What's the best vehicle to buy as USA, oil, prices, continue to increase?

Question

Experts predict the price of oil will continue to increase within the next 5years. The national, average, gallon, of oil price will be at least $4.00 this summer. The summer of 2009 will be worse...

What is the best, fuel, efficient, vehicle to buy? What about electric or hydrogen, fuel, cell, cars?

Answer 1

My recommendation is the compressed air car.

Answer 2

It depends on your needs.  If your commute is short, go for the smallest vehicle, i.e. moped, scooter or small motorcycle, or even ride a bike.  The Toyota Prius is probably the most energy-efficient car right now.  I've heard talk about them importing the Smart (the little car in the DaVinci Code) to the U.S.  There's a French company that plans to put a compressed-air vehicle on the market in Europe, and will license production in other countries.  Look at www.theaircar.com. There are some electric cars out there, but right now they're only souped-up golf carts.  Unfortunately, the U.S. automakers either can't or won't make a fuel effeicient small car.  They'd rather try to push gas-guzzling SUVs down our throats.

Answer 3

The most cost effective high m.p.g. car is still the 1997 Geo Metro at between 42 to 47 m.p.g. with average cost around here at $2500.00.

Since I put less than 5000 miles a year on my car, mileage doesn't matter much.

My daily driver is now a 2002 Saturn L200 which gets 27 around town and 34 on the road.

I guess my point is not so much how much is costs to drive but how much you really need to drive in the first place.

Answer 4

Toyota Prius hybrid - 60 MPG in City

j

Answer 5

It will depend on your needs and requirements. Smaller, compact vehicles are the most fuel efficient. Hybrids (gasoline/electric) models are one solution, although they tend to be a little more expensive to buy than conventional gasoline-powered vehicles. Currently, there are about a dozen hybrids on the market in the U.S. More are coming. The Toyota Prius is the best-selling hybrid—it is a compact gasoline/electric hybrid car that is the 13th top-selling model in the U.S. and it gets 45 mpg in city driving and 48 mpg on the highway—and it lists in the $21,000 to $24,000 range.

Some other choices in the market include hybrid versions of popular midsize cars such as the Toyota Camry,Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu and Saturn that average as much as 35 mpg in addition to hybrid crossovers such as the Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute andToyota Highlander that can average 30 mpg. Some new two-mode hybrids have been developed, such as versions of the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon that average 20 mpg.

Our company has developed an Automotive Environmental Index for vehicles and 30 models are the most fuel efficient and greenest.  Some 20 of these models are gasoline-powered models, including Toyota, Ford, Honda and Nissan models.

In addition to hybrids, there are more models being introduced this year and next year that get better mileage and are cleaner with fewer emissions because they can operate on alternative fuels such as natural gas, diesel, biodiesel,  E-85 (15% gasoline and 85% ethanol) and hydrogen gas. All of these optional fuels will help reduce our country’s reliance on oil. More diesel-powered models will be introduced in the next year—especially from the German automakers. Some plug-in electric models arrive in 2010. Hydrogen-fuel cell vehicles are being tested—including the Honda Clarity and BMW Hydrogen 7 Fuel Cell Vehicle. For more information about hybrids, alternative energy and fuel efficient vehicles, vehicle quality ratings, please visit JDPower.com.

Answer 6

My Honda Civic does well.

    Hydrogen fuel is not for cars. if u have a wreck u all will die. Hydrogen is the most explosive gas there is.

Answer 7

Buy a desiel, and make your own fuel for free! it dosnt get better than that

Biodiesel is actually very simple to make. It is made by chemically altering the molecular structure of any organic oil through the use of a chemical catalyst and an alcohol.

To do this, oil is simply heated to a designated temperature (to help with the chemical reaction) and then a mixture of catalyst and an alcohol are added to the oil. The oil, catalyst, and alcohol mixture are then mixed for a period of time and then allowed to settle. If successful, the chemical reaction between the oil, alcohol, and the catalyst will have broken down the oil into several layers. The top layer will be biodiesel, chemically called an Ester, the next layer may contain soap, and the bottom layer will be glycerin.

Once the layering has occured, the glycerin and soap are drained off. The biodiesel is then washed with either a mist-wash, a bubble-wash, or both. The washing is done to remove any additional soap, alcohol, or other impurities in the biodiesel.

After it's been washed, it is then dried to remove any water. Commonly it is then filtered through fuel filters and is then ready to be used.

if you are intrested serch the internet on how to make bio desiel.

Answer 8

Right now the most fuel-efficient car available is the Prius.  The 2008 model gets 47 mpg, and the next generation model is supposed to come out within the next year and get 80 mpg in the city.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/6070119.001/...

In the next year or two, electric cars will become a viable option as well.

Available in California in October 2008, the Aptera typ-1e will cost about $27,000 with a top speed of 95 mph and range of 120 miles per charge.

http://www.aptera.com/details.php

Soon thereafter Aptera will introduce the typ-1h, a plug-in hybrid version of the typ-1e with a 40-60 mile range on purely electrical energy, and a range of over 600 miles total when in electric/gas hybrid mode, for around $30,000.  On a 120 mile trip, the typ-1h will get 300 miles per gallon.  The shorter the trip, the higher the efficiency.

http://www.aptera.com/details.php

Available in late 2009, the ZAP Alias will cost $30,000, have a top speed of 100 mph, and a range of 100 miles per charge.

http://zapworld.com/electric-vehicles/el...

Soon thereafter the ZAP-X will be available at a cost of $60,000 with a top speed of 155 mph and a range of 350 miles per charge.

http://zapworld.com/electric-vehicles/el...

Available in 2009, the Miles Javlon will cost $30,000 with a top speed of 80 mph and a range of 120 miles per charge.

http://www.milesev.com/index.asp#hsv.swf

Phoenix Motorcars will start selling their SUT to individuals in late 2008 or early 2009.  It will cost $45,000 and have a top speed of 100 mph with a range of 100+ miles per charge.

http://phoenixmotorcars.com/

Hydrogen cars will not be a viable option for a long time for several reasons, the main one being that there is no transportation or storage infrastructure - no refueling stations, and to build this infrastructure would cost billions of dollars.

Answer 9

1989 ford festiva

Answer 10

I say buy a motorcycle and try to alter it so it will stay warm.

Answer 11

I just bought a Yaris.  You can buy an overpriced gimmick and pretend you are saving but I suggest you simply buy a good fuel efficient car.

Answer 12

dollar 4 dollar...get the smallest regular gas car a co makes..Honda,Toyota [non hybrid] Chevy,ford....dont buy less car than u need...be nice if we all switch to walking and public trans.but i have trouble hauling hay and gravel on subway..oops,,no subway in Appalachia,mountains..hydrogen,e85,elect... are still not as good as gas...diesel? no choice.few stations,,few mechanics..good for trucks only..get a good 30 mpg car and stop worrying

Answer 13

My wife is a real fuel saving environmentalist. I was driving a big SUV that Annoys her.So I thought I would do it her way. I went out and bought a cheap  American made economy car and a Brand New Harley Fat Boy. Thinking it would save gas and help the U.S economy. She didn't buy it and thinks I pulled one over on her. I was just trying to do what I thought would help.

Answer 14

I'm going to use this an excuse to buy a motorcycle.  Maybe one of those sporty ones.  They don't list the mpg online though.  The recent hike in prices is mostly due to speculators who determine what the price will be by what they believe will happen.  Saudi Arabia and the rest of OPEC could double their production if they felt like it to bring down the price but they would never want to do that.  Gasoline sales have also fallen in recent weeks due to high price so you may see the price begin to fall within the next month.

Answer 15

I rented a Prius one time on vacation in portland oregon, anyway we drove all over portland and to the coast  and back and only filled up one time. They really are quite fuel efficient, that'll likely be my next car

Answer 16

It's dependent on your needs.    It's best if we get more people to use public transportation.   Electric cars and Hydrogen is not even available, and Hydrogen is untested.   I would say by a Hybrid or a diesel if your state would let you get away with it.    Plug in hybrids that is coming in the horizon is promising.