When it comes to travel within the United States, there’s just no getting around it: the automobile is king. For all the popularity of airplanes for long distance trips, and with the decline of trains over the last several decades, the car is really the primary way we travel. Of course, cars are not ideal in a lot of ways. It’s a relatively dangerous way to go — commercial airlines and trains are safer — and there are also the environmental issues, not to mention the growing expense of gasoline. That cost is obviously a major problem with everyone so worried about cash these days.
Of course, the popularity of hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius and even some new all-electric vehicles are starting to improve cars’ gas economy. Still, people are just crazy for anything they can do to increase their gas mileage.
I didn’t know you could do this, but a friend recently purchased a performance chip for his Nissan Maxima. Apparently, these things basically “tell” the car “get better mileage.” What I’m still trying to figure out is why they don’t already have that command entered at the factory. Anyhow, he really swears by the doohickey.
The guy admitted that he didn’t know very much about cars, so I asked him where he got the idea. He said his father had suggested it, and it was suggested to his dad by his mechanic. So, as in a case of “like father like son,” he bought it. Which I guess makes him a performance chip off the old block. (That’s a terrible joke. I know.) In any case, I guess those of us who are always looking at ways to save money and be greener have to consider these performance chip thingies — if we want to figure out a way to significantly improve our mileage without drastically changing our driving habits, or buying a new car.
