Fuel economy: irrelevant or distracting?

Fuel economy... really? 

As a rule, what do you think of when you buy a car? Comfort? Amenities? Looks? Shiny? Reliability? Power? Fuel economy? How about asking how much resources the machine cost to build in the first place? Why not ask what the total cost to the planet is instead of just looking at one little part of the energy story. Why only MPG? 

Love your Used car Salesman! A guide to swindling the swindler. PT-3

So here we are with a vehicle that we like and that has passed all the initial checks, its time for a test drive.

Start the engine (any blue smoke out the tailpipe? No? Good.) and turn on the headlights, test the brake, reverse and turn signal lights one-by-one as your helper verifies that they all work. While the engine warms up, have a look around at how the interior is laid out, find and familiarize yourself with the controls and display while you also make necessary seat and mirror adjustments and of course, get your seatbelt on.

Love your Used car Salesman! A guide to swindling the swindler. PT-2

  Last post we discussed the initial inspection, now to get a bit more in depth. Reach inside and pull the hood release and lets go under the hood and have a look. Most of the fluids requiring attention are under the hood- this can tell you a lot about maintenance. 

First- is it TOO clean? Did someone just take a pressure washer to it and clean it to make sure it looks like it leaks no fluids? What you want to see is dry, dusty metal and parts, no major oily spots, wet areas, or dust clots; no broken/ cracked hoses or other rubber parts, frayed cables or belts, loose clamps, missing/ loose bolts, parts mis-aligned or rubbing on belts...