Automobile Retailers

When you’re looking at the new cars at your local Buick dealer, chances are that you want to get all the options available. Besides, who wants to be driving down the road without a moon roof or some other modern feature that everybody else has? But did you know some options use more gas than others? If you’re trying to save gas, here are a few options to avoid.

Anything Automatic
Yes, power seats and power windows are some of the most convenient features on a car. You can hardly find vehicles without them these days. But any feature that uses a motor adds weight to your car. And these pounds can add up. These features won’t drain your gas tank, but they could reduce your overall fuel economy by a fraction of a percent.

Moon Roof
Moon roofs are nice, aren’t they? But, as mentioned in the first point, they need a motor in order to operate. In addition to that, an open moon roof adds drag to your vehicle. You might like the luxury of driving down the road in the open air, but it could cost you a penny or two per mile, if not more.

Don’t let these figures discourage you, though. The differences in fuel economy are so small you won’t even notice the difference. Besides, a little bit of luxury is worth the extra cost.

If you’re like most Americans, you’ve changed your driving habits in the last few months because of the gas prices. Now, an article in USA Today tells us exactly how much we’ve cut back.

Between the months of November 2007 and April 2008, Americans drove 22 billion fewer miles than they did during the same time period the previous year. That’s right – Billion, not million. That’s the largest decrease in driving since the fuel crisis that occurred in the late 1970s.

Analysts think these new habits are here to stay, too. Marilyn Brown, a professor of energy policy at Georgia Tech University, had this to say about the reports: “I think the difference between now and 1979, when prices were comparable when you adjust for inflation, is there’s a sense of sustained pain.” She went on to say that Americans are getting the feeling that “cheap energy” is gone for good and these prices aren’t coming down. And even if they do, they’re not coming down by much.

The article also listed some changes that we can expect as a result of Americans driving less. Some of them include:

• Housing patterns may change because people will start buying homes closer to their job.
• Paying for road repairs may be different. With people driving less, the state and national governments aren’t receiving as much money to put towards the roads. As a result, we may see more toll roads or other options.

You’ll probably see more people at your local Mercedes-Benz dealer, too. With the number of fuel-efficient vehicles and hybrid technologies, this is one of the best places to go if you want to save gas and still drive around in luxury. See one today!