Oil is in an ever-declining supply, and as a result, gas prices will only go up. So why do we wait for hurricanes, Middle East unrest, or other unforeseen events to realize that gas is too expensive and we just can’t afford it anymore?
It’s time to face the reality: the general future trend for gas prices is to keep going up. This will continue until a viable substitute becomes available and is mass-produced, but that day is likely at least a decade or more away.
Given this, ‘fuel efficiency’ should be your top priority when making your next car purchase decision. In fact, if your current vehicle is breaking your budget due to high fuel costs, you may need to act now and replace it with a more fuel-efficient one.
Think about it: the difference in fuel consumption between two cars can amount to hundreds of dollars in savings monthly. If that isn’t enough incentive to consider a more fuel-efficient car, what is?
Once you’ve decided to get a more fuel-efficient car, it’s time to do thorough research. Narrow down your options to three cars and compare their fuel efficiency and other features. For each car, try to find at least three drivers who drive the same model and ask them about their experiences with fuel efficiency. You can also use community websites like fuelly.com to gather input from hundreds of drivers about a specific car’s fuel efficiency.
Before making your purchase, be sure to check the insurance rate for the new car. The last thing you want is to save on fuel but end up paying more on insurance, negating the savings.
If you can afford it and plan to keep the car for years, consider a diesel or hybrid option.
Enough worrying about how many cup holders your future car has or how shiny the rims are. While these options might be nice, they should take a back seat to fuel efficiency.