Most environmentally friendly car / scooter / etc for my commute?

2 Comments

1. Charlie C says:

   February 22, 2010 at 11:47 pm

   Any hybrid car would be your best bet for a full-size car (not scooter) that car carry groceries etc or a lot of people when you need it to. However, these are quite expensive. For much cheaper, I would recommend looking for an old Honda Civic or another Japanese car of similar size (Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla, Honda Accord, Hyundai Elantra, even a Geo Metro would be good for you). The older they are, the cheaper they get, but they’re still fantastic cars if they’ve been treated well.
   I have a 1989 Civic – I bought it for $2000 and it’s in great condition – almost like new. Get almost 40mpg, and according to http://www.fueleconomy.gov it is among the lowest polluting cars on the road including hybrids. Also, it’s very low maintenance, has lots of room on the inside, parts are cheap, and it’s a good-lookin car! I’m very glad I bought it. You should look for something like that – early 90′s Honda or Toyota would be the best. Their gas mileage will be almost as good as an expensive new hybrid, but you should be able to find a good one for around $5000 or less that is just as nice and roomy as a new car.
   I would not recommend a scooter, but if you want a motorized bike, get a small motorcycle like a Honda Rebel – they’re very cheap and look great, and get about 50mpg! Other good small bikes are Kawasaki Ninja, Honda Shadow, Suzuki Boulevard, etc. However, you obviously can’t use it to carry groceries or people when you need to – so I would recommend a small car instead.
   Good luck! You’ll love your car if you don’t rush into buying one.
2. Future Neuro-Surgeon says:

   February 22, 2010 at 11:47 pm

   A used 07 Toyota Camry Hybrid… Look at a few today for about 20k to 25k!!! Or any Hybrid!

   Good Luck!