| Looking to buy a new car this year? You may | | | | A less extreme version of the G-Wiz is the |
| have your heart set on a particular make or | | | | Toyota Prius, a hybrid electric vehicle which |
| model and you might have explored the new and | | | | predominately runs off petrol, but uses electric |
| second hand car prices on the internet and have | | | | power at low speeds and recharges the batteries |
| decided that you can afford to purchase the car | | | | at faster speeds. The Prius can do around 65 |
| of your dreams, but a question you have to ask | | | | mpg making it an extremely economical car to |
| yourself is can you afford to run it? | | | | drive. |
| Previously you may have asked yourself this | | | | 5. Large Cars For the Family and Dog. If you're |
| question in passing and not really given it any real | | | | single and want to save money on your car |
| thought, but with the changes in Vehicle Excise | | | | running costs or do your bit for the environment |
| Duty in 2009 and spiraling fuel and maintenance | | | | then you have a lot more options than families |
| costs, coupled with the Credit Crunch and the | | | | who need a larger vehicle to fit everyone in. |
| through of recession for the next few years then | | | | Whilst smaller cars are more likely to be |
| running costs become much more important, | | | | economical there are some larger vehicles out |
| therefore compromising and picking a car that | | | | there which have been designed with both space |
| you not only like, but will save you money in the | | | | and economy in mind. Take the Ford Focus |
| long run is a sensible thing to do. | | | | C-Max 1.6 TDCI LX- a MPV which has been |
| What about the changes in Vehicle Excise Duty? | | | | designed to give plenty of room inside. This is a |
| Now cars are classed by how much Carbon | | | | five seat car which boasts a 1620 litre boot space |
| Dioxide they emit, therefore more | | | | and a top speed of 115mph. With fairly low |
| environmentally friendly cars will be charged less | | | | emissions, helping to save money on Vehicle |
| Vehicle Excise Duty than more polluting vehicles. | | | | Excise Duty and decent economy with 58mpg |
| At the time of writing the least polluting cars will | | | | this vehicle is a good bet for a family looking to |
| be exempt from paying tax at all, where as the | | | | save money. |
| most polluting cars (class M) such as large, big | | | | 6. Sports Performance in a 'Green Car'. |
| engined 4x4 vehicles will have to pay £440 | | | | Traditionally being green means that you also |
| per year. Come 2010-11 then this cost increases | | | | have to sacrifice something. However car |
| further to £455 per year. | | | | manufacturers being aware of this have been |
| If you're looking to purchase a brand new car, | | | | trying to come up with a compromise- a car with |
| then there will be another shock for your wallet | | | | good performance, yet can also give a decent |
| and it has been dubbed the 'showroom tax.' If | | | | MPG return. For example the Honda Accord 2.2 |
| you're looking to drive that Class M car out of the | | | | I-CTDI Sport is one of these cars with 52.3 MPG |
| showroom, you'll also have to face a bill for a one | | | | and a top speed of 129 miles per hour, a great |
| off 'showroom tax' payment of £950. | | | | combination of efficiency and performance that |
| To help you pick the right car in this current | | | | can meet all your expectations. |
| environmental and financial climate we've compiled | | | | 7. Buy a Classic Car. If you're scared that you'll |
| a top ten list of cars and car related schemes to | | | | loose a lot of money on the value of your car |
| consider that could save you money. | | | | then buying a classic car may be the best option |
| 1. Buy a Small Family Hatchback. Small family | | | | for you. Try to avoid fashion trends such as the |
| hatchbacks are generally more economical to run | | | | one for VW Beetles and Camper Vans which |
| and are usually big enough to meet most people's | | | | inflate the cost of these vehicles short term for |
| needs. For example the VW Polo Bluemotion 1.4 | | | | them to only crash at a later date. Instead pick a |
| Tdi is an economical runabout which falls into the | | | | car that pure enthusiasts hanker after, as most |
| Group A tax band. Not only do you not have to | | | | classic cars tend to hold their value, or indeed |
| pay any tax on this vehicle, you can also avoid | | | | increase over time as long as they are looked |
| paying the showroom tax as this diesel car is so | | | | after. Maintenance costs are likely to be much |
| economical it is exempt. This car also boasts | | | | higher with a classic vehicle and they may not be |
| around 70mpg which makes it super cheap to run. | | | | the most economical on the market, but for pure |
| 2. Buy a Diesel. When it comes to economical | | | | return on investment if you pick the right vehicle |
| cars, vehicles with diesel engines are first to spring | | | | then you will likely get your money back when |
| to most people's minds. Whilst historically this was | | | | you come to sell the car. |
| typically true, with the cost of diesel at the pump | | | | 8. Car Sharing Schemes. Those looking to save |
| increasingly outstripping the cost of petrol, buying | | | | money on their everyday running costs of their |
| a diesel may not be the best way to save | | | | cars could consider car sharing schemes. Basically |
| money. For drivers who typically need to drive a | | | | car sharing schemes are set up for people to |
| lot of miles each year then a diesel will still be | | | | take turns when they drive, saving themselves |
| more cost effective than its petrol equivalent. | | | | money on fuel, plus gaining the benefit that they |
| However if you do not drive many miles then this | | | | do not have to drive all the time! There are |
| may not be true. You'll need to do the maths | | | | plenty of car sharing schemes out there, such as |
| before you take the plunge in buying a diesel car. | | | | ones set up for parents doing the school run to a |
| On the plus side, the miles to the gallon of a diesel | | | | scheme for members of the Met Police Force in |
| vehicle is typically much higher than petrol cars, so | | | | London. Explore the options in your local area and |
| you will at the very least be doing more for the | | | | you may find that car sharing is a great way to |
| environment. Diesel vehicles are also typically | | | | save money. Perhaps if you want to get even |
| classed into a lower tax band saving money on | | | | more involved you could consider setting up your |
| Vehicle Excise Duty. | | | | very own scheme. |
| 3. Bi-Fuel Cars. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a | | | | 9. Time Share Cars. You've heard all about time |
| method of running a car or van is becoming a | | | | share villas in the Costa del Sol, but you don't |
| popular way of running a vehicle more | | | | necessary have to be scared of time share car |
| environmentally friendly and economically. Although | | | | schemes. These schemes can range from clubs |
| you can buy a bi-fuel car from new many people | | | | where you get a share of a Ferrari or Bentley to |
| pay to convert their current car to support LPG. | | | | drive at the weekend every so often, to |
| The cost to convert a car is typically around | | | | pay-as-you-go car schemes where you can join a |
| £1500 and a real saving of around 30% on | | | | club, and simply book a run-around for as long as |
| fuel costs can be made with each fill up at the | | | | you want from an hour to a day. For those who |
| pumps. Finding a petrol station that sells LPG may | | | | tend to use public transport predominately and |
| be one of the more difficult aspects of owning a | | | | can't really justify owning a car then a |
| LPG vehicle, with at least 10% of forecourts now | | | | pay-as-you-go scheme may be the perfect way |
| stocking this alternate fuel type. | | | | of having access to a car without having to pay |
| 4. Electric Cars. - For many years electric cars | | | | expensive rental costs. Live in a city and fancy a |
| have been pitched as the salvation to spiralling fuel | | | | country jaunt once a month? No problem, book a |
| costs and saving the environment from car | | | | car online and pick it up, swipe your membership |
| pollution. Unfortunately in reality the electric vehicle | | | | card on the dashboard and you're away! Generally |
| hasn't really lived up to the hype, with slow | | | | fuel costs (up to a point) are included and |
| vehicles and short battery life limiting range. There | | | | insurance is also taken car of. |
| are a few vehicles on the market which may be | | | | 10. Car Finance Packages. In the current economic |
| suitable depending on your circumstances. If you | | | | climate taking out a car finance package makes |
| live in the centre of a large capital city such as | | | | perfect sense as you can split your payments |
| London then a vehicle like the G-Wiz may be the | | | | over many months allowing you to fully budget |
| right vehicle for you. Owning a G-Wiz in London | | | | for your vehicle. If you are considering buying a |
| could make perfect sense as they are exempt | | | | car in cash over a forecourt you may be |
| from paying parking charges in Westminster, do | | | | concerned about the recession and redundancy. |
| not have to pay the Central London Congestion | | | | Having a nest egg in the bank can help provide |
| Charge and are free from both road tax and | | | | comfort and piece of mind. Spending that nest |
| petrol costs. However there are some catches. | | | | egg in the current climate may not be the most |
| The G-Wiz is a tiny vehicle and feels very | | | | sensible thing to do therefore buying a car on a |
| cramped inside. The car has a top speed of 50-60 | | | | car finance scheme can be the smart move. Also |
| miles per hour, which may not be the end of the | | | | you will likely be able to afford a better car on |
| world in a city where traffic barely moves faster | | | | finance than you might if you were to buy a car |
| than a snail pace. Another limiting factor is that | | | | outright. The newer the car the more likely your |
| the range of the vehicle is just 70 miles and it | | | | maintenance costs will be reduced, again saving |
| takes a while to recharge the batteries, which is | | | | you money in the long run. |
| not quite as simple as filling up at a petrol station! | | | | |