Which is better for the environment?

Question

Is it better to continue to use my 14-year old vehicle with less than average gas mileage or buy a new vehicle that gets better mileage? I am still burning fuel either way, but a new car is built with additional materials from the earth, and causes pollution secondary to manufacture. If I could buy a car that didn't burn fossil fuels, and that I could fill-up/recharge easily I would go for it. I also wouldn't think a moment about buying a gas burning car if the MPG was somewhere close to 100.

I don't know much about the current materials being used to build green cars --- but I assume they don't materialize without a primary or secondary effect on the environment.

Answer 1

For the environment it makes no difference either way. Your present car is going to be driven until it drops, either by you or by the person you sell it to. Meanwhile you've bought a new gasoline car :(

I recommend you wait a couple years, because I think there are cars coming (soon) that will be MUCH greener.

For instance, now that the diesel smog laws have been updated, there are many new, high performance diesel cars on the way for late 2007-2009, and that lets you run biodiesel, the best biofuel.

Hybrids are getting stronger and stronger, (more hybrid less gas). GM, Chrysler and BMW got together and built a much more advanced hybrid transmission that will start appearing in cars and trucks in 2008-09.

Market demand for "plug-in" hybrids is strong, and we may see that in the next 2-3 years since it's a fairly minor change to existing hybrid designs.

Answer 2

If you buy a new car and keep that for 14 years then the environmental damage caused from the manufacture of the vehicle will be more than offset by the savings made by running a cleaner and more efficient vehicle.

A typical compact modern vehicle will produce about 150 grams of carbon emissions per kilometre, the most efficient ones such as the Toyota Prius are considerably less (104g in the case of the Prius). Your current vehicle could quite easily be producing more than twice this level of emissions.

The Japanese and European manufacturers produce the most environmentally friendly vehicles, Toyota and Honda are leading the way.

Answer 3

first of all the new car has probably already been made so the pollution cost has already been dealt. Older cars have the lowest green ratings of all so you should stop using those. What you should do is take apart your older car and somehow recycle or reuse it in someway and then get a hybrid that gets at least 35 miles per gallon, but it would be a lot better to get at least 45.
But it is best for you not to drive at all if you don't have to. If you can rider your bike or walk, do that or if you can take a mass transit system, take that! those will help even more than using the most efficient car.

Answer 4

You should buy a new car. The are cars out there that can get up to 40-60 mpg! Yes it still runs on gasoline but there are not many non oil cars on the road that are out there. Car material can be recycled so you dont have to worry about that. Even if you dont get a car made up of recycled material the gas mileage should make up for it. You should get a car that should get around 40 mpg. If you are interested in my answer, go to this site to look at environmentally friendy cars. www.puregreencars.com

Answer 5

14 year old vehicle Emmit's more pollution, if you are more concerned about the environment, better dispose you old vehicle and opt for a new one, as you say the new vehicle will also burn fuel but the pollution emission level will be lesser when compared to your old vehicle.
You can opt for gas burning car also, which will reduce your cost of burning.
As per my knowledge there is no manufacturing facility which manufactures cars with out polluting the environment.

Answer 6

You can sit and try figuring out what will use up more materials, burn more carbon...etc. All day. Some actually argue hybrids will in long run do more harm because more energy required during production. Although I can't confirm that.

It will be almost impossible for you to answer your question if you take everything into account. But newer cars have better engine, better standards on emission...etc.

But it will require materials and energy to convert current technology to 'green' technology. We can't make something out of nothing.

Unless we plan on living in cave and live like cave men we'll have to invest some materials and energy to go green.

Answer 7

It's better to buy a newer vehicle that not only gets better mileage but also is less polluting. Yes, resources are used to build new cars, but old cars have many recylable components. Older vehicles tend to leak fluids, pollute more, and be less efficient. Plus they often break piece by piece so it is better to replace everything at once (buy a new car) then buy tires, brakes, batteries, etc. one by one.

Answer 8

Cars in general are bad investments (they devalue so quickly) I would try to calculate what mileage you get now and figure out how much you would have to drive just to see how long it would take to break even. Then also look at depreciation. If you want a new car because you would enjoy it more, go ahead but the gas mileage should be looked at as just one factor.

Answer 9

X number of cars are made every year, so your buying a new car will make no difference on the environment. Economically get the least expensive and most fuel efficient model that you like the looks and feel of. If you can't be happy and financially sound, then all the environmentally green psycho-babel won't do you any good.

Answer 10

A 14 year old car has seen it's best days regardless of miles and care. I would suggest you start looking for a new vehicle. The Toyota Prius seems a good alternative and I'm getting one soon.