Let’s be honest, fuel prices aren’t going down any time soon, and with environmental concerns at an all-time high, there is no better time for you to learn the right way to drive green.

When you’re rushing around, running errands and performing your day-to-day duties, getting better fuel efficiency from your vehicle is probably the furthest thing from your mind, but you don’t necessarily have to own one of the more eco-friendly cars to be a greener motorist; there are plenty of little tricks that will help you make your car fuel go the extra mile.

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Here is a selection of tips to help you run your car in a more environmentally-friendly way:

• Plan Ahead
  When you know you have a few places to visit, planning ahead can enable you to combine trips and save time as well as fuel. With low-cost GPS navigation devices and smartphones boasting even simple tools like Google Maps, you can easily plan your route and avoid unnecessary detours and traffic jams.
• Lose Some Weight
  No, not you personally! If you have a trunk or backseat full of heavy items like tools, consider moving them into your garage when you know you’re not going to need them; this can significantly reduce the demand placed on the engine and help to reduce fuel consumption.
• Drive Efficiently
  A major component of getting the most from your car fuel is to not brake and accelerate too aggressively; as you approach a set of traffic lights, let your car come to more of a rolling stop rather than speeding up to the lights and then hammering the brakes.
  Fuel efficiency goes hand in hand with smooth driving; not necessarily slower driving. Bear in this mind next time you’re on the road and always seize opportunities to roll downhill or come to a gentle stop at junctions.
• Slipstream
  This tip is provided tentatively because it can be dangerous when used irresponsibly; drafting behind larger vehicles like trucks can reduce air resistance which causes less strain on the engine and significantly improves fuel efficiency. Just be sure to always apply the two-second rule and never take any unnecessary risks.
• Sitting Idle
  Even when sitting in traffic, it’s best to minimize the amount of time you leave your car idling. The best way to achieve this is to plan your route ahead of time to avoid any traffic jams, but this isn’t always possible so if you’re stuck in a serious jam, consider turning your engine off for a minute or two when you get the chance.

These simple tips are incredibly easy to put into action and will definitely help you to become a greener motorist; they could save you a pretty penny, as well as saving you time on your travels.

If you’d like to know more about how to improve your fuel efficiency, or for information on a range of vehicles that offer great mileage, Bartons Hyundai can offer some fantastic packages and are always more than happy to answer any questions you might have.

When considering buying a new car, there can be quite a few financial obstacles to overcome if you’re living on a budget, which begs the question of where you can trim some fat, so to speak, in order to free up a little capital for your new purchase.

You’ll be pleased to know that there are a large number of ways in which you can lower your monthly expenses and make the prospect of purchasing the car you want much more realistic.

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Here are some simple and easy ways to reduce your costs and free up some money to allocate to your car budget:

• Rethink Your Spending Habits
  The first change you should make is a purely mental one; begin by writing yourself a weekly or monthly budget, factoring in all of your outgoings, from here you can begin to ask the question of whether or not certain things are necessary and make a clear distinction between the things you want and the things you need.
• Household Savings
  If you take a look around your home, you’ll likely notice plenty of ways in which you can shave a few dollars off of your monthly costs, and those small savings can really add up:
  • Put your laundry on a clotheshorse or washing line instead of a machine drier
  • Ditch the overpriced and toxic commercial cleaning products and instead use common household items like vinegar and baking soda to clean your home
  • The same principle applies to cosmetic products; try using a natural, unscented soap for a while and see if the condition of your skin doesn’t improve also
  • Choose an Appropriate Car
    This should go without saying but make sure that if you have your heart set on a particular brand or model, you apply the same line of frugal thinking as you would with your other monthly purchases.
    If you’re a single person, you probably don’t need an SUV, and if you’re married and have three kids, you’re going to need something a little more practical and fuel-efficient than that Lamborghini you’ve been coveting for the past three weeks!
  • Assess the Bigger Picture
    Remember that purchasing a new car result in a fairly large financial commitment on your part, so in addition to minimizing your current costs, be sure to plan well ahead and budget in anticipation of any upcoming costs you may have to face that could potentially affect your ability to meet the monthly payments.
    This line of thinking also applies to the car purchase itself; be sure to speak to an experienced advisor or salesperson who can lay out the full payment plan in plain terms, and you might also want to discuss the benefits of putting down an initial sum of money to reduce your ongoing costs. Making a decently-sized down payment on a new car is also a great way of lowering the overall cost of the vehicle.

If you’d like to discover more great ways to plan your car budget, including structuring a sound monthly payment plan that suits your needs, be sure to contact Bartons Hyundai to speak to an advisor.