The hybrid world will have to play catch up to the new prius. Great gas mileage is what has sold over 1 million Prius Hybrids.The Prius hybrid comes stock with a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine, which is up from the past 1.5L.The bigger engine and torque nets better gas mileage at highway speeds because the gearing is lower.160-hp is what the new Prius is packing. 

The new Prius will get better fuel economy.Hypermiling habits can make your Prius MPG soar!The improvement in fuel economy also comes from the lightened body and powertrain. A more rigid body keeps engine noise down.

In redesigning the Prius, engineers have successfully improved the steering by angling the wheels slightly and creating brake discs at all four corners. The new Prius comes stock with some great features such as: air, CD, and power everything. Some accessories available on the new Prius are a back-up camera, HID headlamps, gauge controls, and a nav system.

Electricity is taken from the brakes, and used to charge the batteries. Safety Standards are excellent on the new Prius. Some features include, seven airbags, as well as a driver knee bag, anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, tire pressure monitors, radar cruise control, a lane-departure warning system, a rearview camera, a “Safety Connect” system, and Intelligent Parking Assist.

See the new Prius and a nice inventory of other hybrids at San Jose Toyota.  The Prius has been named top green car for the past few years.  And why shouldn’t it.  The Prius gets great gas mileage which saves gas, in turn putting less strain on the environment.  Not to mention is is a low emissions vehicle.  The PRius is an honored car that does a great job of keeping its resale value.  So if you cannot afford to buy a brand new 2010 Prius, go ahead and look for a nice used model.  You will pay less, get a capable car, and even get a used car warranty if you buy a certified Toyota hybrid.

See some great new cars at Bakersfield Hyundai, and Honda of Atlanta.

In this article I’m comparing the diesel and the gas engine and discuss their differences. I’m specifically referring to their use in automobiles.

From a distance the gas and the diesel engines seem to work in about the same way. A fuel made from refined crude oil is burned inside a cylinder and the hot expanding gasses forces the piston to move. The movement of the piston is transferred to the wheels through the crankshaft, the gearbox and through the transmission.

It’s when we look at the engines a little closer that we start to notice that there are differences. Difference in fuel economy, smell, vibration, expected age and price just to name a few.

The gas engine has an ignition system with high voltages, wiring and spark plugs. The diesel does not need this, it compresses the fuel/air mixture until it’s so hot it ignites all by itself. In a gas engine the spark plug ignites the fuel/air mixture by sending a high voltage spark into it at the right time.

Also separating the diesel and gas engines is the fact that gas engines mix the fuel vapor with air in the intake manfold before it’s entering the cylinder. The air/fuel mixture is then sucked into the cylinder to be burnt the next time the piston strikes.

The diesel on the other hand sucks clean air into the cylinder and then waits for the piston to compress the air as much as it will go. At this time when the air is compressed and hot enough to ignite the fuel, diesel is injected directly into the cylinder (or a small space connected to the cylinder) through high pressure nozzles. The high temperature of the cylinder instantly ignites the fuel.

The different fuel injection and combustion makes the diesel burn fuel more efficiently than a gas engine. That’s why diesels have better fuel economy than it’s gas burning relatives.

I’m not saying that a diesel engine is better. It’s different, it has drawbacks too. Diesel engines usually is harder to start in cold and freezing weather. If you remember it was compressed hot air that ignited the fuel. When it’s too cold outside the air will never become hot enough to ignite the fuel, and the engine won’t run.

That’s why diesels have glow plugs that are used when starting a cold engine. Electricity from the accumulator heats the glow plugs inside the cylinders before you even try to start the engne. This way the hot glow plugs ignite the fuel when the air is not hot enough to do it. Then when the engine starts it only takes a few seconds for the cylinders to get hot enough to ignite the fuel without help and the glow plugs are not needed again until the next cold start.

This is one of the things that might bother you when having a diesel engine in the car. The glowing takes from a couple of second to half a minute and can easily lead to stress when in a hurry. You just have to wait until it’s done or the car won’t start. On the other hand if the engine is well done the glowing does not take long and you soon get accustomed to it.

Lets look at the practical differences between the gas engine and the diesel engine. The diesel is large and loud, it emits black smoke when accelerating and is generally regarded as bad smelling by those not owning one. It also has a sturdier construction due to the higher pressures it must handle and thus can often go twice as many miles as a gas engine during it’s lifetime. The sturdy contruction also makes it expensive when bought new.

Features of The Gas Engine

• More quiet that the diesel
• Better acceleration and higher top speed
• Uses an Ignition System with Spark Plugs to Light The Fuel
• Adds fuel to the air before letting it into the cylinder
• Not as sturdy as a diesel. Lower price but breaks down faster
• Gas readily available everywhere
• MPG is low compared to a diesel

The Diesel Engine

• The diesel engine is loud and has the sound of an agricultural machine or an 18 wheeler
• Slow acceleration (get one with turbo charger, that helps)
• Top speed is nothing to brag about but there should be no problem maintaining the speed limit in most places
• Glow plugs helps ignite the fuel when the engine is really cold
• Clean air is sucked into the cylinder, then fuel oil is injected
• Engine is simple and robust. Higher price but runs many miles
• Emits black smoke when loading it (like a quick acceleration)
• Easy to convert for use with Eco fuel oils
• Has a great gas mileage

If I where to give you advice on selecting either a gas or a diesel powered car I would tell you this: Get a diesel if you drive long trips and can live with the small nuisances of more noise and poor acceleration. Get a gas powered car if you drive less than average or if you just want the comfort at any price.

Now why don’t we consider the topic of used cars. Should you buy used cars or new ones? The moment a new car leaves the dealership it’s value falls.  The answer is a lot easier with that information. Because autos depreciate, make the purchase only when it will lose the least value after you own it. Maintenance costs are also a factor. Those are most balanced in the late model used car. The largest decline in value has already happened. Someone else absorbed that loss. The auto is likely still under warranty and isn’t in a state of needing constant work.

Continuing the discussion about audi used cars : There are many places to look for late model used cars.  People who buy or lease new cars trade in their old ones to the dealer. The dealers want to sell those cars. Companies like Carmax and eBay motors have tens of thousands of used cars available for browsing. In America there are car auctions every weekend. Auctions include cars from the police, taken from criminals, or used rental vehicles. 

When dealing with used cars one will also want to consider fuel economy cars and The most trusted source for used car prices is Kelly Blue Book. It lists cars by year, then the general prices for those cars in various conditions from excellent to poor. It also breaks down the prices between dealer sales and private sales. Dealers have overhead private sellers don’t have so that is important.

What about financing a used car? First consider paying cash.  No matter how low of an interest rate or how low the monthly payments, nothing helps the monthly budget like not having to make any car payment. Sure, people like the fancy models. Remember, however, that even simpler models get from point a to point b. That can even mean a less stressful life. People who own the luxury cars worry more about them. Many used car owners take pride in their cars, but don’t worry over a ding or two. 

Sure cars are a status symbol, but wealth isn’t based on what you spend. It’s based on what you save and on net worth. There are people living hand to mouth even though they earn a lot of money. Good used cars help the budget.

The world of hybrid cars has a new king in the 2010 Toyota Prius. The amazing Fuel Economy is what has the largest appeal to many people.The Prius hybrid comes stock with a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine, which is up from the past 1.5L.Optimization in the torque increases gas mileage and fuel economy due to lower gearing at highway speeds.160-hp is what the new Prius is packing. 

Past versions will be eclipsed by the 2010 Prius, which is up by 4 MPG.The EPA rates the Prius at 50 MPG, but there are many who get more than that!A lighter body translates to better fuel economy. The stiffer body helps deduct the noise and vibration from the engine as well as the transmission.

Steering imput has been improved for the 2010 model year. Something else exciting about the new Prius is that many of the optional features on the previous model now come standard on the 2010 model, such as: automatic air conditioning, a CD stereo, power windows, locks, and doors. Some accessories available on the new Prius are a back-up camera, HID headlamps, gauge controls, and a nav system.

Energy usually wasted by braking is used to charge the battery pack. The new Prius is at the top of the compact car class in regards to safety. Other oddities in the Prius are warning systems with lane departure, rearview cameras, and monitors that check your tire pressure`.

See the new Prius and a nice inventory of other hybrids at the Riverside County Toyota Dealer.  Or view an article at at Best New Autos on the Prius winning some awards.  The Prius has been named top green car for the past few years.  And why shouldn’t it.  The Prius gets great gas mileage which saves gas, in turn putting less strain on the environment.  Not to mention is is a low emissions vehicle.  The PRius is an honored car that does a great job of keeping its resale value.  So if you cannot afford to buy a brand new 2010 Prius, go ahead and look for a nice used model.  You will pay less, get a capable car, and even get a used car warranty if you buy a certified Toyota hybrid.