One sure way to save fuel is to purchase a manual car. I have two almost identical cars, both 1994 Citroens, one manual (1800 cc) and one automatic (2000cc). The manual will go 650 kms on same amount of fuel as the auto one which will only do 500kms. The extra CC's will only account for part of that saving. It is well known that Auto cars will use more fuel than manual cars. They are also safer as you have more control. The Government should take a lead on only use manual cars.That way you lose nothing in power but gain much in fuel savings. Using Bio fuels is false economy because jungles are being cleared to produce the raw material.
Submitted by Peter Ward on 7 December 2007 12:51:07
Comments
Ride a scooter if at all possible. I ride a vespa px 200, I burn around 15% of the fuel per week I burnt driving a two litre car to work and back every day. And it's fun, and I never sit in rush hour traffic jams.
In my opinion the Govt need to immediately impose punitive taxes on luxury and SUV vehicles. People that want to drive 5 litre trucks back and forward to work need to pay. Polluter pays.
When I am not riding my scooter I ride my bike. In the build up to the taupo challenge every year I commute on my bike at least a couple of times a week (50k round trip).
I still have my car - I fill it up about once every two months and only use it when I have to.
Submitted by Steve McKinlay on 12 December 2007 21:01:54
I have changed my vehicle this year from a gas guzzling Commodore to a 2.0 l diesel Peugeot with low emissions and good economy. I average around 6.3 l per 100 km and usually get 950 km from one fill of the tank. Very zippy and not noisy or dirty at all. I won't be going back. The only pain is that the RUC are at the same rate as significantly larger diesel vehicles - this needs to be modified to be fair to all and to encourage other motorists to switch to diesel cars.
Submitted by Jen W on 14 December 2007 07:53:29
Steve, I would like to second the scooter idea! I have a 250cc motorbike for commuting, and my partner rides a 180cc Piaggio (Vespa) scooter. He even has a boot on his, so he can take his lunch and his laptop to work - I have to carry my stuff in a backpack (as you can see, I'm jealous!)
I think the main thing is to be flexible with your transport options. Some people are well served by public transport, some are brave enough to ride a push bike in city traffic, some choose to walk to roller skate or scoot to work.
I know there are people who have to take the baby to day-care, the kids to school, go to work and do a trolley-load of grocery shopping on the way home and I don't begrudge them their cars! But if those of us who could get to work another way did so, the roads and parking would be freed up for those who really need them and everyone could be happier.
Go the scooter brigade! :D
Submitted by Lindis on 15 January 2008 16:11:01
The Idea that automatics are less fuel efficient than manuals is not nessacarily true, modern automatic transmissions are actually much more efficient than older ones, such as those in your 1994 citroen's.
Modern automatics use several features to give them extra efficiency, but one of the more important features is the greater amount of ratio's modern auto's have. A decent, modern auto will have 6 ratio's, with more upmarket cars having 7 and possibly 8 ratio's (The lexus L600h being an example of a car with 8 ratio's, Newer Mercedes-Benz have 7 ratio's). With a greater spread of ratio's the transmission can now select one that is better suited to the speed you are travelling, just as you would with a manual, older transmissions could not do this as they generally were limited to 4 ratios.
A good example of an auto being more efficient than a manual can be found close to home, with the Holden commodore SS (yes, its not very efficient....) using less fuel as an auto than as a manual. Though the difference is a mere 0.1L/100km it still proves that Auto's being more efficient than manuals is no longer nessacarily true.
Submitted by JC on 30 January 2008 07:44:44
Hi JC, my understanding is that many modern fuel-efficient cars have a kind of progressive gearing, so there is never actually a gear "change" at all. This must be the ultimate version of the greater number of gear ratios you have described.
The Toyota Prius is one example of the progressive gearing. And it has been used for years in scooters (funny how I can turn any conversation back to scooters...)
Submitted by Lindis on 5 February 2008 10:55:21
There are so many ways to make your vehicle more efficient, such as tyre pressures and having extra junk in your car etc. I have just come from another site discussing all these kind of things. It was here www.nzmoneytalk.co.nz/forum/ There are some people giving some pretty good advice.
Submitted by james on 18 March 2008 00:23:34
Hi All,
It depends how old each of the cars are about which is more fuel efficient. A new automatic will usually be more efficient than an old automatic. But it also depends on engine size & whether it is diesel or petrol. I've been having the same idea about getting a scooter for my commute or bike. Then having car to use only occasionally when need to do shopping etc.
There seem to be some good websites coming up now like sustainability. Another site www.kiwimoneysavers.com which lists energy saving & fuel saving ideas & even grants available to help you get more energy efficient & save money. Got to be better for the environment if we can get more people to be more energy efficient
I agree should be incentives for people to use more energy efficient products, maybe national will sort this one out now?
Submitted by Jimbob on 10 November 2008 14:01:48
Anytime our family is going on a long road trip we always get a hybrid to save on gas and go to fox car rental for some great prices.
Submitted by davegs on 26 February 2010 07:04:15
not sure if I've got the correct sustainability organisation. But I drove to Upper Hutt this morning, to speak to a group, and spent the whole trip behing a truck with Sustaiability on its side, belching black smoke - not a good advertisement on reducing pollution!!
Submitted by peg on 5 March 2010 15:28:48