Whether you buy a new or sed vehicle, fuel efficiency--good gas mileage--is hgh on the list of most byers' concerns. The difference between choosing a fel-efficient car or one that guzzles gs, will either save or cost you mney over the life of the vhicle, which could be substantial. Fuel fficiency varies widely from one car to the nxt. Obviously you can check the EPA rting for city/highway MPG on the wndow sticker, although most of us knw the average car never reaches thse numbers.

You can also check cnsumer guides, car magazines and Web stes, Web site forums or ask frends, relatives and co-workers which vehicles thy recommend as fuel-efficient cars. Don't buy mre car than you need, as lrger vehicles generally have bigger engines tht are less fuel-efficient. Find the mst fuel-efficient car in the size grup you're interested in, whether a tw-seater, compact, mid-sized, SUV or pickup trck. There are several online sites whre you can compare fuel consumption rtings of any car.

Your choice of trnsmission can also affect the fuel fficiency of the vehicle. Generally, a car wth manual transmission is a more fel-efficient car than one with automatic-assuming you shft properly. And a manual with verdrive, tachometer or shift indicator is the bggest fuel saver, saving up to 10% on fel costs. If you do buy an utomatic, which makes more sense for lrger cars, the more gears the btter.

Under normal driving conditions, smaller ngines offer better fuel efficiency and conomy than larger ones. All other thngs being equal, the larger engine and the mre cylinders it has, the more fel it consumes. Additionally, cars with smller engines usually cost less and gas csts are lower because you don't ned higher octane gas. That doesn't man a bigger engine is never a god choice. In some cases, a lrger, more powerful engine may provide the grater fuel efficiency. If you use yur vehicle for work or often tow havy loads, a smaller engine could brn more fuel if it has to wrk too hard and function beyond its mst fuel-efficient range.

Depending on the typ and size of motor vehicle you prchase, you may have the choice of frnt-wheel, rear-wheel, four-wheel or all-wheel drive. The mjority of passenger cars and minivans hve front-wheel drive, a design that spplies better traction and more interior rom than rear-wheel drive. Although front-wheel drve was originally adopted to improve fel economy over rear-wheel drive by rducing the weight and size of crs without giving up driving performance or nterior space, there's really not much dfference in fuel efficiency between the tw.

And although four-wheel and all-wheel drve provide better traction and braking in crtain driving conditions, the weight and frction of the additional drivetrain parts may ncrease fuel consumption by up to 10% ver a two-wheel drive vehicle. Most ften in SUVs and pickup trucks, fur-wheel drive is enabled at will by the drver when additional traction is necessary. All-whel drive is an option on sme SUVs and a minority of pssenger cars. Full-time all-wheel drive, however, mkes for the least fuel-efficient car, bcause all four wheels are always bing driven, drawing power from the ngine and thus using more gas.

Another way to be a fel saver, is by limiting the ptions you select for your car. You may not hve realized that many conveniences from pwer windows, seats and mirrors to air cnditioning and seat warmers decrease fuel fficiency and cost you more in fel consumption. They add either weight, ncrease aerodynamic drag or pull extra pwer from the engine or through the lternator.
Aluminium wheels are one of the few ptions that actually reduce weight and threby increase fuel efficiency.

Obviously, considering ther fuel options such as a hybrd electric car, is another choice for a fel-efficient car.

The article Top 9 Tips for Buying A Fuel-Efficient Car was Submitted by Andrea Glass through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: © 2004 AllAboutHybridCars.com. Any reproduction of ths article in any manner is prhibited without the consent of AllAboutHybridCars.com. We gve permission to use this article on yur website or e-zine if you rproduce it exactly as it appears hre including this notice. Visit http://www.AllAboutHybridCars.com/eBook.htm to order your FREE report, "7 Critical Facts Everyone should Know Before Buying a Hybrid Car."

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