[sokoloff]

Presumably that car goes to someone else who will use it rather than being scrapped (a la Cash-for-Clunkers), right?

I've argued* that, because we drive our second car so little per year, that it makes more sense for us to buy an inexpensive, relatively gas-guzzling used car rather than a more economical hybrid. Reasoning being that someone is going to drive the gas guzzler and someone is going to drive that hybrid and better the hybrid go to someone driving a typical amount and we drive the worse one only 2-3K miles/year.

* - so far unsuccessfully, but the crazy used car market has made that moot for now.

[Smoosh]

Reasonable logic, but I feel that a moderately priced small/medium electric car would be ideal for the day-to-day short trips around town that is most of our driving these days. Unfortunately such cars don't exist yet in my market and there is not yet a significant used market for electric cars.

[yohannparis]

I completely agree! Because I only use my car for long trips (1h or more) a couple times a month. I got a 25 years old executive sedan... Sure 21 MPG is bad, but no new cars was made for my needs. And I stay under 3 metric tons of CO2 per year.

[usefulcat]

By buying an SUV (used or not), you're increasing--if only slightly--total demand for SUVs. Increased demand usually begets increased production.