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Thursday, March 25, 2010 — THE MEDICINE HAT NEWS GAS CITY PRE-OWNED

Summer trip tips

(NC)—For some Canadian families, road trips are a mainstay of summer vacation. In order to have the most enjoyable holiday possible, follow these tips from Natural Resources Canada. You may just come home with money in your pocket.

1. Before you hit the road make sure your car is properly maintained and ready for summer driving. Read your owners manual for your vehicles maintenance schedule and requirements.

2. Plan your routes carefully, away from high traffic areas that can lead to frequent stopping and accelerating.

3. Fuel-efficient driving is defensive driving. Making smart decisions will keep you and your family safe, and also decrease your fuel consumption.

4. Avoid hard acceleration to conserve fuel. Also, don't drive too close to the vehicle in front of you - it's safer, and you'll avoid the sudden slowdowns and hard braking that keep you from remaining at cruising speed.

5. Minimize your use of air conditioning. To keep cool on the highway, use your car's flow-through ventilation or open a window when in the city.

6. Idle cars are the fuel wasters playground. Instead of idling

while waiting your turn for a car wash, turn your engine off. Many people believe that restarting a vehicle wastes more gas than leaving it running. In fact, shutting off and restarting your engine uses the same amount of fuel as 60 seconds of idling, so idling any longer is a waste.

7. The Canadian Automobile Association recommends that you stop for 15 to 20 minutes about every two hours. Get out of the car, stretch a little and walk inside to get your coffee, as long as your children are supervised. It will help you stay alert and safe, and save you some money.

For more tips go to www.vehicles.nrcan.gc.ca. www.newscanada.com

Horsepower or Torque?

(NC)—Confused about whether horsepower or torque is more important? If you're having a hard time understanding the difference, think of it this way: one is like a marathon runner while the other is more like a sprinter - both have their place, both deliver performance, but they are different.

Today a vehicle's power is typically expressed as horsepower and reaches its maximum at higher engine speeds. Once a vehicle reaches highway speed, only a fraction of the vehicle's horsepower is required. Torque, on the other hand, starts your vehicle and reaches its maximum at lower engine speeds.

Questions to Ask Car Dealers

For consumers who know the right questions to ask car dealers, shopping for a car or truck can be a straightforward process.

Before deciding what car to shop for, a few decisions must be made. Will you be looking for a new or pre-owned vehicle? Front-wheel drive or AWD? SUV, sedan or pickup? How much can you afford to spend, both on a down payment as well as monthly payments if financing the vehicle?

According to the Better Business Bureau, preliminary research is an important part of the buying process. The local newspaper's weekly auto section can be a great place to gather information, as can Web sites that provide reviews, comparisons and advice on an array of vehicles.

Comparison shopping is also essential when shopping for a vehicle. Things to compare include safety record or rating, reliability history, fuel economy, warranties, operating costs, theft rates, and general features and options. It might also be a good idea for prospective buyers to request an insurance quote on a particular vehicle before making any purchase final, as insurance rates can vary greatly not only for drivers, but for specific makes and models as well.

Once you've decided on which make and model you'd prefer, be sure to ask the dealer the following questions to ensure you're getting the best deal possible.

• Which vehicle features come standard and which are options? Ask to see an itemized list of all add-ons, options and fees separate from the cost of the vehicle.

• Can pricey options be removed prior to the purchase, thus lowering the cost? • What is the trade-in value of a current vehicle?

• What inspection standards or reconditioning processes does the dealer use to prepare pre-owned or even new vehicles for purchase?

• Are maintenance and repairs provided on site? • What information or documents are required when financing the vehicle through the dealer? • What warranties are available on the vehicle? • Is the dealer accredited by the Better Business Bureau?

Receiving satisfactory answers to these questions does not guarantee a perfect buyer-dealer relationship, but should give the buyer a much clearer understanding of the transaction. FC09A619

OPENING MAY 2010

Many consumers think they need a lot of horsepower, when in actual fact, it could be torque that suits their needs better. Whatever your decision, do your homework. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) can help. Visit NRCan's website at www.vehicles.nrcan.gc.ca or call 1-800-387-2000 to learn about vehicle choices, the EnerGuide Label for Vehicles, the Fuel Consumption Guide and for other tips and tools to encourage fuel efficiency.

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