One of the most common things motorists complain about in Britain is money. The costs of insurance, the cost of tax, the cost of maintenance and of course the cost of fuel are motorist’s favourite topics of conversation. Whilst driving is by no means cheap there are plenty of things you can do to bring the costs down. Sensible driving will be rewarded with lower insurance premiums. Economical and smaller cars pay less road tax with some cars being produced these days that are tax exempt. Regular maintenance and services will stop any major problems developing.
When it comes to fuel there are lots of things we can do to make sure we’re not donating too much of our income to the forecourts.
Tyres
The condition of your tyres can have a huge impact on how fuel efficient your car is. Under inflated tyres use much more fuel than if they were inflated to the right pressure. You need to be careful though as over inflated tyres have less grip on the road which can be deadly in poor weather conditions. You also need to check the thread too, legally you need at least 1.6mm but if they’re starting to go bald they’re not going to be as fuel efficient as they could be.
Weight
The amount of weight you’re carrying around will affect how much fuel you’re using. This doesn’t mean you don’t let any fat people into your car but take a look at how much junk is in your actual trunk. If you’re carrying around a boot full of coats, shoes and paper work then you’re going to be paying more at the pumps. If you’re going away and you have a full car you need to adjust the tyre pressure accordingly (the recommended volume will be in your hand book) but once your car is empty again you need to fill those tyres back up.
Speed
This one really isn’t rocket science but if you’re right foot is a little heavy then you’re going to be using more fuel. The most optimum speed is 50mph in fifth gear. Of course this isn’t always going to be practical, try doing 50mph on the motorway and you’re going to end up annoying everyone and in a residential area 50mph can get your licence taken off you.
Type Of Car
It might be impractical to get rid of your car purely because you want something more economic but next time you’re car shopping, fuel efficiency needs to be near the top of your priority list. Look for the miles per gallon the car claims it can do and if you’re buying second hand always ask. Do you research; fuel efficiency is often one of the key selling points of new cars these days so you shouldn’t have to look too hard to find it.
Shop Around
Petrol and diesel prices can vary by a few pence between forecourts just a few miles away from each other. Always make a mental note of the petrol stations you pass on the way to work each day. Pumps attached to supermarkets and pumps in busier cities and towns will be cheaper than stations out in the middle of nowhere. Never leave it till the warning light comes on, you want the luxury of choosing your petrol station, not having to go the closest one.
Air Con
There are plenty of little luxuries in cars these days that make driving so pleasant, cruise control, DVD players, MP3 radios and air con. Air con is a pain for drinking your fuel. If you’re driving at speed and it’s a hot day it’s not practical to open the window (plus the drag would drink petrol too) but if you don’t really need it on, turn it off and the same goes for any other gadgets and gizmos you have on the go.
Route Planning
You’ve got your sat nav and your smart phone, it’s not like you can get lost but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put some human thought into your journey. Check traffic reports before long journeys for any large jams or road closures. Being stuck in traffic is just wasting fuel. Any diversion signs will take into account larger vehicles that might need to follow them. If you know the road well enough you could find a quicker, more fuel efficient route through the quieter roads.
Accelerating And Breaking
This may surprise a lot of people but accelerating into the boot of the car in front then hitting the breaks over and over isn’t necessarily going to get them to speed up or pull in and let you past. If you know there’s another roundabout or set of lights in a few hundred yards don’t accelerate too quickly. The harder you accelerate and break the more fuel you’ll use so drive with as much consistency as possible.
Top Gear
The higher the gear the more fuel efficient your car will be, this doesn’t mean you should accelerate as quickly as possible to get into a high gear (see the point above) but if you’re driving at 40mph or more you should be in fifth gear and when you break always work your way back through all the gears rather than keeping your foot on the clutch as your come from fifth down to second.
When it comes to fuel there are lots of things we can do to make sure we’re not donating too much of our income to the forecourts.
Tyres
The condition of your tyres can have a huge impact on how fuel efficient your car is. Under inflated tyres use much more fuel than if they were inflated to the right pressure. You need to be careful though as over inflated tyres have less grip on the road which can be deadly in poor weather conditions. You also need to check the thread too, legally you need at least 1.6mm but if they’re starting to go bald they’re not going to be as fuel efficient as they could be.
Weight
The amount of weight you’re carrying around will affect how much fuel you’re using. This doesn’t mean you don’t let any fat people into your car but take a look at how much junk is in your actual trunk. If you’re carrying around a boot full of coats, shoes and paper work then you’re going to be paying more at the pumps. If you’re going away and you have a full car you need to adjust the tyre pressure accordingly (the recommended volume will be in your hand book) but once your car is empty again you need to fill those tyres back up.
Speed
This one really isn’t rocket science but if you’re right foot is a little heavy then you’re going to be using more fuel. The most optimum speed is 50mph in fifth gear. Of course this isn’t always going to be practical, try doing 50mph on the motorway and you’re going to end up annoying everyone and in a residential area 50mph can get your licence taken off you.
Type Of Car
It might be impractical to get rid of your car purely because you want something more economic but next time you’re car shopping, fuel efficiency needs to be near the top of your priority list. Look for the miles per gallon the car claims it can do and if you’re buying second hand always ask. Do you research; fuel efficiency is often one of the key selling points of new cars these days so you shouldn’t have to look too hard to find it.
Shop Around
Petrol and diesel prices can vary by a few pence between forecourts just a few miles away from each other. Always make a mental note of the petrol stations you pass on the way to work each day. Pumps attached to supermarkets and pumps in busier cities and towns will be cheaper than stations out in the middle of nowhere. Never leave it till the warning light comes on, you want the luxury of choosing your petrol station, not having to go the closest one.
Air Con
There are plenty of little luxuries in cars these days that make driving so pleasant, cruise control, DVD players, MP3 radios and air con. Air con is a pain for drinking your fuel. If you’re driving at speed and it’s a hot day it’s not practical to open the window (plus the drag would drink petrol too) but if you don’t really need it on, turn it off and the same goes for any other gadgets and gizmos you have on the go.
Route Planning
You’ve got your sat nav and your smart phone, it’s not like you can get lost but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put some human thought into your journey. Check traffic reports before long journeys for any large jams or road closures. Being stuck in traffic is just wasting fuel. Any diversion signs will take into account larger vehicles that might need to follow them. If you know the road well enough you could find a quicker, more fuel efficient route through the quieter roads.
Accelerating And Breaking
This may surprise a lot of people but accelerating into the boot of the car in front then hitting the breaks over and over isn’t necessarily going to get them to speed up or pull in and let you past. If you know there’s another roundabout or set of lights in a few hundred yards don’t accelerate too quickly. The harder you accelerate and break the more fuel you’ll use so drive with as much consistency as possible.
Top Gear
The higher the gear the more fuel efficient your car will be, this doesn’t mean you should accelerate as quickly as possible to get into a high gear (see the point above) but if you’re driving at 40mph or more you should be in fifth gear and when you break always work your way back through all the gears rather than keeping your foot on the clutch as your come from fifth down to second.
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