If you were totally convinced that it would make a real difference to the effect on the environment
2006-09-18 07:11:24 · 22 answers · asked by Warlock Fiend 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
If my car gets any smaller I wont be able to get in it!
2006-09-18 07:13:56 · answer #1 · answered by ? 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would. I never intended to buy a C-segment car. I intended to buy a high-performance diesel B-segment car, but at the time the only option was the Seat Ibiza TDi 130, and I wasn't impressed by the high-speed stability of the rear end - the rear suspension was too stiff, allowing the rear end to bounce and go light at speed. On one section of my test route I could only comfortably do 50mph in the TDi 130, when I could do 55mph in the the Ibiza TDi 100 (and chickened out at 70mph in my previous car, a Rover 220SDi without it ever feeling unstable, but a bend was approaching). Instead I bought a Renault Mégane dCi 120, which is larger than I really need, but has the performance and low consumption I wanted - it averages about 50mpg.
I might go back to a B-segment car next time, if the right model takes my fancy. But for now I'll stick to the one I have, and save the environment from the damage caused by building another new car.
2006-09-18 16:33:17 · answer #2 · answered by Neil 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually I am thinking of swapping a pickup for a Jeep Liberty diesel.
A friend has one and it is giving him 25 miles per gallon and sometimes as much as 30!
It doesn't stink like a diesel, I don't know how they did it but it is quieter than many gas engines.
He bought it to use biodiesel because it burns clean and will slowly reduce the amount of petroleum diesel needed.
I have friends with small cars that only get 30-32mpg and they can't haul much of anything should they need to. Plus, the Liberty is four wheel drive and can pull a heavy trailer when you want to. I think he said up to 5,000 lbs.
So, I would go from a two passenger truck that gets 15mpg to a five passenger vehicle that gets about 28mpg. I would actually be upsizing but saving fuel at the same time.
2006-09-18 14:46:34 · answer #3 · answered by FAT CAT 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was running a Saab Aero till recently, when I decided to use a Golf Diesel since I was doing a lot more commuting often in heavy traffic, who needs a 150mph car when you can only go 20 -30 mph?
The Saab sits in the driveway looking grumpily at me, I don't miss the speed, less stressful not worrying about the traffic police, but since I'm doing a higher mileage it's not doing much for the environment in absolute terms.
2006-09-18 14:55:29 · answer #4 · answered by strawman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mine is already a two-seater, so I don't think there is much more room to downsize, but of course your question really refers to whether one would buy an underpowered thin-can of a car in response to envonmental consciousness.
No. Nor would I live in an earth hut dug into a hillside to reduce the impact my home's energy use has on the environment. Nor will I ride public transportation.
2006-09-18 14:41:49 · answer #5 · answered by anonymourati 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would not downsize. After reading that BMW is going to have a production 7 Series Hydorgen powered vehicle out next year I see no reason to downsize. Vehicles that run on reduced emissions are available now...without downsizing!
2006-09-18 14:24:11 · answer #6 · answered by wlw_1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My car runs on low sulphur diesel, 2.5 litres, but I need the actual size of the car for business purposes.
If the alternative fuels were easier to come by, that would make a difference, and the technology does exist, but not every manufacturer is communicating well enough to have this in place properly.
2006-09-18 15:17:56 · answer #7 · answered by byrne4u2002 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do plan to downsize my car sometime soon. I drive a Honda CRV which I orginally purchased because it suited my needs at the time. It was easy to get into and lift my son into when I had severe back pain. The back pain has eased and now I no longer need such a tall car.
I live in London and have had eggs thrown at my car by eco-dudes.
2006-09-18 14:31:04 · answer #8 · answered by Dr Fill 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I only have a vauxhall corsa 1198cc. (1.2) As I work in the community as a care worker I cannot rely on pub.transport. Some of my Clients live way out in the sticks. I am sure a bike would be more eco-friendly and probably healthier. But............
how would I be able to attend to my clientelle ?
2006-09-18 14:43:54 · answer #9 · answered by biggi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For sure however cars only produce about 20% of the greenhouse gasses and out of that %, 80% of the pollution cause by vehicles is by commercial vehicle which BTW are usually exempt from the emissions tests we must do on private vehicles...
2006-09-18 14:21:23 · answer #10 · answered by Mike Hunt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I could live in a rural area with a smaller car and three children I would - only have a Corsa Comfort as it is
2006-09-18 14:28:22 · answer #11 · answered by Amanda K 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋