Why buy used? Well, as CR says "depreciation accounts for 46 percent of the owner costs over a five-year period." Why not let someone else take the hit?

By focusing on a nearly-new model, say 2-3 years old, you can find a vehicle that offers comparable fuel economy, performance, safety, and reliability as a new car, often with some transferable warranty coverage remaining.

Amen! Anyway, here's the list. Some of the cars are older than 2-3 years, but hey. They're all under $10k.

Here's the list:

1. 2000 Honda Insight (manual) 51 mpg
2. 2001-02 Toyota Prius 41 mpg
3. 2000-05 Toyota Echo 38 mpg
4. 1998-2002 Chevrolet Prizm 32 mpg
5. 1998 Mazda Protegé LX 32 mpg
6. 1998-2000 Toyota Corolla LE 32 mpg
7. 1998-2001 Acura Integra LS (manual) 32 mpg

Consumer Reports also has a list of the top cars from $10,000-$20,000, which you can view here.

Best used cars for fuel economy [Consumer Reports]
(Photo: smcgee )

The big takeaway is that the more of your car you currently own, the more you stand to gain by switching:

If you are midway through a vehicle loan, as in the scenarios explored in this blog series, you may not have much equity (especially as you chase accelerating depreciation) in your vehicle, and it may make sense to stick it out for another year or two. The tipping point comes sooner depending on how much of the vehicle you truly own, versus the bank, and how great a sacrifice you are willing to make when downsizing.

There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but they have shared some helpful advice for those of you who are thinking of getting that Prius.

• Don’t rush into downsizing without considering all the owner costs of your current vehicle, including depreciation and finance charges.
• Understand your goals with downsizing (environmental concern, fuel savings, cost savings), and be sure your strategy will meet these goals...
• In northern regions, consider using your SUV as a winter-only vehicle, especially if it enables you to buy an efficient, front-wheel drive car, rather than an all-wheel drive model. Be sure to adjust your insurance accordingly.

More info over at Consumer Reports.

Downsizing to the extreme [CR]
(Photo: geognerd )

From Autopia:

The U.S. Department of Energy says gas mileage plummets above 60 mph and says every 5 mph above that speed is akin to paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas. But the American Heritage Foundation claims 12 years of 55 mph speed limits cut fuel consumption by just 1 percent. After Congress repealed the National Maximum Speed Law and 33 states raised their speed limits, the Cato Institute said traffic deaths dropped to a record low.

More than fuel economy and traffic deaths are at stake now. "Emissions increase pretty appreciably above 55," McNaull says. drive55.org claims Washington state would cut CO2 emissions by 10 percent if it cut its 70 mph speed limit by 15 mph. But even here, the evidence is debated. The Automobile Association in England claims reducing the speed limit from 30 mph to 20 on residential roads would increase CO2 emission by more than 10%.

What do you think? Should we bring back the national speed limit?

With Gas Prices Rising And The Planet Warming, Is It Time To Drive 55 Again? [Wired]

#1. Fill your tank in the morning

Consumer Reports says that the temperature variation in a single day isn't really significant enough to affect the gas, so you might as well stay in bed.

#2. Change your air filter

"Modern engines have computer sensors that automatically adjust the fuel-air mixture as an increasingly clogged air filter chokes off the engine's air supply."

#3. Use premium fuel

"When sensors detect regular instead of premium fuel, the system automatically adjusts spark plug timing. The result is a slight reduction in peak horsepower - really, you'll never notice - but no reduction in fuel economy."

#4 Pump up your tires

"According to on-the-road driving tests by both Consumer Reports and auto information site Edmunds.com, underinflated tires reduce fuel economy, so proper inflation is key.

But you should never over-inflate your tires."

#5 To AC or Not To AC
At most speeds and in most vehicles, A/C use drains slightly more fuel than driving with the windows down, contends David Champion, head of auto testing for Consumer Reports. "My final take on is that it's very close," says Phil Reed, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com. "It's hard to measure the difference and every vehicle is different."

#6. Bolt-ons and pour-ins

"... if there really was an additive that made gas burn up more slowly, it wouldn't be sold over the Internet one bottle at a time."

There's more detailed info at CNNMoney, but as far we're concerned, the best way to increase your fuel economy is to slow down, stop running up on people's ass and then slamming on the brakes, and don't weave from lane to lane trying to find the fast one. They're all slow. Such is life. Relax.

6 gas saving myths [CNNMoney] (Thanks, Aaron!)

(Photo: meghannmarco )

Not that the Accord is a bad buy—other than fuel economy, the new Accord "easily outperformed all the other vehicles in this test group—and achieved an "Excellent" overall road test score." (We don't know if they're including last year's Altima test as part of the group.)

The Altima also came out on top in the budget-priced category:

The four-cylinder Altima also claimed the top spot in CR's ranking of 15 Affordable Family sedans, with a much wider, six-point margin over the Accord [four-cylinder LX-P]. The Kia Optima EX and Toyota Camry LE are ranked third and fourth in that category.

The court ordered the White House to examine why it continues to consider light trucks differently than cars. Regulators made a distinction between cars and light trucks decades ago when most trucks were used for commercial purposes.

NHTSA had argued that it considered the intent of the manufacturer in making light trucks, rather than their actual highway use, in developing the new fuel standards.

"But this overlooks the fact that many light trucks today are manufactured primarily for transporting passengers," Fletcher wrote for the three-judge panel.

Fletcher also wrote that the administration failed to consider the benefit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"It did, however, include an analysis of the employment and sales impacts of more stringent standards on manufacturers," Fletcher wrote.

The court also took the administration to task for refusing to include in the new standards trucks weighing more than 8,500 pounds, a class that includes the Hummer H2, Ford F250 and other popular large vehicles.

The court ordered NHTSA to develop fuel standards for these large trucks or give a better reason than the agency's argument that it has never regulated those large trucks and that more testing needs to be done.

"This historic ruling vindicates our fight against fuel economy standards that are a complete sham and a gift to the auto industry," said Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who also joined the lawsuit.

Court Rebukes Bush Fuel Economy Plan [AP]
(Photo:George E. Norkus)

2008 Model Year Overall Fuel Economy Leaders

Class Model City/Highway MPG

10. Honda Fit (manual) 28/34
9. Toyota Corolla (manual) 28/37
8. Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD 29/27, Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD ", Mazda Tribute Hybrid 4WD "
7. Toyota Yaris (automatic) 29/35
6. Toyota Yaris (manual) 29/36
5. Toyota Camry Hybrid 33/34
4. Ford Escape Hybrid FWD 34/30, MazdaTribute Hybrid 2WD ", Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD "
3. Nissan Altima Hybrid 35/33
2. Honda Civic Hybrid 40/45
1. Toyota Prius (hybrid-electric) 48/45

If you want to save on gas, hybrids are the way to go.

Lowest Fuel Economy by Vehicle Class for 2008 Model Year

Class Model City/Highway MPG

Two Seater Lamborghini Murcielago (manual) 8/13
Minicompact Car Aston Martin DB9 Coupe, Volante (manual) 10/16
Subcompact Car Bentley Continental GTC 10/17
Compact Car Bentley Azure 9/15
Midsize Car Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (auto) 9/16
Large Car Bentley Arnage RL 9/15
Small Station Wagon Audi S4 Avant (manual) 13/20
Midsize Station Wagon Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Wagon 12/18
Sport Utility Vehicle* Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG 11/13
Minivan* Toyota Sienna 4WD 16/21
Pickup Truck* Rousch Performance Stage3 F150 11/15
Van (Passenger and
Cargo)*
Passenger Chevrolet G1500/2500 EXPRESS 2WD 12/16
" Chevrolet H1500 EXPRESS AWD "
" GMC G1500/2500 SAVANA 2WD "
" GMC H1500 SAVANA VAN AWD "
Cargo Chevrolet G15/25 VAN CONV 2WD "
" Chevrolet H1500 VAN CONV AWD "
" GMC G15/25 SAVANA 2WD CONV "
" GMC H1500 SAVANA AWD CONV "

*Trucks over 8500 pounds gross vehicle weight rating are currently exempt from federal fuel economy requirements

Highest Fuel Economy Models by Vehicle Class for 2008 Model Year

Class Model City/Highway MPG

Two Seater Audi TT Roadster (2 liter engine,auto) 22/29
Minicompact Car Mini Cooper Convertible (manual) 23/32
Subcompact Car Toyota Yaris (manual) 29/36
Compact Car Honda Civic Hybrid 40/45
Midsize Car Toyota Prius (hybrid) 48/45
Large Car Honda Accord 4Dr Sedan (manual) 22/31
Small Station Wagon Honda Fit (manual) 28/34
Midsize Station Wagon Passat Wagon (manual) 21/29
Sport Utility Vehicle Ford Escape Hybrid FWD 34/30
Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD "
Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD "
Minivan Dodge Caravan 2WD 17/24
Chrysler Town & Country 2WD "
Pickup Truck Ford Ranger Pickup 2WD (manual) 21/26
Mazda B2300 2WD (manual) "
Van (Cargo&Passenger)Chevrolet G1500/2500 Van 2WD 15/20
(4.3 liter engine)
GMC G1500/2500 Savana 2WD Cargo "
(4.3 liter engine)

Lowest Overall Fuel Economy Models* for 2008 Model Year

Rank Manufacturer/Model City/Highway MPG

1. Lamborghini Murcielago (automatic) 8/13
2. Bugati Veyron 8/14
3. Lamborghini Murcielago (manual) 9/14
4. Bently Azure/Arnage RL 9/15
5. Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (automatic) 9/16
6. Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder (manual) 10/15
Ferrari Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (manual) "
Bentley Arnage (auttomatic) "
7. Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder 10/16
Aston Martin DB9 Coupe "
Aston Martin DB9 Volante "
Mercedes-Benz Maybach 57 "
Mercedes-Benz Maybach 57S "
Mercedes-Benz Maybach 62 "
Mercedes-Benz Maybach 62S "
8. Lamborghini Gallardo Coupe (manual) 10/17
Bentley Continental GT (automatic) "
Bentley Continental GTC (automatic) "
Bentley Continental Flying Spur (automatic) "
9. Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG 11/13
10. Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD 11/14
Mercedes-Benz Ml63 AMG "

EPA, DOE Release Fuel Economy Lists for 2008 Vehicle Models [AutoSpectator]
2008 Fuel Economy Guide (PDF) [Fueleconomy.gov]

(Photo: hanapbuhay)

Heineken CEO Jean-Fran ois van Boxmeer pointed out on Wednesday that the increasing demand for grain for biofuel will put pressure on the price of grain, and by extension on malt and hop prices as well, two important raw materials.

But something seems fishy here. Beer — at least good beer — is made from barley, and we've never heard of barley being distilled into fuel additives. We have heard of wine being distilled into ethanol, which just seems so, so wrong... Corn remains the fuel crop of choice.

And why would the price of hops go up because of "biofuels"? Hops can't be converted into fuel at all.

Sounds to us like Heineken is just looking for an excuse to jack up prices.
— MARK ASHLEY

Cleaner fuel, dearer beer? [Expatica]
(Photo)

Consumer advocacy groups complained the sticker's mpg ratings were too generous in years past. A test not updated from the 1970's, when the national highway speed limit was 55, stop and go traffic was lower, and horsepower was 89 percent lower, was to blame for consumer's never achieving the posted MPG. — BEN POPKEN

New EPA fuel-economy tests will better reflect real-world driving [ConsumerReports]