THERE IS A LOT YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE YOUR FUEL COSTS
17 June 2004 - AA

With fuel prices higher than they have been since November 2000, it''s time to put some thought into reducing how much you pour down your tank''s throat.

Wise Buys
The car you drive has a big impact on your fuel costs and buying an economical car is one obvious solution.
The Honda Insight is very economical
In general, small cars use less fuel than big cars; manual cars are more frugal than automatics; diesels is more economical than petrol cars; and four-wheel-drives guzzle more than two-wheel-drives.

When buying, use the AA''s Car Buyer''s Guide to find a car that suits your needs: consumption can range from a wallet-emptying 11.3 mpg for a Ferrari 456M GTA to miserly 83.1 mpg for a hybrid-fuelled Honda Insight.

The difference between these two figures roughly equates to an extra £3,000 on the fuel bill over a distance of 10,000 miles.

There are several steps you can take to make the fuel you buy go further.

General Tips

Service your car regularly: this maintains engine efficiency and cuts fuel consumption.

Check tyre pressures regularly and set according to the car''s handbook.

Plan journeys with Route Planner and check the latest traffic news.

Pack roof racks carefully and remove them when not in use.

Use air-conditioning sparingly. Try air vents before opening a window or using air-conditioning.

Drive gently, avoid unnecessarily hard acceleration, and use the highest gear you can without labouring the engine.

Stick to speed limits. Travel at 70 mph on motorways instead of ''going with the flow'' at 80–85 mph. Fuel costs can go up by as much as 4p a mile for small cars.

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