As if the economic times haven't been tough enough, gasoline prices hit record highs in recent months. Even a few extra cents a gallon can add up quickly into lots of dollars. But, with some attention to the following tips, you can keep your costs for gasoline and for operating your vehicle as low as possible.
Saving on gasoline
No matter whether you drive a compact that averages 30 mpg or a SUV that averages 13 mpg, you can cut gasoline costs by paying attention to where you buy gas, how you maintain your vehicle, and how you drive it.
Tips for buying gas
Buy the grade gasoline the manufacturer recommends for the vehicle. Putting plus or premium in a vehicle designed to run on regular just sends $$$ out the tailpipe. If your vehicle knocks severely on the recommended grade (not just occasional pinging under a load), then have it checked for a tune-up or other potential problem.
Comparison shop for cheaper prices. Some cities have websites where consumers post their finds of stations with cheaper prices. You may find a link to your area on the EPA's fuel economy website.
Use bargain brands of gasoline. "No name" gasoline is usually of the same quality as that of national name-brand stations, but often sells for less.
Maintaining your vehicle
Some recommendations and figures from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
Tune-up your vehicle on its recommended schedule. A vehicle that is badly out of tune can up your gas consumption by 4%.
Replace faulty or failed oxygen sensors immediately. Your vehicle may run with a bad oxygen sensor, but replacing it can increase your fuel economy up to 40%
Clean or replace clogged air filters. A clogged filter can lower your mpg by 10%.
Keep tires inflated to recommended pressures. Under-inflated tires burn more gasoline. Each 2 psi tires are under-inflated increases gas consumption by 1%.
Driving efficiently
Avoid idling for more than 30 seconds. Beyond that time, experts say its cheaper to turn-off the engine and go into the establishment rather than through the drive-thru.
Smoothly does it. Avoid jack-rabbit starts and stops and aggressive driving. Smooth acceleration and stopping, and not weaving aggressively through highway traffic, first speeding up then braking suddenly, can save you up to 33% at highway speeds and 5% in town, according to the EPA.
Watch your speed. Or pay the equivalent of about 10 cents a gallon for every 5 mph over 60 mph you go, says the EPA.
Combine errands. A warm car uses less fuel than a cold one. So combine trips and errands whenever possible. Also modern cars are engineered to warm up on the go, so you need not sit for several minutes warming it up in the morning.
Saving on auto insurance
The same amount of auto insurance on the same vehicle does not always cost the same from different companies. Also the cost of insurance varies widely between makes and models of vehicles.
In a study published in October 2002, Consumer Reports found some unexpected differences. A consumer might expect to pay more to insure a luxury SUV as compared to a modest sedan, but the study found surprising differences between various model vehicles in the same class. For example, coverage from the same insurer for the same drivers for a 2002 Dodge Neon ES cost $1,565 per year compared to $1,087 for a 2002 Saturn SL2. The study also found large differences between insurance providers.
The reasons for such differences are too lengthy for this article, but the conclusion is that it pays to comparison shop for insurance rates from time to time. Call your insurance agent and ask for a quote. You can also check with your CCU Insurance Agency. They may be able to save you money on your auto insurance. You can reach them at 607-937-5292 or 800-505-5292.
Some general tips for saving on auto insurance include:
Comparison shop rates for your vehicles from two or three providers.
For collision coverage, carry as high a deductible as you are comfortable with.
For an older vehicle, consider dropping collision and comprehensive coverage. Caution: Always keep adequately liability coverage.
When shopping for a new vehicle, compare the insurance costs of each model on your short list of favorites before settling on a final choice.
Consider potential operating costs when buying a new vehicle
If you are in the market for a new vehicle, or soon will be, you can save yourself a bundle by selecting a vehicle that not only meets your driving needs but that also costs less to drive. Consider these factors.
Buying used. Selecting a one- or two-year-old model of the vehicle you like can offer tremendous savings on retail price, sales taxes, property tax/tag fees (depending on your state), and insurance costs.
Consider and compare fuel economy. Let's compares a gas sipper with a gas guzzler for a consumer who drives 12,000 miles per year. The annual fuel cost at $1.75 per gallon for a vehicle that averages 30 mpg would be $700, for a vehicle that averages 12 mpg, $1750. The difference is $1050 annually, or $97.50 a month. Many gas sippers also have good crash and safety ratings. Check out fuel consumption for new and used cars after 1985 on the EPA's website: www.fueleconomy.gov. Up to 4 vehicles at once can be compared side-by-side.
Compare after-purchase operating costs. How much will it cost to insure the vehicle, buy gas, maintain it, insure it, repair it, and pay annual taxes on it? Edmunds.com has a True Cost to Own (TCO)tm calculator that can give you an estimate of these costs to use for early comparison. For greater accuracy, you'll want toresearch individually the components, particularly the insurance, fuel consumption, and annual ad valorem/property tax (as applicable in your state.)
Prepared for Corning Credit Union by Remar Sutton & Associates, November 2003. Reviewed and updated March 2007. All rights reserved.
Remember that old saying, “A stitch in time saves nine?” It doesn’t apply just to clothes. Taking a few minutes regularly to perform some simple maintenance, can keep your car or truck looking and running like new for years. Here’s a quick checklist.
Check the vehicle’s “vital signs” every time you gas up.
When you fill the gas tank, pop the hood and check the levels of oil, coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid. You’ll need a paper towel for the oil; most of the others can be checked at a glance in most vehicles. If the vehicle has windshield washer fluid, check that level also.
Many people are keeping their cars longer. According to a recent report by the research company R. L. Polk & Co., the median age of operational passenger cars in 2007 was 9.2 years. Take good care of your car or truck and it will give you many years of service. Extra service years can save you money long-term. In the current economic climate, all of us are looking for ways to trim our spending. Here's how to stretch the good life for your wheels.
Dealerships just love it when you trade in your old vehicle. Why? They give you "wholesale" for it (if you're lucky) then "retail" it to another customer, charging that customer thousands more.
Why should the dealership make that extra money? Why not pocket that money yourself by "retailing" your car to an individual rather than trading it? You may particularly wish to consider selling your vehicle if it's older but nice and reliable. Many people are looking for very affordable, but reliable transportation. So you can take a vehicle that a dealer might give you just a few hundred or thousand for and make more money. Both you and your buyer can come out ahead. Of course, you can also do well selling a newer vehicle.
Next to a home, automotive vehicles represent the largest expenditure for most consumers. Keeping those vehicles well-maintained and, when necessary, properly repaired can ensure many years of reliable service.
Types of Auto Service Centers
Dealerships. The service centers of new car dealerships provide warranty service and repairs for the models the dealership sells. (Some dealerships may also service other make vehicles.) Positive reasons for choosing a dealership may include: they should be thoroughly familiar with your vehicle, they should offer factory-trained technicians, and original factory (OEM) parts are usually quickly available. Repairs under warranty must usually be performed by an authorized dealership. Most dealerships offer decent guarantees on parts and labor. On average, however, dealerships tend to charge a bit more than other types of service centers.
Consumers buying a new or used vehicle at most dealerships will face pressure to purchase an "extended warranty" on that vehicle. Extended warranties are also known as "service contracts." Dealerships like to sell extended warranties because they make good profits for the dealership. But do they make sense for you? And how do you use one, if you already purchased it?
What are "automotive extended warranties"?
In simple terms, they are service contracts with a warranty company that agree to provide, under certain conditions, certain repair services for a certain period of time from an identified provider. As you might assume from the very general terms of this definition, the provisions and quality of extended warranties can vary greatly. Some are provided by national manufacturers or companies who stand behind their agreement; others are provided by fly-by-night companies based in states with weak consumer protection laws—companies that often take the money and fold before consumers can make many claims against their "warranty." As a consequence, consumers must examine any contract carefully and look at all the pros and cons for their individual situation.
More and more automobile dealerships across the country are adding mandatory binding arbitration clauses to contracts for new and used vehicles as well as to financing contracts. By signing the contract, the consumer is agreeing to binding arbitration to settle any future dispute and also waiving the right to sue or appeal—even if the dealership committed fraud.
Although voluntary arbitration can be a good tool for some disputes, mandatory, pre-dispute arbitration poses several real dangers to consumers. In fact, the dealers must agree it poses dangers—after all, they fought hard for a federal law that prohibits automotive manufacturers from requiring dealers to accept mandatory binding arbitration in contracts between the manufacturers and dealers!
As if the economic times haven't been tough enough, gasoline prices hit record highs in recent months. Even a few extra cents a gallon can add up quickly into lots of dollars. But, with some attention to the following tips, you can keep your costs for gasoline and for operating your vehicle as low as possible.
Saving on gasoline
No matter whether you drive a compact that averages 30 mpg or a SUV that averages 13 mpg, you can cut gasoline costs by paying attention to where you buy gas, how you maintain your vehicle, and how you drive it.
eBay has become the gorilla of vehicle sales virtually overnight—they’ve facilitated over two million vehicle sales since starting their program. What’s not to like about that?
A lot of things. Before you even head to the eBay site to simply poke around, think about this:
When you buy on eBay, you’re typically buying “sight-unseen.”
You usually don’t get to drive the vehicle.
You’re typically buying from total strangers, and they are usually far away.
Dozens of radio and TV ads from many different charities are currently flooding the airwaves suggesting that you donate your used car or boat. Are you considering it? If so, then you need to know how the 2005 changes in IRS rules might affect the tax deductibility of your gift. You also need to know how to check out the charity you're considering. This month's review will help you do these things wisely. Planning to donate to a charity but not necessarily a vehicle? You'll want to read this review too. I'm going to start with the most important thing—how to check out the charity so that you know your dollars will go where you want them to. Then, I'll share the technical details about vehicle donation.
Yes, you read that headline correctly. If you are thinking of buying a new or used vehicle and you want to save money, I recommend first taking five steps before you even think of heading to a dealership showroom or website to shop. When many of us feel that first itch for a new vehicle, we think first about dropping by a dealership to browse—look at a few models, lift a few hoods, check out a few prices. Not a great idea—dealerships love to see innocent browsers pull on to the lot. Or maybe, you just like to cruise the local dealership websites. That's a better idea, but still not one designed to save you money or to really help you find the right car for you and your family. Instead, when that itch strikes, stop and take these five steps. Your wallet will thank you.
With the big spike in gas prices in the autumn and higher winter heating costs predicted for the rest of this winter, consumers everywhere are looking for ways to save on energy costs. In past reviews, I've offered you tips for saving on fuel costs. Now thanks to some old and new tax incentives, you may also be able to benefit from specific tax deductions or credits for purchasing "clean-fuel" vehicles or taking certain energy conservation measures at home.
Auto Dealership Pressure on Customers Never Goes Away
February/March 2005
Here’s a piece of StraightTalk: Stop right now if you’re thinking about buying or financing a vehicle. More than ever, everything in the car business has become negotiable: the price of the car; the price of the loan; the value of your car; the cost of “add-ons” — even the cost of insurance or service agreements. Quite frankly, you can’t relax for a minute if you want the best deal or the best vehicle.
That’s why we want you to stop and visit StraightTalk before you start the car buying process.
Consumer Affairs agencies across the country get more complaints about poor auto repair service than almost any other area. Repair services and the skills of mechanics can vary widely. But in addition to selecting a service center wisely (see StraightTalk tips), using these ten tips can help you get satisfactory results working with automotive service centers and technicians.
If you're in the market for a new or used car, then you're probably spending a good bit of time trying to discover what vehicle's right for you. If you're shopping the StraightTalk way, then you've figured what you can afford to purchase and are previewing models and makes in your price range in the ads, on the Internet, and down at the dealerships. In the shopping excitement, however, many buyers overlook one crucial question: Can you afford to drive the vehicle after you bring it home?
Would it surprise you to know that even if you are looking at two vehicles in the same class—say two compact pickups, midsize sedans, or minivans—that the cost to own the two similar vehicles can vary widely. Smart buyers will check out the cost to own and operate that great set of wheels. You'll need to consider these factors.
Your Available Cash is the maximum amount you have to spend on a vehicle. This calculator enables you to determine 1) the amount of cash a vehicle loan will yield and 2) the total Available Cash from all sources, including the loan, you have to purchase the vehicle.
If the estimated amount of Available Cash is too little for the vehicle you would like to purchase, you have several options. A higher monthly payment and/or a longer loan term will typically yield higher initial Loan Cash, thus increasing your Available Cash. You may also want to consider alternative vehicles that better fit your budget.
To estimate the value of your trade, visit the Edmunds web site.
Current rates and terms for CCU vehicle loans are available on our
rates page.
This calculator is solely for
informational purposes. It gives you reasonably accurate results of your Available Cash. Results for your actual loan will vary based on your final rate and loan amount.
Consumer Guides 
As if the economic times haven't been tough enough, gasoline prices hit record highs in recent months. Even a few extra cents a gallon can add up quickly into lots of dollars. But, with some attention to the following tips, you can keep your costs for gasoline and for operating your vehicle as low as possible.
May 2008
Dealerships just love it when you trade in your old vehicle. Why? They give you "wholesale" for it (if you're lucky) then "retail" it to another customer, charging that customer thousands more.
Next to a home, automotive vehicles represent the largest expenditure for most consumers. Keeping those vehicles well-maintained and, when necessary, properly repaired can ensure many years of reliable service.
Consumers buying a new or used vehicle at most dealerships will face pressure to purchase an "extended warranty" on that vehicle. Extended warranties are also known as "service contracts." Dealerships like to sell extended warranties because they make good profits for the dealership. But do they make sense for you? And how do you use one, if you already purchased it?
More and more automobile dealerships across the country are adding mandatory binding arbitration clauses to contracts for new and used vehicles as well as to financing contracts. By signing the contract, the consumer is agreeing to binding arbitration to settle any future dispute and also waiving the right to sue or appeal—even if the dealership committed fraud.
December 2006
July 2006
January 2006
Auto Dealership Pressure on Customers Never Goes Away
May 2004
April 2004