How to save £100 a year

[DimPrawn]

Reversing is the safest way to park a car according to the Highway Code – but did you know it can also save you money?

We explain how reverse-parking your car could cut your fuel bills.

Why does reverse parking use less fuel?

Reversing out of a space when your engine is cold uses up to 25 times more petrol than when it’s warm.

So if you do this ten times a week it could be costing you an extra £100 per year.

How can I park effectively?

Reverse into a parking space and your car will require less fuel to move away when you come to leave.

If you’re in a parking bay where all the spaces run in parallel rows, line your car up to the car in front and reverse back in a straight line.

Other reasons to reverse park:

When you return to your car, you’ll have the following advantages:

• It’s easier to control a car going forwards
• You’ll get a clearer view of the road
• Moving forwards is safer than reversing
• Improved acceleration
• Your car is more likely to deter thieves if you reverse close to a wall


HTH

The £100 saved can go towards propping up your homes falling value.

[FiveTimes]

Great post, however this is likely to cost more than its saves due to the fact that most women can't reverse park and as a result will occupy 2 slots so you have to drive around more to find a good spot for parking.

Also any saving is likely to be offset against the insurance excess when the Mrs reverses into something...

[Peoplesoft bloke]

This is the worst written piece I've seen for some time, and is also mostly nonsense. Did it come from a newspaper?

Reversing out of a space when your engine is cold uses up to 25 times more petrol than when it’s warm.

And how much more fuel is used when driving out of a space forwards when cold? Up to 23 times as much?

Reverse into a parking space and your car will require less fuel to move away when you come to leave.

This is presumably based on the fact that reverse gears are generally lower and you don't need to change direction when leaving - but you still needed to chage direction on arrival - but ffs where on earth do they get the £100 from - talk about ignorant.

If you’re in a parking bay where all the spaces run in parallel rows, line your car up to the car in front and reverse back in a straight line.

Crap English - tautology - you can't reverse forward.

• Improved acceleration

Eh?

• Your car is more likely to deter thieves if you reverse close to a wall

Eh?

Who on earth wrote such a pile of tulipe?

[Halo Jones]

Who on earth wrote such a pile of tulipe?

My guess is it was a man

[Diver]

My guess is it was a man

Because women know nothing about reversing?

[BrilloPad]

When you return to your car, you’ll have the following advantages:

• It’s easier to control a car going forwards
• You’ll get a clearer view of the road
• Moving forwards is safer than reversing
• Improved acceleration
• Your car is more likely to deter thieves if you reverse close to a wall

For the 1st 4 points - you have to do these anyway at some point.

point 5 - it only stop thieves getting into your boot where there is a wall.

[Sockpuppet]

Ok so rough economics.

520 parking manouvers done a year (2 for each weekday).


SO £100 in fuel = diesel £1.25/litre (easy maths) = 80 Litres

So 80 / 520 = 153ml each time.

Based on my cars 50 mpg or 91 ml/mile

That means reversing out of a parking space takes the same amount of fuel as driving 1.68 miles.

Errrr..

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Ok so rough economics.

520 parking manouvers done a year (2 for each weekday).


SO £100 in fuel = diesel £1.25/litre (easy maths) = 80 Litres

So 80 / 520 = 153ml each time.

Based on my cars 50 mpg or 91 ml/mile

That means reversing out of a parking space takes the same amount of fuel as driving 1.68 miles.

Errrr..

You're right it is utter bobbins.

[DimPrawn]

Next week, how to save £45 a year by hopping on alternate legs.

[BrilloPad]

How much could I save by getting my kids to clean chimneys?