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Fuel Economy
Shopping For a Fuel-Efficient Car
By Philip Reed, Senior Consumer Advice Editor
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Date Posted 08-30-2007
When you shop for your next car one of your top questions should be, "What kind of fuel economy does it get?" Gas prices are rising and many experts feel they will continue the upward trend indefinitely. Be prepared by making fuel economy your top priority.
Of course you will want to get a car that meets your other needs. Still, you may be surprised at how many different models are available that will provide good fuel economy and a long list of attractive features.
Selecting a Fuel-Efficient Car
One of your first stops should be to visit www.fueleconomy.gov where you can quickly see the mileage and emissions ratings of all the cars currently for sale. Edmunds.com also carries the EPA mileage figures on the "Specs" page of each vehicle. Keep in mind that the EPA recently revamped the way it measures fuel economy. Beginning with 2008 vehicles, EPA gas mileage numbers will be lower than previous years — but far more true to real-world driving.
Another good starting point is two lists provided by Edmunds.com: Top 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars for 2007 and Top 10 Most Fuel-Efficient SUVs and Pickups for 2007. If one of these vehicles doesn't catch your eye, consider the following general rules when searching for a car that delivers good fuel economy.
Four-Cylinder vs. V6 and V8: In most cases, the smaller the engine the better the fuel economy. This means that instead of buying a car with a V6 or V8 engine, consider getting the four-cylinder engine for that car. The initial purchase price will be lower and you will save money on gas. Many four-cylinder engines these days are very lively and will provide plenty of power for merging and passing.
Standard vs. Automatic Transmission: A manual transmission comes standard on most cars; getting an automatic transmission often adds about $700 to the purchase price. Not only that, but the manual-shift car gets better gas mileage. If you don't live in the city and don't get stuck in traffic a lot, this is a money-saving alternative for you.
Hybrids: A number of different hybrid vehicles are on the market now. In some hybrids (the Honda Civic and the Toyota Prius), the gas mileage was top of the class. Hybrid SUVs (the Ford Escape and the Lexus RX 400h, for example) provide respectable fuel economy but have put an added emphasis on performance. (See our Hybrids Center).
Diesels: In the past, diesels have had a bad rap because they were thought to be slow, smelly and noisy. Recently, technology has improved and you can barely tell you are driving a diesel. Furthermore, the fuel economy provided by diesels rivals hybrid cars. Currently a few automakers are offering models with a diesel engine. Look for more diesels to arrive soon. Keep in mind, though, that diesels are not permitted in all states. (See our Diesels Center).
Electric Cars: While there are no real-world electric cars currently on the market capable of commuting at highway speeds, there will be soon. (See, Fully Charged). Manufacturers cite a lack of interest from the buying public. It remains to be seen, however, whether they ever really tried to effectively market electric cars.
Natural Gas Cars: A very small number of cars running on natural gas are available for purchase. The biggest drawback is obtaining the natural gas to power these vehicles. However, Honda is now selling a device called Phill that can be installed in a home to refill its natural gas-powered Civic GX.
How to Shop for a Fuel-Efficient Car
If you decide to buy a hybrid car, you will find that you are trying to buy a popular car and competing against other buyers. It's not unusual to pay more than the sticker price when hybrid vehicles are first introduced. Here are some guidelines to help you through the buying process.
- Plan ahead. If you hear of a hybrid car that will soon be introduced, order your car through a dealership. You will likely be placed on a waiting list of cars to be built. In most cases you will have to make a deposit and pay the full MSRP price of the car. However, this is better than waiting until later and possibly paying dealer markup.
- Get on a list even if it is long. If you don't hear about a hybrid car until it is already in the marketplace, you can still get on a waiting list. Often, people decide they don't want to buy a car after they order it. Dealers then call the next person on the waiting list. Whoever answers the phone, and gets to the dealership with the money, gets the car.
- Take a good look at the price. Edmunds.com tracks the point at which cars are selling and posts a True Market Value (TMV) price. In some cases, TMV is actually above MSRP or "sticker price." However, since hybrids are in such demand, you are likely to find a wide range in the pricing at the dealers you contact.
- Consider alternatives to hybrids. While hybrids steal the headlines, there are many other fuel-efficient cars for sale. See the list mentioned above for specifics. These cars will not be selling for inflated prices. You will save on the purchase and save gas at the same time.
- Shop a wide area. Don't believe the urban legends you hear about $5,000-over-sticker prices. People love to swap stories without even testing the market. Using the Internet you can easily test the market using dealer locator. Keep in mind that the popularity of cars is very regional. What might have waiting lists in Los Angeles could be sitting on a lot in Louisville.
- Don't be afraid to test the price. If you absolutely have to have a car and you are willing to pay more than sticker price, don't assume you have to accept the first price named by the salesman. A car salesman might tell you, "These cars are going for $5,000 over sticker." In actuality, they might take $2,000 over or less.
- Let the market cool off. Why pay an exorbitant amount for a hybrid to "save money on gas"? If you pay too much it will take years to recoup the savings. If it's a hybrid model that has just launched, give the market six months to cool off and try again.
- Test-drive your salesman. You should feel comfortable with your salesman and have confidence in his or her abilities. Don't commit to a sale until you feel sure you are dealing with someone who you trust. The right salesman, or woman, can provide valuable guidance and make the whole experience a pleasure.
- Finalize before you travel. If you make a deal on a car over the phone, but have to fly to a distant city to pick it up, make sure you have the final price in writing. If incentives are figured into the price, be sure to include them and get an out-the-door price. You can ask to have the final contract prepared and faxed to you for review so there are no last-minute questions.
- Shop the used market. Fuel-efficient cars aren't a new thing. You can find bargain-basement prices on thrifty cars made years ago and pocket an additional savings. And if you have to have a hybrid, you might even find one of those in the classified pages.
Getting the right car is a matter of watching the market closely, being realistic about your needs and then finding a good salesman. Using Edmunds.com's tools will help you navigate safely through this exciting — but sometimes overwhelming — process.
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