Although much has been said about hybrid-fuel automobiles with high gas mileage, it must be remembered that if you can afford them right now then you also probably don't need to be especially concerned about fuel costs.
However, there are many less expensive used vehicles with just as good or better gas mileage. One way to save money is to buy a diesel car. For example, fueleconomy.gov indicates that the 1997 Volkswagen Golf diesel-version car receives 40-49MPG. Diesel cars and trucks tend to have better gas mileage, but there are some exceptions.
Another possibility is to purchase a compact car. The same website reports that the three-cylinder version of the 1995 Geo Metro has a gas mileage rating of 44-49MPG and the 1993 Mazda 323 can reach up to 37MPG. The Dodge/Plymouth Neon and some of the smaller Hyundai models have similar MPG ratings.
Gas mileage can vary significantly amongst different versions of the same model, especially depending upon the type of transmission. Cars often have better or worse gas mileage than their appearance indicates, so it is best to check the statistics rather than making an assumption.
