Small Cars a Waste?

[rpn453]

This article blew my mind:

The Small Car Conundrum

Quote:
Here's a radical thought for the car-buying public. Small cars have no future. In fact, all those sub-compacts and compacts, then Hyundai Accents and the Mazda 3s, the Toyota Yarises - even the perennially popular Honda Civics - may soon be nothing but scrap. In fact, by buying them instead of heavier, sturdier mid-size sedans or even pickup trucks, lost of well-meaning Canadians are just contributing to landfills. So says Richmond Hill, Ont., automotive analyst Dennis DesRosiers, whose most recent study on vehicle longevity tends to point out certain truisms consumers ignore. Never mind the panic at the pumps, DesRosiers says, or the "misfocused" green movement. Small cars, even the most popular brands like Toyota, can be bad investments both for the planet and the pocketbook.


This is the opposite of what I thought I knew. It seemed to me that small cars have always had the best relative resale value around here and those I know who have owned them have run them for many years and many miles. I can see what they're talking about when they compare the Daiwoo Aveo to the Chevrolet Malibu, but Civics, Corollas, Yarises, Mazda3s; are they serious? Our public insurance company just valued my 4-1/2 year old Mazda3 at $16,000 when they did the repair estimate after I got T-boned a few weeks ago.

 

[moribundman]

Service life, desirability, greenness and recyclabilty are not intrinsically linked to the size of the vehicle. Surely an el cheapo econobox fares worse in all of the above than a small car that exemplifies all the above features. Think Hunday Accent versus Mini.

The linked article was written simply for the sake of writing an editorial article. I would merrily ignore it.

 

[paul246]

Just one clown's opinion that happened to be picked up in an article. Baseless and full of misinformation.

 

[artificialist]

That might be true where road salt is used, but here in Florida, there are many compact cars that are 20 years old and have 200K miles or more on the odometer.

And expensive econoboxes versus cheap ones? Most of the really old compacts I see are Toyotas. Not too expensive way back then.

 

[Shannow]

If you are looking at Daewoo and Hyundai, they are sort of a false economy, as I don't see many really high mile versions...that being said, the second hand versions of these cars are oft first cars to teenagers (price), and may not get to grow old gracefully.

Old Toyotas and Nissans can grow to great reliable ages down here. Parent's Renault 16 got 380,000km on original engine, gearbox, CVs. Their (J-Car engined) Nissan Pulsar has 300,000km.

Diahatsu Charades are incredibly reliable, and tend to get crashed out of the pool.

Agree with mori...writer is trying to get his name noticed...ignore him.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
And expensive econoboxes versus cheap ones? Most of the really old compacts I see are Toyotas. Not too expensive way back then.


Isn't "expensive econobox" an oxymoron? Please note that I differentiated between econoboxes and other small cars.

 

[Kestas]

Ditto to what Mori said. Oftentimes, when people own an econobox, they don't treat it with anywhere near the respect that they may give a luxury car. They figure, "It's just an econocar. I'm not sinking money in it for maintenance and repair".

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: artificialist
And expensive econoboxes versus cheap ones? Most of the really old compacts I see are Toyotas. Not too expensive way back then.


Isn't "expensive econobox" an oxymoron? Please note that I differentiated between econoboxes and other small cars.


Actually no it is not bundtman. Use your head man...use your head!

 

[ClarkB]

"In fact, by buying them instead of heavier, sturdier mid-size sedans or even pickup trucks, lost of well-meaning Canadians are just contributing to landfills."

Sounds like what some of the older school has said when comparing the "Old Detroit Iron" to the newer, smaller japanese cars.

It usually goes something like this:

You drive up to your great-uncles places for Thanksgiving in your '88 Civic with 197K on the odometer. He meets you outside and asks how you like your car and you give him the usual answers. To which he shakes his head, mutters something about rather being in an accident in a '66 Nova than that thing. You consider asking about crumple zones but figure what the heck, no use trying to change the mind of an octogenarian.

Clark

 

[Bamaro]

I say its bull.

 

[Tosh]

What Mori said plus: If parts of cars are going to landfills, it's not really the consumers' fault and also not dependent on the size of the car. Make the manufacturers - not just car manufacturers - use more recyclable materials. I don't suppose car makers would want people to keep their cars longer, but there is the real economy.

 

[Drew99GT]

That is total horse [censored].

I'd wager a bet there are more Toyota Corollas and Honda Civics out there with 300,000 miles than Ford or Chevy trucks with 300,000 miles.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: Saturn_Fan
Actually no it is not bundtman. Use your head man...use your head!


What is not bundtman?

 

[moribundman]

Oh, one more thing, Saturn_Fan, have you forgotten your pledge?

Originally Posted By: Saturn_Fan
you will no longer hear from me.

 

[JHZR2]

I have noticed that there seems to be a disporportionate number of poorly kept, oil burnng (i.e. blue plume) econobox cars, including corollas and civics, as compared to other types of cars.

Poorer people as a rule buy smaller cars, and care for them less. Additionally, the approach to being really cheap is faster, so while a $1000 Camry would have to be pretty darn old/bad, a $1000 corolla may have a few less miles, be a bit newer, etc. The cheaper car will hit folks buying target with less depreciation as a percentage of cost.

At the same time, someone who can onl afford a $1000 car will not have the dollars to do proper PM, so they get maintained poorly. This causes them to be killed faster.

I think demographics play into it a lot.

 

[moribundman]

Looks to me like poorer folks here drive more often larger relics from the '70s and '80s. I see plenty of Chevy Malibu, Buick Riviera, Cadillac DeVille ghetto cruisers, and also lots of W114, W123 M-B, also many old vans, most of them trailing smoke and making rattling and squeaky noises.

 

[Vilan]

My Metro had serious engine issues by about 150k. Happily I was able to pay for a rebuild rather than give it to the junkyard. The body's still in good shape, it should live to see 300k if it doesn't get wrecked first. I like to think it has good care taken of it. I don't drive it because I'm poor, I drive it because it's all I need.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: Vilan
I don't drive it because I'm poor, I drive it because it's all I need.

I did not mean to imply that the choice of car reflected the owner's economic status.

 

[Shannow]

Remember when the big three wanted little Euro cars regulated because they were light, and had disk brakes making them dangerous ?

 

[moribundman]

Yeah, good brakes and short stopping distances are an unacceptable liability.