Eco-friendly: Green Vehicle Disposal

I have had it, my old car has served me well and I have kept it in relatively good repair over the years by buying used auto parts for a local car salvage yard. But these days it seems like something new is going wrong every month and just the stress of getting stuck in -20 degree weather is starting to make me feel like my 1999 Civic and I have reached the end of our decade long relationship.

So the search starts for a new car, I thought about staying with a Civic because it is great on gas and lots of fun to drive but I have also had my eye on a Mini Cooper. Edmunds pretty much sums it up for both of these cars,

The 2009 Honda Civic is comfortable, smartly designed and available in a wide array of configurations, the 2009 Honda Civic sets the bar for the small-car segment.

Pros

Wide-ranging engine lineup offers both fuel efficiency and performance, roomy and refined interior, strong crash test scores, available as a sedan or coupe.

Cons

Controversial gauge cluster design, Bluetooth and stability control only available on upper trims, slow acceleration times of Hybrid and GX models.

The 2009 Mini Cooper is a marvelous marriage of British character and German know-how, the 2009 Mini Cooper is stylish, fun to drive and remarkably good on gas.

Pros

Stellar fuel economy, sharp handling, excellent all-around performance in S and John Cooper Works trims, endearing retro styling.

Cons

Fussy controls, puny backseat, poor outward visibility in convertible, stiff and noisy ride.

Now the hard part begins, making a final decision. The Civic will be a few thousand dollars cheaper but the Mini is just a whole lot cooler. I am a little concerned about the noise while driving but I do always listen to the radio quite loud. One decision that is made already is that I am donating my old car to charity – the local auto recycler has a nice program where they dispose of your junk car in an eco-friendly way and then donate the proceeds to the charity of your choice.