7 Ways A Clunker May Be A Smarter Choice Than A Hybrid

I’ve always been slightly amazed how the new car market is so readily embraced. I know it takes all those new car buyers to allow us used-car shoppers the luxury of so much inventory. I just want to stay in the ranks of the latter, not the former.

Most people realize buying new often makes little financial sense, yet they justify it through a whole host of rationalizations. Even the federal government jumped on the bandwagon last year by suggesting we all needed to grind up our clunkers and buy new instead — for the sake of the national economy and the environment, no less. Was the result a whole fleet of new fuel-efficient cars on the road, or increased consumer debt and the loss of thousands of serviceable older vehicles?

At the risk of sounding like I suffer from an acute case of sour-grapes, I’d like to explore just seven ways in which my old clunker may be a smarter choice than even the newest hybrid.



 
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Joe_Limon - 5/4/2010 3:14:03 PM

+1 Boost

+1 to all of the points in this article

The only thing that hybrids offer is that pious moral superiority feeling.

theman440 - 5/4/2010 3:33:15 PM

-2 Boost

Ditto,

+1 to all of the points in this article

The only thing that hybrids offer is that pious moral superiority feeling.

theman440 - 5/5/2010 1:25:56 PM

+2 Boost

I agreed with Joe, he gets boosted but I get deboosted ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????

uaw_lax - 5/4/2010 3:48:01 PM

-1 Boost

This was Joe's ideal first, but good article none the less.

bfghemicuda - 5/5/2010 11:27:53 AM

+1 Boost

The process of manufacturing a Hybrid is more toxic than what my 1949 Chrysler Royal would produce in it's lifetime.

bfghemicuda - 5/5/2010 3:58:37 PM

+2 Boost

Badgewhore, you never cease to amaze me. My 49 gets on the fwy just fine and its quite a nice car. The Spitfire L-Head-6 actually burns quite clean and I know you didn't want ot hear that but yes i'ts true. The transmission has technology that is used today in your hybrids.

Shredmo - 5/5/2010 10:42:25 AM

+1 Boost

Here's my 7reason why I bought a brand new G8 GT.

1) Not built by Toyota
2) Not built by Toyota
3) Not built by Toyota
4) Not built by Toyota
5) Not built by Toyota
6) Not built by Toyota
7) You POS Toyota will never interest me. Would rather ride a cruiser bicycle.

How did I do folks?

Shredmo - 5/5/2010 12:04:05 PM

+1 Boost

I really don't hate Toyota, just tired of the Badge.

bfghemicuda - 5/5/2010 12:45:12 PM

+4 Boost

Yea Shred ,, But he sure can stir it up.

LauderdaleDriver - 5/6/2010 6:31:23 PM

+1 Boost

I suspect that keeping any old car running is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than buying any new car. So, if you want a big sucker SUV, buy one from Car max. Save the depreciation, and scold your new Prius owning friend for the environmental nightmare of mining all that cadmium, paladium, and iron. That's how enjoy my V-8!