Its Earth Day, So I Drove This to Work *insert your car here*

volvoclearinghouse wrote: In reply to alfadriver: I drive that car because its the most reliable, fuel-thrifty vehicle I own. And because I more subscribe to the concept that keeping my vehicles well maintained and on the road is "greener" than this consumerism-driven "green" economy that the enviromental movement seems to have morphed into. If you *need* a new car, sure, buy the cleanest one that fills your needs. But don't crush your perfectly good older model just so you can enjoy the smell of puppy dog farts and potpouri coming out of your tailpipe. No, its not biodiesel, and no, I'm not really making a statement one way or the other. But I do carpool, so the 25 miles to the gallon that Krautwagen manages would be equivalent to my girlfriend and I each driving a 50 mpg E36 M3box to our respective jobs.

It very much depends on the year of the car for your claim to be true. And based on the regulated tailpipe emissions, I would peg that somewhere in the:

2000's for a poorly maintained car

mid '90's for an average maintained car

late 80's for a very well maintained car.

Earlier than that, the rules were lax enough that a newer car will be better for the environment for daily driving.

Mileage is a small part of what I'm concerned about. CO, NMOG, and NOx will hurt you much, much sooner than CO2 will.

Eric

Not mine but a dead ringer.

My WRX. It's a compact that gets the mileage of a full size!

The most polluting vehicle own. Smells like it too. Sadly it still is getting 29-30mpg.

I haven't ridden in any kind of vehicle for almost 4 days now. Eat my green power suckas!

In reply to volvoclearinghouse:

I drove my 87 Alfa Milano.

I thanked mother earth for the sweet light crude she produces by revving through the gears when I have a chance. The Alfa V6 sound is my prayer to Gaia.

The Metra rail.

I don't even keep a daily driver for myself. Its wife's commuter and then I have the tinker with track toy.

My choices were:

1999 Camaro Z28 - LS1, 1997 Yukon GT - Vortec 350, 1978 Corvette - 500+ hp 496 cu in big block

Not much to choose from to honor earth day.

I only work weekends... so I am not driving to work today

1996 328i, nothing special, mid 20's in mixed city driving.

alfadriver wrote: Mileage is a small part of what I'm concerned about. CO, NMOG, and NOx will hurt you much, much sooner than CO2 will.

But still I can't imagine guys on this board driving any kind of car for 100-150K miles at almost any emissions level after some other schmo gets rid of it and thinks it's "all used up" is worse for the environment than producing an new Prius, and driving it for 150K miles.
I'm talking Cradle to Cradle environmental impact here. Lets assume that 1978 Mercedes already exists and is ready to fill that drivers needs, or they have to have a new car BUILT for them.

I'm going to guess correct and accurate Non biased data is difficult to find.

Me, I drove my 2005 Pontiac Vibe getting 36mpg on my 75 mile round trip commute.

In reply to volvoclearinghouse:

'65 Stang!

Can we hotlink from our readers rides?

Same thing I drive every day. Damn near 50mpg and slow.

This one, including full cats and sticker for Berlin's low-emissions zone. Unfortunately my daily commute doesn't give it time to heat up fully which means I barely see 15 mpg. On the highway it's a different story.

I wanted to drive the truck and let it idle all day, but I need to get the MoS aligned so today was the day.

In case you hadn't guessed I'm say F earth day and the hippies that created it. I try to live a responsible existence every day and not be wasteful if somethign has a use...... unlike the peopel that are likely "celebrating" this day and only think about it once a year. F the hippo's and the crits that go with them.

In terms of tailpipe emissions I am a polluter when I drive my BMW or my Mini. Carbs, no emissions equipment, and no cats make sure of that. In terms of mileage the Mini is very good and the BMW is marginal. In terms of not expending all the energy and resultant pollution to build another new car I think there has to be some offset.

Sure cars get cleaner every year, but if everyone crushed their old car and bought new every year the planet would not be better off.

I drove my big ol' stinky nasty gas swilling Trooper to work. To atone for this sin and in observance of Earth Day, I am holding all my farts in until midnight tonight.

In reply to ditchdigger: That is awesome. Whatever that is. I'd challenge you to a drag race in my '78 oil burner. What's your 0-60 time (if it can get to 60)? The MB'er will do it in about 20 seconds. One time, waiting at a stoplight, it turned green, and as I "accellerated" to get through the intersection, the light turned yellow before I was all the way through.

"That's" accelleration!

911 with a small oil leak:

nocones wrote:

alfadriver wrote: Mileage is a small part of what I'm concerned about. CO, NMOG, and NOx will hurt you much, much sooner than CO2 will.

But still I can't imagine guys on this board driving any kind of car for 100-150K miles at almost any emissions level after some other schmo gets rid of it and thinks it's "all used up" is worse for the environment than producing an new Prius, and driving it for 150K miles. I'm talking Cradle to Cradle environmental impact here. Lets assume that 1978 Mercedes already exists and is ready to fill that drivers needs, or they have to have a new car BUILT for them.

I'm all for driving/recycling "old cars", but replacing the existing catalytic converter(s) on a modern car with a test pipe is pretty wrong, IMHO. What "benefit" does that bring?

I drove my TDi today. FWIW. I won't argue that it's "green" (I do have a 100mile commute: it's hard to argue that any part of that decision is "green"), but I DO feel better about it than the '87 E30 (with fresh cat :) ) I was driving...for the distances I drive.

Same car I drive every day, 25 mpg. I only have one. At least I stayed on all four wheels today.

My newest car is a 1993. I already celebrated Urf Day by not requiring that the car companies exhaust more resources and pollute by making a new car for me.

My current car is both the largest and most fuel efficient that I have ever owned, and both were factors in buying it. I am amazed at the lengths the car goes to trying to keep my foot off the gas:

1. Green economy zone on the tach
2. Computer controlled shift light programmed for efficiency
3. Instant digital mileage graph
4. average mileage calculator
5. approximated miles left on current tank indicator

there is probably something else too that I am forgetting, but all these things add up to subconscious suggestions for a more relaxed driving style.

30 mpg average

Currently out of work, but driving this to run my errands to continue to break in the new rebuild. 351w under the hood.

tb wrote: My current car is both the largest and most fuel efficient that I have ever owned, and both were factors in buying it. I am amazed at the lengths the car goes to trying to keep my foot off the gas: 1. Green economy zone on the tach 2. Computer controlled shift light programmed for efficiency 3. Instant digital mileage graph 4. average mileage calculator 5. approximated miles left on current tank indicator there is probably something else too that I am forgetting, but all these things add up to subconscious suggestions for a more relaxed driving style. 30 mpg average

Those ARE surprisingly efficient. However, if i were driving one again, that badge on the grill wouldn't be a badge anymore, it would be a mandate.