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It was only a matter of time before the gas prices affected Las Vegas. Beginning July 6, Vegas tourists and locals hitching a ride in a taxi will be paying about 45 cents more for each mile they travel.

At the end of last month, the Nevada Taxicab Authority approved a new plan to change the rate structure for the city’s taxis. Right now, it stands at 45 cents extra per mile. That includes a permanent increase of 20 cents for each mile in addition to a temporary increase of 25 cents. They are calling the 25 cent increase a “fuel surcharge” to make up for the rising gas prices.

To put that into perspective, a normal four-mile trip in a Las Vegas taxi costs $12.85 right now. In three days, though, that same trip is going to cost you $14.65. That doesn’t seem like a huge increase, but it does add up if you use the taxicab service a lot.

The 25 cent increase is only temporary because the board is going to re-evaluate the cost every so often. If gas prices drop below $4 a gallon for at least 20 consecutive days, the board may vote to drop the 25 cent surcharge. Similarly, they can vote to increase the surcharge if area gas prices go above $5 a gallon.

Of course, you can avoid any type of fuel surcharge in Vegas by simply visiting your local Nissan dealer and getting a bargain on a new or used car. Can you imagine any better way to enjoy the lights of Sin City than in a car that rarely needs to be filled up? I sure can’t.

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve heard about the presidential campaigns going on. And with the gas prices being at the top of the list of issues right now, both candidates have their own solutions. Following are some of their ideas.

John McCain
The most talked about solution comes from Senator John McCain. He proposed a “$300 million prize for the development of a battery package that has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug in hybrids or electric cars.” In short, this basically refers to a battery that costs only about one-third of the current costs for the same type of battery. McCain announced his idea during a campaign speech in California last month. He’s also encouraging a “clean air challenge” for domestic automakers. He wants to give car buyers a $5,000 tax credit when they purchase a zero-emissions car.

Barack Obama
The senator from Illinois also has some ideas about fighting gas prices. His ideas aren’t as short-term as McCain’s, but they are just as promising. “We’re not going to bring down gas prices easily, quickly. The only way to do it is to reduce demand over the long term in a serious way.”

Analysts say there isn’t much that we can do in the near future to help the situation. However, Nissan is launching an electric car in the United States within the next two years. In 2010, you can be part of the solution to the fuel crisis by visiting your local Nissan dealer and buying an electric car. If it catches on, that’s going to be one of the best solutions around!

If you own an iPhone, Mercedes-Benz has added a new cradle that allows drivers to fully integrate the gadget into the vehicle’s architecture. With this new cradle, drivers can switch between using the telephone and audio functions with the push of a button…on the steering wheel! There is also a screen that sits above the car’s vents that shows the phone’s status and the track title and artist whenever a song is playing. And since it’s in the center console, the cradle is also easy to reach whether you’re the driver or the passenger.

In addition to its convenience, drivers can also expect crystal-clear reception because the iPhone automatically connects to the vehicle aerial when placed in the cradle. The cradle also charges the iPhone while it sits in there.

In Germany alone, more than 100,000 people have purchased an iPhone since it was launched last November. In the United States, there are probably a couple million people who could benefit from this new device. The new cradle is also the first of its kind. You don’t need any tools to install it. It simply plugs in and unplugs.

Does this sound like something you could use? If so, visit your local Mercedes-Benz dealer for more information. If they don’t have one in stock, a sales representative can tell you where to get one.

It looks like the Dodge Hornet is going to be in production soon. The concept car, which appeared at the Geneva auto show in 2006, hasn’t created much of a buzz lately. In fact, some people in the industry thought the idea might be dead. But it’s far from that.

According to Thomas Hausch, the vice president of Chrysler’s international sales, the two automakers are “working intensely on the Hornet study.”

Neither company has made an official announcement concerning the production of the Hornet. But the new model, based on the Nissan Versa, will likely be a collaboration effort. “I think we will announce announce something on this in the future,” Hausch said about the project. But those “in the know” think the new Hornet will be ready and on Nissan dealer lots by 2010.

The concept featured a three-door hatchback that was similar to the popular Mini Cooper. Industry analysts say the plans will likely produce an upscale version of a compact car in order to directly compete with the Mini Cooper.

Chrysler is also planning to manufacture other small cars in its China factories. But the new collaboration with Nissan will likely produce some interesting vehicles and features that you can enjoy within the next two or three years.

One of the more prestigious stops on the PGA Tour – the Buick Open – was in full swing this past weekend. If you’ve never been to one, you don’t know what you’re missing. It takes place in the upscale suburb of Grand Blanc, Michigan, just a few miles south of Flint and about an hour north of Detroit. But there are many more things you might not know about this prestigious event. Here are some interesting facts about “the Open”:

1. The first Buick Open had a prize of only $52,000. At the time, that was the largest prize awarded on the PGA Tour. To put that amount in perspective, the person who places 23rd in this year’s Buick Open will earn that much. That’s a far cry from the first place prize of $5 million.
2. The golf course on which the Buick Open is played was once a farm. Arnold Lenz, the vice president of GM at the time, provided the foundation for the course’s clubhouse.
3. Currently, Robert Wrenn holds the record for the lowest score at the Buick Open with 26-under 272. He has held the record for 21 years.
4. Tiger Woods has appeared in eight Buick Open tournaments. He has never shot over par in any of those rounds.
5. Buick was the first corporation to sponsor the PGA Tour in 1958. The automaker decided to sponsor the event as a way to celebrate GM’s 50th anniversary.

Are you starved for more interesting Buick Open facts? If so, visit this website. If you’re in the area, visit a local Buick dealer for a great deal on one of these luxurious cars. One area dealer even holds the record for selling the most Buicks in the world. That’s quite a feat for a small town like Flint.

With gas prices the way they are, many people who own large cars, trucks or SUVs are looking for ways to downsize their vehicles. Many have even taken the plunge and invested in a fuel-efficient hybrid so they can save money at the pump. Downsizing is a great idea for some drivers, but is it for everybody? Here are some things to consider if you’re thinking about downsizing your vehicle.

New Car Costs
If you downsize from your current car into a smaller car, you’ll save money on gas. But will that make up for the money you save in car payments and insurance? For drivers who do a lot of driving, the money they save on gas by switching to a smaller car or a hybrid will likely make up for the car payments and insurance. In some instances, you might even be able to save money on your payments and insurance, too! Then it’s a win-win situation for you.

Hidden Costs
Did you just buy that new truck or SUV a year ago? If you just purchased a new vehicle recently, it’s already depreciated a great deal. Consider that when deciding if you should invest in a new or used car.

Savings at the Pump
Analysts estimate that you can save about $1,000 or more in fuel costs each year by downsizing. That number depends on what you’re downsizing from and the type of car you choose. Consider this when buying your next car.

Is downsizing right for you at this time? If so, your local Toyota dealer has a number of compact cars, hybrids and other fuel-efficient vehicles available to fit your needs. Whether you’re looking for a new or a quality used car, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for. Visit one today!

Do you love your Starbucks coffee every morning? Or are you one of the many people giving up their morning jolt in order to put gas in their tank?

If you’re like one-quarter of the nation’s population, you’re giving up those delicious frapuccinos in order to make room in your budget for more fuel. When you think about it, for the price of one venti drink you can put a whole gallon of gas in your car!

But Starbucks isn’t the only company suffering from the gas prices. People are skipping other luxuries in their everyday life as well. As a nation, we’re buying fewer DVDs. We’re not going to as many sporting events as we once did. And restaurants have noticed fewer patrons since gas prices reached $4 a gallon, too.

Another interesting aspect about people cutting back on their expenses is that they expect their new spending habits to be a permanent change. Nearly 75 percent of consumers think the economy is going to get worse before it gets better. The only way to counteract the worsening economy is to save money where they can. Here are some numbers to mull over:

• 28 percent of consumers have admitted that they aren’t buying CDs or DVDs anymore.
• Nearly 30 percent of people no longer attend any sporting events while another 25 percent said they aren’t going to as many events as they once did.
• 60 percent of consumers are eating out less often.
• Nearly 70 percent of people are buying fewer items that they deem “non-essential” or “frivolous.”

So where’s the bright side? If you want to save money, visit your local Buick dealer today. With a largely fuel-efficient inventory and great prices, you can afford to spend a few bucks on your favorite caffeinated drink or at your favorite restaurant. Check one out today and get back to “life as usual.”

The speculation is over and the rumors are true. Mercedes-Benz is planning to launch an all-new electric model in 2010.

With everybody looking for solutions to high gas prices, Dieter Zetsche, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz, confirmed the luxury automaker would also be a major contender in the upcoming electric car market. “We plan an electric Smart for 2010 and for the same year a Mercedes (electric) model as well,” is what he said in an interview with a local German magazine.

Currently, MB has about 100 electric Smart cars driving around the streets of London. But those are more or less to see how the public reacts to them and to see how they hold up in real world conditions.

Unfortunately, nobody has confirmed any prices yet. There are still some factors that need to be addressed before the automaker even discusses price. Will Mercedes-Benz sell the cars with the batteries installed or will the company lease the battery to drivers? The amount of competition in the electric car market will also play a role in the price of the cars. Other companies are planning to launch their electric car models in 2010 as well. I’m sure the ones that Mercedes-Benz creates will be much more luxurious and stylish though.

If you can’t wait until 2010 to get an electric Mercedes, visit your local MB dealer today and get a car that’s more fuel-efficient than many other cars in the industry today. When the electric car revolution rolls around, you’ll be ready to invest in one of those highly-anticipated vehicles, too!

Don’t let the title of this blog post fool you. I’m not going to write about the food in Tijuana. Rather, this is a continuation of yesterday’s post about getting cheaper fuel only a few miles south of the border.

While many truck owners are enjoying huge savings by crossing the border and getting gas for less than $2.50 per gallon, it’s not as glorious as it sounds. If you’re thinking about going there to get a tank of gas every now and then, it’s probably not worth your time. Crossing the border is a hassle in itself. Long lines and hot weather await you. Border agents may even pick you randomly to search your car for a variety of reasons.

In addition to that, Tijuana isn’t exactly the safest place in the region. Stories abound about people getting carjacked, robbed or even shot. Many people also go missing near the border. Mexicans are also disgruntled about the “gringo invasion” (this article’s words, not mine). Americans are causing long lines at the pump and there’s also a shortage of diesel in the area. The reason we’re hearing about this now is because Pemex filling stations, which are run by the state oil monopoly in Mexico, used to set gas prices near the border within a few cents of the price in the United States. That’s because they didn’t want Americans, who have a distinct advantage of crossing the border without a visa, to come over and buy all their gas.

For those car owners who don’t live anywhere near the border, you can save money on gas by getting a fuel-efficient vehicle at your local Nissan dealer. With a huge inventory and a variety of gas-saving features, you can start saving money at the pumps today without leaving your own town. Visit one today!

If you do a lot of “stop and go” driving, a hybrid is ideal for you. Why not try the 2008 Toyota Camry hybrid? Here are some things you can expect when you purchase one of these great vehicles.

Starting out at a base price of about $25,500, this second model year for the hybrid version of the Camry uses the same system the automaker used in its ever-popular Prius. Combined together, the electric motor and gasoline-powered engine provide more than 185 horsepower so you really don’t feel like you’ve lost anything underneath the hood. But you also get about 34 miles to the gallon, making a normal gas-powered engine simply a thing of the past.

If you’ve liked the appearance of the previous Camry models, you’ll like the exterior of the 2008 hybrid model, too. It’s really not any different than what you’re used to except for a full chrome grille. Once inside, though, you might notice a few things. The windshield is made from special material that reduces any outside noise so you can listen to your radio without blasting it or have a conversation without yelling at the passengers. The hybrid Camry holds up to five people with standard cloth seats. Or you can opt for the more luxurious leather ones if that’s what you prefer.

There’s so much more to experience with the 2008 Toyota Camry hybrid. Words simply don’t do it justice. You can read more of the expert review here. Or you can visit a local Toyota dealer today and take one for a test drive. Chances are that you’ll just fall in love with it.