What to Look for When Car-Shopping Besides MPG?

Hey Mr. Green,

While I very much appreciate your cash for clunkers calculator, I very much doubt I can afford a new car even with a clunker rebate. So I'm shopping for a moderately priced used car. I want high mileage, but also reasonable safety and reliability. I plan to look at back issues of Consumer Reports to try to estimate miles per gallon of various models I'm considering. Is there anything besides MPG that I should consider to keep my carbon footprint low as possible? Anything else I need to look for?  Any pertinent websites you can direct me to?

-- Dale, location undisclosed

The most helpful website for MPG of cars both new and used is the EPA’s economy.gov. Go there and click on “find and compare cars.” Your tax dollars at work. (Better check soon, before some yahoos at a town meeting howl “socialism” loud enough to get the site shut down.)

There are indeed huge considerations regarding your carbon footprint besides MPG. The biggest single one is if you really even need to own a car. More and more folks are actually getting along fine without one, with membership in a car-share service, taking cabs and mass transit, or biking.

Besides reducing their carbon footprint, they are saving a lot of money, because costs of owning and operating a car dwarf the cost of the gas it needs. Add to the gas the price of maintenance, insurance, licensing, financing, and, alas, depreciation, it takes a whopping total $9,641 to own and drive a medium-size sedan 15,000 miles per year, according to AAA. Less than a fourth of this cost is for gasoline. The rest is overhead. For comparisons of different-size cars, click here.

Finally, if you do buy a car, try to think about the bigger financial picture. Don’t simply compare cars’  MPG, but their prices too, and considering your entire energy-consumption portfolio If you have enough money to buy, say, a $15,000 car that gets 35 MPG and a $5,000 model that gets 25 MPG, you might be able to reduce your energy and carbon footprint a lot more by purchasing the cheaper model and spending the extra $10,000 on other energy-conserving measures, which could be anything from a new heating system to investing in a renewable-energy company.  

Comments

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[Jonathan]

Great Article it seems, that there are many things that we need to look for nowadays in this economy when it comes to buying a car.

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i found this site, maybe it'll help you!
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you should just be happy you're not from norway (I am). I guess a car here costs like 2-3x the price in the US.

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For me when I look at cars, I usually look for the sound system in it.

[Truck Rental]

Great blog! I loved the websites you recommended! Especially the economy.gov - what a helpful website! I am in general a big fan of your green blog- you post a whole lot and I enjoy reading every post!

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good post. i've been looking for a new car right now and this is helpful. Thanks.

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For me the important thing in car shopping is the quality of the car and the brand.

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although some people go for used cars when they are purchasing a car.but if some one want better mileage & don't want to spend anymore money then they already have when they purchased the car,then it will be prudent to go for a brand new car rather then going for a used car which will cost u more then u bought it.

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You are right - economy.com is a very useful site for everybody. It is made by proffecionals to give help in such questions. We really should take into account the cost of not only purchase but also service of your car. So be careful in your choice.

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I like the car with complete gadgets. No engine failure and good quality. Thanks for the post.

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I completely agree. The car with complete gadget is not boring. A car with comfortable sits is great while relaxing on to it. I've seen some with dining table and comfort room. That's a lot expensive I think.

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[Nicole Vickers]

In buying a car, I think a person should be knowledgeable with the model he would be looking for. Researching regarding the model or type you would like to buy would be the easiest way. And after researching, the next thing a buyer should do is find a trusted and reliable car dealer.

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I'm much more concerned with the engine and the availability of spare parts. I wouldn't mind an old model, as long as I know that if a part of it breaks down, I can easily find a replacement.