When to Dump Your Old Car

The argument that cradle to grave calculations points to old vehicles being used as long as possible (Guardian Letters, May 29th) is not so straight forward. The issue was researched for an article in the Observer (The end of the road? June 10th, 2007). Of the carbon emissions produced during the car’s lifecycle, 10% are linked to the vehicle’s manufacturing process while 90% are down to the provision and use of fuel by the car.

So when to replace an older car depends on your car and mileage. If you have an old small car that does 40mpg or better and you cover less than 4,000 miles a year, and you live in the country, then keep it. But if you are a high-mileage driver and live in a city centre, then trade up to a newer model with good fuel economy. If the car’s fuel efficiency is worse than this then the decision to change is even more compelling. The author of the article, Martin Love, chose to replace his ten year old car.