Rising oil prices are driving up prices at the petrol pump. How can you still afford to enjoy the pleasures of the open road?

First, are you driving the right vehicle? Do you need to drive a Four Wheel Drive or SUV or V6 or V8 around town? Would you be better off selling the muscle car and buying a smaller sedan or hatch-back . There's lots of talk about hybrid cars like Toyota Prius. Several are now on offer (and available on eBay globally) from Honda, Lexus, Ford and other makes - and more will surely be coming soon to Australia. In the meantime, you can buy a used one from eBay Motors in the USA and importing it (check with RTA first).

The unsung heros of fuel efficiency and environmental friendliness are diesel engines. Cars and trucks with diesel engines consume so much less fuel that they can save you money. And pump less pollution into the air. Turbo Diesels give the combination of power and economy that many people are looking for.

Motorcycles are far more fuel efficient than cars, and can give you a quicker commute and make parking cheaper and easier - but don't forget your helmet .

Second, consider alternatives to driving.  Use public transport, or buy a bike , scooter, skateboard (!), or electric vehicle (remembering that some are not intended for road use).  Live near the water?  How about commuting by canoe, or jetski?

Third, you can squeeze more fuel economy out of your existing ride? Remove any heavy, unused items from your car, like tool boxes, or the rear car seats from your minivan/people mover. Take off the roofrack when not in use (it increases the drag resistance).

One interesting, and surprising fact is that it is more fuel-efficient to keep the windows up and use air conditioning when driving at speed, rather than to roll down the windows - because of the drag this creates.

Tools are available online to search for cheap gas in your area, like this one (http://au.maps.yahoo.com/fuelwatch/).  And there are all sorts of other devices you can try.

And as always, ask for tips from expert eBay community members on the discussion boards .

I hope you found this useful!