How green is scrapping an old car and buying a new one?

[Stellar Gellar]

How green is it to scrap a perfectly good car and replace it with a new one?

[Ralph Day]

I guess it depends on how green the old one is. Older engine technology (fuel consumption) is generally less efficient, more polluting, building a new car generates greenhouse gasses too. Perhaps it's just a personal call.

Ralph

[Joe Blake]

It depends on (a) what "perfectly good" means, and (b) what you replace it with.

If "perfectly good" means it doesn't break down or belch clouds of black or even grey smoke but only gets 10-12 mpg, and you're a one or two person family, that doesn't sound too good, and I'd be looking to re-assess my transport requirements because (b) would then come into effect.

I made my decision decades ago that I wouldn't have a car, and except for a few years when I was hang-gliding, a "free-energy recreation", I've stuck with that, and use either motorcycles or bicycles, or lately solar-powered electric.

If I wasn't already as committed as I am, I'd wait a bit before replacing my current vehicle (unless it is a "belcher"/"gas-guzzler") because in the not-to-distant-future (probably within 12-18 months) true energy efficient vehicles are going to hit the market at a reasonable price (provided the car-manufacturers can pull their heads out of their bottom lines).

I've always had the view that the environment is more important that my bank account, so I've spent my money accordingly.

Joe

[Sean Skirvin]

I think I heard somewhere that 4/5ths of the CO2 a car is responsible for is used in the manufacturing process, so it would usually be better to "drive your car into the ground" before buying a new one.

[Penny Walters]

I think it depend on how green the old one is and if the new one is any better. If you replace it with a greener one, then it could be worthwhile.
And if the old one is still in good condition, then why don't sell it instead of scrapping it?:idea:

[David MPierce]

I think too late in thread but interesting to know what the matter is always go in favor of more greener no matter older or newer.