peers! The parts for faster cars and those more likely to be stolen are more expensive and thus so are the insurance premiums!
There are also now specialist womens car insurance providers that will only offer cover for women. They will not insure men at all. Again, this makes the insurances out there more affordable for the female of the species and narrows the options for cheap car insurance for the men!
First Time Driver Sports Car Insurance
August 29, 2008
There has never been a time when it has been easier for the average person in the street to own a sports car, but most people are put off unnecessarily by the maintenance and insurance costs. Something as special as an exotic or high performance sports car requires sports car insurance, a sector dedicated to these powerful machines. Most sports car insurance policies will provide comprehensive insurance which covers damage to property, costs for legal representation, liability and of course medical expenses.
Each driver’s sports car insurance premium is calculated individually, partly using their previous driving record, for obvious reason. For instance, every vehicle has an insurance rating which is primarily based around two areas; its power to weight ratio and the cost of replacement parts. Although the driver’s previous record is taken into account when assessing the sports car insurance risk, so is his (or hers) insurance claims record plus a number of other factors. Insurance companies will also investigate other areas concerning the car itself for instance, where the driver lives, the time it takes for a car thief to break into it and how effective it is in a collision. Even the drivers age, number of years driving, gender, profession and credit history can affect a sports car insurance premiums.
An obvious factor in sports car insurance premium costs is the fact that sports cars can accelerate very quickly plus travel at high speeds and with so many accidents being caused by excessive speed, insurance companies are keen to ensure high performance car drivers pay for the privilege. Unfortunately, insurance figure show that it is the luxury, high performance sports car sector that has the highest risk of accident damage. Of course that does not include the number of these vehicles that are stolen or subject to vehicle fraud.
Armed with these facts, a driver wishing to find a good sports car insurance premium must first look into the subject and search for a reputable specialist insurer. However, the best way to keep you sports car insurance premiums low is by maintaining good driving skills and a clean police record which is how most drivers keep their vehicle insurance costs to a minimum. Another method employed by many sports car insurance companies is to place a limit on how many miles the car can be driven in a year; alternatively, you can set a figure yourself providing it doesn’t conflict with theirs, which should help reduce your annual insurance outlay. Some insurance companies go even further and make other recommendations before they will accept the risk, especially if the car is worth a great deal of money, up to and including a vehicle tracking system and an engine immobilizer. Nowadays though, most high performance car manufacturers will be able to provide sports car insurance at a discounted price on their own vehicles but may require proof that the driver has a clean record.
If you are lucky, your search may lead you to a sports car insurance broker who will be able to find the best rate for you and may have insurance claims and legal experience for when things go wrong. Before you finally insure your sports car, make sure that haven’t been changes made to the engine and handling characteristics that could affect the outcome of your insurance application.




