The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, meanwhile, urged motorists not to wait for a fix. “This is an urgent matter,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “For everyone’s sake, we strongly urge owners of these vehicles to remove mats or other obstacles that could lead to unintended acceleration.”

The impending U.S. recall, the largest in Toyota history, followed a horrific crash last month in San Diego in which a mat was suspected of snagging a gas pedal on a runaway Lexus, ending with a fiery crash that killed four family members.

A minute before the crash, the driver called police to say the car had no brakes and the accelerator was stuck. The runaway car was doing more than 120 mph when it hit a sport-utility vehicle, launched off an embankment, rolled several times and burst into flames. The car, equipped with all-weather floor mats, was on loan from a dealership while the driver’s own vehicle was being repaired.

“The tragic accident in San Diego was certainly an eye opener for all of us,” said Senior Vice President Irving Miller, prompting the company to review previous allegations of unintended acceleration caused by floor mat interference.

Miller said the company could not quantify the number of complaints, nor could it estimate the cost of the safety campaign.

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All of these figures are based on the assumption that you have driven the car at least 1500 miles to break it in. Assuming 1500 miles annually and gas prices at $2.44 per gallon, combined MPG (Miles Per Gallon) and the assumption that you refill when the tank is at 10% full.

The Toyota Prius Hybrid does the best in the city at a whopping 45 MPG, but breaks even when it comes to the highway at 45 MPG and again takes the lead in the combined gas mileage at 46 MPG. It should cost you about $1.33 to drive 25 miles, while only using only .54 of a gallon of gas. This car will cost about $794.00 to fill up on a yearly basis.

The Nissan Altima Hybrid does not do as well as either car, as it only gets 35 miles in the city and 33 on the highway. It only pulls a combined 34 MPG. To drive 25 miles would cost you $1.79 and only gets 612 miles on a tank of gas.
You’re looking at $1076.00 in annual fuel cost based on 612 miles per tank fill up.

The Honda Civic Hybrid comes in about even with the Honda Prius with 40 miles in the city and 45 on the highway. It pulls a combined 42 MPG, it cost $1.45 to drive 25 miles, while only using .60 of a gallon.  To fill this car up it will cost you $43.92, while getting 612 miles off of a fill up, and a yearly fuel cost of $871.00.

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1. The first thing that you should do is put together a monthly budget of your expenses so you can see the amount of money that you can afford for a car payment.

2. The second thing that you need to do is to put together some money for a down payment on the car. You can get a lower car payment and a lower interest rate if you put down a decent down payment. You should try to put down at least thirty percent so that you don’t have a hefty auto loan to deal with.

3. The third thing that you should do is select three types of cars that you might like to own; then go view them at a car dealership. It is important to weigh your pros and cons when selecting a car to buy because the loan is a huge responsibility.

4. The fourth thing that you need to do is serious discuss financing with a few car salesmen so that you can see what types of car financing that they offer so that you are prepared when you go to apply.

Getting a car loan is now very easy through Any Credit Auto Loans. This company helps consumers to find the best auto financing available; the company says that your prior credit history does not matter. They will help you get an auto loan no matter what your credit history looks like. This service is free and consumers can begin the process by filling out an application. The application is pretty short but it can be very beneficial to helping you find a great place to get your car financing. The whole process takes less than 24 hours and you will learn very fast if your application has been approved.  They will help you get the car that you want in no time!

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The 2009 NY Auto Show is the best place to get a look at the latest and greatest advancements in automobile technology. (Event Schedule) Whether you are interested in going fast or going green, there is something there for everyone. While you cannot actually purchase a car at the New York Car Show, take a look around and get some ideas for your next buy. Not only is there the opportunity to check out a display of antique cars, there is also vast information on the newest developments such as increased gas mileage, lowered emissions and brand new safety features developed to keep you and your family safe.

The winners of “Car of the Year” are all smaller cars which get great gas mileage:

• 2009 Ford Fiesta
• 2009 Toyota I!
• 2009 Volkswagon Golf

If you plan on checking out the NY Auto Show this weekend, be sure not to miss the raffle for the 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera, benefiting the Diabetes Foundation. Also, definitely check out the automotive career fair, which is a great opportunity for students soon to graduate. The exhibit of custom cars is sure to awe as well.

The New York Car Show will be running at the convention center from April 10th through April 19th, from 11am to 10:30pm (7pm on Sundays). It is open to the public and tickets can be purchased online or at the door. The NY Auto Show is an event that is sure to delight the whole family.

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The 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid has excellent gas mileage at 40 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway. Its price is competitive with the Prius at $22,600. The Civic Hybrid is a roomy, 4-door style sedan with a number of trims and options available. This hybrid vehicle is considered reliable and affordable, all-in-all an excellent value.  Plus Honda has an award-winning extended warranty program which is standard for most vehicle purchases.

The new kid on the block, coming out this fall, is the 2009 Smart Fortwo.  The Fortwo is a small, affordable 2-seater, designed more for around-town than for long trips. It’s base price of only $11,590 is very affordable, and it gets great gas mileage: 33 in the city and 41 on the highway. Although this Smart car is definitely not for everyone, it is easy to park anywhere and it’s low fuel consumption will definitely save you money.

For those who need a more conventional vehicle, the Volkswagen Jetta may be a better alternate choice than these hybrids in a slightly bigger class. It is not an alternative fuel or hybrid vehicle; it gets great gas mileage through efficient design. It gets 30 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway, with some variation between specific models. Available in a coupe or a sportwagon, the VW Jetta boasts quality design and construction for a long lasting vehicle, starting about $17,500.

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The secret behind the improved fuel economy in the Chevy Aveo lies in the new ECOTEC engine. Without sacrificing performance, the variable valve timing on the engine results in 27 mpg city and 34 mpg highway, with the manual transmission, and 25 city, 34 highway, using a four speed automatic. Chevy is breaking away from the typical gas guzzling vehicles many Americans associate with previous models. The Aveo is the same American quality you have come to expect, but now with the gas mileage you would expect from an import. When looking for your new car, consider the Chevrolet Aveo and feel what it is like to save money every time you start the engine.

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The standout car for the year was the 2008 Toyota Prius. This car posted some amazing numbers and was by far and away the leader of all vehicles in all classes. It is classified as a mid sized car which puts it above the small compacts and below the full size vehicles. Still it has enough room to sit four people comfortably and put something in the trunk. The mileage rating on this vehicle is a tremendous 48 miles per gallon city and 45 mile per gallon highway. The big draw back on this car is the price and the availability. If you can find one at sticker price though they are by far the best deal going.

The runner up for the best gas mileage is the 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid. This vehicle is significantly smaller than the Prius and has worse fuel economy, although not by much. This vehicle gets 40 miles per gallon in the city and 45 mile per gallon on the highway. While the city numbers are significantly less, the highway numbers stay right with the Prius. One selling point in favor of the Civic is the fact that the actual vehicle is based around a car that has been in production for some time. All the kinks have been worked out of the Civic line and it makes this car very accessible.

The last vehicle that can be counted as won of the winners is the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid. While the fuel economy is not anywhere near the mid size and compact cars it does offer a significant space upgrade over the other vehicles. The gas mileage on the Escape Hybrid is better than most mini compact and subcompact cars so it really is an achievement. This car comes in with gas mileage of 34 city and 30 highway, highly respectable for a vehicle with this much room.

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They’ve got a whole list of really cool Green Technology Cars they’re going to be spotlighting over the course of the next week:

Cadillac — Escalade

Chevrolet — Tahoe

Chrysler — Aspen Hybrid

Ford — 2010 Fusion Hybrid

Lexus — RX 400h

Mercury — 2010 Milan Hybrid

Toyota — Camry

Toyota — Highlander

Volkswagen — Jetta TDI Sedan

Perhaps the most surpirsing on that list is the gigantic Cadillac Escalade SUV!  Who ever thought a huge SUV would be discussed in the same breath as fuel economy?  But Cadillac says the new Escalade Hybrid will deliver more than a 50-percent improvement in fuel economy in city driving with its new fuel-saving 2-Mode Hybrid system. It’s still only listing at 20 MPG, but hey, that’s alot better than the miles per gallon the regular version gets!  Since its pricetag is starting at over $70,000, though, you’re probably not worrying about saving a few bucks on gas if you buy it …

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Hybrid cars have better gas mileage, as it uses both the engine and motor it converts gas to energy and it automatically stores in the rechargeable battery. When you completely brake or make a full stop using the brakes the Hybrid car recreates energy into electricity storing it in the battery. Like any other car the engine and motor forces the vehicle to move forward, backward and so forth. While cruising in the hybrid car the engine shuts down and the battery does all the work saving you a whole lot of fuel.

If you purchased a Hybrid after December 31, 2005 you may qualify for a tax break up to $3,400, so ask your accountant or tax professional for more information.

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The five-month slide in gasoline prices has come to an abrupt halt, with gasoline rising by several cents in recent days amid indicators that the national average could jump to $2 a gallon or higher this spring.

So we’re facing rising gas prices — how does that impact new car purchases, specifically hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles?

Automotive analysts expect consumers, who are still wary over the shaky state of the economy, to buy between 10 million and 12.4 million new cars and trucks in 2009.   That’s down substantially from the 16.7 million in annual sales the industry has averaged over the past decade. And it’s even lower than the dismal 13 million or so in sales expected for 2008.

So the question is, at what point does fuel economy and better gas mileage become an issue again?  A lot of consumers have simply stopped purchasing new cars due to the poor economy. Once car sales begin to pick up, though, it will be a new market out there.  Consumers will want cars which get better gas mileage and more miles to the gallon.  Next years answer may come from Ford:

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, and its twin, the 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid, are mid-to-full-size sedans that seat five in surprising comfort and offer a full-size trunk measuring around 12 cubic feet. They measure 190.6 inches and weigh a goodly 3,720 pounds. The gas-electric output is 191 horsepower and 0-60 mph acceleration is under 9 seconds.

With the cost of gas increasing to $2 in the next few months, more and more consumers will take another look at hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles.

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