If you’re used to buying a used car, truck or SUV, you may not be aware of how some of the “new” used autos have changed in the last couple of years. Since more people buy used cars that are roughly three years old, some of these changes will impact your next purchase.

Does it come with a spare tire?
With competition for higher fuel economy, coupled with increasing federal regulations and fuel prices pushing the need for better mpgs, many autos are shrinking in size or eliminating “excess” weight. Some autos like the Chevrolet Cruze Eco have replaced the spare tire and jack with a tire-inflator kit, saving an extra 26 pounds towards better fuel economy. Other smaller autos like the Mazda MX-5 Miata removed the spare simply because they don’t have the room.

Smoker-friendly autos are quickly becoming a thing of the past.
Remember when all cars and most trucks came standard with a cigarette lighter and ashtrays. Not anymore. Many auto makers have traded out these nicotine niceties for cup holders and bays for mobile phones.

New cars are less smoker-friendly.
Changes in consumer habits lead to evolutions in autos. While all cars and most trucks came standard with ashtrays and lighters, many auto makers are rolling new units off of the line with cell phone slots and cup holders in their place.

If you like foreign made compact pickup trucks, good luck.
Why are foreign compact pickup trucks disappearing from US roads and highways? It isn’t economical for the manufacturers. When Detroit can roll new full-sized units off of the assembly line with an MSRP starting at $21,000, and that’s before rebates (sometimes as high as $4,000), it doesn’t make sense for overseas manufacturers to try and compete at the same price or higher with compacts.

You’ll have less foreign compact trucks to choose from.
If you haven’t noticed, there are fewer foreign-made compact pickup trucks on US roads. Why? They aren’t profitable. When Detroit auto makers can sell a full sized truck starting around $21,000 (and that’s before rebates upwards of $4,000), it doesn’t make sense for overseas auto makers to ship in their compact pickups.

You will have less maintenance and repairs you can do on your own.
According to engineers at GM, the average new car, truck or SUV is designed with 23 CPUs (central processing units), aka the brains of a computer. Things can be even more complex when it comes to hybrids. Some designs have more lines of computer code than what was used in the first rocket to the moon. Don’t be surprised if your DIY maintenance options at most will be changing the oil and inflating tires. This means more visits to the mechanic.

Looking to find the best information on used cars, then visit www.AmericanAutoAssurance.com to find the best advice on vehicle protection plans for your car, truck or SUV.

Transportation is not as easy to afford as it used to be. Gas prices are going up while people are getting less work, which means that driving places is not as easy anymore. So many people are asking the question now – what can I do to get the best gas mileage?

There are some ways that you can stretch your dollar when it comes to transportation. It is helpful to keep in mind the following suggestions.

1. Size of Car

Usually smaller cars use less gas. Small cars have an easier time moving than larger cars, so they need less energy (gas) to do so. The big cars that usually do worse in terms of mpgs (miles per gallon) are SUVs, trucks, and vans. Oftentimes they get fewer than 20 mpg. More compact cars and sedans usually get 20-40 mpg.

Exceptions to this rule exist, though. While SUVs usually get worse gas mileage than sedans or compacts, they can have better. Hybrid SUVs usually get around 30 mpg, and at the very least get better mileage than other large vehicles. Another exception is that sports cars often get lower than 20 miles per gallon even though they are on the small side.

2. Car Makes

Not every car maker focuses on mileage when making a car. In order to find makers that do, you can search online by looking at the mpgs of similar cars made by different companies. Then you can choose the car, truck, etc. With the best mileage. A good search phrase is “best mpg cars” or something similar because it will show you comparisons.

3. Accelerate More Slowly

When accelerating from a stop, you should push down on the gas pedal softly and gradually in order to get the best mileage. Pushing hard on the gas pedal means that you are using more gas, which means that you are getting fewer miles per gallon. If you accelerate slowly you will thus use less gas. If anyone tails you because of this, move over a lane if possible, remembering the money that you are saving.

4. Driving Style

Reckless drivers who race other cars and weave in and out of lanes usually use more gas than other drivers. Because of the fast speed and quick stops, these drivers must accelerate quickly, which lowers mileage. A good solution to this problem is simply to drive more safely. Safe driving techniques that lower mileage include keeping distance from the car in front of you and only accelerating when necessary. This can increase car mileage.

5. Storage in Your Car

If you use your car as a closet, you can significantly reduce its miles per gallon. This is because cars with more weight in them use more gas. While keeping emergency supplies and temporary items in a car can be necessary, other items are not. In order to increase long-term mileage, you should reduce the amount of things stored in your car by taking out any unnecessary items.

If you listen to these ideas you can improve your gas mileage. While buying a new car will often save the most gas, you do not need to go to such an extreme measure to reduce the amount that you pay at the pump.

You can find out all the tips and tricks for getting the best gas mileage available today! You can reduce the cost of your vacation when you visit http://www.funandsafedriving.com/best-gas-mileage-33-gas-saving-tips.html today!

Now why don’t we consider the topic of cars for sale. New cars or used cars, which are the better deal? The moment a new car leaves the dealership it’s value falls.  Now that question is an easy one. Buy the car after it has taken the biggest value hit. Balance that with the time when the car won’t need as much repair work. The slightly used car is about the best for both concern. The largest decline in value has already happened. Someone else absorbed that loss. The car likely won’t need constant repair work, and the warranty is still probably valid.

Continuing the discussion about used car sales : Late model used cars are available from a variety of sources.  Dealerships take in trade-ins from customers who purchase or lease new vehicles. The dealers want to sell those cars. eBay has a whole division dedicated to used cars, while specialty companies such as Carmax list thousands of them. In America there are car auctions every weekend. These include police auctions of impounded vehicles as well as dealer auctions that might involve, for example, cars purchased from car rental companies. 

When dealing with used cars one will also want to consider fuel efficient cars and The most trusted source for used car prices is Kelly Blue Book. It lists cars by year, then the general prices for those cars in various conditions from excellent to poor. It also breaks down the prices between dealer sales and private sales. That does make a difference because dealers have overhead that private sellers do not have.

Have you considered financing? The better idea is to save money to make a cash purchase.  No matter how low of an interest rate or how low the monthly payments, nothing helps the monthly budget like not having to make any car payment. Yes, cars are status symbols. But bells and whistles can cost a lot of money. That can even mean a less stressful life. People who own the luxury cars worry more about them. Many used car owners take pride in their cars, but don’t worry over a ding or two. 

With wealth it’s not what you buy. Net worth comes from saving. Saving turns rich people rich. Good used cars help the budget.