Quote:
Originally Posted by guudasitgets
My best mileage was 49 miles to the gallon and if I overhauled the engine (cost me $1200 in parts and machining) it can do better but it still runs like new. It today has 262,304.5 miles on the clock. I bought it in October of 2008 and have put on 50,000 miles on it in the almost 5 years I had it.
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MPG is not the complete pollution profile for the vehicle's life.
In 2008 when you bought it ... you had other cleaner , less pollution to operate vehicles to choose from ... you chose to buy that more polluting per mile vehicle instead ... there can be 100% valid other reasons to buy or not buy a car ... but when talking a out pollution ... more pollution is more pollution.
And your own personal life time pile of pollution is going to be larger due to a choice like that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by guudasitgets
I don't have to work at my job and contribute to pollution to pay off a $25,000 car.
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Financial argument is 100% valid to the choice making ... but is not about the pollution argument ... Price not = pollution.
Quote:
Originally Posted by guudasitgets
Say you want a Prius, that has to be built NOW, today. Mines already built, doesn't matter what the efficiancy of manufacturing was then, it's built already.
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The Re-Use is valid ... but the efficiency of Manufacturing is 100% valid to the total pollution and energy efficiency of the vehicle's operating life time.
And there is still a break even point for the newer cleaner per mile becomes better than older dirtier per mile ... even with the initial hit of production.
Back in 2008 you had better options to reduce your own personal life time pile of pollution.
Quote:
Originally Posted by guudasitgets
For the Prius raw materials have to be processed, tooling designed and ordered, machining centers ordered and programed assembly lines fired up, cars freighted over here, cars then rail freighted to my city. Then set up by the dealer. Then (arguments with the wife on the color) then picked up, then start the payment process, more cost for insurance.
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And all that had to also happen for the old vehicle also ... but many things polluted more to produce 20 or 30 years ago then they do today.
Quote:
Originally Posted by guudasitgets
More wieght = more waste to build, doesn't matter what MPG it gets.
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Not necessarily.
The per Pound system is cleaner today than it was in the past for many things.
Yes , That initial pollution is not effected by MPG.
But every mile you drive is effected ... it is polluting more per gallon it uses ... and it is using more gallons to travel the same distance ... that pollution of usage ... is real ... and 100% matters to the total cleanness of the vehicle.
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If you know how bad ... like the specific amount ... that 20 or 30 year old vehicle puts out in the exhaust ... then you can run the numbers to get a more precise point where it breaks even , or is better ... but it is more toxic and dirtier per mile to operate ... no escaping that.