this post was submitted on 08 Sep 2023
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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I flatly concede that new cars are safer. Granted that, it's not really that bad to maintain an old car if you take a known good platform purchased in cash and maintain it in a low rust area (which I am). I present two examples:

I have a 1991 Chevy S10 I bought in 2011. Other than fluid changes, I have put in brakes (twice), battery, starter, and a water pump in it since that time. Total cost, maybe $300? I bought the truck for $2500 and it gets around 25mpg.

I have a 2005 Scion xB. Purchased 2019, I have put only brakes into it (cost $150ish). Cost was $2800, and it gets over 30mpg almost always.

Separate to these, I have an e-scooter I use for commuting and small errands on nice days. I think the trio makes a great combo of practical stuff mover, people mover, and "just me" mover. I find it hard to believe this trio would be anything close to the carbon output of making two new equivalent cars and burning the same amount of fuel with them.

Thoughts?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

How is that s10 getting 25mpg, that's wonderful as new it only got 22 mpg. The 1992 Jeep Cherokee outisde my place last I tested got 10.8 mpg. 6 cylinder mostly metal no airbags. Now the snapper push lawn mower I have that was bought in the early 80s is a better example of what you want. I mowed a half acre with it today and it started up on the first pull. Spark plug, sharp blade, and a motor and it gets beat by my neighbors $3000 rider but Ill save that dollar anyday. Exercise isnt hurting my fat ass. That thing runs better than the Honda motors i thought outran their time.

No one cares, but it started up first pull this year after sitting all winter uncovered in a backyard with small amounts of snow

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

You're probably right about the mpg. The odometer has been broken for ages and I was estimating milage by adding up my commutes. I am at high altitude which does help a bit due to the lower wind resistance however.

6cyl anything from that era is almost always rough on gas haha. My dad also had an XJ -- it's actually what I learned to drive in. But yeah, terrible on gas.

I have a older mower too (not as old as you). But it's creeping up on 10 years old. It's a Troy-Bilt with the Briggs motor. Same though, first start of the season it's sometimes two pulls, and then almost always just a single pull after that.