Which is better for the environment buying a used car with good mileage or buying a shiny new hybrid?

Atlanta Buying Junk Cars

Yes and not to mention, they would save lots of money. The depreciation for a new car, is horrendous, Just driving it off the lot, costs you thousands of dollars.
Plus, if the used car gets good mileage, you can drive more carefully and improve on that.
But I still agree, buying a Hybrid, if it's time to buy a new car, or you are driving an old gas guzzler, that has reached the end of the road, is the best way to go.

Atlanta Buying Junk Cars

Most older used cars utilize older technology which makes them less fuel efficient. Newer cars definitely have better fuel consumption control. But new car also depreciate more.

Hybrid vehicles don't drive like cars with gasoline engine. You should definitely drive and do your due diligence when you buy something as important as a car.

My first concern and hope that this is every ones first concern, is SAFETY.

What good does a car that saves fuel, money and environement do if you are not safe and it does not protect you when needed?

Atlanta Buying Junk Cars

I work at a dealership in Fitzgerald,Ga. selling new and used cars. We are a GM dealer. At this time there are no hybrids that really HELP the environment. If it is a total electric car thats beneficial. A Tahoe hybrid only gets 2 miles per gallon better economy than its gas burning counterpart. Now you can buy a used Cobalt or pontiac G6 and each of those cars are low emissions and get 30 plus miles per gallon! As technology changes maybe a hybrid would be logical but not at this time.

Atlanta Buying Junk Cars

overall, somtheing like a 'new' used corolla or civic (05-07 with low mileage) is 'greener' than a prius. no new manufacture pollution to disperse, yet new enough it's not spitting garbage in the air. about half the pollution any car makes is when it's being made.

Atlanta Buying Junk Cars

It's better to buy old car with good mileage than buy a completely new for construction of which a lot of energy was used. The best thing for nature is to use cars with good mileage that have good working filters, are clean and not to drive them as racing cars.