Canada: Find Cheap Gas- When it comes to finding affordable gas in your area one place has all the info you need. I am sure you have heard of Gasbuddy even if only in conversation. Basically it is a website where users update the prices for gas at certain places. The good thing about that is that you can then enter your postcode and hopefully find the cheapest current gas price in your locality. Awesome, eh? Well did you know that the websites and accompanying smartphone app is available for Canada too?

Canada: Find Cheap Gas, Use Gasbuddy

Gasbuddy Canada

The two options you have are to go the the website GasBuddy.com or download the app for your iPhone, Android phone, Windows phone or Blackberry.

In both instances you can type in your locality in the search and immediately find the latest user data for the cheapest prices near you.

As an example, at the time of writing, if I write in Montreal, Quebec here are the top 5 lowest prices for regular gas.

On the website you can also find current average gas prices by province. All this information is also available for the USA. Here are the current average provincial prices at the time of writing.

Province	Price	Change	Trend
Alberta	109.538	+0.073
Manitoba	117.978	+0.202
Saskatchewan	119.749	+0.599
Ontario	127.039	-0.070
PEI	128.350	+0.477
British Columbia	132.056	+0.881
New Brunswick	133.904	+0.510
Quebec	137.425	+4.912
Nova Scotia	137.617	+0.026
Northwest Territories	138.900	0.000
Newfoundland	141.500	+1.427

I love these kinds of sites and applications as they enable the users to crowdsource data to help each other and save money. Gasbuddy have a great thing going and although it is a simple site it provides a lot of useful information.

Do you use GasBuddy in Canada or USA?

Related: Gas Prices Drop

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Gas Price Forecast Summer 2012 – The forecast for gas prices summer 2012 are not looking particularly promising. Many experts around the world are saying that considering current trends, the price per gallon road-trippers may be looking at is a frightening $5 a gallon.

This excerpt is taken from a USA Today article published on 2/26/12:

“As USA TODAY’s Gary Strauss reported Friday, the national average is up in recent weeks and more drivers than ever before could soon be paying $5 a gallon. Strauss reported that both coasts are seeking soaring price tags – an average of $4.20-per-gallon in California and $3.91 in New York.

In fact, analysts warn the upcoming season for gas prices could be record-breaking, the News reports.“

Gas Price Forecast Summer 2012

Petroleum experts are pointing to several factors as to why gas prices are on the rise.  Tensions with Iran, growing gas demands in Asia and South America and natural disasters are just a few many believe will make this summer an expensive one.

My roommate was showing me her yearbook the other day and in it was recorded how much gasoline was in 2004. $1.54 per gallon. Sigh. Remember those days?

Most of us are more curious than ever about how fuel prices are set simply because they have been astronomical in the past few years. Perhaps these sky-high prices are a good thing– more people are demanding to know why they must pay them and starting to wonder if there are any better economical (and subsequently environmental) options available.

You should always be looking for a more efficient, eco-friendly alternative to transportation. For many of us, this isn’t an option quite yet but hopefully they will be soon.

The very basic breakdown what sets fuel prices in Canada is as follows:

Crude Oil – The cost per barrel set by the world’s oil-exporting nations. Right now it’s over $100 a barrel.

Refining Costs – It costs a lot of money to refine diesel oil compared to regular gasoline, but both processes are factored into the final price.

Distribution and Marketing – Transportation of the fuel and the company’s efforts to market it.

Taxes – Like everything, oil has taxes on it.

Station Markup – Gasoline stations also need to make a profit, so their price is also factored in.

Other factors that affect gasoline prices:  geopolitical reasons– including weather, wars, strikes, the economy, etc.

If you’re not happy with the price of fuel, remember that there are plenty of more economical, environmentally friendly ways of getting about that include car pooling, cycling and public transportation.

Gas Price Forecast Summer 2012

Related: Most Fuel-Efficient Cars

Gas Price Forecast Summer 2012

Save Gas in Winter – Winter can be particularly hard on a vehicle and your gas usage may not exactly be optimal. Of course the standard gas saving tips apply but there are a few extra small things that may help.

Save Gas in Winter

Save Gas in Winter

So what things are extra important in winter and what things additional can you do to save gas? Lets take a look.

Keep your vehicle perfectly maintained – You may be able to be a little sloppy in warmer months but servicing and replacing worn parts is essential for good winter running. The more tuned your vehicle is the more efficient it will run.

Check the tires regularly – The tires should be the right ones for your conditions and the treads should meet suggested guidelines. If they don’t then they need replacing.

If you have an indoor space, use it, park indoors whenever possible! – If you can keep your vehicle at room or nearer room temperature for times when you need to start it then it is important that you do. The air conditioning will warm up quicker, you won’t have to idle and the engine will have less wear trying to start from cold.

Hop on public transport for short journeys – If you can leave the car in it may be worthwhile. Starting the car and putting stress on the engine for a short drive just may not be worth the stain and the extra gas.

Fill the engine up fully and don’t refill until you have a quarter of a tank left – Instead of filling a bit here and a bit there it is better to get into a routine of filling up and burning down. This means you can use a site or app like Gasbuddy to find cheap gas and you won’t waste gas driving all over the place for partial fills.

Wear warm clothing so you can have the air-con a few degrees cooler – Don’t sit there pretending it is summer. Wrap up and don’t heat the inside of your vehicle quite as much as you may have been.

What other tips do you have to Save Gas in Winter? - Do you have any great tips that no one else uses or are there any obvious things that I missed?

Related: How to get your car ready for winter checklist

Thanks for reading, I look forward to your thoughts.

NRCan Fuel Consumption Guide – When looking to get a new or used vehicle it is quite a mine field trying to work out which one to get. Obviously fuel economy in this expensive fuel world is a huge factor and thanks to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Transport Canada (TC).

NRCan Fuel Consumption Guide

NRCan Fuel Consumption Guide

So, the guide is pretty comprehensive for vehicles sold in Canada and has been produced with help from the manufacturers. They give city and highway measurements and have included some handy sums for you to work out km to miles conversions, yearly costs and fuel price upscaling and down scaling depending on the current prices of fuel.

The numbers are never exact but to come up with theirs they did the following:

Simulated city course

The city test simulates a 12-km, stop-and-go trip with an average speed
of 32 km/hour (km/h) and a top speed of 91 km/h. The test runs for
23 minutes and includes 18 stops. About four minutes of test time are
spent idling, to represent waiting at traffic lights. The test begins from a
cold engine start, which is similar to starting a vehicle after it has been
parked overnight during the summer. When the test is completed, the
test cycle starts again with a hot engine start, and the first eight minutes
of the test are repeated. This simulates restarting a vehicle after it has
been warmed up, driven and then stopped for a short time

Simulated highway course

The highway test simulates a 16-km trip with an average speed of
77 km/h and a top speed of 97 km/h. The test runs for 13 minutes
and does not include any stops. However, the speed varies to simulate
different kinds of highway and rural roads. The test begins from a
hot engine start.

Fuel consumption values from these test cycles are calculated from
the emissions generated. The fuel consumption ratings, shown in
the Guide, are generated based on fuel consumption values from the
laboratory testing and are averaged based on Canadian production
volumes. They are then adjusted, using Canadian factors, to reflect
real-world driving conditions

So what cars came up the best according to the guide?

Winners for 2011

Cars
Two-seater – Honda CR-Z
Subcompact – Ford Fiesta SFE
Compact – Honda Civic Hybrid
Mid-size – Toyota Prius
Full-size -Honda Accord Sedan
Full-size – Hyundai Sonata
Station wagon - Audi A3 TDI Clean Diesel
Station wagon - Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI Clean Diesel

Light trucks
Pickup truck – Toyota Tacoma
Special purpose vehicle – Ford Escape Hybrid
Minivan – Toyota Sienna
Large van - Chevrolet Express Car

The guide is free to download as a PDF and pretty much a must for anyone looking at a variety of cars and considering the environment, energy saving and economy.

Download it here: FUEL CONSUMPTION GUIDE 2011 GUIDE DE CONSOMMATION DE CARBURAN

Related reading: Saving on Car Expenses – The Easy Way

Worst Cars For Gas Mileage, Is Your Ride a Gas Guzzler? - These days fuel efficiency means a lot when purchasing a car. With gasoline prices averaging $4 a gallon nationwide and predictions to rise to $5 dollars a gallon in 2012, it’s become increasingly difficult for budget conscious individuals to drive. What’s more, owning a car with a poor miles-per-gallon (mpg) rate is not only expensive—it is thought to be harmful to the environment.

Determining whether or not you drive a gas guzzler can be difficult, but in these times of inflated fuel prices and environmental fragility, more important than ever!

Here are some tips to help you decide whether or not your car is fuel efficient.

Cars with Worst Gas Mileage: Is Your Ride a Gas Guzzler?

Worst Cars For Gas Mileage

On average, the bigger the car the less fuel efficient it is. Sedans and compacts are normally considered the most fuel efficient types of cars, while SUVs, trucks and vans consume more gasoline. Beyond size, however, determining whether or not your car is a guzzler is based on its mpg rates.

If you’re not sure how much gasoline your car consumes, check out MPGBuddy.com. This website allows you to plug in your car’s make, model and year and gives you its City mpg and Highway mpg.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the car with the best mpg rate in 2011 is the Toyota Prius driving 51 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway. The car with the worst gas mileage ranking went to the Bugatti Veyron, which averaged 8 mpg in the city and 15 mpg on the highway.

The most fuel efficient cars, including the Honda CR-Z, Mini Cooper, Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris, and Volkswagen Golf, averaged around 30mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. As a rule of thumb, any car that is close to these mpg rates is considered fuel efficient.

A car that gets significantly less miles to the gallon, however, is not considered fuel efficient. Anything that gets 20 mpg in the city or less and 25 mpg or less on the highway is a definite gas guzzler.

If you’re unsure where your car ranks, visit Fueleconomy.gov, a government website set up by the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency to help drivers determine how fuel efficient their car is. Not only will the site help you calculate your annual fuel expenses, it will also determine your carbon footprint and tell you (literally!) whether or not your car is considered by government standards to be a gas guzzler.

Find out today whether or not your car is a guzzler. The sooner you know, the sooner you can start making changes in your life to either work to improve gas mileage or begin considering and saving for a new, more fuel efficient car. Not only will you be saving money, but you’ll be doing the environment a huge favor by decreasing your carbon emissions.

Related: When to Switch to a Hybrid

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Deciding when to switch to a hybrid car is a personal decision. No matter what people argue on either side, only you will know when it’s truly the right time. I say this because at the end of the day, hybrids can be expensive– or at least, more expensive than regular cars.

When to Switch to a Hybrid

I am a huge fan of hybrid and electric cars. I personally think that they are fantastic ways to dramatically decrease your carbon footprint. Nowadays being environmentally responsible can make a huge impact on the future. In a lot of ways hybrid and electric cars can save you money– with both with gas savings and as government tax deductibles. However, they can be more expensive in sticker price, to repair and to replace their battery (which has a limited lifespan).

The difference that hybrid cars offer in gas savings isn’t necessarily dramatic enough to make it an incentive to buy. You will definitely save on gas money– but not enough in the car’s lifetime to greatly overshadow other hybrid costs. At the end of the day you might save a little money buy purchasing a hybrid.

So, with this in mind, the right time to switch to a hybrid is when you’re financially ready. If you’re on a tight budget and living paycheck-to-paycheck I would not recommend making the switch. If anything were to happen to your hybrid it could be incredibly expensive to repair. This might be why so many celebrities drive Prius’– they’ve got enough cash to never have to worry about the extra costs that come with hybrids.

When to Switch to a Hybrid

Beyond being financially ready to make the switch to a hybrid, you’ve got to be mentally ready. Are you switching for the right reasons? Ultimately you should be willing to make big, environmentally positive changes in your life. The hybrid should be just a fraction of the overall commitment you’re making to lowering  your carbon footprint. If this is not the case, and you’re just switching because it’s fashionable, you might end up resenting your decision. Also, getting a hybrid car should be part of an overall lifestyle change to being more environmentally aware.

At the end of the day, hybrid cars are better for the environment. If you’re thinking about switching, make sure you can financially do so and that it’s part of a lifestyle change that will reach all corners of your life.

When to Switch to a Hybrid

Recent: Celebs that drive Prius

When to Switch to a Hybrid

Celebs That Drive a Prius

The Toyota Prius has gotten a lot of attention from the media since its debut in the automotive world, especially considering that there are many famous “celebs” that drive them. The hybrid car has been somewhat of a controversial issue on FZ– I’ve often written about its affordability only to be met with some arguments on the contrary.

I think at the end of the day, people who have argued against my claim that the hybrid is more frugal are correct. Yes– there are plenty of hybrid cars that are relatively affordable in sticker price (less than $30K) and there are government incentives (tax deductions) and obviously drivers won’t have to pay for as much in fuel. However, hybrids aren’t the cheapest cars as a whole– they’re still more expensive to purchase than regular cars and there’s the issue of the multi-thousand dollar battery replacement that inevitably happen after 7 years or so.

Celebs That Drive a Prius

So, yeah, hybrids aren’t necessarily more affordable than regular cars. Which is why many celebrities can enjoy driving them. Let’s take a look at some of the celebs out there who enjoy driving their Prius around Hollywood.

Larry David – The writer/producer/actor/comedian who’s best known for his smash television hits Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm can be seen driving a Prius around town. Maybe because he was married to an environmental activist for all those years.

Will Ferrell – The funnyman is a huge fan of his Prius.

Jennifer Aniston – This actress gave up her Range Rover a few years back in exchange for a more fuel efficient Prius.

Cameron Diaz – The actress is very vocal about driving green and has declared that she loves getting 50 miles to the gallon.

Leonardo DiCaprio – A big environmental advocate, the actor was one of the first to celebs to adopt the Prius.

Other stars seen driving Prius’ around tinsel town: Dustin Hoffman, Miley Cyrus, Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts, and Demi Moore.

Celebs That Drive a Prius

It’s very fashionable to be green right now. Hopefully it will always be fashionable to be green! I hate the idea of the environment ever not being taken seriously ever again. I guess that many celebrities can afford to drive hybrids, and it’s good that they do– many fans  want to emulate their decision to do so.

Related: Best Hybrid Cars 2012

Celebs That Drive a Prius

Do It Yourself Car Repairs

One of the easiest ways to save money is to do as many of your car repairs that you possibly can on your own. This will help you to save money on the labor costs that are often associated with having your car repaired by a professional. When taking your car in for repair there is more times than not going to be multiple things that need to be taken care of rather than just the single repair you brought your car in for.

Do It Yourself Car Repairs

Here are a few small things to get you started:

Changing your wipers

Changing your windshield wipers is one of the easiest repairs you could do and could save you on the labor it would have cost to have a professional do. The first thing you would need to do it find out what size wipers you need for your car and then find out what would be the best type of wiper for your particular area, and the type of weather you regularly deal with. After you have figured out which type of wiper would be best, you then have to install the wiper which could be as easy as snapping the old ones out and snapping the new ones in. You can also save much money by shopping around online for your replacement wipers, rather than going to a local auto parts store which would carry a higher markup on the wipers.

Clean your battery connection points

This is very easy to do and could save you a lot of money in the long run. Over time residue develops on your battery post and needs to be cleaned off. If this residue is not removed it could affect your cars ability to start and the effectiveness of your battery. To do this all you need is a post cleaner and clean them regularly.
If you do as many car repairs that you can on your own you could very well save yourself hundreds of dollars a year in labor fees.

Of course there is an endless amount of other things you can do.

Please take the time to leave any comments, ideas or thoughts you have.

Related: Saving on Car Expenses – The Easy Way

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How To Warm Up Car Properly

The chill is definitely coming up here in Montreal, although a warm spell has been passing through! However full on Winter is going to hit very soon and that means lots of people’s cars idling in driveways “warming up” for the morning commute.

The problem is, many now agree, that idling is not good for your cars fuel economy, wear and other things. It’s also just not needed anymore and in some places may even be illegal! So how should you be warming up your vehicle?

How To Warm Up Your Car Properly

How To Warm Up Your Car Properly

You probably don’t want to hear this if it’s super cold but the best way to warm up your car takes less than a minute before you drive off. That means a shivery start if the aircon doesn’t kick in super fast! Most modern engines are advanced enough that they more or less do fine from a cold start.

Here is a good regime for starting / warming your car up in the morning.

1. Get in the car, turn the ignition on, dont start the engine yet.
2. Listen for the fuel pump priming the engine, should take 3-5seconds
3. Start the car
4. Idle for 10-20 seconds at most
5. Slowly ease off your drive / parking spot and ease into your drive

Why idling is bad?

I won”t go into the full details but it’s generally it’s considered that idling wastes fuel, puts wear on the car and is bad for the environment. Many places have ut in a law now saying that idling for more than one minute is illegal and Edf.org put a huge PDF in 2009 entitled “The Health, Environmental And Economic Impacts Of Engine Idling In New York City“.

Here is a small excerpt from the PDF related to questions asked about idling and warming up your car.

Driving smart: FAQs about idling

Q: Do car engines need time to warm up during the winter?
A: Today’s electronic engines do not need idling to warm up before being operated. The
best way to warm the engine is by easing into your drive and avoiding excessive revving.
The vehicle’s engine warms twice as quickly if driven instead of idled. Easing a vehicle
into a drive will also speed up warming or cooling of the cabin’s interior.

Q: Does stopping and restarting an engine burn more fuel than idling?
A: No. Engine studies have shown that idling for more than approximately ten seconds
burns more fuel than stopping and restarting (Emissions Research and Measurement
Division, Environment Canada, 2000). An idling large diesel truck will burn
approximately a gallon of fuel an hour (U.S. EPA, EPA420-B-04-001, 2004).

Q: Are frequent restarts hard on the car’s engine and battery?
A: Whereas batteries in the past may have faced a relatively short lifespan, today’s
batteries last longer, use less power during ignition and recharge more quickly. A
definitive study found that battery and starter wear costs about 1-2¢ per restart (Office of
Energy Efficiency, Natural Resources Canada, 2003). Thus an additional 2 restarts daily
would cost an extra $10 per year. This can be compared to the fuel wasted by an idling
New York City vehicle, which can cost up to $44-$392 per year depending on fuel prices,
idling habits and vehicle type

So the bottom line is don’t leave the car warming up in the driveway (I know it’s cold to just get into but we can live with that!). Do you have anything to add about warming up a car? Is there a case for idling older engines or larger vehicles such as trucks? Are you going to adopt a quicker morning start (for your car )?

Related: Saving on Car Expenses – The Easy Way

Thanks for reading - How To Warm Up Car Properly

Cars That Cost The Most To Insure

The price of your car insurance depends on many difference factors, but the make and model is the cornerstone of any annual premium. You may be able to justify the sticker price, but if you don’t consider how much it’s going to cost you in insurance each year, then you might be lying to yourself about just how affordable  your new vehicle is.

The price of your car insurance is determined by the following factors:

- Geography: your zip code has a pretty big impact on  your annual premium.

- Mileage Driven: people who drive more miles a year will have to pay more

- Insurance Company Terms & Conditions

- Demographics : your marital status, education attainment, and profession

- Age

- Credit Rating

- Type of Vehicle:

This is what we’ll be looking at in greater depth in this article. How expensive your vehicle is, it’s age and its safety rating all play a part in how much it costs to insure.

Cars That Cost The Most To Insure

Generally speaking, pricey cars are more expensive to insure than affordable rides. You’ll see this in the list below.

According to Blogs.cars the following are the most expensive cars to insure in 2011:

#1 Mercedes SL65 AMG – National average annual premium of: $3,543.81

#2 BMW 750i – National average annual premium of:  $3,280.70

#3 BMW 750Li – National average annual premium of: $3,280.70/year

#4 Mercedes SL63 – National average annual premium of: $3,263. 46

#5 Aston Martin DB9 – National average annual premium of: $3,120.45

#6 Mercedes CL600 – National average annual premium of: $3,114.28

#7 Porshe 911 Carrera S – National average annual premium of: $3,092.31

#8 Aston Martin DB9 Volante – National average annual premium of: $3,088.96

#9 Mercedes G55 AMG – National average annual premium of: $3,086.49

#10 Mercedes CL65 AMG – National average annual premium of: $3,063.73

Now, on the other side of the spectrum… the ten cheapest cars to insure!

#1 Chrysler Town and Country – National average annual premium of: $1,091.80

#2 Toyota Sienna – National average annual premium of: $1,100.66

#3 Toyota Sienna LE – National average annual premium of: $1,107.70

#4 Honda Odyssey LX – National average annual premium of: $1,114.62

#5 Nissan Murano SL – National average annual premium of: $1,127.89

#6 Wrangler Unlimited Sport – National average annual premium of: $1,131.27

#7 Honda Odyssey EX – National average annual premium of: $1,138.16

#8 Toyota Sienna – National average annual premium of: $1,142.94

#9 Ford Escape XLS – National average annual premium of: $1,150.26

#10 Toyota Highlander – National average annual premium of: $1,154.02

Cars That Cost The Most To Insure

You can see how drastically different luxury are to insurance compared to family vehicles– almost twice the price! Make sure you do your research on how much the national average annual premium is for the car you’re thinking of buying before you take the leap. Contact your insurance company to get a quote.

Cars That Cost The Most To Insure

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