In the market for a new-to-you car? Want the best mileage possible?
Alright, so we covered the raising gas prices the other day, and I am sure that you probably noticed them on your own the last time you filled-up. I did... $3.05 a gallon was the cheapest 87 octane in Toledo that I happened to run across yesterday.
Last week, we ran a little story about a consumer who is wishing to purchase his next car, be it new or used, and wants something with some sense of style at a good price, while offering the highest fuel mileage possible. He lamented the fact that there weren't too many choices that he liked on the market new. So, how about used cars? If that is the direction you would like to go and want to get the greenest option you can, there is a list from Carmax after the break to help you along on the road to new-to-you car-driving greener pleasure!
Find the contents of the press release after the break.
[Source: Carmax]
CARMAX EXPERTS RECOMMEND THE BEST USED CARS FOR GAS PRICE CONSCIOUS CAR SHOPPERS
WHAT: With gas prices on the rise, car shoppers who usually consider price and lifestyle when buying a car may also consider the rising price of gas in their buying decision.
Gas price-conscious car shoppers do not have to compromise if they want a certain vehicle type, even a sport utility vehicle, says the team of 700 car buying experts at CarMax who have appraised almost five million cars for the retailer. However, vehicles with lower cylinders will usually have better fuel efficiency.
Some of the more fuel efficient used cars by vehicle type include:
Smaller Sport Utility Vehicles: Ford Escape, Toyota Rav4. All get more than 24 miles per gallon.
Medium Sport Utility Vehicles: Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX330. All get more than 19 miles per gallon.
Compact Vehicles: Toyota Echo, Scion XA, Hyundai Accent. All get more than 32 miles per gallon.
Mid-size Vehicles: Honda Accord, Toyota Corolla. All get more than 24 miles per gallon.
Luxury Sedans: Volvo S-40, Audi A4, Lexus IS250. All get more than 24 miles per gallon.
Pickup Trucks: Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier, Mazda B2300. All get more than 22 miles per gallon.
Hybrids: Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry, Ford Escape, Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Saturn Aura, Saturn Vue, Mercury Mariner, Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX400, Lexus GS450, Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Phil L. 1:59PM (5/04/2007)
Not one mention of diesels in the list!
Reply
TG 2:09PM (5/04/2007)
Looks like used diesel to Bio-diesel is catching on.
Ahl Motors' models can accept biodiesel after minimal modifications. When oil prices spiked more than two years ago, sales took off and have grown steadily since then, fluctuating with the rise and fall of the cost of diesel, according to Ahl.
Although the Northern California lot attracts mostly politically progressive customers--including actor Peter Coyote, who bought a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI last fall--Ahl also sees a fair share of shoppers who vote to the right.
*I have sold to conservative Republicans just because these cars make economical sense,* he said. (Ahl Motors' only other salesman has a mobile phone ringtone that exclaims, *Democrats piss me off,* whenever Ahl calls.)
Whatever the political motivation of buyers, the longevity and fuel-efficiency of diesel cars is a key selling point for Ahl's customers.
An odometer clocking 100,000 miles may indicate old age for a gasoline engine, but that's a sign of youth for diesel cars like Volkswagen TDIs, which are built to last half a million miles.
*I have never seen such passion for an automobile that was not a limited edition sports car or a collector's edition,* Ahl said. *They're sporty, economical and they go forever.*
In tests by AutoWeek magazine last year, a Volkswagen Jetta TDI achieved 49.9 miles per gallon, besting the 42 miles per gallon of a Toyota Prius. With or without biodiesel, which hovers around $3.50 per gallon in California. Such fuel economy can translate to savings at the pump. Some of Ahl's customers have come from as far as San Diego and Seattle intending to replace a hybrid Toyota or Honda with a Volkswagen TDI and run it on biodiesel.
======================= Cnet News
http://news.com.com/Diesel+dealers+provide+a+pipeline+to+rare%
2C+green+cars/2100-11389-6180409.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703
http://tinyurl.com/ysee7s
Stings a little when an *actor* is better informed than I am.
Lots more in the story including ladies in the business who drive classy older bio-Caddys.
Damn, those folks are smart in Northern California. = TG
Reply
pdx 2:35PM (5/04/2007)
Where are the diesels?
The Jeep Liberty CRD gets 20 city and 28 highway (real world numbers) and can tow more than the Ford or Honda.
The VW TDI cars since 1996 have had outstanding mileage. New Beetle, Jetta, and Golf in the compact range, and the Passsat in the mid sized. Mileages range from 40 to 50 mpg.
Luxury sedans you have the Mercades CDI.
On top of that - diesel have the option of using biodiesel...
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randy 4:12PM (5/04/2007)
Where's the good old fashioned Honda Civic circa 1991 - 1998? They get over 35mpg if you drive them easy and maintenance is cheap too! The only expensive part of the car is the insurance, but it will be cheaper in the long run. Obviously they wanted to sell cars that were 4 years old or younger. To get good mileage and reliability sometimes you have to dip back into the (gasp) 90's for a quality car.
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