Automobile | Next Generation of Transportation

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It can be a hassle when you need to buy a new car. Sometimes buying a new car is an emergency, while other times it simply serves as a luxury. No matter what your situation is, here are a few tips to help you out when buying a car.

Consider Your Needs

It can be nice to dream of buying a brand new luxury vehicle, but you will have to consider what you really need. It is important to set a budget to begin with. Think about how much money you have to spend or what you can get in a loan. If your available price is high, you don’t necessarily need to spend it all on a car. Think about what you need in a car, and how much you really need to pay for it.

Research

Once you have listed your needs, research different types of vehicles so you have a good idea of what you’re looking for. For example, if you have a large family, stay away from five passenger vehicles, but look at mini vans instead. Then research different types of mini vans and what they have to offer.

Visit Multiple Car Dealerships

You may have the perfect idea of the model of car you want to buy, but visiting different dealerships can give you a better idea by giving you the chance to see different cars close up. Most dealerships also allow you to take vehicles for a test run, so you can get a feel for the type of car you want as well as experience others.

How to Calculate Gas Mileage

A mechanical odometer with trip meter below.

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If it seems like you’re paying too much for gas, you may be wondering what type of gas mileage your car gets. The more miles you use on a tank of gas, the cheaper gas will be for you. If you’re not quite sure how to calculate your mileage, follow these simple steps.

Fill Up and Set Your Trip Odometer

To figure out your average gas mileage, you will have to drive around to get a specific record for your car. Begin by filling your tank to the top and then set your trip odometer. Setting your odometer will help you get an accurate distance traveled that you will use to figure out your mileage, so it’s important to set it before you even pull out of the gas station. It is also important to fill the tank completely to get the right number for the next step.

Drive and Fill the Tank

This step can take several days to complete because you will need to drive several hundred miles to get the most accurate estimate. Don’t go out of your way to drive; simply go about your normal tasks. Once your trip odometer gets into the two or three hundreds, fill the tank completely again. This will give you the amount of gas that was used since you last filled up. You can find this number on the gas pump by reading how many gallons you just purchased.

Do the Math

Your mileage is going to equal the distance traveled divided by the amount of gas you used. So, take the number on the trip odometer and divide it by how many gallons you just bought. This will give you a very close estimate to how well your gas mileage is.

Buying a Car