CleanCarTalk » fuel economy

New and Improved Cash for Clunkers Program?

Cuong Huynh — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:03:57 +0000

With the overwhelming popularity of the Cash for Clunkers program, the government is making a number of changes to the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS.) Here are a number of updates for those who still want to take advantage of this program.

New CARS (Car Allowance Rebate System) Guidance and Clarification

In response to overwhelming interest in the CARS program, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has clarified that consumers who want to purchase new vehicles not yet on dealer lots can still be eligible for the CARS program. Dealers and consumers who have reached a valid purchase and sale agreement on a vehicle already in the production pipeline will be able to work with the manufacturer to receive the documentation needed to qualify for the program.

Several other areas have also been clarified. Apparently there have been some consumers who were told by dealers to sign a contingency agreement to pay back the rebate amount if their transactions were rejected by the government as not qualified. This is simply not correct. According to cars.gov, consumers are not required to sign contingency agreements to pay back the dealer should the CARS credit be rejected. The rebates of either $3,500 or $4,500 that consumers get for trading in qualified older cars for qualified new cars are guaranteed by the government, and there are specific things that both the consumers and dealers must do. Here’s a summary of how the Cash For Clunkers works:

Step 1. Visit cars.gov for current information about the program.
Step 2. Determine if you qualify and what you need to bring to the dealer, using how to qualify link.
Step 3. Shop for a new car as you would normally. When you buy or lease a new vehicle, the dealer handles the submission of all required information to the NHTSA.
Step 4. The NHTSA ensures that your purchase meet all requirements of the program.
Step 5. Within 10 days or so, the NHTSA will issue a financial credit to the dealer, again assuming all program requirements have been met.

So the best way to stay out of trouble is for consumers to be informed. Also, if the dealer has the new car in stock, the dealer must allow you to take possession of the new car before the dealer may submit the credit application to the government. If you have a problem regarding this issue with a dealer, call the CARS Hotline (866) CAR-7891 or (866) 227-7891.

Important Information on new MPG Ratings

In conjunction with the CARS final rule, the EPA updated fuel economy data on fueleconomy.gov on July 24th. The changes affected the eligibility of certain vehicles under the CARS program.

Of the 30,000 vehicle model types spanning 25 years, 78 cars no longer qualify, but 86 new vehicles are now eligible.

NHTSA will process transactions in accordance with the data on fueleconomy.gov. The 78 vehicle model types that were eligible under EPA’s mileage criteria until EPA’s revisions were issued on July 24th will continue to be considered as eligible for transactions that occurred on or before July 24th.

The 86 model types that became eligible on July 24th will be treated as eligible if they are part of sale or lease that occurred on or after July 24th.

To see if your car is qualified, visit the CARS vehicle eligibility guide.

Here’s a clip from CNN on the new and improved, or latest Cash for Clunkers program. Don’t miss the Maserati clunker segment.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7pIB71j0Yo

Ron Paul with an alternative view on Cash For Clunkers.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7uOIm9TdQs

New and Improved Cash for Clunkers Program? is a post from: CleanCarTalk

Car Buyers Found Themselves Ineligible for Cash for Clunkers Over the Weekend

Cuong Huynh — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:17:39 +0000

Some cars’ combined mpg has magically increased or decreased over the weekend. So why is that important you ask? Well for those who thought their old cars qualify for the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) or Cash For Clunkers program last week, they found out over the weekend that they now no longer qualify!

According to cars.gov, which is the government’s sole source for official information on the CARS program, trade-in vehicles generally must get a combined 18 or less mpg in order to qualify for the cash program. The combined mpg can no longer be found at fueleconomy.gov website, as previously instructed. You now need to go here http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2009/07/epa-refreshes-cash-for-clunkers-eligible-mpg-ratings.html to find your eligibility.

People have already run into problems, as reported on Edmunds.com.

Here’s a piece from CNN.com, 07-28-09.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eehkrpjpW2c

Car Buyers Found Themselves Ineligible for Cash for Clunkers Over the Weekend is a post from: CleanCarTalk

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood on the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS,) or “Cash for Clunkers” Program

Cuong Huynh — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:45:10 +0000

Note to readers: Beware of scams already popping up to take advantage of the CARS of “cash for clunkers” program. Never give out personal information on a website, especially your social security number. Your only trusted source should be www.cars.gov.

Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation, discusses the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS,) or “Cash for Clunkers” program. According to the Secretary LaHood, it’s all about moving cars out of the showrooms, and the net result will be to help stimulate jobs in the U.S. -- “One billion dollars will buy 250,000 cars.”

Obviously there’s no perfect program, and I think the Secretary could have addressed some key questions and concerns about the effectiveness versus the cost of the CARS, but he avoided doing so.

CNN interviews Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. Video clip courtesy CNN, 07-27-09.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWTfoXHjqiQ

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood on the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS,) or “Cash for Clunkers” Program is a post from: CleanCarTalk

NHTSA, DOT Publish the Final Rule for Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) or Cash For Clunkers

Cuong Huynh — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:35:59 +0000

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released the final eligibility requirements for the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS).

This final rule sets forth requirements and procedures for the voluntary vehicle trade-in and purchase/lease program under the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act of 2009. This program helps consumers pay for a new, more fuel efficient car or truck from a participating dealer when they trade in a less fuel efficient car or truck. The rule establishes a process by which dealers can register in order to participate in the program and establishes the criteria this agency will use to determine which disposal facilities are eligible to receive and either crush or shred the trade-in vehicles. It also sets forth the criteria that trade-in vehicles and new vehicles must meet in order for purchases and leases to qualify for assistance under this program and establishes the requirements that must be met by consumers, dealers, disposal facilities and others. Finally, the rule sets forth enforcement procedures and provisions for punishing fraud and other violations of the program requirements.

View the full CARS final rule document in pdf.
To find dealers in your area, use the CARS Dealer locator.

Cash for Clunkers program explained. Video clip courtesy CNN, 07-27-09.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrIQp4JR4nY

NHTSA, DOT Publish the Final Rule for Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) or Cash For Clunkers is a post from: CleanCarTalk

Cash For Clunkers: smart fortwo Gets Maximum Incentive

Cuong Huynh — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:50:21 +0000

Updated 07-21-09. President Barack Obama has signed a law for a scrappage incentive for old cars based on the European model, which draws the attention of car buyers to the smart fortwo. In future, Americans who trade their old car for the two-seater with its exemplary environmental credentials will receive the maximum premium from the state.

Buyers of new cars will receive a maximum scrappage bonus of $4,500 in future (currently the equivalent of around €3,200) when they exchange a gas-guzzling old car for an environmentally friendly new one. Unlike the German system, the Car Allowance Rebate System (Cars) – commonly called “cash for clunkers” plans for a sliding scale with the amount of the bonus depending on the fuel consumption of the new vehicle. smart fortwo buyers will always receive the maximum premium – irrespective of the old car being scrapped. The innovative smart concept with its outstanding fuel efficiency therefore presents a further attractive advantage to customers in the USA.

According to the American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the smart fortwo is America’s most fuel-efficient car without hybrid drive. The US authority confirms independent European studies that had previously established the clever two-seater as the most economical car. In addition, the smart already exceeds US standards for fleet consumption (CAFE = Corporate Average Fuel Economy) that will apply from 2020 and it has been classified as an ultra-low emission vehicle by the California Air Resources Board on account of its extremely low exhaust-emission figures.

The EPA has listed the smart fortwo as the top two-seater class for fuel economy for the 2009 model year.

CleanFleetReport.com has the smart on its list of New Cars that Already Meet 2016 Fuel Economy Standards.

Thanks to its outstanding features and its fresh design that combines functionality with joie de vivre, the smart fortwo has become a sought-after city car in many countries. smart fortwo models take up an unrivaled amount of road and parking space and yet they bring two people including luggage to their destination extremely comfortably and safely. smart provides lots of unique answers to questions concerning individual and eco-friendly urban mobility.

See the smart fortwo $99 program details.

Cash For Clunkers: smart fortwo Gets Maximum Incentive is a post from: CleanCarTalk

Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) or Cash For Clunkers Program Kicking Into Gear

Cuong Huynh — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:13:59 +0000

Updated 07-28-09. The Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS,) or “Cash For Clunkers” program as some in the press like to call it, is the federal program that helps consumers purchase a new, more efficient vehicle when an older, less efficient vehicle is traded in. All transactions made on or after July 1, 2009 are eligible under the CARS program, and many dealers have already registered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to offer these credits directly to consumers.

The credit received by consumers will not be treated as reportable income for tax purposes. In other words, it is tax-free. Dealers, on the other hand, will have to report it as an income.

The Facts

Here’s a quick run-down of important things about the CARS program you should know, from the government’s official website www.cars.gov:

Your vehicle must be less than 25 years old on the trade-in date
Only purchase or lease of new vehicles qualify
Generally, trade-in vehicles must get 18 or less miles per gallon or mpg (some very large pick-up trucks and cargo vans have different requirements)
Trade-in vehicles must be registered and insured continuously for the full year preceding the trade-in
You don’t need a voucher, dealers will apply a credit at purchase
Program runs through Nov 1, 2009 or when the funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.
The program requires the disposal of your eligible trade-in vehicle and that the dealer disclose to you an estimate of the scrap value of your trade-in. The scrap value, however minimal, will be in addition to the rebate, and not in place of the rebate.

Here are some specific requirements of the CARS program:

Your trade-in vehicle must
- have been manufactured less than 25 years before the date you trade it in
- have a “new” combined city/highway fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon or less. Use this site http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm to find your car’s combined city/highway fuel economy. It’s the red mpg number under the red banner “Estimated New EPA MPG” in the graphic below. UPDATED 07-28-09: You now need to find your eligibility here: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/CarsSearchIntro.shtml
- be in drivable condition
- be continuously insured and registered to the same owner for the full year preceding the trade-in
- The trade-in vehicle must have been manufactured not earlier than 25 years before the date of trade in and, in the case of a category 3 vehicle, must also have been manufactured not later than model year 2001
- Work trucks and cargo vans have different requirements
Consumers can either buy or lease a new car, as long as the lease period is at least for 5 years. Used cars are eligible.
Both domestic and foreign made cars are eligible.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the new car cannot exceed $45,000.
New passenger cars to be purchased must have combined fuel economy of 22 mpg; Category 1 or class 1 trucks (up to 6,000 lbs GVWR, Gross Vehicle Weight Rating,) 18 mpg; Category 2 trucks (6,001 to 10,000 lbs,) 15 mpg; and Category 3 trucks (10,001 to 14,000 lbs), no specific minimum mpg requirements but other restrictions apply.
The law requires your trade-in vehicle to be scraped (destroyed.)

The Upsides

So what are the amounts of the credit and how are they determined. Purchasers of new qualified cars are eligible to receive either $3,500 or $4,500 credit.

$3,500 credit. Consumers receive this amount if the new car’s combined mpg is at least 4, but less than 10 mpg, higher than the old car’s.
$4,500 credit. Consumers receive this amount if the new car’s combined mpg is at least 10 mpg higher than the old car’s.

I’m sure many consumers will jump on this deal because these are some very attractive discounts on top of any other discounts, incentives and special offers made available by dealers and manufacturers. Expect dealer showrooms to have increased traffic between now and November 1. Also expect to see fewer polluting cars on the roads.

The Downsides

So is there a downside to this law? I can think of at least a couple.

One, low income people won’t be benefitting from the Cash for Clunkers program because they can’t afford a new car anyway. Not surprisingly, they are the largest population driving clunkers.

Two, the charity industry (which is very active in the older car sales and auction trade) will probably lose out because traded in cars (all of which are still operational by law) will all head for the scrap yards. As environmentally undesirable as they are, some poor families can still use them to maintain their livelihood. So again the poor lose out.

For the latest information on the CARS program, follow this link to view helpful Q&As for consumers.

By the way the smart fortwo also qualifies for this “cash for clunkers” program.

Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) or Cash For Clunkers Program Kicking Into Gear is a post from: CleanCarTalk

President Obama Announces Fuel Economy Standards of 35.5 mpg by 2016

Cuong Huynh — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:41:55 +0000

President Obama made the announcement this morning in the White House Rose Garden. He was joined on stage by the Presidents, CEOs, or other top executives from Ford, Toyota, General Motors, Honda, Chrysler, BMW AG, Nissan, Mercedez-Benz, Mazda, Volkswagon, and the United Auto Workers to announce a new consensus. The President said this was a historic day. Here are a few excerpts from his speech.

…Right now, the rules governing fuel economy in this country are inadequate, uncertain, and in flux. First, there is the standard for fuel economy administered by the Department of Transportation. On top of that, the Environmental Protection Agency, in response to a decision by the Supreme Court, may have to set limits on greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles — establishing another standard. California has sought permission under the Clean Air Act to require that vehicles sold in California meet yet another even stricter emission rule. And 13 states and the District of Columbia have agreed to adopt California greenhouse gas reductions if the permission — called a waiver — is granted…

…A series of major lawsuits will be dropped in support of this new national standard. The state of California has also agreed to support this standard — and I want to applaud California and Governor Schwarzenegger and the entire California delegation for their extraordinary leadership. They have led the way on this as they have in so many other efforts to protect our environment. In addition, because the Department of Transportation and EPA will adopt the same rule, we will avoid an inefficient and ineffective system of regulations that separately govern the fuel economy of autos and the carbon emissions they produce…

…In three years’ time you will have paid off the additional investment required. So this is a winning proposition for folks looking to buy a car. In fact, over the life of a vehicle, the typical driver would save about $2,800 by getting better gas mileage…

…in the next five years, we’re seeking to raise fuel-economy standards to an industry average of 35.5 miles per gallon in 2016, an increase of more than eight miles per gallon per vehicle…

Read President Obama’s full remarks on national fuel efficiency standards.

View President Obama’s remarks below. Courtesy CNN, 05-19-09.

CNN also ran a expert panel discussion offering views and opinions on the new announcement. View the video clip below.

President Obama Announces Fuel Economy Standards of 35.5 mpg by 2016 is a post from: CleanCarTalk

Things to Know Before Buying a Hybrid Car

Cuong Huynh — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:00:18 +0000

In the market for a hybrid? Great choice! Thanks to competition, technology and general condition of the economy, there are deals out there for those who are thinking about buying a hybrid car. At first glance, it would seem that buying a hybrid offers the best of both worlds – the chance to save on fuel cost as well as an opportunity to leave less of a footprint on the environment. With current federal tax credits, hybrid cars are a little more affordable too. But are hybrid cars really all that they have been claimed to be?

If you are thinking about purchasing a hybrid, go beyond the mileage and emission ratings. Here are a few things that you’ll want to consider even before test driving one.

The Hybrids-Are-Different-to-Drive Factor

It’s hard enough to research and decide on a conventional car. With hybrid cars there are new technologies and new driving habits to deal with. Driving a hybrid is not exactly like driving your current gasoline engine car. Due to the way the hybrid system works, your driving habits will need to change, both for driving the car and then driving it to maximize its efficiency potentials. Buying a hybrid may or may not be the right choice for you, but you need to be fully informed before you are even able to make that decision.

For those who are not familiar with how a hybrid car works, here’s a short primer. If you have to remember anything about a hybrid car, it is the following:

A hybrid car has a smaller engine (using a typical fuel like gasoline and diesel) that turns a generator.
The generator, which is turned by the engine to generate electricity, has essentially 2 jobs: to power the electric motor and to recharge the onboard battery packs.
For what is called a series hybrid system, the electric motor is the only power source driving the car’s wheels to propel the car. For a parallel hybrid system, both the engine and electric motor combine to propel the car.
Series hybrid systems tend to be more efficient because the engine only drives the generator, thus it can be controlled to operate at its most efficient conditions. Parallel hybrid systems would require the engine to work harder to recharge the battery and drive the car as well.
Almost all hybrid cars can drive on battery power alone for however long the stored battery can give the car. This is typically a few miles depending on how fast you drive, and in the case of the latest Toyota Prius (2009 model), its ”EV-Drive” mode allows it to go up to 25 mph for about a mile. This is gas-free driving before the engine is turned on the charge the battery pack.
Almost all hybrid cars can recover energy when slowing down and stopping, and store this energy in the battery packs for future use. This feature is called regenerative braking or regen, and is a major contributor to higher mileage performance of hybrid cars.

I’m sure there are other details that make up a hybrid car system, but these should be sufficient to get the uninitiated going with his/her buying decision. Being a hybrid driver, one of the things you’ll notice is, as a driver, you’ll find yourself much more aware of what you’re doing and what the car is doing. Beside racing drivers and maybe pilots, hybrid drivers are probably next in line for “becoming one with your machine.”

The Dollar Economy vs. Fuel Economy Factor

One of the biggest arguments for buying a hybrid car is that it will save you money, but that may not be the case. In order to determine if you will really be saving any money by purchasing a hybrid car, it is necessary to take a look at the entire picture.

Hybrid cars almost always cost quite a bit more than comparable regular gasoline powered vehicles. And when gas prices spiked to over $4.50 a gallon like in many parts of the United States in 2008, prices of hybrid cars rose even further. In some cases, like with the Toyota Prius, there were not even enough vehicles to meet the demand. The little available inventory was flying off the lots at thousands above MSRP (manufacturer suggested retail prices.) Granted this was not really your typical scenario, as car manufacturers could not have anticipated the jump in gas prices and thus have planned to make more cars available. But the dynamic here is clearly demonstrated in that buyers think and buy based on short-term influences.

So does getting higher mileage justify paying a premium for hybrid cars? On initial inspection it seems the more mpg you get out of your hybrid, the better shape you’re be in. Taking this very concern into consideration, Consumer Reports compared 5-year cost of ownership for hybrid cars and their comparable counterpart. As noted in their article “Hybrid vs. conventional cars,”

Gas savings over five years range from about $1,500 for the Chevy Malibu, Lexus GS, and Saturn Aura hybrids to $4,500 for the Tahoe Hybrid, based on driving 12,000 miles per year and paying $4 per gallon for regular gasoline and $4.20 for premium.

Depreciation makes up a whopping 45 percent of owner costs in the first five years, though it can be less for hybrids because of the high demand for used models. We factor in depreciation, assuming that owners will trade in their vehicles after five years, a typical ownership period. But you’ll realize savings over a conventional model (available to subscribers) if you trade in your hybrid anytime after the payback period.

Even for gasoline at below $2.50 per gallon, hybrid owners still save hundreds of dollars per year based on my own calculations. So the gas cost savings are undeniable, and future hybrid models with even higher mpg will be more attractive. You’ll want to look more closely at these numbers if you drive less than 10,000 miles per year.

Furthermore, many hybrids are eligible for federal tax incentives which can save buyers many more thousands of dollar. Visit the page “New Energy Tax Credits for Hybrids” on fueleconomy.gov and view the car make and model of your interest.

The Battery Replacement Factor

Another question that you should ask yourself before buying a hybrid car is if the car, or its components, will be durable over the long haul. When taking a cross section of the earliest hybrid owners, in most cases, it was found that the hybrids held up pretty well over the years, even with rigorous daily use in some cases.

However, you should know that the cost of battery replacement for a hybrid vehicle after the warranty has expired is considerably more than battery replacement in a standard gas powered vehicle. We’re not talking about cheap DieHard batteries for starting your car here. We’re talking high-tech rechargeable battery packs.

Whereas a battery for a gas-powered car will normally cost less than $100, a hybrid battery pack replacement will run at least in the few thousand dollar range. Manufacturers expect these costs to drop, though, as the demand for hybrids increases. But for now your total cost of ownership must include replacement battery pack cost. But here’s where the unknowns start kicking in.

Battery packs for hybrid cars are still in their infancy state. The industry itself is still learning and developing as it progresses. Manufacturers claims that their battery packs were designed to last the life of the vehicles (possibly 200,000 miles) and therefore need not be replaced. But not all battery packs are trouble-free, and for those unfortunate enough to run into battery problems in their hybrids, getting them fixed can be costly and time-consuming. Read this interesting article on “Behind the Hidden Costs of Hybrids” at hybridCARS.com.

On top of the replacement cost issue is the recycling issue. Many manufacturers indicated that they intend to recycle all replaced battery packs. Again if you care about the environment, and I assume you are since you’re considering a hybrid, inquire about battery pack recycling at your hybrid car dealer. In the near term when hybrid and electric cars are still a novel, this is not yet an issue. But the more these cars get on the road and eventually replaced, the more attention we’ll all have to pay to battery pack recycling.

The Decision

The most important thing to remember when considering a hybrid is to make sure that you are a well-informed consumer. Heavy use of your favorite search engines on the Internet will give you big paybacks in money and time spent buying your next hybrid car. Ultimately, the new vehicle you choose should be based on your personal preference after weighing the pros and cons your potential hybrid car purchase.

The great thing is, even if you can’t, or won’t, buy a hybrid car as your next car purchase, you can still choose from other excellent, affordable and very efficient cars available on the market today. But that’s a topic for another post.

Share your hybrid car buying experience with us. Your advice and suggestions will be valuable in helping others make intelligent decisions.

Things to Know Before Buying a Hybrid Car is a post from: CleanCarTalk

2008 Fuel Economy Comparison: Prius vs Jetta vs Focus vs Smart

Cuong Huynh — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:59:05 +0000

Fuel economy battle between Toyota Prius, Jetta TDI, Ford Focus and smart fortwo. The comparison was conducted in what looks like hot dry summer weather of Southern California and Las Vegas, NV. While the test itself looks to have been carried out fairly and professionally, I think the video missed it entirely in its final call on the conclusion. Watch the video and I’ll discuss the results below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=46nMnCt75qI

Stage One -- Back Roads Results (334 miles @ 50-65 mph)

VW Jetta TDI -- 47.3 mpg
Toyota Prius -- 46.0 mpg
smart fortwo -- 43.9 mpg
Ford Focus -- 36.9 mpg

Stage Two -- City Driving Results (132 miles, stop and go)

Toyota Prius -- 52.4 mpg
smart fortwo -- 34.0 mpg
VW Jetta TDI -- 32.6 mpg
Ford Focus -- 23.6 mpg

Stage Three -- Highway Driving Results (209 miles @ 75 mph, one pit stop)

VW Jetta TDI -- 48.9 mpg
Toyota Prius -- 47.7 mpg
smart fortwo -- 40.0 mpg
Ford Focus -- 37.5 mpg

Lowest Cost Per Mile Calculation (the video defines it as average overall fuel economy divided by total cost of fuel consumed, which does not make any sense, then shows this tabulated result, which is really total cost comparison; and the overall mpg numbers are irrelevant in this table). So I added the real cost per mile calculation to the right of the arrow based on the total miles driven of 675 miles.

Toyota Prius -- $53.32 @ 47.7 mpg --> $0.079 per mile
VW Jetta TDI -- $66.37 @ 40.0 mpg --> $0.097 per mile
smart fortwo -- $66.66 @ 43.8 mpg --> $0.099 per mile
Ford Focus -- $75.96 @ 33.3 mpg --> $0.113 per mile

Relative Green House Gas Emissions

Toyota Prius -- 0.18 tons
VW Jetta TDI -- 0.19 tons
smart fortwo -- 0.22 tons
Ford Focus -- 0.26 tons

I would disagree with Edmunds, the video producer, that there is no overall winner. Because the video’s goal was to find out which car is the most fuel-efficient as introduced in the beginning, we do have a clear winner in the Toyota Prius at 47.7 mpg. It seems Edmunds forgot what the goal of the comparison was.

Additionally, I would also draw the following observations and conclusions:

The Toyota Prius is never ranked below a 2 in all the test, regardless of drive cycle.
The Jetta TDI is ranked mostly 1 or 2, with once in slot number 3.
The smart fortwo ranks 4 times in slot 3, and only once in slot number 2.
The Ford Focus is last in number 4 in all stages.

So again, if we look at the overall data and results, the winners in standing order are clear:

Toyota Prius.
Jetta TDI.
smart fortwo.
Ford Focus.

In the end, since each of us has different needs, additional weighting factors will need to be applied in order for individuals to select the best car for their own use. When you factor in purchase price, brand name, prestige and coolness as part of the buying decision, fuel economy may not be the strongest factor to influence sale of a particular model. This is why many car ads and commercials show cool-looking people driving cool-looking cars doing cool-looking (and dangerous) things.

So what is your opinion on this fuel economy comparison? How likely are you to buy a new vehicle based purely on its fuel economy numbers? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

2008 Fuel Economy Comparison: Prius vs Jetta vs Focus vs Smart is a post from: CleanCarTalk

Use Cruise Control to Increase MPG? It Really Depends on Your Personality

Cuong Huynh — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:36:48 +0000

Advices abound about how you can improve your car’s mileage or miles per gallon (MPG) by using the cruise control. Essentially by using your car’s cruise control, you are telling the car to travel at a constant speed regardless of road conditions. It’s a very nice feature originally offered to allow driving on long trips without getting fatigued.

Here are a few ideas and advices from eZinearticles.com , ecomodder.com and Daily Fuel Economy Tip. There are countless others if you google for them.

By definition, cruise control keeps your car at a constant speed. Manufacturers build some “smart” into the system by allowing cruise control activation only above a certain speeds, typically around 25-30 miles per hour (mph) for most cars. This means you can’t use cruise control in relatively low speed stop and start driving, or in other words, most city driving. The system is not designed for such driving environment.

In city driving where sometime you can get up to 40 mph, I find it’s more of a hassle to put on cruise control than it’s worth. This is because, more than likely, you wouldn’t be able to drive at that speed for too long before having to slow down again. So for most city or stop-and-go driving, cruise control does not do anything for you in terms of fuel economy.

Cruise control really shines when it comes to long trips. That’s what cruise control was originally built for anyway. In more environmentally conscious times like now, this little invention can also save you real dollars. If you do it right, that is.

On my many long drives between San Diego and Los Angeles, a very hilly drive along the California coast, the best mileage I get has been with my foot regulating the speed, no cruise control. I regularly achieve around 29 mpg in “manual” (foot) mode, while could only squeeze around 25 mpg with the cruise control on most of the trip. On the other hand, for the relatively flatter drive from Southern California to Las Vegas, for example, cruise control can really show its benefits. For the typical driver I think it will boil down to a combination of 3 things: convenience (long drive with less work on the pedal), fuel economy (get the best mpg with or without cruise control), and habits (subconscious actions without special awareness). No matter what camp you are from, here’s the reality.

On a given long-distance drive you can encounter a combination of flat, hilly and stop-and-go driving conditions. If you want to arrive with great feelings and no foot/leg fatigue, then go cruise control the whole way, except of course during very steep hills and in heavy traffic. If you’re more about getting there with the least fuel consumed, then set cruise control for long stretches of flat highway but take more active role to regulate speeds during hilly portions and stop-and-go traffic. Finally if you don’t care, then of course do what you want and just enjoy the trip.

There you have it. It’s really up to each of us to do the right thing, for us and for the environment. Take your pick.

Use Cruise Control to Increase MPG? It Really Depends on Your Personality is a post from: CleanCarTalk

CleanCarTalk » fuel economy

New and Improved Cash for Clunkers Program?

New CARS (Car Allowance Rebate System) Guidance and Clarification

Important Information on new MPG Ratings

Related posts

Car Buyers Found Themselves Ineligible for Cash for Clunkers Over the Weekend

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Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood on the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS,) or “Cash for Clunkers” Program

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NHTSA, DOT Publish the Final Rule for Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) or Cash For Clunkers

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Cash For Clunkers: smart fortwo Gets Maximum Incentive

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Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) or Cash For Clunkers Program Kicking Into Gear

The Facts

The Upsides

The Downsides

Related posts

President Obama Announces Fuel Economy Standards of 35.5 mpg by 2016

Related posts

Things to Know Before Buying a Hybrid Car

The Hybrids-Are-Different-to-Drive Factor

The Dollar Economy vs. Fuel Economy Factor

The Battery Replacement Factor

The Decision

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