What is more environment friendly -driving an old gas guzzler out or traing it in for a hybrid?

Question

I have a van that gives 18 mpg. It has 170,000 miles on it. The wear shows but it is doing fine otherwise and all othersystems work. I have owned it for 8 years.

My next car will definitely be a Hybrid that gives more than 35 mpg.

My dilemma is:

I could trade this one now and start emmiting less green house gases.

or

I can drive the one I have for another 40-50k miles; thus delaying a cars worth of hard ware and mterial consumption for another 4-5 years.

So the question is: What is more environment friendly - Trading in old gas-guzzlers early for Hybrids or running them out for thier full life? Becaue after I trade this one in now, someone else will buy it and drive it for another 50,000 miles anyway, right?

What is worse: gas fumes of 300 gallons or Meterial for a brand new car?

Answer 1

If U R that poor,then I would just stick with the van as long as I could!

Answer 2

Well these are your options:

1) Keep driving the old guzzler.  This means you'll continue emitting a lot of greenhouse gases.

2) Sell the old guzzler, buy a hybrid.  Now you'll have reduced your own emissions, the person who buys your guzzler will be emitting a lot, but he probably would have bought a similar car anyway, so his net emissions won't change.  Eventually the car will be scrapped and recycled.

3) Scrap/recycle the guzzler and buy a hybrid.  This is the best environmental option, but the toughest financial option because you're not getting much for your car.

The material to build a new car isn't a big deal - only about 10% of a car's lifetime energy is used in building it while about 80% is used as you drive it.

Bottom line is that unless your guzzler meets an untimely death, its greenhouse gas emissions are going to be accounted for eventually.  But if you sell it and buy a hybrid, you're increasing the demand for fuel efficient cars and reducing your own personal emissions.

Answer 3

Go ahead and get the hybrid if that's what you want and sell your van.   Someone will drive it until it breaks down then it goes to a parts yard or gets scrap and recycled.

Just don't buy on of those ethaline vehicles.  I can't believe they make thoses things.  Ethaline is one of the biggest cons to come around in a while.

Fuel cell vehicles will be a cure all but it may never happen with big oil in the way and certain government officials getting kickbacks.

Answer 4

If you really believe the current "hybrid" cars are that great then you're not doing your research.

Get a good turbo diesel if you can find one. Hybrid's are very expensive and not worth it IMO but if you have the money I guess it's your choice.

Personally I would keep driving the van if you like it and it runs fine. You're better off taking the money and investing it so it will work for you.

The "real" fuel efficient/alternative vehicles wont be around for another 5 years.

Answer 5

the sooner you get the hybrid the better. plus old cars are recycled and melted down into different materials, so the sooner you get your hybrid the better.

Answer 6

If you trade in your old car to buy a hybrid, now we have two cars emitting greenhouse gases instead of one.

From and environmental perspective unless you junk your old car or somehow disable it so that it can never be used again you are adding more pollution to the environment if you trade it in, not less.

From a personal perspective you should do what is best for your individual set of circumstances.

Personally I would drive the car for another 50,000 miles as long as it is running well.

Answer 7

for starters you haven't said what your driving habits are. Hybrids use electric under 35mph (city) then switch to gas above 35. there is not much difference really if your mostly highway. people see this big increase in mileage going from a navigator 7000# to a small hybrid 3-5000# depending on model. DUH.  do you need a van for hauling stuff? if not get something small.  fuel cells are a joke. where do you get the H2. I keep hearing people say water hydrolysis since they saw it on discovery except it takes more energy to crack water than you get out (almost twice with inefficiencies) flex fuel is the way to go it's renewable less co2 and available now. especially with advances in cellulosic ethanol.  bottom line if you can just drive less.

Answer 8

Dude,  IMO, Lose the van.  Sell it to a private party who will continue to use it until it falls apart. Eventually it will end up being recycled for parts and materials.  USE the cash from the sale to buy a fuel efficient USED smaller more energy efficient vehicle.  There are plenty of cars out there that get mileage approaching that of a hybrid at half the cost!!  Someone mentioned Turbo Diesel. I own a 2004 Diesel VW  (sorry for branding) that gets over 40 mpg.  They are out there for sale on the used car market..

Answer 9

If your current car does not break down, and/or have hugh repairs than I would keep the car for a few more years.

Answer 10

I own a hybrid so I can tell you..trade it in for the hybrid..We are always amazed at how far we can drive on one tank of gas.. Just the gas bill alone makes me happier

Answer 11

The van will be stripped of all useable parts and the rest sold for scrap (recycled).  Hope that eases your concerns.  If not...ahh I tried.

Answer 12

i would beat the old car you have now into the ground.  if you are happy with it, why get rid of it?  i think it's noble of you to think of the enviroment, but by the time you are ready for  new vehicle there will be even better hybrids out.  

i feel very strongly that this problem could be easily fixed by technology.  i don't think that hybrids, electric cars, etc are the only solution.  the governments (not just ours) could fix this problem faster, but why would they?  

anyway, keep that van and save up some money for an even better car in the future.

Answer 13

kiddo,whats obvious here.

Answer 14

Based on your question I'll assume that you are doing around 10k miles a year.

Most of the vehicle life studies I have read put a standard vehicle as about 10% energy to make 5% to dispose of and the bulk (85%) of energy consumed by fuel during its approximate 300k mile life.

As far as the environment is concerned the best thing you can do is reduce your driving. Is it possible to use public transport or ride a bicycle for even some of your trips? Can you plan your trips to minimise your car usage?  If you can get your vehicle usage below 6k mile a year the environment would benefit more than if you purchased a hybrid. It will also save you money, not cost you money.

The fact that you drive a van also brings up another question. Will the hybrid carry the stuff that the van was bought for?

While the purchase of a hybrid will reduce your carbon output, Reducing your car usage will also. The added bonus is that, the money saved can then be invested in renewable energies. (Further reducing your carbon footprint and makes you money)

I know people that have reduced their vehicle use by over 90%. Riding bicycles and using public transport. They are a lot fitter to boot.

If you are unable to reduce you vehicle use then the hybrid will be the better option for the environment. The electric energy used during production (in the U.S.) pollutes about 40% less than energy from petroleum.

Don't make the mistake of driving the hybrid more because it uses less fuel. This defeats the purpose

P.S. Good to see you back Dana (with the right number)

Answer 15

Get what you want. Not what Toyota wants you to get.

If you think using less gas is worth the extra money and lowed performance... then go get a Hybrid.

Answer 16

You can check out the tons of emissions your car puts out.  See website below.

And, not everyone can go hybrid.  I don't because they haven't come out with a safer 6-passenger vehicle that I like.  And, for my husband's trucking business, we've been using FFI's products that improve our MPG while reducing emissions by 75%.  We've been pleasantly pleased.