Why You Should Wait Until 2010 To Buy A New Car

[SVOboy]

Nice read from ecogeek:

I get emails pretty regularly from people asking which car, from my perspective, is the greenest. If you're one of the thousands of people wandering around the Internet, convinced that there's got to be a greener option for you than your current car, then I've got some good and bad news for you.

The good news is that, no matter what kind of car you're looking for, there's a green version out there. The bad news is, it might not be 100% available just now...in fact, you're almost certainly going to have to wait.

There is simply no new technology that, in my opinion, is worth investing in. Even if you don't have a hybrid, you will save so much more gas with the next generation plug-ins and full-electrics that it really isn't worth upgrading now. So, hold onto that junker this Earth Day. Take her in, get her a tune up, and bide your time. Two years from now, it'll be easy pickens from the green car tree. Here's a taste of what's on the horizon.

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[Duffman]

The problem with that is there is always something worth waiting for in a few years. If I based my computer purchasing decisions (were this wait for something better theory actually returns better returns) I would never have owned a computer.

[Arminius]

Great topic, SVOboy. In addition, Clark Howard generally recommends that people not trade in their present automobiles for more efficient new ones, because the cost of gas alone will not justify the decision. He recommends the cost calculator below:

http://politicalcalculations.blogspo...s-guzzler.html

Your point adds another layer to the decision-making process, which is very important. The 2010-2012 timespan will introduce a wide variety of options for car buyers. Hold out if you can, imho, because the alternatives coming out offer radical changes, not minor ones.

[SVOboy]

Duffman, I think what arminius points to is the important distinction. It's not about always waiting a bit longer (eventually your car will just die though, right?), but in this case it's about waiting for a predicted windfall of green transportation options,

[Duffman]

We were suppose to be getting a diesel F150 on the market around 5 years ago, where is it? Chrysler was going to bring over Mercedes diesels en mass and now they are not the same company anymore. Not everything that is promised for the future always materialises.

[Arminius]

True that. Wisdom combined with patience will pay off this time, I think. I would hate to see someone pass up the opportunity to buy a car that saved them $2,000 - $3,000 a year in gas just because they were ticked about the F150!

[hvatum]

They forget that one can replace an inefficient used car with an efficient used car. A mid 90s Metro or something of the sort to replace a mid 90s Audi A4 would give a vast increase in efficiency and make the person money. Just stating the obvious, of course this is great advice if the choice is between a new car or keeping the current car.

[Arminius]

Yeah, depreciation is one of the biggest factors. A good calculator needs to take that into account. I personally calculate that I will own a car at least 10 years, barring an accident that makes the car unusable.

[Arminius]

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008...ntro.html#more


http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008...tudy.html#more


http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/05...pted-and-othe/

[LostCause]

"Green" has become about as meaningless as "organic," "low fat," and "healthy."

Wait three years to buy some "healthy" cigarettes...fully filtered.

They should market those cars primarily for its economical advantages, not for its environmental benefits. People are going to start to get the idea that driving their Prii around is good for the environment. Maybe I'm taking a glass half empty perspective here, but it irks me when the media latches on to key words that lose all meaning.

If they do market it for its economical advantages, it shouldn't take a genius to realize a used civic is going to be a hell of a lot cheaper then anything new.

New technology means nothing alongside the same old mode of thought...but the technology is cool, though.

- LostCause