As someone who sometimes writes books on green issues as well as more sciency science, I am very conscious of my green credentials (or lack thereof).
I’ve always been quite proud of my record on flying – just one trip by air in 15 years – and we recycle like mad here at Clegg Towers, but my car has been something of a thorn in the green side.
I’m very fond of Saab convertibles, and that’s what I’ve been driving for the last few years. But a couple of days ago, the Saab was traded in for little Toyota Aygo. Okay, the Clarkson in me isn’t pleased, but there are three reasons to feel happy.
First it’s an environmental no-brainer. I’ve reduced from the Saab’s 230 g/km of carbon dioxide to a tiny 109 g/km. Not only is this very similar to the 104 g/km of that green pinup the Prius, it’s actually a lot better in the way I use it than the Prius would be. The city-dwelling bureacrats base their figures on an urban cycle. But my rural cycle, mostly trundling steadily between 30 and 60 is very different. Here the Aygo slaughters the Prius for effeciency. (Even a BMW 3 series beats it.)
Second (and I must admit this particularly appeals) it’s kind on the pocket. At a time of rocketing fuel prices, the Aygo uses around half the fuel of the Saab – in effect I’ve slashed my fuel price in half. The insurance has plummeted too. And best of all is the road fund tax. I used to pay £210 a year – now it’s £35. No, not a typo – £35 a year.
Finally, the kids are embarrassed by it. I must admit this surprised me – I thought they’d like its cheeky style, but they think it’s ‘a little bug’. Now apart from getting my own back for all the moans about the Saab over the years (‘my hair!’ ‘I hate your car!’), this means they may be less likely to expect lifts everywhere. You can but hope.
Hmm. Saab convertible or Japanese-designed turd?
Sod this planet: let’s terraform Mars.
My partner recently got a job in Brighton which involves him commuting 170-ish miles each day from our home in Kent. As the train links from Kent to Brighton are rubbish (he’d have to go via London), it is much quicker and cheaper for him to drive.
Having done the commute in his beloved sporty Peugeot 307 (he fancies himself as a bit of a boy-racer!) for a few days it was clear that he was going to have to downgrade to make the whole process financially viable.
After much soul-searching, he tearfully traded-in his 307 for a 2 year old Peugeot 107. This is exactly the same car as your Toyota Aygo and also the Citreon C1, but we found there to be a bigger selection of second-hand Peugeots at a more reasonable price. And, most importantly, we were able to find a stunning bright yellow version (pretty much identical to this one) – just because you’re small doesn’t mean you should go unnoticed!
I’m happy to report that my better half adores The Beast (as it is now affectionately known). Not only does it save him huge amounts of money, he finds it enjoyable to drive – and easy to spot in a full carpark!
Richard – I said goodbye to the Saab as one would to a gorgeous bunny boiler. It breaks your heart, but you know it makes sense.
I think the ‘t’ word is a little harsh. I rather like it’s shape – much nicer than most of the super-minis, which tend to be either boxy (e.g. VW) or much too blobby (e.g. Micra).
I’d go further…
… but see my contrariwise comments attached to it.
Diesels at Dawn!
I’m just going to leave a comment here because I think it’s unfair that Gee is stealing yours.
I take it the glory of Streetcar or another car club isn’t in your ’hood, for when you insist on driving?
(On this thread as you too have been Gee-napped)
Scott – Streetcar, typical of such things, is about 98% London (where you don’t need a car as much anyway) and about six other locations, none within 100 miles. It’s a nice idea, but it’s really an urban concept – like cable, it just isn’t worth extending into a village.
Thank you Richard and Scott for your support against the evil, life-force sapping attempts to take away my comments. In fact, I’m inclined to resign my position on Nature Network as a protest and force a by-election.
I wish to protest at the imputation that I’m
an international terroristtrying to steal your comments. I really was thinking of writing a blog about cars, and came home from walking one of the Dark Forces of EntropyA Dark Force of Entropy, Yesterday
and saw Brian’s blog, but felt that adding a comment that said all the things I wanted to say would have been unwieldy, and would have derailed Brian’s discussion.
Save it for the judge, Gee.
A 170 mile drive to work is quite something, I would not like to have to do it. I remember when my sister had to drive from Glasgow to Edinburgh each day to work for a couple of years, and what a strain that was — I think that’s half or even a third of the distance, Dot. Mind you, lots of people do it, up there, she (my sister) could attest.
My partner claims to quite enjoy the commute – unless it’s a rainy day, when the roads get busier and the drivers sillier! He says it gives him some valuable time all to himself…..
I should clarify that it is, of course, a 170 mile round trip – not each way. Although 170 miles sounds (and is) a lot, even in The Beast his commute takes roughly the same time (slightly less in the evenings) as mine into London (just under 2 hours door-to-door).
I have lived in Glasgow and also in Edinburgh – but curiously I’ve never driven between the two. This is probably partly down to the fact that I didn’t have a car for most of my time in Scotland – and partly because there was an excellent train connection for those rare occasions when I needed to travel between the two. However, the train service is probably only a realistic option for those that live/work within easy travelling distance of the stations.
That, Dorothy, is because there’s nothing between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Just a vast, desolate wasteland that only the foolish or the temerariously brave would dare to cross.
Tsk! You’re ignoring the eighth wonder of the world, Richard.
And no, I’m not talking about the tellytubby trumpet on the M8.
Surely that’s for getting across the barren marshes? So it doesn’t count.
Yes, Dot, I agree — this is exactly what my poor sister thought “Oh, no problem to accept a job in Edinburgh as the train service is so good”. She then discovered she took as long to get from station A/home and station B/work, as the actual train journey. And she did not have the option of living half way, wasteland or no, becuase her husband was in the RAF so they were stationed in Glasgow.
Personally I find that even if a journey takes longer by public transport, I perfer that to driving, as I hate driving. But King’s Cross — well, don’t get me on that (as I wrote on Bronwen’s blog the other day!). Wastelands have nothing on that purgatory.
But King’s Cross—well, don’t get me on that (as I wrote on Bronwen’s blog the other day!). Wastelands have nothing on that purgatory.
I hear it’s much nicer on platform nine and three-quarters, if you can find it.
The eighth wonder of the world
Indeed Great Scott !!
Who needs trains/planes/automobiles to commute between Cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh when you can be instantaneously transported using the likes of
I tried it myself only three hours ago and got teleported to …here of all places.
As far as I know “the engineering and design wonder, The Falkirk Wheel is the world’s first and only rotating
faceboat lift.”This ground-breaking technology is unmistakable from Cromer based EcoMo™ and is currently only available here in “the marshlands” of Scotland but hey, you can find out much much more here:-
Visit Scotland
_This ground-breaking technology is unmistakable from Cromer based EcoMo™ _
I want the guinea pigs to cut the grass. I don’t want to slice ’em up for lunch afterwards.
Hmm, let’s try this from another angle:-
That’s … incredible.