Replies

How about converting your 15 MPG Hummer or truck to run on CNG vs Gasoline? Assuming a proper installation of the conversion kit, there will be no gain or loss in MPG. The cost will likely decrease as the fuel is much less expensive that $4/gallon gas.

But from an emissions stand point, converting that Hummer or truck would be better than either of the prior two options as CNG burns much cleaner and produces FAR less emissions.

I bought a small scooter to commute to work. My car gets about 30mpg, the scooter gets 100. Even so, using a spreadsheet I found on MSN money my breakeven point is over 3 years. My scooter was dirt cheap, $350. The person who made the spreadsheet bought a Vespa for over $4000, his breakeven point isn’t for almost 12 years. I bought it to save wear and tear on my car more than to save the environment.

I agree that their isn’t a huge incentive to switch to a new car to save gas money. For one thing the price of fuel guzzlers has gone way down and the fuel sipper market is very strong so it would take a while to repay. Better to get one if you are planning on getting a new car anyway.

Personally I have come to like small cars a lot in recent years. While I don’t own a compact, I’ve driven some of the recent ones such as the Mini and the Honda Fit and they really are fun to drive. The handling is just more fun with a car that size. C and D had a Fit outperforming a Vette Z06 by 6mph in the emergency landchange test. Those things are very agile and really are like driving a gocart. Some like the Fit are very well packaged too and can really fit a lot of stuff into a small space. They also are great in cities. A good modern small car isn’t the stereotypical crapbox from 30 years ago.

I am personally not a big SUV fan. They just aren’t much fun to drive. They handle poorly, brake worse, wallow in corners, and can be tougher to park. To me one would only be a tool. It wouldn’t be a firstchoice for a commuter or everyday vehicle. If I ever need to haul something I have my old truck. Otherwise i’ll stick to a better handling, more maneuverable, and more comfortable passenger car.

Did the math for a Civic Hybrid... for a 5 mpg savings,I could save $20 a week in gas and pay $200 more a month on the loan. Bought a Jeep, figured what few small and furry creatures I didn’t get with the carbon, I could run over with the giant tires!

Cheers!

Which switch is better for the environment?

This statement only makes sense if the car you are replacing is going to be take to the scrap yard. Even if you do there is no guarantee the yard owner is actually going to scrap the car instead of reselling the car.

If you trade in the car there is no net savings to the environment because the car is still guzzling gas on the road with someone else behind the wheel.

Then the logic of the fuel economy savings make sense to an individual only if that person owns both the SUV and the car and is trying to decide which vehicle to replace and assumes both vehicles travel equal miles each year.

I wanted to convert my 2002 Silverado dually with the 8.1 (496) to CNG but I get zip on a google search for conversion kits, I’m in Alaska where regular is $4.51, however I may have methane to drill for on my property, its being drilled not too far away.

Change "Which switch is better for the environment?" to "Which switch is better for your wallet?" and there ya go.

In the case of fuel efficiency, both are the same. It helps the environment - and your wallet - more if people do the switch that saves 5 gallons.

It's just that instead of asking "how far can I go on a certain amount of fuel" you ask the more relevant question: "How much fuel / money does it take me to get there?"

And that's one thing they got right in Europe, where fuel efficiency is measured in liter per 100 km (~0.42 gallon per 100 miles).