The Sierra Club has come up with a calculator that shows us how to "magnify" our savings by going for the most fuel efficient cars and not just settling for the government's minimal standards.
There are fourteen 2009 models out there that get better than 30 miles per gallon combined fuel economy. The fuel economy and cost estimates are based on data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy for cars driven 15,000 miles a year — 45 percent on the highway and 55 percent in the city — and paying between $3.75 for gasoline and $3.88 for diesel.
Of course there's the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Nissan Ultima Hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, Mazada Tribute Hybrid, Smart (Car) ForTwo, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Volkswagon Jetta, Volkswagon Sport Jetta, Toyota Yaris, Mini Cooper, Mini Cooper Clubman, Honda Fit, and Honda Insight,
The Sierra Club recommends buyers check out their Cash For Clunkers Calculator, then use the Kelly Blue Book Calculator to check the value of your trade-in and determine if your car is clunkier enough to meet the government's clunker list.
Finally, the Sierra Club says to shop around before you mention you have a gas guzzler to trade-in. Also, that guzzler will be crushed at a metal scrap yard, so ask about applying some of that value to your trade-in.