Drivers can save by up to 40% on fuel costs

A local vehicle leasing company has claimed that drivers could be cutting back on their fuel consumption by up to 40%.

BestCarFinder have issued a list of small changes that can have a big impact for people looking to combat rising fuel costs and the credit crunch. The tips are all simple measures that drivers can implement to reap the benefits in the long term and include:

• Aggressive braking increases toxic emissions by more than five times and fuel consumption by as much as 40%. The best way to drive is to accelerate slowly and smoothly, then get into a high gear as quickly as possible. In city driving, nearly 50% of the energy needed to power your car goes to acceleration.
• Increasing your motorway cruising speed from 55mph to 75mph can raise fuel consumption as much as 20%. You can improve your gas mileage 10 - 15% by driving at 55mph rather than 65mph.

• Choose the right gear. Change up through the gears and into top gear as soon as possible without accelerating harder than necessary. Driving in a gear lower than you need wastes fuel; so does letting the engine labour in top gear on hills and corners.
• Under-inflated tyres can cause fuel consumption to increase by as much as 6%. Check tyre pressure at least once a month, when the tyres are 'cold' (i.e. when the vehicle has not been driven for at least three hours or for more than 2 miles)
• Using a vehicle’s air conditioner on a hot summer day can increase fuel consumption as much as 10% in city driving – so use it sparingly. If it’s cool enough, use the flow-through ventilation on your car instead of the air conditioner. At low speeds, opening the window will also save reduce fuel consumption by reducing A/C use. At higher speeds however, using the A/C may be more efficient than the wind resistance from open windows and sunroof.
• Choose the octane fuel which best suits your car. Premium, high-octane fuels aren't necessarily the best choice for your car; higher price doesn't guarantee better performance. In fact, such fuels don't provide any greater fuel efficiency. Many cars are designed to use regular low-octane fuel. Check your owner's manual to see what your car requires.
• Remove bicycle and ski racks when not in use. Excess weight also uses more fuel. Remove unnecessary items from inside the vehicle, trunk or truck bed. An extra 100lbs (48 kg) of weight can increase your fuel bill by 2%.
• Dirty air filters can also cause your engine to run at less than peak efficiency. Regular visual checks of the air filter will tell you if it needs replacing and your owner's manual will also recommend appropriate replacement intervals. Clogged filters can cause up to a 10% increase in fuel consumption.

A Spokesperson said:

“The news at the moment is full of the rising fuel costs. Several supermarkets have recently dropped their prices– costs are still at their highest for some time.

“However, people still need to use their cars and fortunately, there are lots that can be done to help people cut back on fuel consumption.

“By following our tips, people will be able to make a real difference to their weekly petrol bill.”

At a time when fuel prices are on every one minds as well as the cost of road tax and all the other inflationary price rises, talk of pay as you go road usage has been met with guarded opinion.

The Government has reopened discussions on this subject with the view trialling black box technology in 100 vehicles in Leeds, Milton Keynes, Essex and South West London.

In principle, this would mean that drivers would pay on a weekly or monthly basis dependent on their movements which would be tracked by satellite. This concept alone has also been cause for concern.

Want to beat the rising costs of owning a car - consider leasing? Click Here.

LPG is booming according to dealers and LPG fitters.

With Claims of tenfold increases in enquiries, and a quadrupling of sales, while dealers are claiming that LPG cars are guaranteed to sell used.Vehicle auction giant BCA recently reported a groundswell of interest in alternative fuelled vehicles with strong prices being paid at sales.

So what's causing it? Fuel prices. Motorists converting their cars from petrol to LPG can save up to 60p per litre, LPG currently costs 51% less than petrol - and 56% less than diesel. It represents quite a turnaround for the LPG car, which spent a few morose years in the doldrums following the Government's decision to end grants under its PowerShift programme.

LPG is well worth considering and you can either join the rush for the few LPG cars at auctions - or consider converting models yourself, with the help of a specialist. This generally costs £1,800 to customers, but we're sure you can strike a deal with a local convertor (approved, of course; customers are wary of non-approved conversions)."

With over 1400 LPG outlets in the UK now it's even one less excuse not to convert to LPG and don't worry the other common concern associated with this is "what if the LPG runs out?" well it will automatically change over to the petrol/diesel fuel supply.

Subaru Forester LPG Leasing Deals

Afla has announced the arrival of it's new small car the MiTo which aims to compete with other small cars like the Mini. It is a great looking car with looks inspired by the 8C Competitizione supercar withf eatures like a pronounced grille and oval headlights. At the rear, there are bold circular LED taillights that are circled with chrome.Based on the Fiat Grande Punto Platform which is  front wheel drive, so a Fiat influenced platform but very distinctly Alfa on top with the chic bodylines.

Alfa engineers have also equipped the car with a special electronic control system called DNA - Dynamic, Normal and All-Weather. This adjusts the responsiveness of the throttle, steering, brakes and gearbox for sporty, town and slippery conditions. This type of equipment has never been used on such a small car before.

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The MiTo also has the same four turbocharged units shared with Grande Punto and Bravo  which will include a 1.4 T-Jet petrol engine and the stunning 1.9 litre mutlijet diesel, with a more than modest 90-155bhp this should be sporty as well as good looking.

Mito will come in 3 and 5 door versions and there is even talk about a convertible and estate versions.  Making its first public debut at the end of June, the car will be seen officially at the Paris Motor Show in September, and arrive in UK dealers in January priced at around £12,000 which means we should see some of the first leasing deals come late September/Early October

Alfa Romeo Leasing Deals

1. Keep your car well serviced and check the oil level regularly.
Correctly maintained cars can operate more efficiently and help reduce Co2 emissions.
2. Check your tyre pressure every month.
Under-inflated tyres can increase fuel consumption by up to 4%.
3. Remove unnecessary weight from your boot or back seats.
The heavier the car, the harder the engine has to work and the more fuel it consumes.
4. Close your windows, especially at higher speeds, and remove empty roof racks. This will reduce wind resistance and can lower your fuel consumption and Co2 emissions by up to 10%.
5. Use air conditioning only when necessary.
Unnecessary use increases fuel consumption and Co2 emissions by up to 5%.
6. Start driving soon after starting the engine and turn off the engine when stationary for more than a few minutes.
Modern engines enable you to just get in and go, thus reducing fuel consumption.
7. Drive at reasonable speeds and above all, drive smoothly.
Every time you accelerate or brake suddenly, your engine uses more fuel and produces more Co2. Driving at 70 mph on the motorway can help improve mpg by up to 10%.
8. When accelerating, change up gears as early as possible.
Higher gears are more economical in terms of fuel consumption.
9. Try to anticipate traffic flow. Look at the traffic as far ahead as possible in order to avoid unnecessary stopping and starting within the flow of traffic.
10. Consider car sharing for work or leisure.

Billed as the slowest car ever built the Audi R8 is now just over 1 year old and this year there will only 750 built for the UK.

The R8 is built in Neckarsulm in Germany at a rate of 20 per day. So getting hold of this stunning car is incredibly difficult. That said we at BestCarFinder have had ours on order for sometime now and should be expecting it's arrival on the 1st of September ready for the 58 plate!!

As such we have put some great leasing deals together specifically on our own STOCK Audi R8 4.2 Quattro Coupe 2dr.

This is a real rarity for anyone wanting the R8.

To find out more click here

NCAP provides safety star ratings for all cars. The Fiat 500 has been give 5 stars which is exceptional for any small car however as this You Tube video suggests even a 5 star small car still can take a beating from a large 4x4 like the Audi Q7 with a 4 star NCAP rating.

We aren't suggesting that the NCAP ratings are out but what this test does show is that the despite the bigger cars bad reputation at the moment, they are a safer place to be in an accident. The video shows minimal damage to the Q7 whilst the front end of the Fiat 500 was completely destroyed.

It is also worth noting however, that the 5 Star NCAP rated Fiat 500's Driver would have sustained minimum injuries.

Watch the Crash Test Video

See Fiat 500 Leasing Deals

See Audi Q7 Leasing Deals

The MPV market is probably one of the most competitive sectors within the automotive marketplace. However trends over the last couple of years have resulted in a down sizing of this practical vehicle grouping.

In fact as it stands today there are very few 7 Seat or rather 7 adult carrying people carriers. Many have gone for the 5+2 or 6+1 the plus number being an "occasional" seat not big enough for an adult and only a small child.

In essence there are two true 7 seaters left. One of those is the Chrysler Grand Voyager but with price tags at over £27000 and lease rates at £349.00 plsu VAT per month it's not an economical choice for all.

The other unsung hero of this market is the little know Ssangyong Rodius, this is a true 7 seater with the capacity to carry 7 sets of luggage too. Ssangyong have done incredibly well with this product and with prices starting at around £19000 and lease rates at as little as £249.00 this really is a great option for anyone needing that practical 7 seater vehicle.

Find out more about Ssangyong Rodius Car Leasing.

This is a question that often confuses many but really the answer could not be made simpler. Despite although complicated "Accountant" speak websites out there it works like this:

If the vehicle is 100% for the purpose of business use, you can claim 100% of the VAT back on your monthly rental.

If the vehicle is subject any private use you can claim 50% of your VAT back on your monthly rental.

If you are charged any additional services such as maintenance you can claim 100% of the VAT in both instances.

To find out more about lease deals click here.

Audi continues to go from strength to strength. The cars better and the range continue to grow. Mondeo man wants to upgrade and BMW and Mercedes drivers alike have turned coat and opted for the "other" German marque.

Audi is no budget car range but the one place it really is trying to save you money is on your fuel and tax bills. Take the Audi A4, the 2.0 TDI engine gives over 54 miles to the gallon combined with a Co2 Emission of circa 134g/km.

This is all combined with stunning performance from a 143ps engine. How many cars can your truly say offer performance, economy, green thinking as well as a prestige badge. Not many!!

Audi also is subject to some of the strongest residual values in the market place. Which means with the average Audi being worth 10-20% more after three years. Owners enjoy strong change over figures and those who lease exceptional rates.

As an example based on a 3 Year 10000 miles per annum contract hire, The average BMW 3 Series driver will pay £350 plus VAT per month an A4 driver could pay £285 plus VAT. The average BMW 1 series driver would pay £275.00 plus VAT per month and the A3 driver would pay £210.00.

See Audi Leasing Deals.