Conservation Comment: Big reasons to buy small

Unless you need a big one -- and most people don't -- small is good when it comes to cars. Photo/file

I have just bought a new car, as in new new rather than new second-hand.

Over the last several decades I have usually bought a used car rather than a new one. In fact, it is over 30 years since my last new car.

So why the change? I must admit that the new safety features, such as several airbags, daytime running lights and reversing camera, all helped persuade me.

The car is capable of carrying four adults yet has an engine size of approximately 1240 cc.

I thought it would be necessary to have at least a 1500 cc or 1600 cc engine capacity; that is until I took one for a test drive.

I was pleasantly surprised, when I drove it, that it was quite capable of zooming up hills and had all the power necessary for normal driving.

In fact, it was really zippy and I realised that the engine capacity was all I needed and more.

So I traded in a 2000 cc vehicle for one almost 40 per cent smaller with all the bells and whistles, and my fuel economy is marvellous at under 5 litres per hundred kilometres.

When it comes to parking and/or manoeuvring in car parks or other confined spaces, it is so much easier than driving a large 4x4, which have become so ubiquitous in our city.

Given that, more often than not, there is only the driver in the vehicle and maybe a school child as well, many more people should consider downsizing to something that leaves less of a footprint in our world.

It is estimated that the vast majority of 4WD vehicles never get used for the purpose they are designed for and many never ever leave the tar seal.

So next time you are in the market for a replacement vehicle you might like to consider: would small be adequate for my needs?

You may be pleasantly surprised.

Ridgway Lythgoe is a retired Department of Conservation officer, keen environmentalist, tramper and traveller

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