CHICAGO, March 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With gas
prices hovering around record highs, many new-car shoppers may be
thinking "green" this St. Patrick's
Day by looking at hybrid or alternate-fuel vehicles. The
editors at Cars.com, the premier online resource for buying and
selling new and used cars, have compiled a list of 10 ways drivers
can Go Green this spring, helping
both the environment and their wallets.
"Not only is driving green good for the environment," said
Joe Wiesenfelder, executive editor
of Cars.com, "it can help you save a little green in the process.
If you expand your definition of a 'green' car beyond just hybrid
and electric vehicles, you can easily recognize some of the
benefits of being more 'green' behind the wheel."
1. Labels don't guarantee results: Do you want to buy a
hybrid or just burn less fuel? The hybrid badge doesn't guarantee
better mileage than a similar non-hybrid car.
2. Keep your eye on the green: A hybrid may produce less
pollution, but any economic benefits may not be delivered for
years. Expect to pay more for an alternative-fuel vehicle, and
don't assume you'll earn back the investment.
3. Consider a conventional vehicle: If you want to save
fuel, and especially money, look no further than a newer
gas-powered car. Mileage in new cars has increased substantially in
the past few years, with no performance trade-offs and no premium
pricing.
4. Now probably isn't the time: Nothing inspires
motorists to buy efficient cars more than high gas prices -- and no
circumstance makes it a worse time. Anyone who's in the market
should consider efficiency, but it might be financially
counterproductive to dump a thirstier car you've paid off just to
save money with each fill-up.
5. Don't count on public infrastructure: Don't rely on
public infrastructure for electric-vehicle charging. Quick chargers
are practically nonexistent, and they take at least 30 minutes for
a full charge. If you can't easily charge at home and/or work,
these and natural-gas cars likely won't serve you well.
6. Clean diesels are truly clean: Diesels used to justify
their dirtiness (sort of) with greater efficiency. Thanks to
cleaner fuel and new technology in the cars, diesel-powered
vehicles are now as clean as their gasoline counterparts, and they
can deliver substantially better mileage.
7. There's another kind of gas: Check out
natural-gas vehicles. Natural gas is the cleanest-burning fuel for
any car with a tailpipe, and in some regions it costs half as much
as gasoline on a per-mile basis.
8. There are hybrid pickup trucks: Hybrids are supposed
to be more efficient, yet hybrid pickup trucks seem incongruous to
many people. If someone's going to buy a pickup, why shouldn't it
be an efficient one? The Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid and GMC Sierra
Hybrid are rated as high as 20/23 mpg city/highway, which might
seem low but is a healthy increase over their gas-only
counterparts.
9. Tax credits aren't cash rebates: There's discussion in
Washington, D.C., about changing
federal green-car tax credits into point-of-sale rebates.
Currently, the credits favor higher-income buyers. In the case of
electric cars, leasing might be an attractive alternative because
the $7,500 tax credit lowers the
lease payments regardless of your income.
10. Buy recycled: Roughly 80 percent of junked vehicles,
by weight, are recycled -- and some are designed with conservation
and even compostability in mind. Ford Motor Co. is among the brands
leading the charge, using soy-based foam in the seat cushions of
many cars, as well as recycled-yarn fabrics and plastic reinforced
with wheat straw.
"Our overall advice is to consider a 'green' car if you're
currently in the market, but recognize that 'green' doesn't always
mean hybrid or electric,' said Wiesenfelder. "If you're not
currently in the market for a new car, making the switch to 'green'
probably won't help you save much green in the long run."
About Cars.com
Cars.com is an award-winning online destination for car
shoppers that offers information from consumers and experts to help
buyers formulate opinions on what to buy, where to buy and how much
to pay for a car. With price listings, side-by-side comparison
tools, photo galleries, videos, unbiased editorial content and a
large selection of new- and used-car inventory, Cars.com puts
millions of car buyers in control of their shopping process with
the information they need to make confident buying decisions.
Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is a
division of Classified Ventures LLC, which is owned by leading
media companies, including Belo (NYSE: BLC), Gannett Co., Inc.
(NYSE: GCI), The McClatchy Company (NYSE: MNI), Tribune Company and
The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).
SOURCE Cars.com