Whether it’s pre-owned or brand-new, buying a car can be pretty expensive. Unfortunately, the expenditures do not stop as you drive out of your Dodge dealership in El Paso, TX–indeed, the actual expenses only start from there. You need to allocate a significant chunk of your budget on car necessities like insurance, gas money, and sudden repairs, among others.
With the New Year coming up, you might want to find ways to reduce your driving expenses and increase your savings. Your trusted Dodge dealership points out that it is still possible to save money if you follow these safe driving habits.
Drive conservatively.
Though driving at breakneck speeds seems fun and gets your adrenaline pumping, it also needlessly wastes gas. According to car experts, aggressive acceleration can increase a vehicle’s fuel consumption by 25%. In addition, driving fast can make your tires and brakes wear more quickly.
Moreover, driving fast may not necessarily take you to your destination more quickly. Consider driving on a highway. Going at 100mph on a 25-mile stretch may take you 15 minutes while moving at 120mph takes about 12 minutes without any traffic. That’s just three minutes saved and, considering that you are putting your life (and driver’s license) at risk by flaunting the speed limit, is it worth it?
Learn to accelerate and decelerate gently. As a rule of thumb, it should take about five seconds to increase or decrease your vehicle’s speed. Just imagine driving with an open cup of hot coffee and needing to drive without spilling a drop–that’s how you should drive.
Remove excess “fat” from your vehicle.
If you are hauling heavy loads and cargo all the time, you would notice that your fuel efficiency is lower than expected. That’s because the extra weight creates aerodynamic drag, which leads to an inevitable increase in fuel consumption. The best thing to do is to check your trunk and remove unnecessary cargo that weighs your car down.
If you have a roof rack or similar add-ons, you should also consider removing them too. Research showed that roof racks alone are responsible for reducing fuel efficiency by up to 25%.
Don’t forget to send your car for regular checkups.
As the adage goes, prevention is far better than cure. Performing routine car maintenance ensures that your vehicle runs in peak performance every time you’re on the road. It also allows you to check worn parts, which can cause further damage if not replaced immediately. Even a simple oil change can boost your fuel efficiency up to 4%.
Also, don’t forget to regularly check your tires’ condition. Over- and under-inflation can also reduce your fuel efficiency. Tires that are not properly inflated are more prone to wear and tear, which means you’ll need to replace them more frequently. So, aside from wasting fuel, you’ll be shelling out for expensive new tires a lot earlier than expected.
Want to know more money-saving driving tips? Check out Viva CDJRF for more helpful tips and know how you can get the most out of your vehicle.
