This is how screwed up our world has become: Seasick Steve, the once vagabond and popular solo musician, was on Top Gear to try out a cheap Korean car on their race track. That's what Top Gear does, folks (it's Jay Leno's favourite show). Anyway, SS said he had a 1951 Chevy station wagon, I think, after having about a hundred old jalopies he'd run into the ground. When he was asked if he'd replace the Chevy, he said something (at 3:45) like:
"When the manufacture of a Prius creates less pollution than it does to run my Chevy for its whole life, then, I'll buy a Prius."
The making of the wonderful new hybrid cars is, itself, hyper-wasteful.
Look at every different thing that goes into a car and you realise that every new car requires the sourcing of a supply of about 1000 individual parts. It's a logistical nightmare, even before you consider the cost of testing, designing, development and transportation.
I'd probably recommend a catalytic car, but he's not the first guy to say this, so it must be true. So, as the rappers say 'don't believe the hype'. Consume less.
Smoke 'em if you got 'em. Exhaust, that is. Keep your car in good working order, and keep some spare parts handy.
Politicians love wrecking old cars, because everybody thinks THAT will save the environment. It's a failure, though, if the previous owner has to buy a new car to replace the classic he had to surrender. Get it?
That's also handy because I think that classic cars should be kept, if they're attractive. It's just a function of time, money and space. There will always be museums and rich boys with their toys. But, until recently, keeping a classic car was something that many workers could also do.
I used to think that the owners of 20-year old shit-box cars were nuts, but now, not only do I think they're wise, but I believe I might just join them.
I'm also against all those cars that are like a house on wheels. They've got video, A/C, reclining seats, fart-catchers, etc. In contrast, I've become a fan of barebones cars, the kind that small garagistes make in the UK. The Ariel Atom springs to mind. It doesn't even have doors, or a roof, for that matter. Best bugs-in-your-teeth gonzo driving from a street-legal car.
Also, check the Fifth Gear story (can't find video) where Presenter X was given a 200-quid Proton 1.5 with an MOT and parts falling off. He felt liberated because he didn't have to hyperventilate every time he thought about his car being scratched (his real car is a fine Beemer). That particular bucket-of-bolts Proton cost less to buy than a replacement tire for his BMW (270 quid).
So, the idea is the car was made to work for us*. If you spend 25 thousand on a new car, every 5 years let's say, and your income is 25 thou, before or after taxes, you're working one whole year in every five, for your car. Once I realised that, I made sure I would never do it myself. Others are taking out loans to pay for their car. It's nuts! Pay cash, if you've got it.
-Cosine67 ~~~
* what few realise is that the desire to have mod cons, like a car, is what took many people off the farm and made them go to the city to earn cold hard cash.... only for them to end up spending it....on stuff they don't need.
