GPM vs. MPG

Here's a little snippet from an article that appeared in the New York Daily News, just in time to escape major notice (thanks to the timing with the Memorial Day Holiday weekend). The author is NYS Senator Daniel Squadron. I'm going to "cut to the chase"

Two families want to save money on gas. Family A upgrades from a 10 mpg to a 15 mpg light truck. Family B upgrades from a 25 mpg to a 45 mpg sedan. Over the next 1,000 miles, who has saved more gas?

If you chose Family B, you'd be like most people - and you'd be wrong. Over 1,000 miles, switching from 10 to 15 mpg will save you 33 gallons. Switching from 25 to 45 MPG will only save you 18 gallons.

Don't worry, studies show that most consumers get miles per gallon comparisons wrong, as I did when I first took the quiz. But at the dealership, getting this question wrong is bad - for your wallet and the environment.

Ultimately, the most important question for consumers is basic: Given the numbers of miles I drive (the daily commute, trips to soccer practice, the annual pilgrimage to Florida) and the type of car I need (most people are not choosing between a Hummer and a Prius), how many gallons of gas will I actually need to buy?

To answer this question correctly consumers need to know their GPM - their gallons per mile.

SO, how do you figure out your "Gallons Per Mile?"

You can either

• Click on "comments" below for the answer, or
• Read the full article on the DN website.