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Drive for Less
Fuel-efficient Vehicles
By Kyle Busch
If you are in the market for a vehicle, be certain to do your homework. Consult the April (automotive issue) of Consumer Reports. This resource is available at most public libraries.
If you plan on buying a used vehicle, also be sure to read a couple of archived new vehicle road tests (review road tests that were conducted at the time the vehicle was new) on the used vehicle of interest in auto magazines (many are archived at your local library) or Internet sources such as Car and Driver, Motor Trend, Road & Track or MotorWeek. Information from the road tests will allow you to zero in on which of the vehicles discussed above will be the best for you.
Last, but not least, be certain that you do not overpay to drive a fuel-efficient vehicle. For example, if you pay, say, $1,500 more for a vehicle that achieves 5 mpg more than your current vehicle, you would need to drive it about five years to get $1,500 in fuel savings. However, say you pay an extra $500 for a vehicle that achieves 10 mpg more than your current vehicle. In a little over one year, you would recoup your $500.
Copyright 2004 Kyle Busch
