Cars With the Best Gas Mileage

When buying a car either brand new or used, one thing you should take into consideration is its ability to give you the best gas mileage without compromising the comfort, speed and your love for the cars.

Some people when it comes to this problem, they will either cut the use of their fuel consumption or buy a smaller car because there is this notion that smaller cars have best gas mileage.

Well, this could be either true or not, and when you're facing this kind of situation, the only best thing you can do is buy a car that has second to none gas mileage.

In this category - cars with best gas mileage - it is predominantly dominated by Toyota Prius wth more than a million units sold recently primarily because for its obvious reason - that is being the number one most fuel-efficient car on the road.

Not only is the Toyota Prius the top-selling hybrid vehicle, but it is also the number one most fuel-efficient vehicle on the highway with impressive performance of 48 mpg (miles per gallon).

Smart Fortwo convertible and coupe is also showing some promise when it comes to gas mileage with 33 mpg in the city road while on the highway it gets 41mpg, and this is getting popular considering the fact that this brand of car is just new in the United States market.

The two-seater Mazda MX-5 Miata, for its 22 mpg in the city road and 27 on the thoroughfare deserve the title of one of the best cars with best gas mileage. While the Mini Cooper took the next spot being so efficient with its 28 mpg in the metropolis while on the highway it recorded a 37 mpg.

When it comes to subcompact car, one of the most efficient with both the automatic and manual versions is the Toyota' Yaris with 36 mpg. The Honda Civic Hybrid is best known for its efficiency on the road while the Toyota Corolla is tailing not too far behind with its 28 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the freeway. When it comes to midsize category you will not be surprised to see this Nissan Versa 26 mpg in the metropolis and 31 mpg in the freeway.

With the soaring gas prices around the world, EPA or Environmental Protection Agency has made a helpful guide for the buyers in buying the cars with the best mileage that they can find in the market. This EPA guide will show the prospective buyers the normal mileage or the fuel consumption of the cars whether in the city or in the highway. Poor gas mileage is one of the reasons why more than 15% of potential buyers decline a certain model. Around 40% will choose to buy a mid-size SUV rather than to buy a vehicle with poor mileage performance.

Other cars with the best gas mileage include the Toyota Scion XA with its 32 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. This vehicle has a 1.5 litre, 4 cylinder engine. Next in line is the Toyota Echo with its larger engine and the impressive 35 mpg on the city while on the highway it will give you 43 mpg.

2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata -- the Freewheeling Youth of the Sports-Car World Matures

Mazda has done it again. First, they reinvigorated the sports car market a decade and a half ago with the introduction of the Miata for 1990. Then the company followed that up with a redesigned version that was good enough to make Miata the biggest-selling sports car in history.

Now, for 2006, they've topped that with a third-generation Miata that's as sophisticated as far more expensive sports cars, despite keeping its reasonable low-20-thousand-dollar price tag.

Compared to the two previous versions, the 2006 MX-5 Miata is a little larger in most dimensions, and gains about 50 pounds. It continues with its four-cylinder engine but now it's a 170-hp 2.0-liter instead of a 142-hp 1.8.

Slipping into the interior, it's obvious that Mazda's junior sports car has grown a bit. Instead of the window sills having a sort of elbow-height feeling, you now feel as though you're sitting low in the car, instead of sitting on it. Along with the cabin's extra room comes a more upscale look to the interior. Although still not exactly plush feeling, the new Miata replaces its predecessors' retro spartan style with a somewhat more opulent look. The leather seats are both easy on the eyes and posterior. The convertible top has a cloth surface and a glass rear window, and it folds neatly into a smooth bunch that latches down to form a smooth profile without a separate cover.

Overall, the cabin pleases in both design and execution. There's a subtle, high-quality feel to it that speaks of cars costing far more than our tester's $25,000 sticker price.

Firing the engine up brings forth a sporty purr that's maybe a tad more subdued than Miatas past, but nonetheless satisfying. Once rolling, planting your foot into the gas yields one of the bigger delights of the new Miata. The engine feels somewhat stronger than its power rating might imply, providing gutsy acceleration at low speeds and very nice passing power without downshifting. It never feels high-strung or fussy.

Complementing that pleasure is the shifter. Traditionally a strong suit of Miatas past, the new version continues to be noteworthy. Although not quite as pleasingly mechanical feeling as before, the shifter is precise, with appropriate springing and well-defined gates. Tying it all together are pedals that are well spaced for easy heel-and-toe downshifts.

Once acclimated to the new Miata's basic control personality, it's time to tackle some twisty roads. And you'll quickly find that this aspect of the new car is where the new Miata differs the most from its predecessors.

While the generation-one and -two Miatas were well known for having low handling limits and almost toylike tossability, the new Miata feels heftier, more serious, and obviously more capable. In earlier Miatas the idea of slipping and sliding the rear end was as obvious and basic as putting the top down on a sunny day -- Miata practically begged for such exuberance behind the wheel.

The new Miata responds to such tail-happy shenanigans with all the control and communication of Mazda's earlier little sprites. But now the car just doesn't seem to ask for it with such a strong voice. This version's vastly higher grip and more potent engine instead make it happier with high corner-entry speeds and smooth, even steering-wheel inputs.

Those things said, this Miata is really happy in that environment. Whereas previous Miatas tended to have a wild, freewheeling personality on winding roads, the new version hauls through turns as if locked onto rails, with minimal body lean and very high limits that aren't as easy to upset.

It's still terrific fun. It's just a little different kind of fun.

It's clear that Mazda has once again crafted a true little gem of a sports car. There's not a squeak or rattle to be heard, the engine has a smooth, almost exotic personality, and the driving controls are precise and solid. You find yourself double checking the sticker to see if this is really a $25,000 sports car -- plenty of rivals costing $15k more than Miata don't get these things much (if any) better.

As for how this new Miata design overall compares to its predecessors, picture a guy that was loveable but slightly over-eager in college. Now he's been out in the real world for few years and maybe gotten a graduate degree.

He's not really the same guy anymore, but he commands more respect. And he's still a whole lot of fun to be around.

Ford Bags Most Quality Awards In JD Power Survey

The Ford Motor Co. bagged five top category awards in an annual survey of new car quality, more than any other automaker, according to J.D. Power and Associates. Ford overthrown the Toyota Motor Corp. and has become the winner of the most category honors in the previous year's survey.

Toyota dropped to 7th place from 4th place last year in the overall nameplate ranking. Porsche led the overall list, followed by Lexus and Lincoln. The Mercury brand placed 8th and the Ford brand was 7th.

Neal Oddes, the director of product research and analysis for J.D. Power, said that it is the first in a number of years that all three of Ford's nameplates - Ford, Lincoln and Mercury - surpassed the industry average. None of the General Motors Corp. or the Chrysler Group brands ranked above industry average, although some individual brands made gains compared to the 2006 survey.

The 2007 Initial Quality Study rates overall brand quality and also ranks vehicles within specific segments or categories. Top model segment honors went to the Ford Mustang, Lincoln Mark LT, Lincoln MKZ, Mazda MX-5 Miata and the Mercury Milan.

The Mustang, based on the Falcon compact, is one of the landmark vehicles in the Ford lineup. As a fact, it remains in production after significant revisions. The Lincoln Mark LT, a luxury pickup, is the successor of the Blackwood. The Mark LT, based on the Ford F-150, is built at Ford's River Rouge Plant. The Lincoln MKZ, on the other hand, is the replacement of the Zephyr. Sales of the MKZ started in September in the previous year.

The Mazda MX-5, also called the Miata, is a sports car that revived the roadster segment of the automaker. The Miata is the world's best-selling sports car, with over 800,000 units sold. The Mercury Milan, a midsize sedan built on the Ford CD3 platform, is the upscale version of the Ford Fusion. The vehicle features unique front and rear fascia styling, distinctive LED tail lights, modified suspension, enhanced auto interior, projector head lamps and fog lamps, and huge rear doors.

Overall, fourteen Ford product lines placed in the top three of their respective categories. Other top category finishers were Mercedes-Benz and Toyota, which each earned three segment awards. Ford had some excellent product launches for the 2007 model year, Oddes said. Most of the automaker's improvement came by overcoming defects. The Ford Edge, for example, garnered high marks in the study.

The Edge, a midsize crossover SUV, is based on the Ford CD3 platform, originally introduced on the Mazda 6. The platform is shared with the Lincoln MKX, and the Mazda CX-9 crossovers, the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and the Lincoln MKZ sedans. The Edge made its public debut at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. The delivery of the Edge was delayed due to supplier glitches as well as to check on the quality of the vehicle. Now, the crossover SUV is reaping good feedback from consumers.

The J.D. Powers survey measures design quality and production defects or malfunctions at the 90-day point of ownership and is considered a major automotive quality gauge. Some 97,000 owners and lessees responded to the 228-question surveys. Vehicles were evaluated between November 2006 and January of this year.

In a separate survey Ford's Wixom assembly plant, shuttered last week, won the Platinum Plant Quality Award for producing vehicles with the fewest defects. It is the first time since 1999 a North American plant garnered that award, J.D. Powers said.

J.D. Power and Associates' marketing research consists primarily of consumer surveys. Its ratings are based on the survey responses of randomly selected or pre-determined auto purchasers.

Make Your Mazda Sing With Enclosed Subwoofers

Whether you're a fan of rock music, rap, country, blues, or even classical, the stereo system in your Mazda is a vital part of your listening experience. By owning a Mazda3, Mazda5 or even Mazda RX-8 you get the benefit of having a decent stock system built into the car. However, only by adding a subwoofer will you truly receive the best sound possible in your Mazda. Even the Bose stock system that comes with the MX-5 Miata lacks the low end that many be desired when it comes to the listening experience. A subwoofer will give depth and complete sound to the system, thus allowing you to hear things that you wouldn't have before.

There are many top of the line subwoofers and amplifiers to choose from that will give you the bass you need in your car stereo system. You'll find that car audio professionals are experts when advising on the best amps and subs for your car, and will help you to find the system right for you according to the type of music most listened to.

When purchasing a new system you'll also find that a custom speaker box is essential for the quality of sound coming from the new sub. Speaker enclosures provide a great deal of support for the amp and sub in several different ways. There are custom speaker boxes that are designed specifically to fit the interior of your Mazda. Many speaker enclosures will blend in to the interior of your Mazda making it look as though it was part of the original car. A custom speaker box will also help to save space in the car and keep the amp and sub safe from accidents within the Mazda such as spilt drinks or wandering feet. Whether you install the enclosed subwoofers in the trunk or backseat, car audio professionals and installation experts will help you get the best sound out of your system that you can.

Saturn - That Was Then, This Is Now

Step back in time with me if you would, about 20 years to be precise, to an era when automaker General Motors was busy making plans for their all new company, Saturn. This wasn't to be just another GM division mind you as Saturn was created as a separate import fighting company meant to take on the likes of Toyota and Honda. By 1990, the first Saturn cars rolled off a bucolic Tennessee countryside assembly line signaling a new cooperation between workers and management. Immediately, the funky little "S Series" of sedans, wagons, and coupes were a hit and GM was soon lauded for taking a bold initiative.

Today, Saturn is much different from the brand that took on Japan's top automakers. Instead of being a separate, wholly owned car company the make is now one of General Motors' many automotive divisions. The S Series sold well and the introduction of subsequent models helped the brand, but ultimately parent GM decided to pull the company within the General's fold as it chose to close down Oldsmobile instead. Current models being sold by Saturn are much different from what was originally offered, but the company has managed to keep one huge attribute that originally propelled the brand forward: people are first. Let's take a look at Saturn's current line up and the vehicles soon to be introduced.

ION - After a decade of service, the S Series was retired in favor of the comparably sized ION. Unlike the S Series, the ION does not include a wagon, but it does include a four door coupe and sedan. Unfortunately, the car is not very competitive with similar models and GM is looking at an Opel-inspired car to take its place by the end of this decade.

VUE - A recent makeover has kept the VUE, Saturn's small SUV, competitive. In addition, a pending hybrid model is expected to strengthen the line and talk of an all new compact model showing up in 2009 has the auto world abuzz.

RELAY - Saturn's first minivan is a clone to models sold by Chevrolet and Buick. Unlike earlier Saturn models which featured polymer side impact panels [to limit dents], the RELAY is all sheet metal and simply a copy of other divisions' vehicles. Still, the RELAY has filled an important hole in the Saturn line up by offering a larger vehicle for loyal Saturn owners.

SKY - Forget what you might have thought about Saturn previously. The SKY roadster is a hit for one big reason: it is absolutely sexy. Sharing components with the Pontiac Solstice, the SKY has radically transformed the brand's image all by itself. Priced under $25,000, the SKY is competitive with the Mazda Miata and is a low cost alternative to the BMW Z4.

AURA - Another vehicle built to battle the division's bland image, the AURA steps in to the midsize category replacing the L Series which was discontinued two years earlier. Based on GM's Epsilon platform, the AURA borrows heavily from GM's German division -- Opel - while incorporating a style and design that favors the Saturn SKY.

OUTLOOK - To be introduced before the end of 2006, the OUTLOOK will be Saturn's first bigger SUV. Although considered to be a "crossover" by many, the OUTLOOK is a 7 passenger SUV meant to complement the smaller VUE. With the addition of the OUTLOOK in the Saturn fold, GM will take a break before tinkering with the Saturn line up.

Truly, Saturn of 2007 will look much different from Saturn of the 1990s. For years, Saturn dealers were content to sell only one model - the S Series - but today's Saturn is going well beyond all of that. With a hybrid VUE in the line up and other variations of existing models also being planned, the once spartan Saturn line up is nearly filled to capacity. This is great news for Saturn loyalists looking for choices beyond the base models and a promise that GM is investing money in its import fighting division.

Financial Pipeline Or Hauling Buckets?

Are you building a pipeline or hauling buckets?

There is a great story in Robert Kiyosaki's "Cashflow Quadrant" (a must read book in or out of acting school or art class) that goes like this:

A village in Africa needed water, so they gave 2 people, Bill and Ed, the contract to supply it, reasoning that the competition would keep prices reasonable and the service good. Bill immediately ran out, bought to buckets, and started making the trek to and from the lake, which was a mile away. He started making money immediately, which was great, especially as Ed disappeared from the village. The downside was that he had to get up before everybody else to make sure that the village had the water, and his work was very tiring, as he spent his whole day carrying buckets of water.

Several months later, Ed returned with a construction crew, and built a stainless steel pipe from the lake to the village. Once it was ready, he announced that he would charge 75% less for his water than Bill, that his water would be cleaner than Bill's, because it would be covered the whole way, and that it would run 24/7, unlike Bill's, because Bill didn't work on weekends.

When Bill saw everybody run to the new faucet at the end of Ed's pipeline, he dropped his prices by 75%, bought covers for his buckets, and employed his sons to work night and weekend shifts. Once his sons had left for college (and inexplicably never returned), he had to hire more workers to cover their costs, and spent his days dealing with accounting and labor issues.

Ed saw the success of his pipeline in this village, and went on to build them in several other villages as well, earning only pennies on every bucket delivered, but delivering millions of buckets a day. He oversees his business from a beach in Hawaii, as the water flows whether he is working or not. The End.

The moral of the story is obvious: don't spend your days working for money when you could be designing systems to have money flowing to, and working for, you.

The problem, of course, is that we all need money now. We need to pay the rent, put food on the table, and gas in the car. It takes time to develop financial plans, find investors, and put a deal together. So what are we supposed to do if we don't have the capital to live off while we create and build this business, whatever it may be?

The answer is that we have to be building the pipeline while hauling buckets, as hard as that may be. What that translates to is building some kind of business (outside of our acting career, for example) that will eventually support us in our artistic endeavors, while working the jobs that many of us pursue to survive. Yes, this means that you will be working a little bit harder now, but one of the secrets of wealthy people is that they do work now that will pay them next month and next year, as opposed to only next week.

So what to do? The place to start is financial education. Learn about businesses, about investing, about tax structure and so on. Take the time to plan your financial progress, instead of being driven by it. Dedicate a few hours a week to this process, and then, once you have made a decision as to what you are going to pursue, focus that same time on that. By doing this you will ensure that you will have, in the longer run, the time and energy to truly pursue the things that matter most. If you choose not to do it, chances are that, in fifteen, twenty, twenty-five years, you will still be hauling the same buckets you are today.

Insurance: Love It or Hate It, You Have to Have It!

You have done it! You have cleaned up your finances, figured out what’s what, built up a wealth account, and you have even begun investing. There is no more debt, your time is freed up, and you have a nice little nest egg. Then it happens – WHAM!!! You are involved in a major car accident and are seriously injured. Or maybe you are diagnosed with a serious illness. Either way, not only can you not work for a while, but you have heaps of medical bills. Are you prepared? If not, then all the hard work you have done to get yourself on stable financial ground and begin building wealth, is gone. If you can’t pay those bills and you are sued, then faster than you can blink your assets will be sucked up to pay what you owe.

How would you feel if this happened to you? Really use your imagination and try to place yourself there. What is it worth to you to ensure that this never happens? What would you do to protect yourself?

What is protection? INSURANCE! Yes, it is easy to say, “I don’t really need it right now,” or, “I can’t really afford it yet. I’ll wait until I’m making more money.” No matter how tight money is, it will be far worse if anything happens to you and you are uninsured. Just remember – you DO need it. The premium (charge you pay on a monthly/yearly basis) for insurance will protect you and family from financial loss in the event of accident, illness, fire, flood, or any other type of natural disaster.

Insurance is unavoidable if you own a car and/or a house. To qualify for a mortgage, you will be required to have home insurance because the bank wants to protect their investment. Just be sure to research insurance companies or make use of an insurance broker (you don’t pay for their services, the insurance companies do) and make sure you have appropriate coverage. You don’t want it to be too high and you don’t want it to be too low. It should be based on the estimated rebuilding costs of your house, not on current market value. With car insurance, you will most likely have to show proof of some basic coverage to register the vehicle. Make sure you are comfortably covered in case of an accident and also for when you rent a car so you don’t need to pay extra premiums.

It is also crucial that you have health insurance. Since the majority of artists do not have coverage from a regular employer, they need to purchase individual coverage. You can choose between fee-for-service insurance – allows you to choose any physician although it is generally extremely expensive, or managed care – lower costs but limited choices with regards to doctors and hospitals to which you have access. It is also recommended that you obtain a policy that:

• will cover a major medical problem

• will handle at least 80% of your costs after the deductible

• is guaranteed renewable (they can’t drop you or hike your premium cost if you get sick)

• has a maximum lifetime benefit of at least $1 million

• doesn’t have large numbers of limits and exclusions

Recognize that insurance companies can be sneaky – read policies carefully.

Other types of insurance include renter’s insurance, life insurance, and disability insurance. Renter’s insurance is important because your possessions are not covered under the homeowner’s policy of the person from whom you are renting. It also protects you from liability, either in you own home or elsewhere. Life insurance is something you need only if you have dependents. Don’t let someone sell it to you otherwise. Disability insurance is important to have in place if you have a regularly paying job in the event that you become sick or injured and cannot work for a period of time.

Things to consider when shopping for insurance include:

1. How high a deductible you want to select. Higher deductibles will result in lower premium costs. Just make sure you can actually afford to cover the deductible. If you visit the doctor regularly for example, having a high deductible might not make sense.

2. Get quotes from several insurance agents. Don’t be pressured into buying just because you have been given a quote. Talk to both independent agents (they can sell policies from different insurance companies) and captive agents (they represent one company). Getting referrals from friends and family members who are happy with their service and rates is a good way to shop. Then you know your insurance provider is tried and true.

3. Explore companies that will sell a policy directly to you. This may be cheaper since they avoid paying agents’ salaries.

4. The Consumer Reports Buying Guide can be an excellent resource for narrowing down your top choices.

5. If you are considering a lesser known company because of good rates, make sure you check them out carefully. Investigate qualifications, check with state insurance department, and research the company’s financial stability. You don’t want to be paying premiums for months or even years, only to discover that the company has gone out of business and will not pay your claim.

6. Always ask if you are eligible for any discounts.

It all comes down to protection and the feeling of security that goes along with it. If you do not have insurance, you may be putting your whole future on the line. No one wants life’s difficulties to pop up, but we can’t avoid them forever and if they are big, then you could be financially ruined. And who wants the financial stress added to an already stressful situation of illness, injury, or losing your house or possessions? Again, really take the time to imagine how you would FEEL if any of this happened to you and you weren’t ready. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to be prepared. Don’t let all your hard work go to waste. Get insurance and have peace of mind.