Go green - keep your car for a decade

Is an old car really as environmentally friendly as a newer car? No.
 
Is an old car really as environmentally friendly as a newer car? No.
 
X-Gamer said:
Driving a 1997 Toyota Corolla 160i. 215000km. Get about 425km on ~50L of fuel....11.76L/100km :wtf:
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:shocked:
Get 650 on a 55L Tank. Check your driving style or something is up with the car.
Driving 1995 180i Corolla Sprinter. Should be 12 years since it's been in the family.
 
Currently still driving 1997 model. Stitching in the seat has come loose though.
 
I have a 93 golf gti, runs well... But newer cars are tempting, I have no reason to get a new car but I am tempted each day.
 
Newer cars have better fuel economy computer in place *I think not an expert or anything* did see a show back in the day on SuperSport whereby you can buy a computer that plays with on-board fuel economy system or whatever they call it.

Never bought my car new, second hand but it does it's job but wait it drinks too much fuel. 3.0 L :)
 
Daughter has a 1997 VW Golf 3 which I gave her in 2001. Done 235000km.

In 1990 I sold a 1984 Honda Ballade (with the flappy headlamp lids) to my mate's wife. She has it still and drives from Kirstenhof to Epping twice a day. It has done 625000km and the engine has never been opened. About 3 years ago, You Magazine and a guy from Honda SA came to look at it and took some pictures.
 
Outlaw said:
Is an old car really as environmentally friendly as a newer car? No.
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Did some Googling and found the following : http://www.theguardian.com/environment/green-living-blog/2010/sep/23/carbon-footprint-new-car

So if we take the example I sit with, our 2001 1.6 16v is claimed to produce 151 gram of Co2 per kilometer. Say we were to replace the old car with a Citron C1 that does 99 grams of Co2 per kilometer it would save 52 gram of Co2 per kilometer.

To manufacture the C1 produces 6 tonnes of Co2, that is 6,000,000 grams of Co2. Therefor we would have to drive the C1 for 115,384km before we even justified getting it as opposed to keeping the old car.

Now the C1 is just an example, it is much smaller than the Astra and if we were to get a newer C-segment car not only will the Co2 emission be higher, so less of a saving, it would also mean the amount of Co2 released during manufacturing is higher.

So bottom line is, unless you drive a lot or can afford to downsize to a supermini, you are not going to save at all.
 
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I can think of one very good reason for buying a more modern car: SAFETY! Especially with our shocking drivers and accident rates in SA.
 
Gaz{M} said:
I can think of one very good reason for buying a more modern car: SAFETY! Especially with our shocking drivers and accident rates in SA.
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Not always the case.
I think I can call my 2007 car 'old' and it has a 5 star euro ncap rating.
 
reactor_sa said:
Not always the case.
I think I can call my 2007 car 'old' and it has a 5 star euro ncap rating.
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Well in your case your car is "new enough" :)

I'm talking about the people in Golf 3's and Tazz's and cars with < 3 stars safety rating.
 
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