TIPS: 8 Best Ways to Save Gas

we know—if you only had a nickel for every "save money on gas" article you've read or seen in the past year. And to add to the confusion, many of the tips in these stories are in fact based on superstition, junk science, or grandfather wisdom that doesn't really apply to today's automobiles. (Check out our TechnoRide piece on debunking gas-saving myths.) Sure, you could just go out and buy a hybrid. Or trade in your sedan for a Schwinn. But beyond the expensive or impractical solutions, there are ways you can use your tech-savviness to stretch your gas dollar. Since you're a PC Mag reader, you already know you're smarter than most others on the road. So prove it by applying your geekiness to a good cause—keeping money in your pocketbook. Here are some of our favorite high-tech tips for saving gas, starting with the easy and working up to the truly geeky.

1. Find the best gas prices on the Web. A site like GasBuddy.com or GasPriceWatch.com lets you search by ZIP code or city and state to find the cheapest per-gallon price in your neck of the woods. If you're already on the road you can access GasBuddyToGo.com from your phone's browser, or send a text message or e-mail with your city, state, and ZIP to gas@gasbuddy.com and you'll get a reply quoting the five lowest-cost locations in that area.

2. Look for online gas promotions. For example, if you're planning a vacation, check out BedandBreakfast.com, which offers free-gas promotions at a wide variety of B&B locations across the country.

3. Use GPS or mapping tools. It may sound obvious, but think of how much gas you waste driving around when you're lost or trying to find a parking garage. Map out your route in advance to devise the shortest route (rather than the fastest one), which can also put you on secondary roads where you'll drive more slowly—another gas-saving benefit. Some GPS units also let you program them to pick routes that avoid toll roads, where you can burn gas idling in line.

4. Share a ride with your Web buddies. Start a Google or Yahoo! group for carpooling, and encourage your neighbors and coworkers to join. You can set up a schedule for trips to and from work or even organize grocery-shopping trips as a group. You can also check the ride board section of your area's craigslist to split the gas on your next trip by taking on some riders (or for finding a ride yourself).

5. Track your gas use. A dashboard gauge, such as the ScanGauge ($169.95 direct, www.scangauge.com) keeps track of your MPG and will troubleshoot if your "Check Engine" light comes on. And it's portable, so you can take it from car to car. For hard-core open-source geeks, you can build your own MPG gauge (called the MPGuino project) by following the instructions at the EcoModder forum).

TIPS: Buying A Used Car From A Dealer

Like any major purchase, buying a car is a big decision that merits research and preparation. While buying a used car from a dealer is a smart choice that can save you money, it’s also process that involves more time and effort on your part. Verifying the condition and history of a used car is the most important thing you can do to save yourself hassle, stress and money in the future.

If you are up for doing a little leg work, the advantages of buying a used car outweigh the risks. The alternative to buying a used car is to buy new, but the value of a new car drops as soon as your drive it out of the lot. After the first three years, a new car’s value depreciates up to 60%.

On top of the savings, you can get more for your money with a used car in good condition:

* Used car shoppers can negotiate bigger bargains.

* Insurance is often less with a used car.

* With a lower price point, you can afford more amenities.

Still, it doesn’t take a lot of experience to know why so many people still prefer to buy new cars. Buying a used car is a gamble. Fortunately, consumers have more tools available today than in the past, enabling them to easily trace a car’s history to verify to true value and condition of a used car.