Calculating saving by switching to a more fuel efficient car?

Question

I am trying to calculate saving by switching to a more fuel efficient car.

I am using the calculator at

http://hestecrv.com/car.php

Is this calculator accurate. Is it worth selling my SUV and switch to smaller car now a days.

Answer 1

That's a good calculator to use, but make sure you factor car payments on a new car too. If you save $900 a year on gas by switching to a more fuel efficient car, don't forget to add your monthly payments to it.

For example:

CAR A $2,000 a yr (car is paid off)

CAR B $1,200 a yr (car is new - requires monthly payments)

Say CAR B has a monthly payment of $250/month or $3,000 a year. Well in that case the $800 you save by switching to car B isn't actually cheaper because you pay $3,000 to have the car. So $3,000 - $800 = $2200 more to have Car B. So Car B actually ends up costing you more since the car payment is there, something many buyers over look.

You'd have to be spending $3,000 more on gas than you put in Car B to justify getting a new car just to save gas. That'd be like over $4,000 a year in gas, so thats the reason why many are not selling their PAID OFF suv's for new fuel efficient cars, its actually cheaper to keep the SUV.

Answer 2

This calculator looks ok. It makese sense to switch to any car which is more fuel efficient now a days with gas prices too high.

Answer 3

If you want to accurately measure you MPG, do these steps:

(1) fill you tank to the max

(2) reset the odometer (tripometer)

(3) drive on the HWY (at 55 for comparison to other cars)

(4) drive using cruise control - to eliminate bad habit (VERY IMPORTANT)

(5) drive about 30 minute / 30 miles (longer = more accurate)

(6) now get gas again - fill it the MAX

(7) note the gallon just filled AND mile drive.

(8) calculate MPG = miles / gallon

You cannot use your GAS gauge to know if you finished using the gas. Also if you don't use the cruise you are putting in your driving habit, traffic, etc. on different days as variable. So you should do this at evening or night hours.

You can also use this technique whenever you think your car is gets better or worst MPG. It only cost you about 1 gallon of gas ($4) and it is cheaper than selling and buying the wrong car.

You'll get REAL and ACCURATE  mpg numbers.

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There are few thing you can do to save (or maximize) gas MPG. First get a tune-up.

(1) spark plugs

(2) spark plug wires

(3) distributors, coil, rotors (if you have them).

(4) new air filter

(5) PCV

(6) correct tire pressure

(7) clear the trunk of useless heavy items

(8) spray clean MAF sensor.

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If you really want to save gas, forget all those "SAVE GAS" scams.  This was on NBC morning TV show.   The difference is as much as 38% (their claim).  There are very simple rules to save gas:

(1) drive slow - not too much past 55

(2) accelerate slowly

(3) don't brake unnecessarily

(4) use cruise control - whenever it is safe to do so.

Don't coast - it is NOT safe and it does NOT save gas.

The above really works. Using those simple rules I was able to drive from Boston to NYC (210.5 miles) on just 5.112 gallon (94 Civic).  That's 41 MPG (94 Civic 187K miles).  Actually I was speeding at 72 MPH so I could do even better at 55.

WOW !!

Good Luck...