stacia

Hi! This is actually my first post to these forums. I'm working on going carfree--my car is, I admit, still sitting in my parents' garage at the moment, but it IS listed on craigslist, and I haven't driven since October or driven regularly since August. It's going great for me! I have a pretty little bike and just got a set of panniers and an awesome rainjacket for Christmas!

My boyfriend, though, is very much not carfree--and you gotta pick your battles. However, the engine in his car just bit the dust, and rather than fixing it, it's probable that he will sell the whole car for whatever he can get and buy a new one. He wants a vintage Mini or British roadster or something, and while they are totally adorable and get okay or good gas mileage and all that, my understanding is that they have pretty bad emissions (and cars more than 30 years old don't have to pass emissions tests). I'm having trouble convincing him to care. Basically, two things matter to him in a car: 1. cute factor and 2. speed/vroom factor (I did point out to him that those old Minis aren't so much vroom vroom cars...)

So, I'm looking for some simple, unignorable stuff to tell or show him that might convince him that emissions (or lack thereof) really are important AND/OR that individuals can make a difference with individual choices and actions (not just regarding vehicle emissions). Nothing too heavy-handed that will just make him defensive. Humor definitely welcome! (And if you guys know where I could find actual emissions data for vintage cars, that would be awesome.)

Thanks! You guys are an inspiration. And happy holidays!

maddyfish

Nice thing about low e cars is that they usually also get good mileage. Most people won't complain about that.

Cyclaholic

No lowered emissions = no sex.... would definitely work on me

It's like the Kyoto bedroom protocol

bhchdh 

I'd have to agree that you should push the high MPG factor, the low emissions will be there.

KnhoJ

On one hand, vintage Britmobiles do have a reputation for not burning gasoline during a significant portion of their lives... They're perfect for someone who really likes working on cars as a hobby and has alternative methods of transportation.

On the other hand, modern catalytic convertors are cheap and quite unrestrictive. Pop in a generic universal model, and it'll eat a shocking portion of unburnt hydrocarbons, even on old carburated cars. Not to mention, it'll deodorize the exhaust. We're all getting spoiled with these new cars, old cars without catalytic convertors stink!

gerv 

This argument would certainly convince me. Hell, I'm pretty sure it would convince the President to sign up for Kyoto.

brunop

in all seriousness, this will work.

brad06ag

In all seriousness, this will not work. For smaller things, this works just fine on us. For things like this, that ultimatum would make many men go find sex elsewhere (i.e. breaking up with you and finding a better girl).

East Hill

Now, even though some of my relatives spent their lives making automobiles (for Morris, if I remember correctly), I would have to say that this is true.

So, I would, in fact, encourage your boyfriend to purchase a fine vintage British made vehicle, because it will spend a good portion of it's time being repaired, and therefore, not be emitting anything .

Welcome to Bike Forums, by the way!

East Hill

Hobartlemagne 

Don't withhold sex- reward him with it. Once for every mile per gallon per month ought to do it.

The VW Jetta diesel gets 45mpg.

East Hill

But he might run out of gas... .

East Hill

jcwitte

This link lists the most efficient cars and also lets you search by make, model, class, year, etc...

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bestworst.shtml

stacia

Thanks for the suggestions!


What, and punish myself for his crime?


Do you know if popping in a catalytic converter would take an old car all the way up to modern standards--or just most of the way?

DM4

If I were to receive an ultimatum such as this you would soon find me with a new girlfriend and a new car.


I would recommend the carrot approach rather than the stick approach, something along the line of foregoing a Hummer for a hummer. The hummer would need to be administered periodically to be effective

maddyfish

Be very careful with this, most pre-cat con cars are not designed to have an extremely hot catalytic converter under the floor.

Kimmitt 

Yeah, this isn't the place for that, but I'm certain that discussion groups surrounding the car he likes would have information regarding effective retrofits. Even if he's not getting all the way up to modern standards, the low mileage and such will probably make up for it. That seems like an effective compromise.

wahoonc

Depends on a lot of a factors. Better do some additional research. Cats are expensive and on the older cars (depending on how old) oil consumption may be a reality and will plug up a cat in a hurry. I also second the fact that many British cars will spend more time being worked on than being driven...been there done that. Also the old Mini's can be made to Rock and Roll. Run a search string with Austin Mini and John Cooper and see what comes up

Aaron

darksiderising

I don't get it...

East Hill

If the Jetta gets 45 mpg, and he has sex each month as many times as the Jetta gets in mpg...

let's just say that I think Mr. East Hill would be fairly exhausted after a few months of that .

East Hill

darksiderising

Oh, right. I am thick.

TonyCtattoo

just let him get the car he wants and worry about the things you do . you can make sugestions but leave controlling people to the politicians

KnhoJ

The generic catalytic convertors generally run around $60-90, depending on where you get it. They are heat shielded, and a decent exhaust shop won't have any trouble finding a place for it in the car that won't melt the carpet. Mostly what one of these would do is eat up the leftover hydrocarbons. It won't be quite as good as what you'd get from a new car, but it'll be a whole lot better! Wahoonc is right about the oil; if the car's leaving a trail of oil smoke, that'll plug up the convertor. Or if the fuel or ignition system is in really bad shape, huge amounts of unburnt hydrocarbons can burn out a convertor quickly. But as long as it's running halfway decently, it'll be fine. It's not unusual anymore to find convertors under all kinds of vintage cars that never came with them. A lot of collectors don't rate the stinky exhaust as "charming" anymore, and sometimes that's just what it takes to convince the wife to go for a ride in "that stinky old thing".

Sir Bikesalot

Don't try too hard to convince him; he probably knows all the arguments already. Just let him know you feel really strongly about it and let him do what he will. If he still goes ahead and gets his stinkmobile, then he obviously doesn't care what you think and/or is not willing to sacrifice for your happiness. (But don't tell him this last part beforehand, you'll be accused of being passive/aggressive, etc.)

Newspaperguy

Actually, if he's looking at a British import, he's already considering your concerns. These are small and light cars which are good on gas. If he only wanted an attractive car with a lot of horsepower and speed, he might consider a 1960s vintage American muscle car, which would have considerably worse fuel economy and by extension would produce more pollution as well. If he adds the catalytic converter, it will be much better.

acroy

I think go ahead & get a small, old, used British car. It will emit almost no emissions, because it will almost never run.