Im a Sinner
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Maybe this will help you decide:
Is Keeping your Old Car Better than a Hybrid?
EcoGeek.com
Written by Hank Green
Monday, 02 June 2008
This issue seems to come up so much in conversation that I can hardly believe EcoGeek has never covered the topic. Given that producing a car is an extremely energy and resource intensive endeavor, is it better for the environment to keep driving an old car, or to buy a new, more efficient one.
Unfortunately, that turns out to be a complicated question. In the end it depends on how long you'll keep driving your old car, how efficient it is, and what kind of car you're looking to upgrade to.
But to keep it simple, I'll be referencing a recent article from Salon's "Ask Pablo" series. A Toyota Prius produces about 1/4 of it's lifetime carbon emissions in the manufacturing process. The rest is produced by burning gasoline. That's about 113 million BTUs of energy. So, you have to make sure your old car is going to make up those 113 M BTUs when compared to the Prius. Coincidentally, burning 1000 gallons of gas is produces pretty much exactly 113 BTUs of energy.
So, you do the numbers with your own car. If switching to a Prius would save you more than 1,000 gallons of gas, then it'll be better for you to switch. If your car gets about 25 MPG (with a 20MPG difference between you and the Prius), then you're looking at 20,000 miles before it's environmentally better. For most, that's a few years of driving during which it's better to stick with your old car.
But it's always going to be greener to get an old car with roughly the same mileage as a Prius, like a Honda CRX or Geo Metro. But if you need the mileage and the comfort, the Prius is a good place to look.
Is Keeping your Old Car Better than a Hybrid?
EcoGeek.com
Written by Hank Green
Monday, 02 June 2008
This issue seems to come up so much in conversation that I can hardly believe EcoGeek has never covered the topic. Given that producing a car is an extremely energy and resource intensive endeavor, is it better for the environment to keep driving an old car, or to buy a new, more efficient one.
Unfortunately, that turns out to be a complicated question. In the end it depends on how long you'll keep driving your old car, how efficient it is, and what kind of car you're looking to upgrade to.
But to keep it simple, I'll be referencing a recent article from Salon's "Ask Pablo" series. A Toyota Prius produces about 1/4 of it's lifetime carbon emissions in the manufacturing process. The rest is produced by burning gasoline. That's about 113 million BTUs of energy. So, you have to make sure your old car is going to make up those 113 M BTUs when compared to the Prius. Coincidentally, burning 1000 gallons of gas is produces pretty much exactly 113 BTUs of energy.
So, you do the numbers with your own car. If switching to a Prius would save you more than 1,000 gallons of gas, then it'll be better for you to switch. If your car gets about 25 MPG (with a 20MPG difference between you and the Prius), then you're looking at 20,000 miles before it's environmentally better. For most, that's a few years of driving during which it's better to stick with your old car.
But it's always going to be greener to get an old car with roughly the same mileage as a Prius, like a Honda CRX or Geo Metro. But if you need the mileage and the comfort, the Prius is a good place to look.
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From: VA Beach via South Jersey
Originally Posted by f1_fanz,Jun 3 2008, 07:47 AM
Maybe this will help you decide:
Is Keeping your Old Car Better than a Hybrid?
EcoGeek.com
Written by Hank Green
Monday, 02 June 2008
This issue seems to come up so much in conversation that I can hardly believe EcoGeek has never covered the topic. Given that producing a car is an extremely energy and resource intensive endeavor, is it better for the environment to keep driving an old car, or to buy a new, more efficient one.
Unfortunately, that turns out to be a complicated question. In the end it depends on how long you'll keep driving your old car, how efficient it is, and what kind of car you're looking to upgrade to.
But to keep it simple, I'll be referencing a recent article from Salon's "Ask Pablo" series. A Toyota Prius produces about 1/4 of it's lifetime carbon emissions in the manufacturing process. The rest is produced by burning gasoline. That's about 113 million BTUs of energy. So, you have to make sure your old car is going to make up those 113 M BTUs when compared to the Prius. Coincidentally, burning 1000 gallons of gas is produces pretty much exactly 113 BTUs of energy.
So, you do the numbers with your own car. If switching to a Prius would save you more than 1,000 gallons of gas, then it'll be better for you to switch. If your car gets about 25 MPG (with a 20MPG difference between you and the Prius), then you're looking at 20,000 miles before it's environmentally better. For most, that's a few years of driving during which it's better to stick with your old car.
But it's always going to be greener to get an old car with roughly the same mileage as a Prius, like a Honda CRX or Geo Metro. But if you need the mileage and the comfort, the Prius is a good place to look.
Is Keeping your Old Car Better than a Hybrid?
EcoGeek.com
Written by Hank Green
Monday, 02 June 2008
This issue seems to come up so much in conversation that I can hardly believe EcoGeek has never covered the topic. Given that producing a car is an extremely energy and resource intensive endeavor, is it better for the environment to keep driving an old car, or to buy a new, more efficient one.
Unfortunately, that turns out to be a complicated question. In the end it depends on how long you'll keep driving your old car, how efficient it is, and what kind of car you're looking to upgrade to.
But to keep it simple, I'll be referencing a recent article from Salon's "Ask Pablo" series. A Toyota Prius produces about 1/4 of it's lifetime carbon emissions in the manufacturing process. The rest is produced by burning gasoline. That's about 113 million BTUs of energy. So, you have to make sure your old car is going to make up those 113 M BTUs when compared to the Prius. Coincidentally, burning 1000 gallons of gas is produces pretty much exactly 113 BTUs of energy.
So, you do the numbers with your own car. If switching to a Prius would save you more than 1,000 gallons of gas, then it'll be better for you to switch. If your car gets about 25 MPG (with a 20MPG difference between you and the Prius), then you're looking at 20,000 miles before it's environmentally better. For most, that's a few years of driving during which it's better to stick with your old car.
But it's always going to be greener to get an old car with roughly the same mileage as a Prius, like a Honda CRX or Geo Metro. But if you need the mileage and the comfort, the Prius is a good place to look.
Thread Starter
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From: VA Beach via South Jersey
But where in this post did I say I wanted a Prius? I know the wrangler doesnt get good mileage and its a little worse than the S. Im not worried about the whole green thing. I recycle thats about it
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Originally Posted by MitsukillinS2K,Jun 4 2008, 12:17 PM
But where in this post did I say I wanted a Prius? I know the wrangler doesnt get good mileage and its a little worse than the S. Im not worried about the whole green thing. I recycle thats about it
The article states that "better" is relative depending on your driving style, the average mpg you get with your current car, etc.
That was the point, which was apparently lost on you.
Have fun trying to save money with your new Jeep (or whatever)! lol
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: VA Beach via South Jersey
Originally Posted by f1_fanz,Jun 4 2008, 09:52 AM
Your argument revolved around the cost of gasoline. Prius, and other high-mileage vehicles, are among the considerations of someone concerned about turning in their S for a more gas-efficient car.
The article states that "better" is relative depending on your driving style, the average mpg you get with your current car, etc.
That was the point, which was apparently lost on you.
Have fun trying to save money with your new Jeep (or whatever)! lol
The article states that "better" is relative depending on your driving style, the average mpg you get with your current car, etc.
That was the point, which was apparently lost on you.
Have fun trying to save money with your new Jeep (or whatever)! lol
1 the only reason i said about the gas prices is because premium is around 30+ cents more a gallon
2 My argument wasnt around the cost of gas. there were more factors than just that. If I were to get rid of the S and get something a little cheaper I would save money just in car payments and if it was not a sports car my insurance would go down.
3 Im keeping the S now. Screw saving money. I only live once and if im ever to have kids ill have to get some sort of family car. Its reality why fight it.