by Alex Samson

Created on: February 04, 2009

Driving expenses vary from vehicle to vehicle. No matter what we drive, the main issue for most drivers when they consider driving expenses is fuel consumption, probably because this is the expense that affects them day to day.

Most car manufacturers advertise fuel consumption rates in their manuals, but these are usually extremely generous and taken under optimal conditions that the average driver would struggle to find on the average drive into work dry weather, straight road with a perfectly level top, and no traffic.

So, given that stated fuel consumption rates are pie in the sky, what can the average driver to get more miles for his bucks? In the short time that I've been driving I've learned a few tips and tricks that have made a surprising difference to my driving expenses: maintain a good gap to the car in front; use a light foot on the gas; switch the air conditioning on and shut the windows.

Gaps. Put simply, the more you brake the more you have to speed up again, often switching down through the gear box in the process. High revs in low gear costs fuel and money. By maintaining a good gap of over 2 seconds you increase reaction time and stopping distance. Therefore, if the car in front slows suddenly you can simply let off the gas a bit instead of slamming on the brake. Trouble is, how many of us drive close enough to the car in front to be able to see the other driver's eyes in their rear view? Too many probably.

Light foot. Where's the rush? 5 10 mph won't make much difference to your arrival time, but it could potentially make a massive difference to your wallet. Plus you'll arrive at your destination calm and in better spirits than if you rush. Studies from a couple of years ago showed that driving at excessive speed induced similar stress levels to those experienced by a person fleeing from a dangerous situation. If you slow down, you calm down, and your costs go down.

The air-con conundrum. This is a topic that has been discussed to death on various web sites and in various papers, so I won't bore you with the fine detail. Suffice it to say that most modern cars are designed to within an inch of their aerodynamic lives. They are built to cut efficiently through the air with the least resistance. Open a window and your create serious disruption of air flow. Disruption equals drag, and this has proven to have a heavier impact on fuel consumption than switching on the air conditioning.

Ultimately, whether you drive a Dodge Ram or a Toyota IQ, it is possible to get more miles for your dollar or pound, but it comes down to driving carefully and with a bit more thought. Next time you're tempted to put your foot down, ask yourself this: what's more important, arriving ten minutes early or arriving with ten extra dollars in your pocket?

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