Kyle Busch
814 833-1511
kbusch@velocity.net
February 7, 2003
Re: Article on higher fuel prices
Dear Temple-News Editor,
I am writing to ask if you will add the article included below on your site and/or in your newsletter.
With the difficulties in Venezuela and other concerns,fuel prices are beginning to raise. I have included an article for college students and others that provides some fuel-efficient vehicles that will help them to counteract higher fuel prices.
If necessary, I will be happy to resend this article to you as an e-mail attachment. This would enable the article to be formatted
better and thus require fewer minor changes.
If you haven’t yet, would you please add the following link resource to your site: www.drivethebestbook.com? The site
will accept college students’ transportation questions, it provides information, and it introduces Drive the Best for the Price …
I have been interviewed about the topic of transportation by
Southeastern Public Radio and The Driving Force on Wheels
(Detroit, MI). In addition to being featured in a Los Angeles Times
transportation article, on June 17, 2002 I was a guest on The Elaine
Smitha Show (Olympia, WA). Additionally, on August 9, 2002 Drive
the Best for the Price … was featured on MotorWeek-Maryland
Public Television.
Last, but not least, consumers worldwide have written to ask me
their transportation questions.
Please contact me at: kbusch@velocity.net to confirm that you
have received this article and let me know if you can provide
it for your readers on your site and/or in your newsletter. Feel
free to edit the article and change the title.
If another person is better suited to answer this inquiry, would you
please forward this information to him or her?
Thank you, and good driving,
Kyle Busch
Higher Fuel Prices? Wheels
That Will Keep You Rolling
© 2003 by Kyle Busch, author of:
“Drive the Best for the Price …”
www.drivethebestbook.com
The cost of transportation can be expensive,
and higher fuel prices does not help matters. The following vehicles have good ratings, and they will help to stretch your fuel dollars.
The following are some vehicles that will help you to keep rolling longer and avoid the pump:
1. The Toyota Corolla has been around for
over 30 years. During the last few years,
the Corolla has become a bit larger. Expect
to achieve about 30 mpg in the city and
about 40 mpg on the highway with this
vehicle.
2. The Honda Civic has been a stiff rival to
the Corolla. The Civic has also recently
grown a bit in size. The Civic is right
there with the Corolla at about 30 mpg in
the city and about 40 mpg on the highway.
3. The Geo Prizm will cost about $1,000-
$1,500 less than a comparable year
Corolla or Civic. The Prizm will achieve
about 29 mpg city and about 38 mpg on
the highway.
SUVs can really eat the fuel, however, they
are convenient for hauling cargo, and they
definitely have a real advantage in bad weather
and off-road conditions.
4. The Suzuki Esteem wagon provides some
cargo carrying ability and reasonable fuel
economy. Expect to achieve about 28 mpg
in the city and about 37 mpg on the highway
with this vehicle.
5. The Subaru Legacy wagon/Outback wagon
and Forester can all carry cargo plus they
have all-wheel drive. These vehicles
generally have the most powerful engines
out of those mentioned above. Expect to
achieve about 22 mpg in the city and about
27 mpg on the highway.
If you are in the market for a vehicle, be certain to do your homework. Consult “Consumer
Report’s” automotive issue (April). This
resource is available at most public libraries.
If you plan on buying a used vehicle, also be
sure to read a couple of archived new vehicle
road tests (review road tests that were conducted at the time the vehicle was new) on the used vehicle of interest in auto magazines
(many are archived at your local library) or
Internet sources such as “Car and
Driver,” “Motor Trend,” “Road & Track,”
or “MotorWeek.” Information from the road tests
will allow you to zero in on which of the
vehicles discussed above will be the best for
you.
Last, but not least, be certain that you do not
overpay to drive a fuel-efficient vehicle. For
example, if you pay say $1,500 more for a vehicle that achieves five mpg more than your
current vehicle, you would need to drive it
about five years to get $1,500 in fuel savings.
However, say you pay an extra $500 for a
vehicle that achieves 10 mpg more than your
current vehicle. In a little over one year, you
would recoup your $500.
How to Evaluate a Used Vehicle:
Kyle Busch is the author of “Drive the Best for
the Price: How to Buy a Used Automobile, Sport-
Utility Vehicle, or Minivan and Save Money.”
The book can be ordered from Barnes and Noble
or Borders, or by visiting www.drivethebestbook.com. The web site
accepts your transportation questions.
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