Hello and Welcome to the December 2005 edition of the MotorMouth Newsletter.

This month we have received a huge number of entries to our Open your MotorMouth competition.

It is always difficult choosing a winner because people have such diverse ideas for their entries. So in addition to this month’s winner, we have decided to publish what we saw as the ten most interesting entries.

Sagreeta of Torrens, ACT

Cars parked on road sides

"Why can't people use the left door (the door towards the kerbside) of their cars to get things out from their cars parked on the road side?

Don't they know that there are doors on the both sides (right and left?)"

Bob of Chatswood, NSW

Blinded by the lights

"I am continually amazed by the amount of cars on the roads that have bad adjustments on their headlights. I am sure that this contributes to accidents. We see roadsigns saying that the Police over the next month are looking at speeding or non compliance with seat belts.

I feel that a very worthwhile campaign would be for Police to crack down on faulty headlights. Driving at night should not be a more difficult task than it already is!"

Felicity of Morley, WA

Getting the most out of the bowser

"Whenever I fill up with petrol and once the petrol bowser has clicked off, I hold the bowser up higher than my head so that all the residual petrol which still remains in the petrol hose runs into my tank.

You would be surprised just how much petrol remains in the hose after the bowser has clicked off - and I would prefer the petrol to be in my car tank rather than the hose especially when petrol prices are so high and every drop counts..."

Selena of Dalby, QLD

Saving petrol and Mum's Sanity

"Instead of dragging along Dad and the kids, why not send them packed with a picnic or BBQ to a park near the shopping centre Mum is going to be at. Dad is happy with not settling fights or deciding on presents. No takeaways to buy for the hungry ones.

Also ring toy stores and shopping centres to ask their prices on articles. A phone call is cheaper than going around to stores pricing items, no fuel cost or driving and chasing that carpark that is never around when you want one."

Richard of Graceville, QLD

Saving fuel

"With the cost of fuel rising people should look at ways of reducing the amount of fuel they use. Here are some ideas:

1. Don't accelerate quickly, this uses more petrol and doesn't reduce your travel time.
   This will also reduce tyre wear.
2. Stop filling your tank when the bowser first clicks off.
3. Reduce your overall speed.
   Travelling at 80KPH rather than 100KPH will reduce consumption.
4. Don't rev your car at traffic lights, you are going nowhere."

Ted of Penrith, NSW

What Fog!

"Why is it that motorists have to drive around 24 hrs a day with Fog Lights on? I always thought that it is illegal yet I have seen Police Vehicles with them on also of a night, why have Road Rules when it seems no-one takes any notice, or is it that State Governments have enough money without booking these drivers or is it there are not enough Police on the road"

Julie of Kew, VIC

Rego

"Let's talk about car registration. It is a large up front expense, often too much for many people to pay in one hit. Let's put it on the agenda as an issue for public discussion as to whether motorists should have the choice whether to pay in one lump or say monthly instalments.

What do people think?"

Judith of Glen Alpine, NSW

Say the correct pump number

"When paying for petrol at the service station, make sure that you say the correct outlet pump number.

This week, I lined up and said 'pump 3'and the cashier said 'that has just been paid for'. Someone had given the wrong pump number and paid a higher price for my petrol, so I was allowed to pay a lower price for their petrol.

This worked in my favour, thanks to the young person who said the wrong pump number!"

Ron of Myrtle Bank, SA

Indicators

"I believe that there should be brake activated lights on the front of cars so that on-coming traffic can see whether the other driver intends stopping."

Lejana of Slacks Creek, QLD

Driving Tests for All

"I think EVERYONE should be made to do a driving test every five years as this would dramatically decrease the number of motoring accidents. Rules change, roundabout use being the biggest supporting example.

Drivers become falsely confident and fail to see their own faults; sadly everyone thinks they are THE best drivers. A simple test will FORCE people to be safer and informed drivers. I think the reduction of deaths and accidents far outweighs whatever the financial cost would be."

Best wishes for safe motoring and cheaper fuel prices in 2006.

Until next month...

Alan Price
Marketing Manager - MotorMouth
apricemotormouth.com.au

This month's winner is Dianne from Meadow Heights in VIC. Dianne's entry - Smile on the Roads "Driving home the other day feeling really good after a productive days work, I decided to smile at the other drivers who were stopped near me by the lights. The response I got was amazing! People smiled back, winked and just seemed to brighten up on the long journey home. Lets all smile at our neighbours whether its on the road or on the street. It would make for a happier environment and a brighter day!!" Congratulations Dianne! Your prize will be sent out to you shortly.

EMAIL IN AND WIN!

Do you have an opinion or comment about a motoring or fuel related issue or story you’d like to share with your MotorMouth users from around the country? If so, send through your contribution in 200 words or less and you could win a prize! Your entry can be positive or negative (but of course not rude). The person whose comment is deemed most interesting each month will be awarded a book (or series of books) to the value of $50 from QBD The Bookshop.

So what are you waiting for? Send through your contribution. Remember to add your name, address and phone number to your entry so we can notify you if you are chosen as our winner and send you your prize. Please note, only users who are signed up to receive the MotorMouth Newsletter can win the competition.

These articles proudly supplied by News Limited.
Civic-minded
With the price of petrol continuing to see-saw we're glad we've got a hybrid in the garage. After three months behind the wheel of Toyota's Prius we thought it only fair to devote an equal amount of time to Honda's equivalent, the hybrid-powered Civic.
[Read more]

VW turns up the heat with new hatch
VW this week showed off its ultimate bang-for-bucks baby car; the hot little Polo GTI.
[Read more]

Riding the diesel wave with Jeep
Jeep made a "bigger and better" claim for its latest model Grand Cherokee large four-wheel-drive wagon when it was released mid-year, featuring an optional 5.7-litre HEMI V8 petrol engine. Now, the range is joined by a new diesel-engine option – bigger and better than its predecessor.
[Read more]

Odyssey in the Apple Isle
Despite the season, there is still a chill in the breeze as a family on a driving holiday stops for supplies on the northeast coast of Tasmania.
[Read more]

The average, lowest and the highest Unleaded prices for November 2005 in each city were:

The price leading service stations for Unleaded in each city in November 2005 were:

Brisbane	Service Station OZ Fuel Address Deception Bay Road Suburb Deception Bay Average Price for month 105.3
Sydney	Service Station Helou Petrol Address corner Rawson Road and Ferndell Street Suburb Granville Average Price for month 112.5
Melbourne	Service Station Alpha Address corner Middleborough Road and Fulton Road Suburb Blackburn South Average Price for month 110.2
Adelaide	Service Station Southern Cross Address corner O.G. Road and Yaralin Avenue Suburb Klemzig Average Price for month 115.7
Perth	Service Station Coles Express Address corner Walcott Street and Fitzgerald Street Suburb Mt Lawley Average Price for month 110.6

The average, lowest and the highest Diesel prices for November 2005 in each city were:

The price leading service stations for Diesel in each city in November 2005 were:

Brisbane	Service Station BP Address Middle Road Suburb Hillcrest Average Price for month 114.9
Sydney	Service Station Super Save Casula Address corner Hume Highway and Leacocks Lane Suburb Casula Average Price for month 121.3
Melbourne	Service Station Lucky 7 Address corner Nicholson Street and Princes Street Suburb Carlton Average Price for month 121.0
Adelaide	Service Station United Address corner Main North Road and Diagonal Road Suburb Pooraka Average Price for month 121.8
Perth	Service Station Yule-Du Roadhouse Address Albany Highway Suburb Bedfordale Average Price for month 121.8

The average, lowest and the highest LPG prices for November 2005 in each city were:

The price leading service stations for LPG in each city in November 2005 were:

Brisbane	Service Station Caltex/Woolworths Address corner Kingston Road and Baldarch Street Suburb Woodridge Average Price for month 48.6
Sydney	Service Station AP Petroleum Address corner Hume Highway and Orchard Road Suburb Bass Hill Average Price for month 48.5
Melbourne	Service Station United Address corner Heatherton Road and Hallam North Road Suburb Narre Warren North Average Price for month 42.5
Adelaide	Service Station Coles Express Address The Grove Way Suburb Golden Grove Average Price for month 50.9
Perth	Service Station Black & White Distribution Address Fauntleroy Avenue Suburb Belmont Average Price for month 51.8

MotorMouth is committed to helping Australian motorists get a better deal on fuel by providing them with free and easily accessible information on fuel prices.

Reproduction of the whole or part of this email constitutes an infringement of copyright. All information published in this email is intended to be used for your personal use only and can not be used for commercial use without the prior written consent of MotorMouth Pty Ltd. For data sales enquiries please contact salesmotormouth.com.au