For most of my life, I held onto the attitude toward cars that I learned from my father: buy them only when necessary, fix them as needed, hold onto them as long as you can, and don’t expect them to be fun. Cars weren’t something you did or had as a hobby, and switching them every couple of years was frivolous. Wouldn’t want to actually enjoy your rig or anything.
Of course, my dad was born in and grew up during the Depression and the lessons he learned then guided the rest of his life. After he passed away, I helped my mom buy a new Toyota and the night we walked into the dealer to pick it up, right as we were walking up the steps, a bolt of lightning struck a couple miles away and there was a massive rumble of thunder. Complain all you want, pops, but she bought the Camry, haha.
I love overlanding. I love driving a rig that will go most anywhere and using it as a base camp for deeper adventures. But I know too much not to deal with the impact, with my impact.
This attitude made the process of buying a Vanagon Syncro, which I did a little over a decade ago, somewhat of an emotional process. Who has two vehicles?! Wasteful! Well, I got over it and buying Vanzilla was one of the best things I ever did, not just because of all the camping and exploration it enabled with my kids, but because it cracked apart those old death-grip attitudes toward cars. Now, when it comes to vehicles, I’m, like, whatever, man. It’s just a car. If I want a different one, I’ll get a different one. Life is short.
So, I sold the van. I bought a 2002 4Runner. The 4Runner was soooo much fun. But its limitations became too much for it to work as a one-vehicle quiver. There was a deep stale smell that I could never eliminate. It wasn’t very comfortable around town, which is where most of my miles are driven. It was loud and slow and got miserable gas mileage on long trips to Utah and Arizona—far worse than it should have, despite a lot of work on tuning it up. Off-road, oh, baby, it was fun. But everywhere else? Not so much.
At some point, I couldn’t take the combination of issues and my heart turned on it. A new vehicle wasn’t in the cards, and I wanted four-wheel-drive. In the end, I found a gorgeous Lexus LX 470 at a fantastic price and went for that. The LX is the Lexus version of the Land Cruiser 100 series, just Lexus’d with leather and whatnot. For a long time, I considered the Lexus GX470, same engine, slightly smaller, way nicer silhouette, 25 percent better MPG, but I couldn’t abide the barn-door rear door and lack of opening rear window. The tailgate on the LX called my name.
That was seven months ago. The LX is by far the best vehicle I’ve ever owned. It’s smooth around town, flawless in the dirt. It will climb over just about anything without resorting to 4WD low or the locking center differential. Two of us can comfortably sleep inside.
But. But the miles per gallon are bleak. I knew this coming in, of course, but knowing it and owning it are two different things. And although I’ve been aware of and have been writing about climate change for 25 years, the past six months have felt like the tolling of the bell for all of us. We have installed solar panels, so the energy for us and AJ us carbon neutral. All four of us are vegan. We worked to flip our district and put a climate-oriented representative in the House. It’s still not enough. I know that we need planetwide solutions. I know that we need a carbon tax and/or cap and trade and carbon capture and all kinds of policies that sweep across individual choice. But my heart is telling me that we also need to do more as citizens, and that I’m personally not doing enough. And the fuel consumption readout on my dash feels like a scarlet letter.
So, the question I’ve been wrestling with it this: How many and what kind of hard changes do I have to make in my own life to deal with climate change, knowing that what I do is a drop in the bucket, yet still important? We’re long past inconvenient truths—we’re facing dire truths. Adventure Journal is a place to talk about our shared enthusiasm for adventure and outdoor recreation, so we don’t cover a lot of climate change news (and we don’t want to be a buzzkill), but this is the greatest issue of our time. Everything we do has an impact on the planet and on the people around us. And given the explosion of vanlife and overlanding, given our use of vehicles to access the wild lands we love, I think we have to be honest with ourselves about the cost of that and what we might be willing to do to change.
These issues are nothing new. In regards to vehicles, I’ve long felt conflict over the impact of mine. But this week, something tipped. Within the last two days, there was this story about how businesses expect to feel the impact of climate change on their bottom line within five years. And this one about how bad travel is—one passenger’s share of emissions on a 2,500-mile flight will melt 32 square surface feet of summer polar ice. And this apocalyptic view that humanity could end by 2050 because of climate change. (Happy Wednesday!) It’s not business as usual. Our response must not be business as usual.
A glib and appropriate response to SUV guilt could be: Get a Prius, dumbass. Which is one solution, I admit. But this equation, as we all know, isn’t just one of practicality. One of my greatest passions is exploration, is driving down dirt roads and tracks to see what’s there. The van, the 4Runner, and the LX have enabled to the extent of my dreams. As I consider other options, the list of appropriate vehicles for exploring the Mojave Desert and Colorado Plateau is pretty short. I paid $20K for my LX. Do I sell that and get a new 4Runner for $40,000-plus, knowing it won’t drive as well and will only get five more mpg? Swap it for a used GX that gets four mpg more? Stop traveling and exploring altogether, except where an all-electric vehicle will take me?
These are, I am painfully aware, first world problems. Nobody needs to be able to drive over Imogene Pass. A cheap dirt bike like the Honda CR250L is an option for that, as are electric dirt bikes, electric pedal-assist mountain bikes, mountain bikes, and your feet. Many of you drive Subarus and are completely happy. Some of you don’t have cars at all. I get it—wah. But since I sold my last Subaru wagon in 1989, I have owned four-wheel-drives, I have used the 4WD liberally, and I have enjoyed the hell out of it. It’s been a big part of how I’ve lived and who I am.
A glib and appropriate response to SUV guilt could be: Get a Prius, dumbass.
But the days of letting other people deal with climate change are over. We are all part of the problem. We all consume, to one degree or another. My internal combustion truck is bad, but if yours uses gas, it’s bad, too. We’re all culpable. But we’re also all part of the solution. I am trying to be ruthless about auditing and confronting my impact, about confronting these truths and being willing to make changes for the good, even if that means abandoning or altering some of the things I love to do (at least until electrics 4WDs are available).
I’m also trying to be really open about the issues I’m wrestling with. We need to encourage and learn from one another. Most of my friends are dealing with issues like this, too, whether it’s the volume of plastic in their lives or the travel demands of work. (As an aside, has anyone in the outdoor industry consider the massive impact on the planet by increasing the number of Outdoor Retailer trade shows by 50 percent?) I love overlanding. I love driving a rig that will go most anywhere and using it as a base camp for deeper adventures. But I know too much not to deal with the impact, with my impact.
So. I’m not sure what I’m going to do. But these are the two primary options I’m considering:
1. Buy a used Nissan Leaf and drive it for all trips except off-road road trips. Keep the LX for exploration.
2. Sell the LX, buy a versatile, small, higher-MPG SUV/wagon and pump up its dirt capabilities, acknowledging it will never be a 4WD. Candidates: Subaru Outback (full-time AWD), Mercedes GLB (full-time AWD with option to lock 50-50 front and back).
Assuming 10,000 miles driven a year, with 4,000 of those going to road trips, the options are about equal in terms of carbon output. The cost is lower in option one, even counting the extra insurance for the second vehicle. Option one is a good one.
On the other hand, I’d love to have one smaller, capable vehicle that’s fun to drive, looks good, and makes me feel good. It would be fun to not drive a truck for a while and part of me is leaning toward option two just to mix it up for a couple years. It’s only a car, and life is too short not to hold these things lightly. Plus, let’s be clear: decent ground clearance, the right tires, and good driving technique will get you most of the way,
Regardless of the overall impact, the symbolism of rolling around in a big, gas-fueled rig is only going to get harder to stomach as the expressions of climate change become more pervasive. At least until a new wave of vehicles goes on sale in the next couple of years. Currently, there are reports or rumors of an electric or hybrid Ford Bronco and Land Rover Defender. All-electric Rivian is coming soon, and Ford just invested a half billion in the brand. The Mercedes GLB, whose silhouette makes my heart sing, is rumored to have an all-electric coming in 2021. I don’t know when we’ll see an all-electric that you can overland to Tierra del Fuego, but more sustainable 4WD rigs are coming soon. The only issue then will be the cost.
Okay, I’ll bring this to a close, I’d love to hear from anyone who’s pushing the limits of their AWD in dirt, especially those with Outbacks. Subaru has had a ton of problems with its continuously variable transmission and from what I’ve seen they can be a real drag in the dirt. What kinds of experiences have you guys had? What kind of changes have you made? Let’s see if we can move things forward, together.
VW Alltrack (4-motion awd) with a 6 speed manual transmission. You’ll thank me later! 🙂
A compelling choice, but it has just 6.9 inches of ground clearance. Outback has 8.7.
the vw is so much faster though! also that cvt transmission is not fun.
but i hear you the extra height is a good thing. that said on the road the vw is a beast also in the snow nothing beats it…
Look at some of the newer diesel options. Specifically colorado/canyon. Regularly capable or high 20s on the hwy, still a true 4wd and the 4 seat size is still comfortable for 4 people. Modern diesels are clean burning and efficient
Diesel has high particulate matter, eg exhaust is good for ashma
The new Rav4 is promising. It really depends on just how remote and how capable you need the rig to be. I love my 02 Tundra but hate the MPG. If I’m being completely honest, the new Rav4 can probably take me to nearly as many places as my truck, with minor upgrades.
A very thoughtful article. I had a similar quandary when I got my latest rig: 1997 G300. My rationale for going with it was l, it’s a vehicle already built rather than increasing my carbon footprint by buying a newly made vehicle. I don’t know what the math is on carbon cost of production vs running low mpg vehicle. Ultimately the situation is untenable and we have to make lifestyle changes
I’ve tried to run down the math and found conflicting studies. Some say sticking with the older is better, some don’t. Too many variables. Depends on each kind of vehicle, what happens to the old one after you get rid of it, how long you keep the new one, etc.
If you sell your gas guzzling Lexus, somebody else is going to drive it and its carbon emissions will be the same. Unless you scrapped it, it will continue to be a high carbon emitter for the rest of its useful life. May as well be you doing it.
You make entirely too much sense.
I have a 100 series land cruiser. It’s my second and I love it. I have driven it 15 years and 238k. I think if I just keep driving it I will come out ahead on all parameters in the end. The EV SUVs are compelling to me over the next five years I’m sure I’ll be tempted. Won’t gas just get cheaper then and it’s my understanding that keeping an old one has a lower footprint than a new battery driven one.
We have a Prius and and Jeep Wrangler and ride our bicycles to work most days. Very workable combo if you can have 2 cars. Otherwise I’m really looking forward to learning more about the Tesla truck.
Thought I was reading about overlanding and got nailed with an “I need a safe room because the ice is melting” political rant. Disappointed. I like the environment too, I just dont want your version of it jammed up my….ahem… nice article otherwise.
I eagerly opened up this article — a post after my own heart (and mind). I could have written this, except you did (and much better than I would have!). Had to get rid of 1996 Honda Accord (300K miles plus); still have t he 1996 Civic (second engine). Needed a larger, truck type vehicle. Ended up with a 2000 GMC Yukon, which while I loved the size (and it only had 111K miles), I *hated* the gas mileage (and the repairs). Was almost ready to get tranny redone when my husband had an accident with it and it was totalled. I had already been throwing around the idea of trading it in for a better (more efficient) car that can go off road (we have a farm in upstate NY for which this is a necessity). Also need cargo room and the AWD/4wd for use in snow haven is necessary (as will have to commute 25 min. to work, unfortunately, starting next year). Have been looking at the Outback for the same reasons you state. Also have thought about a hybrid, but haven’t looked enough to find one that fits what we need. I too would love to hear what others think about the Outback – or others. The Outback is popular in this area of NY. Can’t wait to hear more, thanks for putting my thoughts into your words!
Yep, In a similar situation and looking hard at the 40 mpg RAV4 hybrid… Far from perfect but I don’t really have a place to park a 3rd car.
We have a rule on purchases of everything from cars to clothes: You have to love it. For some reason, I can’t come to love the RAV4, despite my loyalty to Toyota products. But if you do…that hybrid is a great option, especially since it comes with the same size gas tank as the non-hybrid. Range can stretch to almost 600 miles.
Also, this: https://lpaventure.com/blogs/projects-rav4/2019-toyota-rav4-trail-lp-aventure-edition
That’s a sweet looking rig. Good tires go a long way. Nice wheels make the heart soar. Still not a 4Runner, but an affordable, viable option.
I have similar considerations. I own two vehicles but only one gets driven regular. The ole Scout needs work but it will become our adventure rig one day. Daily is a Subaru Crosstrek that I’m very dissatisfied with so it will be gone soon. The CVT is a major concern in an outback off-road. My Crosstrek is even manual but still aweful. So I’m shopping for another older affordable truck to work with.
And one consideration for you might be a trailer which can help with the off road capacity concerns but not the fuel penalties during the daily commute. Again the Crosstrek can’t tow much either.
Thanks for writing this. You expressed many of the thoughts and considerations I have made over the past few years. I also went from the 3rd gen 4Runner to the 4.7L, but in GX470 form. I love it, but I feel quite a bit of guilt driving it in any situation other than adventuring (which I haven’t done enough of in the past year). I commute by public transit, so only put 5,000 miles on the GX in 2018. This relieves some of my guilt (while also confirming I need to to go on more adventures). I definitely know that I can, and should, ride my bike more frequently for short trips. And I always struggle with the idea of what adventure vehicle to get next. Like you, I love my GX470. I also feel financially invested in it since it is now completely built, so will likely keep for a while. I think my short term solution is to increase bike trips, keep driving my wife’s fuel efficient car the majority of in town and highway trips, and save the GX for adventures. We’ll see what ends up happening in the long term.
+1 on the bike. Unfortunately, around here it’s so hilly and things are so spread out, it makes using a bike for errands not so good. For fun riding, yes, it’s amazing. But for grocery shopping, no.
I’ve looked at the Surly Big Easy, but I’m looking hard at the Specialized Turbo Levo. Electric pedal-assist bikes poaching trails where they’re not allowed drives me nuts, but everywhere else I think they’re great. And while I haven’t ridden one yet, all my friends who have say they will blow you away, enabling big mileage without crushing yourself. Not a cargo bike, but if I’m going to buy an e-bike, it has to work on fire roads and ATV trails as well as the street.
A friend of mine has a girlfriend who couldn’t otherwise ride a mountain bike due to rheumatoid arthritis. Her Specialized Turbo Levo changes all that. Now she has no problem hanging with us on some pretty treacherous trails. I hated the concept of e-bikes until I thought about the accessibility argument… oh and until I rode hers. Holy crap is that thing cool – at least for 40 miles or so and then the battery runs out, then it becomes a boat anchor you have to pedal up the hills. If you can swing the $5000 price tag go for it, you won’t be disappointed.
That’s what everyone says. I think e-bikes are the best thing ever, so long as they’re ridden on approved trails. I’d also like to see more of the big brands developing cool utility bikes. The Specialized system, especially the newest one, is sleek and unobtrusive. If there’s a future, that’s it.
I purchased an eBike several years ago. I have congestive heart failure. I was curious about the carbon footprint of an eBike vs a regular bike. Taking into account the carbon created producing the Uniter States food supply, an eBike is way more carbon friendly. Not even close.
I know that I have now really upset a few people. I sincerely hope that everyone does their own research and calculations before replying to this post. I genuinely want to know if I’m wrong. But, I’ve gone over the figures many times. I’ve also had others look at them. So far they hold up.
Larson—that defies common sense to me. A electric bike is a bike + motor and battery and is by definition materially more than just a bike. As they say in school, please show your work.
An article the covers this very topic.
MPG of a Human | Do the Math
Where I got my information:
Carbon produced by the US food chain per day, for a 2600cal diet 13.7lbs
Extra calories burned to ride 100 miles @ 15mph 6400cal
34.3 lbs of extra carbon produced to grow, process, transport, and prepare this food. (I have seen this figure very by a substantial margin. It could, at the outside, be almost half this much.)
Average carbon produced per kilowatt hour by the US power grid.
1.4lbs per kilowatt hour (1000Wh)
I use approximately 1000Wh with the eBike doing 60% of the work to ride 100 miles.
Adding .3 lbs to account for energy lost during transmission and charging the battery. 1.7lbs of carbon is produced to generate the electricity used by the eBike to do 60% of the work.
After subtracting the carbon created by the power grid to get 1000Wh into my bikes battery. I reduce the carbon produced by approximately 15.4lbs by using an eBike, to do 60% of the work, to ride the 100 miles.
Approximately 175lbs of carbon created to originally manufacture a 500Wh lithium ion battery. Like the one on most eBikes. Considering the 1000-4000 cycles of a well cared for lithium ion battery pack. .175lbs of carbon, or less, created per charge cycle. Though 2.8 ounces of carbon is something, relatively speaking it is inconsequential to these calculations.
dont be a hipocrite…buy a bike and ride it…buying electric assist bikes is furturing the problem because you are demanding the manufacturing of additional products that adds to global warming….if your conscience is bothering you, then commit fully and quit with the dithering
Key to all of my calculations:
Tom Murphy
University of California San Diego
Do the Math
Using physics and estimation to assess energy, growth, options—by Tom Murphy
MPG of a Human
Posted on 2011-11-29
Fly in the Ointment
Our walking or biking economies look pretty decent stacked up against cars—especially if we considered consuming foodstuff as potent as gasoline. This is all well and good until one appreciates that because of the way Americans grow, harvest, distribute, and prepare their food, every one kilocalorie of food eaten has consumed about 10 kcal of fossil fuel energy (dominated by oil). Our 7000 kcal gallon of food therefore took 70,000 kcal of fossil-fuel energy to produce, or a little over two gallons of gasoline. So you would divide the “food economy” values we calculated by 2.2 to get the fuel economy that supported your bike trip or hike. Now walking consumes 18–34 MPG of oil equivalent, and biking comes in at 70–130 MPG.
This should in no way be taken to suggest setting aside the bike or boots for a car that gets better performance. Rather, we should consider ways to make our agriculture or eating habits less energy-intense. By necessity, we once spent less than one kilocalorie of energy on each kilocalorie of food delivered to the plate—otherwise we would have starved ourselves out of existence. So we know that we don’t strictly require a 10:1 ratio of input energy to output energy. Choosing our food sources and food type can make a big difference here.
For instance, if you eat locally grown vegetables that took one kcal of fossil fuel energy for each kcal of food energy, you could claim that the 7000 kcal gallon of food that lets you walk 75 miles only cost a quarter of a gallon of fossil fuels, so your journey effectively gets 300 MPG in fossil fuel terms. Now that’s something to smile about!
Just a note to remind you the the original poster of this comment (me) has Congestive Heart Failure.
It would be extremely dangerous for me to attempt to ride a bike 100 miles without the assistance of the eBike. I still ride because I’m a former bicycle racer and ultra marathon cyclist.
I guess to make this as clear as possible. I didn’t buy the eBike to reduce my carbon footprint. I bought the eBike because I’m 63 and have congestive heart failure. I originally look into to this to see how much more of a carbon footprint I was producing by riding an eBike instead of one of my regular bikes. I was surprised by what I found out. Most notably by the amount of carbon that is created to produce the food supply!
You are 63 yo with CHF. Enjoy your bike choice and your life. You are making the best choices you can. Anxiety and guilt over such small issues lessens the quality of your life and diminishes your rightful place in the human race. Be kind and gentle to yourself and live without the inner emotional turmoil in which you are limiting yourself from being the best YOU are capable of being.
If you don’t keep the GX and limit its usage to 4k miles a year, someone else will buy it and put 20k a year on it.
It’s helpful to think about whats an efficient vehicle to drive around, and it’s very important to vote with your wallet by purchasing electric and hybrid vehicles, don’t pretend like selling your V8 to someone else has any net benefit for the environment.
Unless you destroy your trucks, it’s just someone else who is probably less conscientious of this problem using it to pollute.
Good article. I think many people have the same questions.
I found this solution for your Land Rover.
https://www.plower.nl/electric-defender
We’ve kicked around the idea of putting electric in something cool, like an FJ62. But you’re talking 15 for the vehicle (at least) and up to 25 for the conversion. I wouldn’t trust a Frankenrig like that in the backcountry, and, anyway, for that money, we could get a low mileage Tesla Model S.
You should look into getting a Japanese mini truck. Like a 1994 Suzuki Carry 4×4. 660cc, 2 seater, 5 foot bed, 4×4 with 4 Hi/Lo, and locking rear. Respectable ground clearance and offroad capability. And they only go for $4000-6000 with low mileage (20-60k). Parts are readily available online. And many online communities support, and with information to upgrade/maintain/modify.
Down sides are small stature, small displacement, low top speed ( about 60MPH.)
Environmental upside? You’re not buying a newly manufactured vehicle=less carbon footprint. And of course, low fuel consumption.
You can retrofit a roof rack with a roof tent, with plenty of cargo space in the truck bed for supplies and even bicycles.
I saw a couple nicely modified mini trucks at the Overland Expo recently. And they look pretty solid for real overlanding.
All good ideas, but my days of a vintage vehicle as my primary/sole rig are over. If I do move to an EV for primary, that opens up the “4WD space” to a lot of options beyond the LX. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an amazing vehicle. But there’s all kinds of interesting, better-mileage rigs going for what the LX would fetch, if I wanted to go that route.
I’m on my second Outback after a stint with bigger SUVs and pickups. No question I’m happiest in it out of all the cars I’ve owned, and although I experience Sprinter lust, the Outback does everything I need. I cant quite sort sleeping comfortably in it but to be honest I’m not a big car camping person anyway. I may rent a RTT and see how that goes. And +1 on the Ebike for commuting.
I like your answer! Range Rover with a rail rack and 70 mpg small dual sport VanVan to ride and explore away from base camp.
Steve – again, you hit the nail on the head, voicing a common predicament among our ilk!
I was faced with a similar decision this past year. We needed to get 2 new cars for our family, an adventure rig and/or a commuter.
Our solution:
Commuter/daily driver = Tesla Model 3
Adventure setup = Honda Pilot with a 2015 Rockwood Freedom Pop-up tent trailer.
This combination has done us wonders for three reasons.
1. The Model 3 is a wonderful car to drive, be in and experience. You literally feel the future as you drive this vehicle. I highly, highly, recommend this car – and you can fit a 9′ Pearson Arrow Wing Nut inside with the seats down, or on the roof. The drop out in the trunk is perfect size for a surf bucket and other gear.
2. A pop-up camper turns an SUV into an adventure vehicle – plus being able to detach it from your car, improves mobility from the camp site.
3. The Pilot has a lot of space, and it’s really nice to be in a large car on long trips.
I strongly encourage you to try the electric vehicle program. It will change your outlook further on vehicles and improve your daily driving experience.
As always, funds are a factor. I can’t see the budget for a third, electric vehicle much beyond $15K, especially if I move out of a truck. Otherwise, I’d be all over a Model 3. Our son lives in LA now and we want to be able to run up there, or go to Joshua Tree or Anza-Borrego, on one charge. I don’t know that $15K gets you a plug-in with that kind of range. The new Leafs have 220-mile range but are $36K. Most of the miles are around town, so maybe a cheap low-range is good enough.
We bought a used 100 mile range leaf for $11k
Combo with pilot is fantastic
EV for around town is great.
You are a bold man, Dave, putting a surfboard in a new car, especially one with the interior of a Tesla. Back in 2012, my wife and I bought a brand new Honda Fit. I took a few different boards to dealership to see which/how many boards I could fit inside the car. Then, first time I took it to surf, I got about four grains of sand on the interior, and a nickel-sized smear of dirty wax on the back of the driver’s seat. I was horrified. Three days later, I’d purchased a ’96 Volvo 850 turbo wagon (still the best car I’ve owned, I think) to use as my beater surf rig.
Does your Tesla have the white interior? Seems like a disaster of staining waiting to happen.
David…you got me thinking more about the Model 3. It’s in the price range of what I’d be willing to pay for a new vehicle. It has the range we need and then some—we could get to Mammoth on a charge. It’s sexy and fun to drive. Our power source is solar, so the energy to fill it up is clean. I could keep the LX and only use it for long, off-roady trips.
I like this idea.
@Steve – I never thought a material object could fill that empty space inside me like the M3 does. I know, it sounds pathetic, but it’s true. I ran 3 subarus into the ground, then got a nissan leaf. Sold that to get an EV with more rang. 310 mi is a game changer. I have taken it to Tahoe and back, charging at the safeway in truckee while i got grub for our hut trip. i did feel silly showing up in a tesla for the hut trip, compared to my friends Elements, but damn – i got there powered by the sun!
@Justin – i was interested in the white interior at first, but was quickly talked out of it by my wife… we have 2 little kids – it’d look like the bottom of white sox pretty quick. wrt surfboards and new cars – we live at the beach, i kinda like having sand in my fancy car. it reminds me why i live there. if there’s no sand, i know i need to go for a surf.
Another thing I would add, it’s not just about fuel consumption. I know overlanders who buy a truck, spend thousands of bucks on the needless “build,” then sell it and start over. The rapacious consumption of new trucks and new widgets every year or two has a bigger environmental impact than investing in a platform and using it until it has nothing left to give.
Buying a new electric Rivian every two-years would create a bigger environmental dent than driving your Lexus until the wheels fall off, which will take some doing. We all know and abide by, Recycle, Re-purpose, Re-use, but many feel compelled to buy a new truck the minute the their lien is paid, or the next model hits dealers. The overlander’s appetite for stuff frequently exceeds their want for adventure. Visit an Overland Expo. There’s more buzz about stuff than experiences. Fuel burn is only a small digit in the equation.
You are absolutely right, Christophe. In one of my other browser tabs, there’s half an essay about simplicity.
Do you know if there are any recent studies quantifying keeping an old car vs. buying new? Common sense says keeping the old, but it depends on the vehicle and I think it also depends on what you buy and how long you keep it. I’ve seen mixed messages online.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/when-used-cars-are-more-ecofriendly/?redirect=1
https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1093657_buying-a-new-car-is-greener-than-driving-an-old-one-really
I’ve been wondering about this too. From a big-picture perspective, is it better to hold on to an old beater that gets terrible gas mileage or buy a new electric car (but in doing so, you contribute to all of the fossil fuels that come with building said new car)?
I guess it depends on what percentage of the carbon emissions went into the manufacturing of the old car and new car. Another factor is the source of the energy driving the electric car. If we get one, most but not all of the power will come from the solar on our roof. But that isn’t the case for everyone. How much of a factor is that? Dunno.
Another issue is electric car range. A lot if not most of our adventures take place in areas with little infrastructure. Is there a way to refuel your Leaf in the North Cascades? At the Rainier visitor center? Not having driven one or done the research, I don’t know. But that would be a big concern if you were trying to swing it with just one vehicle that’s electric.
This topic always interested me and the reports frequently seem incomplete. Not many include annual mileages or the rate at which cars are bought and sold as consumers try to keep up with the development of “greener” cars. I say greener as not many are more fuel efficient as new cars simply get heavier. For example, in the last 20 years the 4Runner has lost MPG efficiency.
The published reports I found also don’t mention specific cars or the cost of disposal. A great example are Land Rover Discovery trucks. Junkyards are full of them, many fewer than 20 years old. Once the values dropped, people ditched them for scrap. It’s not just the manufacture of a car that has environmental impacts.
As a sidebar, this is yet one more reason why more people, like me, are parking our trucks and exploring backroads by way of motorcycle. To me, my motorcycles are just longer-range, eco-friendly big brothers to my mountain bikes. I hope more people get on the two-wheel bandwagon if they are able to.
Yes, motorcycles. Except for me, having more than five years dealing with a shattered tibial plateau, I’m not even the slightly bit interested in driving a bike on the road. (Bicycle lanes, one could argue, are more dangerous, but that’s another debate.) Which means you have to transport the bike there, either in trailer, receiver hitch (with capacity +350 lbs), or truckbed. I would love to have a bike to explore dirt back roads and given it serious consideration. But, see above. That’s why I’m thinking about e-bikes. Very different beast and experience from a motorcycle, but lower impact than a truck and easy on the body than a solely human-powered bie.
as someone who is looking at getting a road trip or overlanding vehicle, I don’t feel bad about the around town driveability/MPG of it since I ride to work on my bike everyday. The bigger issue is the sunken cost and depreciation if that vehicle is not used much. If you already have something that works, and it is reliable and is not depreciating much vs your usage, then keep it.
Keep the LX, they are awesome! Pick up a beater honda civic that gets 40mpg as your grocery getter…5-6k and you’re done!
This is a great piece, and very timely for me. My truck broke down on a rough forest road last weekend, had to be towed out, which was fairly epic. I decided it was time to move on and get a new rig, specifically a 100 series Land Cruiser, and promptly found an ‘05 with only 98k miles for $15k. I’ve always wanted one, and there it is! But upon further research, I found how abysmal the fuel economy is. I still really want it, but it’s a hard pill to swallow. Plus I’d have to fly to Texas from Colorado to pick it up, equaling more carbon…
So do I fix my 20 year old diesel 4×4, that’s built out perfectly and is phenomenal off road and gets 25 mpg, or get and build my dream rig and deal with the guilt?
My wife and I commute together to work in our Diesel VW wagon that pushes 50mpg (it’s a pre-dieselgate model), and the truck is reserved for adventures and towing a 16 foot raft all over the west to run rivers.
I wouldn’t recommend a Subaru, but that might just be because I’ve broken both axles on 2 of them. All wheel drive isn’t 4 wheel drive, and it gets tiresome winching yet another Outback from sand/mud/deep snow…
Personally I think an extremely efficient car (electric seems ideal) for everyday, and keep the big fun rig, but just use it for adventures.
Fix your diesel and keep that. On the other hand, the LC100 is insanely good. And see my response to another comment about dependability.
I’ve had plenty of cars break down, but never been stranded in a Toyota or Lexus.
Google speaker is listening to our household conversations again with the timing of this post 🙂 Michigander here, so our off-road adventures don’t require 4WD unless we’re in the Yoop. We just started a relationship with a 2016 AWD Honda CR-V; coming from a FWD VW Sportwagen. Two adults, a lab, and new baby forced us into something a bit larger (mostly higher off the ground. Packed down, the VW struggled with approach and depart in my driveway, let alone on two-track. But man, that VW was great in MI winter). The CR-V has been plenty capable so far, and not as thirsty as our true SUV options would have been. We also like the reliability of a Honda as our 2008 Fit is at 215,000 miles with nary an issue. We compromised on the, meh, look of the CR-V and blending in with half of the people in town. Wheels/Tires and racks with help with that. Considered an Outback but we too were scared of the CVT issues, and the other half of people in town drive an Outback. We’d be in a new Volvo V90 CC wagon if $ were not a factor.
The brand ranked lowest in dependability by JD Power in 2019 is Volvo. Lexus is number one, followed by Toyota.
I feel you . This is something I wrestle with all the time. I just bought a new tacoma to fit my four wheel camper and i plan on driving it 300,00+ miles. I take public transportation most days of the week and we drive my wife’s Jetta around town… so there will be times where my brand new truck will sit for over two weeks. I figure this offsets the impact a little bit, but also auto manufacturers need to give us more options. I have a good feeling my next new vehicle will be electric (or maybe run on water–who knows) but until then i think it’s just all about maintaining a balance
I feel this deep. We had a Chevy AWD Astro with a 4″ lift that was destroyed by being backed into as I drove by….1 block from home. Max ever 18 mpg. Switched to a Dodge Sprinter, max 23 mpg, but way too dang big. Now rolling a long-wheel-base passenger transit connect; max ~30 mpg. Small car for in town, van for trips. Snow tires for winter (Michigan). Panels are going up this summer, then switching the car to a used (2013 or later) Nissan Leaf. Most work commuting and errands are done by bicycle or walking.
Our calculus involved realizing that we used bicycles / motorcycle / feet / canoe for the gnarly parts, and really only needed good snow tires for road usage. The Transit Connect makes a sweet roadtrip vehicle, which is what we were really doing 90% of the time when we were honest with ourselves. However, given where you live, having kids, and your adventure-profile, 4×4 or AWD SUV makes sense without being “frivolous” like parking lot princess trucks.
A small part of me harbors a desire to lift that transit connect it in the future….
“Honest with ourselves”…that’s the rub. If I’m being honest with myself, just one or two percent of the miles I drive actually need four wheel drive. And yet those miles are the sweetest I drive.
Steve, your Dad was right.
Enjoy the hell out of the Lexus and take a bike/public transit/Uber whenever you can to aussage your conscience. It’s not going to matter in the end anyway.
(oh, and Subbies suck gas too. Especially built up like the one in the picture. My GF’s 2013 Crosstek with a 1.5″ suspension lift and slightly larger-than-stock-tires only gets 24mpg on the highway. Stupid CVT….. my 3/4 ton Diesel 4×4 pickup does nearly as well )
Right on Steve! It’s as if you have been listening to my own internal debate. 68. Vegan since 1973. I remember celebrating the first Earth Day.
Rode my bicycle to work during the summer. Bought the house because it is 1.5 miles from the office. Used to own a Jeep Cherokee 20 yrs ago.
After retiring, I sold the sedan I used to drive clients around in and bought a 10 yr old Highlander. Drives great and got me off road for the occasional trip, but poor milage and by time I got all my gear in it there was no room for me.
On a lark I bought a 2000 GMC Quigley coverted camper van. Raised fiberglass roof, solar etc., but terrible mpg and, with a Danna front 44 axle and leaf springs all around. Of course, this isn’t the vehicle to drive to the grocery store.
Looks like I’ll be selling the Highlander and buying a used town vehicle for daily use, but don’t know what that will be. Maybe something Subaru-ish.
Suggestions?
Ya, ya, I feel for ya’ll. Here’s another perspective.
I’ve wrestled with vehicle issues: local and road-trip utility, dependability, costs of purchase and repairs, comfort.
I’ve depended on my legs, boots, and skis for overlanding and off-road adventure. I’ve had 5 decades of adventure. So, regarding rugged-road driving adventure, for sure, I’ve reduced that.
Somehow, over the decades, I’ve survived with 2WD. From the 70s to 90s, I drove 2 VW beetles – those puppies thought they were 4WD. (Yes, there were times I had to hitch to ski the back-country or lifts.
My biggest issue: purchase price. I drive used and proven cars. Current 2007 Mazda wagon (purchased 3 yrs ago) cost me 5000 Cdn dollars. In 2005, my 1992 Previa van cost me $5800 Cdn; drove it 11 years. Before that, 1978 VW van (bought in 1992) cost $1700 Cdn; drove it 13 years.
The math: Over the past 27 years, I’ve spent less than $12,000 Cdn dollars buying 3 vehicles.
Of course, older cars have repair and maintenance costs. Mine have averaged Cdn $800 per year. I can put up with that.
By the time an electric vehicle depreciates to my price range, I’ll probably be in my 80s.
We’re struggling with the same issue. We’re currently a one-car family and our family is outgrowing our Subaru Forester. It’s pretty cramped with a full complement of camping/snowboarding/mtn. biking/etc. gear and two child seats. And when our 2 boys (1 and 3 1/2) get a few years older and want to bring friends along? Forget it.
My attitude towards cars is much like you’ve described. Buy them and maintain them for as long as possible. This evidenced by the fact that I’ve owned a mere 3 vehicles (I should probably say “automobiles” as opposed to “vehicles”, as the number goes up a bit if you include motorcycles.) in the 27 years I’ve been a licensed driver, and the current one has been paid off since 2014 and only has 60k mi. on it, so I reeaaallly don’t want to have to make this leap.
I’ve been hatching all sorts of plans to make the Forester more family-friendly for outdoor adventures. Roof-top tent? Giant cargo box to free up interior room? Small tear-drop trailer for camping? But nothing really remedies the fact that there simply isn’t enough room. Even in daily driving w/o all the extra cargo, there isn’t really enough room for tall-ish (I’m 6′, my wife is 5′ 10″ and all leg.) front seat passengers to sit without being at least slightly cramped.
In the interests of practicality and domestic peace, I think a new (or slightly used) vehicle purchase is going to be unavoidable in the near future. I just don’t know that there are any good choices that fulfill both my practical/responsible/eco-conscious *and* fun/adventure seeking impulses. Especially in a <$40k price range.
To complicate matters further, of the 3 vehicles I've owned, two were full-time AWD (one sporty car, the current small SUV) and one was a 2WD pick-up. One thing I've never owned, and always wanted, is an honest-to-goodness off-road capable 4WD. While the Forester performs admirably off-road, for what it is, I'd love to have something more capable. That pretty much leaves us pining for something that's not even available yet, and likely well outside of our price range when it is (i.e. Rivian, Bollinger, etc.), or a gas-guzzling Truck/SUV.
The most environmentally friendly car you can get is the one you already own.
I two main points to make. Like you, Steve, I’m cheap when it comes to vehicles. I despise spending so much money on something that loses value so quickly. I buy vehicles and keep them for a long time. This past year, I bought a Nissan leaf. I considered the Tesla, especially because my sister got one, but I couldn’t spend that much money on a car. The Nissan has a range of 150 miles, well within 95% of my driving. Because of my work schedule, my wife and i are able to each drive the Leaf and only the leaf for that 95% of the time. I’m keeping my Honda Ridgeline for adventures and when the snow gets extreme (I live in the mountains). I can’t recommend an electric car enough. The Leaf has convinced me that gasoline cars are obsolete, and everyone will know it soon. They have half the parts, almost no maintenance, and, well, they’re so much better for the environment.
Point two: a lot of people have mentioned ebikes. I have rheumatoid arthritis, so I’m into the ebike scene. I have a Giant Trance ebike. Wait, Giant makes a Trance ebike? Go check out Luna Cycle’s website and see how you can convert almost any bike into an ebike. I keep my battery in my backpack, so no one knows I’ve got an ebike. The anger over ebikes is ridiculous, by the way. Each and every one of us will get old, or injured, or get RA and will still want to continue to ride. The ebike allows that. For those who think they damage the trails needs to actually ride one and tell me how. I do no more damage than on my traditional bike. More dangerous? Give me a break. Maybe if you are a teenager.
Two vehicles: One electric, One expedition.
Skip the Leaf. Consider at the Bolt instead or, even better, wait till next year:
https://www.hyundaiusa.com/kona-electric/index.aspx
Of course, all this becomes moot point in a couple of years:
https://bollingermotors.com
Oh man, good luck. I’ve spent thousands of hours pondering this question over the past 30 years.
My answer at present: a Prius. Only new car I’ve ever bought, in 2015.
I find places to drive, low clearance dirt/gravel, where I am far from anyone, and I can park it where I can’t drive any farther, camp in it, and then hike or bike.
Adventure is a state of mind. Doesn’t take 4WD. Solitude and space is mostly what I need. Over the years I was driving less and less, hated burning gas, but now I drive more and burn less. The masses go one way in their 4WDs, I go the other. Growing up in the 60s and 70s we used high clearance vehicles, often 4WD, but many of those roads were tamed or closed over time. I have no kid at home now, just me and the wife. More than that and the Prius might be difficult. So I’m not suggesting it is the answer for you.
And it does matter – it is all that matters – the choices you make, not those of the politician. The stakes are high.
Have you heard about the twin turbo hybrid drivetrain coming to the new tundra??
Had nearly every one of those vehicles mentioned, in the end thsi is what I did:
Got a Promaster van, diesel, did some minor customizing so it works for camping but also works for hauling gear. I average 22/26.
This is my daily driver, BUT, I also live three miles from work 🙂
Maybe the Promaster doesn’t get the mileage of a Prius, but for my short “commute”, a Prius makes less sense than a bike, and for my long drives I am always going somewhere to play in which case I have bikes and dogs and gear, in which case only a ruck or van will suffice.
Promaster FWD Diesel van, pretty much perfect.
To absolve your environmental guilt, and to make the most economic sense, get a car that will cover the driving you do most of the time. Rent a jeep or a truck, maybe, if you need to go deeper.
I just sold my 1999 Frontier (though it was a little difficult to part with) and bought an ’11 Outback because I have to haul people more than things right now. Regardless, my Outback will get met to 99% of the places I want to go.
I see a lot of bashing on the CVT–what’s wrong with it? I have 2 Subies–an Impreza that gets 35-37 mpg and an Outback that gets 31. They both have the CVT, which I really like for the smooth shifting! People cite repair costs as a disadvantage, but I put $4000 into repairing the tranny on my ’02 4-Runner, and it was your typical 4-speed automatic. Please let me know if I’m missing something!
Finally, tricking out a car can be a huge time and money suck. I can’t believe how many lifted trucks I see that never leave pavement. I’ve driven many stock Toyota, Chevy, and Nissan trucks on many difficult roads and slept in a tent on the ground. Save your money and retire early.
I was hoping for more feedback from folks on the CVT in the dirt. Judging the 2200 comments on this video, it’s a hot topic.
my suv is a truck
having a bed is what makes it actually UTILITY-oriented.
it can take stinky wet waders, or a fully rigged fly rod; or i can sleep fully stretched out in the back; gear storage is what it’s all about: no compromises. It doesn’t keep ski boots warm on the way to the hill, but it does let skis melt off on the way home.
it has gas mileage competitive with suv’s
my concession to its carbon footprint is my commute: no drive, just a walk across the yard.
you’d think i’d be smug about my commute, but the unfortunate reality is that my driving for recreation is far more impactful than any commute I had when i worked for someone else. You go to a location 2-3hrs away on one day of the weekend & just equaled the weekly commute…
but a prius just doesn’t work for gear/sleeping away from home…
It’s important to look at this through the context of carbon emissions. The LX 470, driving my current 10,000 miles a year, produces 7.19 tons of carbon a year. If I add an electric vehicle and only use the LX for, say, four dirt-related road trips a year of 800 miles each, that drops to 2.3 tons. (Not including carbon from manufacturing.)
Driving an Outback 10,000 miles produces 3.0 tons.
Don’t know that any of these calculators are all that accurate, but you can look up your own vehicle here.
Hi there. Loved the article.
I think that we are all trying to do the right thing and struggling with the trade offs. Some experts are claiming that it may already be too late to change our fate and the little things we do for the environment really only make us feel better.
The car you have is much more environmentally sound than buying a new one. Simple.
You could buy a small fun used car for around town driving and keep the Lexus. Life is short.
Why the need for “overlanding”?? Why can’t you stick to roads, rough and bad or otherwise? Why should every inch of the planet be subjected to your knobby tired gas eating vehicle? Because you think its “fun”? All you who bleed so green, love the planet so much and yet feel the need to be able to drive EVERYWHERE- how hypocritical. I guess its like paying $5 for a cup of coffee at Starbucks- the only way you can feel good about it is if you feel bad about it.
Except for a few areas with slickrock, no one is driving “over land”—that is, all driving is on a paved road, dirt road, or track. There are 1.36 million miles of unpaved roads in America, about 35 percent of all roads.
Too funny. I sent your last article, about the 2002 4Runner to at least 4 of my Vanzilla owning pals, goading them, primarily, because other than the fat lower lip, my ’96 4Runner is identical. Gen 3, white, SR5, tinted windows, you own/ed my truck and declared victory over those VW’s….
Much spirited discussion ensued, so thanks.
Imagine my surprise when I read this a few days later.
You’re singing my tune to a T. I’ve struggled with this exact thing for a few years now.
I almost dumped my ‘Runner last summer. Which is where I may be of use to you.
I’d been bugging my classic car insurance company (sold my classic Mercedes convertible to buy the Runner, several years back) to please cover my 4Runner, as it was over 20 years old, and indeed, my baby, not my daily driver.
They’d rebuffed my requests for a few years, while holding out the promise that, “likely we will, next year”.
Well they finally did, and now, my 1996 Toyota has classic car coverage. Year round, full replacement value, all the normal stuff. For a hair over $400 annually.
When it was closer to a grand, I too, struggled with paying insurance on two cars.
My other is a fuel sipping ’12 VW Sportwagen TDI. Not as efficient as a Prius, but more practical, and road trip/camping worthy in itself.
So there you go, get an older off road/overland toy, save on insurance coverage, preserve a classic, and have a more miserly vehicle for around town and non off road type road trips….
Been working pretty well for me so far!
@craig—I know, right? I bought the 4Runner expecting to have it for a long time. I bought the LX thinking the same thing. Well, I had my Syncro for nine years and my first gen Sequoia (a dramatically underappreciated vehicle) for 18 years. But times change, people change, technology changes. Sometimes you don’t know until you’re in it. My point about my dad and car buying, when it comes to used cars, I’ve just loosened my attitude. I broke even on the 4Runner, including the taxes I paid, and I made money on the Vanagon. If I sold the LX today, I’m pretty sure I’d make money, and if I get an electric vehicle only use the LX for off-road trips, that low mileage is only going to make it more valuable. New cars are different, but with private party horse trading, it seems a guilt-less pursuit. The trading, that is.
As for the Vanagon, I don’t regret it one bit. But I also don’t want to go back there. 🙂
I neglected a portion of my thought process in my comment, as it pertains to your goals.
By going old enough to get cheap insurance, you’re also putting yourself into a more *analog* vehicle.
As much as the bells and whistles on newer cars can be a siren song, they are also becoming increasingly impossible to fix yourself, and often, when something fails, it takes other things with it.
My VW? Less than 80K on it. Already have multiple dashboard lights on, and recently had a glow plug light pop on. Car ran fine, but suddenly, no cruise control.
Worked fine as soon as I got the light shut off.
Apparently this antic is common, disabling multiple things when one aspect is acting up.
So, in back country travel, not such a desirable trait.
Get a ~25/30 year old truck, simpler, cheaper and less computer dependent, might well be a better BC partner.
YMMV…
I wrestle with the same issues. I have a 2015 4Runner, and it is a great vehicle for my adventures. My solution was to purchase a Chevy Volt, which I use for all driving that doesn’t require the 4Runner. I put about 20K on the Volt per year and about 10K on the 4Runner each year. The primary issue with this approach is the cost of having two vehicles. Financially it has been painful, but I feel much better driving the Volt on battery power around town. In the grand scheme of things, this isn’t much of a solution at all. The real answer is to drive and travel less and move toward a much less car-centric lifestyle, but my job demands a lot of driving, so this is what I’m doing now.
Don’t drive a Tesla. You’ll hate your ICE vehicle afterwards. It does to gas cars exactly what the iPhone did to your landline and wifi did to your dial-up. Once that $50K Tesla truck comes, the price may be high but I bet you’d save about $5K/year on gas coming from an LX 470.
Hi , I need to chime in regarding Tesla vehicles. Yes they are expensive new. But I bought a certified pre owned model S. You can get an AWD one for less than a Toyota 4Runner or s Lexus 470. You can change the ground clearance so off roading is possible. Between the trunk and the “frunk” there is tons of gear space. Plus you can add a roof rack for paddle boards or a cargo box. I also added a tow hitch so I can take my bikes with me. It’ll go 250 miles on a charge and it’s fun planning where you’re going to charge on the route. You can sleep in it with the climate control on all night. You don’t need to leave it “running” to stay warm, cool, or leave your dog in it. And it can kick any other cars ass in a race if that’s your thing. It’s also made of aluminum so it won’t rust. Seriously I could go on and on but I’d probably be accused of being a Tesla employee ( which I’m not ) it’s just the most versatile utility vehicle I’ve ever owned and I had a lot of the above mentioned rigs.
Carbon Credits. Simple. Same solution as for the person who was deciding not to fly to Africa (incredibly, as if there was another practical way to cross the Atlantic).
Just buy carbon credits to offset your impact. Buy more than your impact and you become a net positive during your life. Duh.
A ton of CO2 offsets costs between 15-40 bucks. Better yet, do the math and figure out what you need to spend. A comment above stated his vehicle used about 7 tons/year. Do the math. Pay the bill. Keep living. Simple.
Thank you for this article!
I’m way behind the research curve on this, but…is there some reason no one is mentioning biodiesel/veggie oil power as an option?
I always have held out hope that someday I could power the Sprinter of my dreams with that sweet French-fry smell.
You’re my spirit animal Casimiro! I wrestle with this on a daily basis. I drive a 85’ Westy with a Suby conversion as my daily driver. I’m getting a 4Runner soon as a hand me down.
We can’t afford a car payment and I’m a mechanic so I love fixing cool older vehicles. I have to drive 2 hours minimum to surf. The most carbon neutral thing to do would be not surf…
I judge massive lifted trucks at the Outerbanks for being ostentatious but know that I’m not that far off from them in lifestyle.
I think the E-Cargo bike could be a great solution especially if you have solar that can create an off grid charging solution.
Blurg, nothing sounds great.
My wife and actually have done your first option. LEAF and Nissan Frontier Pro 4X is our game. We do almost everything in the LEAF and put very few miles on the PU. I am not particularly eco-minded, but things just worked out that way and we are happy. The LEAF is a 2014 and hasn’t cost us hardly anything. Meanwhile, the Frontier was a high mileage 2016 but isn’t driven much each year. Totally good if you ask me.
This article really hit home for me. For a long time I guzzled a bunch of gas and spewed CO2 before I understood the climate imperative. As an outdoors enthusiast, I think I loved the Jeep I had at 22 the best. But since then I won’t own a vehicle that gets under 25. We use an Audi Q5 and a 2008 Prius which sucks in the Michigan winter and on dirt roads. Think the Q5 is great option in the small SUV class and gets nice mileage. Once we have better charging coverage in the upper midwest, I will go full electric. Love Mini COuntryman electric and the new Audis coming out. But I still look wistfully at Wranglers with big wheels but just as wistfully as they look at every gas station they pass.
Anyone ever though or heard about taking an old Wrangler and dropping a diesel in it to use biodiesel?
Hi Steve,
I gotta be brutally honest with you on this one. All-electric vehicles are not as environmentally friendly as the auto industry tells us. Starting with the rare earth minerals like Cobalt for the batteries to the source of how the vehicles are charged (say nuclear power vs. coal power plants), EVs are not the end all solution. I’ve worked as an auto journalist for nearly a decade and have studied this issue extensively. Until automakers develop new battery tech which will require less of those rare minerals to the complete elimination of coal and diesel fuel power plants, you’re best off buying a small(er) and mechanically simple SUV for weekend adventures and doing your best to take public transport, ride a bicycle, etc. during the week. A few SUV suggestion: Suzuki Jimny/Chevy Tracker, Kia Sorento (1st generation), or even an old Jeep Cherokee. Good luck!
Jay—there’s lots to unpack here and I’m not under any illusions that there’s a simple solution. We all know there isn’t one. (I have about 15 browser tabs of research open right now.) But I will float one argument in favor of EVs, which is that buying one immediately reduces to money flowing to petroleum companies. These corporations have known at least since the 1980s that their products contribute directly to climate change, but, taking a page from the tobacco companies, they denied it. Bill McKibben has written extensively about the oil companies and their complicity in global warming and the sooner we slow or stop their sources of profits, the better. A few commenters here have talked about how pleasurable it is to drive their EV past gas stations. I’m down with that.
Of course, this is a whole-life consideration. We (the Casimiros) have made a lot of changes in the last 10 years, but we have a long way to go and we’re still learning every day. Each of us pushes the others. Sophia came back from her first year at SF State on an anti-plastic campaign and we’ve dramatically changed (reduced) our usage. One small example; there are plenty more. Anyway, point being: We are trying to be as aware and data-driven as we can, while also doing as much as we can as soon as we can.
And that’s the thing, isn’t it? The climate change clock is ticking. It’s speeding up. The time for big action was yesterday.
I hope you are doing an article in the June magazine that mirrors this conversation.
Sold my 25mpg Outback 3.6L (that was fun to drive though) and for almost the same money, have a re-chipped Jetta TDI for around town/commute (42mpg) and a 12 year old 4Runner for the adventure side. Loving the combo!!!
Welcome to test drive the Jetta when you come to Denver for OR in a few weeks.
Keep smiling!
We had the same struggle (minus as much dirt driving), needed awd for snow, but spend most of the year on asphalt on shorter town trips. Our solution was pairing an Outback with the Prius we already had, and biking whenever possible. The Outback is used as needed, with the Prius for everything in town or stop and go. Then an old van for the one mile trip to the beach. The Outback outperforms my old Land Rover on basically every surface so far – beyond towing. Wish I’d owned it years ago in Jackson where I was always sliding off the road. The Outback is rock solid even during all the chain law days in Mammoth last season.
We’d thought about selling the Prius, skipping the Outback and being a one car family with the new hybrid RAV4, but needed awd for last winter and just couldn’t wait until this spring.
If you can wait a year, the hybrid/electric options should be even better! Thanks for breaking this down Steve.
Can you get a Jimny here? 1.5 or 6 L engine. Looks pretty decent, supposedly fun to drive, good ground clearance and surprisingly good storage space. Might be worth considering.
I found about six on eBay. Not familiar with them, except as the Samurai.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a25378079/suzuki-jimny-american-buyers/
Nope, not the new ones anyway.
Similar debate going on with us, as we got a 13′ Outback 2.5, then proceeded to have two kids. So it’s too small for trips, and isn’t quite as ”off road” as we’d like.
1) CVT has been bulletproof. Much of what I’ve read, is like many other modern transmissions, you have to ignore the manufacturers ”lifetime fluid” claims. Ran 60,000 miles on factory fluid, changed once (now at 71k), and will start doing 20k changes once we reach 80.
2) It is underpowered though, and the CVT isn’t enjoyable to drive.
3) I would love an LX or GX or 4Runner, but each time, I just can’t stomach the mpg. Looked at Subaru Ascent, VW Atlas, Ford Explorer etc, and am probably closest on the VW Atlas … but then it’s a 150,000 mile car, not a 400,000 mile truck like the LX
The LX is stupid good, except for the mileage. I’m in the middle of outfitting it for a road trip this week and it’s absurd how roomy, comfortable, and smartly designed it is. Every time I see a GX, whose lines I like better, I remember my tailgate/cooking platform/dining room table and slap myself. The other thing about the LX? Same car at the Land Cruiser, but mine cost 25% less than comparable LCs. People want the name and think the Lexus is wimpy or something.
Since situations like this require out of the box thinking, (or not) – I know ppl – families, for instance, who drove older, smaller, beater vehicles around town for errands (when they weren’t cycling — living in a city where the average house price is $1.8M and the average income is $45K leads to a ton of scrimping). When they wanted to camp or road trip, they would rent a brand new van for the days/weeks so that a) they were driving a reliable vehicle and b) saving money by driving a less expensive vehicle. So, what is the cost for renting a 4WD for those expeditions you want to pursue? Here in Canada (as I’ve written for AJ before), the Delicas are ALL the rage, but there’s that right hand driving thing. Quick question, from what I’ve seen of the overlanding crowd (which I’ll never join because, well, $$$) — it does seem like a ‘boys with the most toys’ type activity. Let’s go into the backcountry, make a nice big fire and talk vario syncromesh transmissions or, I dunno, the waist width x flex of CBD infused sustainably grown skis made in Joe’s back yard from down the street. I know dick-all about carbon credits, but if dirty air is really the issue, then work back from the carbon credits. Having said that, I am gonna check out those used LXs, which are probably “Made in Japan.”
Mind if I ask what limits the Outback has put on your off-roading? I’ve only had mine (a ’16 2.5 Premium) for about 6 months without much chance to do anything but well-mannered fire roads and snowed-over dirt driveways. The ground clearance and grip has been better than I honestly expected, but again, haven’t tackled anything I wasn’t already sure I could handle. I did mountains of research before buying and was surprised by how capable it was in the hands of overlanding enthusiasts who compared them to traditional 4x4s.
(Long time reader, but first comment.)
Justin, we’ve got a ’15 3.6R and a Volt as our primary round-towner. The Outback has worked great for us and I love the adaptive cruise/mpg for road trips… but I do feel the off roading limit’s that Chris above mentioned. Enough so that we might buy one of other vehicles mentioned — currently on a research kick of the Ecoboost F-150’s w/ a topper.
We were just up near Buena Vista last weekend trying to camp in a dispersed area and the general clearance was perfect for most of the way, yet when we cut off the core forest road to get back to a spot (generally downhill) I had to be super careful to not take the front bumper off. The approach angle of ~18 is just a fun killer. With a spotter it’s okay, but just have to be so vigilant with line choice and communication. Can be a drag when the “features” we’re rolling through are very mellow comparatively.
Know folks have solved this with a lift and larger A/Ts, but the MPG impact of a lift and heavier tires has held me back. There comes a point, fully loaded, where a modern mid-size or full-size truck beats the Outback in efficiency (or… that’s what I’m trying to convince myself, ha).
Also, something I don’t see mentioned is that the CVT really hates square edges at low crawling speed. Tall roots w/ dug out areas in front/back, for example, just make you feel like you’re going to break something as the CVT revs to clear while creeping down/up.
All this said… we’ve only had to leave the Outback behind once near Steamboat where a steep, muddy ditch and very few line choices made us have to load everything into our friend’s lifted Tacoma. And, we get out to explore/camp/etc often. That seems like a pretty good track record even if it ‘feels’ at points like it doesn’t want to make it.
Anyway, love all the thoughts in this thread. The cognitive dissonance of wanting to get past the crowds in the outdoors, while also protecting those wild places you love is… tough. Will keep reading to hear more advice!
Thanks Reed. I’ve stared at that low chin plenty and wondered if it would ever be an issue. I got about 17 mpgs in my ’12 Tacoma with meaty ATs and the 3.4L and a fiberglass shell. My Subie doubles as a family hauler and the convenience of it being an actual, parkable car blows away the Tacoma. I haven’t once missed the Tacoma in fact. If I was going to have a pure off-roader that existed for only that purpose, jeez, I still don’t know what I’d do.
Driving a hand-me-down Tacoma. For years, in decent weather, I’d commute on motorcycle which got over 50 mpg. Debating on returning to that, but in the NE it’s not an expansive window of riding season.
What is the offset in keeping a rig for years, taking its carbon footprint into consideration, vs the carbon footprint that goes into the manufacture of another?
TLDR: Get a used Prius plug-in and the adventure rig of your liking. The Prius is probably the best car I’ve ever owned. It makes me want to only buy Toyota products.
This is an incredible article, it captures my dilemma perfectly. I don’t think the technology is in a place to have the quiver of one vehicle at the moment. It’s a bummer for sure.
We have a Prius and a 2016 Outback. I’d love to have a Model 3 for the fun factor and also to vote with my money. I think buying electric sends a message to the big automakers to get with the program.
One note to consider as you consider all this. I’ve had 4 Subarus over the years and unfortunately this one is my least favorite. The CVT is really bad. When ever you change gears from drive to reverse and back it takes forever to engage. Not a problem if you live on a dirt road but if you park and drive in cities it sucks.
If money was no object I’d have a Model 3 and a Land Cruiser for sure. You’re halfway there!!!!
I wrestled with the same problem, and I am very happy you are addressing it here. While my concerns were not guided by environmental issues, something just really bothers me about a vehicle that gets gas mileage in the teens when new and unmodified, and ultimately in the single digits once it hits the trail.
The reality however is that there is no perfect or simple solution. You have to make sacrifices. Even the mythical future electrical off road vehicles will be a sacrifice; causing a whole new range of pollution.
I’ve been driving a Subaru Outback since 2016. My wife got a Subaru Crosstrek shortly after. I settled on the Subaru for three reasons: 1. It gets 28mpg combined for a midsize, full time AWD car, 2. I bought it brand new for $25,000. What I really like about Subaru is that even the base models have the same AWD system, same ground clearance, etc. 3. My wife and I can both sleep in the back of the car.
“Issues” with the CVT pretty much do not exist. Every single issue I have seen discussed (granted, I have not done any extensive search), is just a product of not knowing the system. The solution to all of them seems to be to just turn off the traction control as Subaru instructs.
That being said, a Subaru Outback will never compete with a 300hp, lifted 4×4 with lockers all around, riding on 33 inch tires. It’s very capable off road, but it’s in a different category from a Landcruiser.
I have been very happy with my Outback. I’ll admit that from time to time my heart starts drifting towards some 4×4 beast, but then my brain puts a stop to it. The Outback hits a great balance. It is comfortable as a daily driver, with good gas mileage; it lets me carry a good amount of cargo, including four 55 gallon barrels, or a stack of 8ft boards, all inside the vehicle; it can sleep two people in the back; and so far has gotten me everywhere I’ve needed to go (my hobby is backpacking, not off roading).
I don’t know it it is the right choice for you, but like I said, I don’t think there is a perfect choice.
I’m hoping this thread serves as inspiration for the auto industry. FWIW: I spent years pining after a 2013 Land Cruiser (going so far as to source a place in Peru where I could buy my own carbon-offset trees) to power me into backcountry adventures every weekend.
I stumbled upon owning a vehicle that I didn’t want, but has surprised me: it is shockingly good offroad, has great ground clearance, a 2.0L turbo/ supercharged engine that gets 23 mpg on the highway. It is spacious to sleep in the back and the seats fold perfectly flat. It has a 2-row sunroof that is great for stargazing when I sleep in the back on adventures, not to mention a 420 mile gastank range.
Its a 2016 Volvo XC90. It is the last car I wanted, but I’ve come away impressed as hell with it. Yes, reliability ratings are low, likely due to problems with the overly complex software that powers the car. Otherwise the car has overachieved in every way, and vastly exceed my expectations.
Before you say “pass” I’ll note this: try one out. Like you Steve, I obsessed about the perfect vehicle for years. But the Land Cruiser isn’t actually all that great offroad, thanks to its staggering heft The 4Runner was noisy on the highway, and both the back seat and trunk were small (owing to the body-on-frame). A long-bed, 4-door Tacoma is still on my wish list, but not ideal for the new baby in the family. And having owned 3 subarus in a row, I’ll note that I swore them off after my first brand new car ever (a 2001 Outback Ltd) had nothing but problems, and is still the worst of any car I’ve ever owned. A 2007 Camry Hybrid was probably one of the best cars I’ve ever owned for reliability, but man… it couldn’t hack a snowy parking lot for anything in the world (even with good snow tires).
So here I am with a 2016 XC90 in my driveway, and it is covered in mud (thanks to a trip in VT up a skidded-out logging road this past weekend). I’ll say it again – this thing is surprisingly good off road, gets 23 mpg on the highway, and has a massive trunk for all the family gear you could want. Just my two cents. Looking forward to hearing where you land.
My ’95 Volvo 850T wagon had a bad head gasket and drove fine for over 5 years like that. Coolant in the oil and everything. I kept a big piece of driftwood in the back to thump the starter when it started to go out. Never leet me down.
I have a 2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i, 6 speed manual transmission. Rallitek overload springs front and rear, with Falken Wildpeak AT3W (235/75R15, about 1″ taller than stock, which doesn’t help the gearing problems below). It’s a phenomenal fire road vehicle. It does great on pavement, on the highway I can get 30mpg if I keep it at 70mph.
It can’t climb even a modest hill off road, with no weight inside. It does better if I keep it up above 3000rpm in 1st gear, but then you’re going 10-12mph. For smooth, steep roads it’s okay, but add it a few rocks, and you’re asking to break something. Below 1000rpm, it’s painfully underpowered. A tremendous amount of clutch slip is necessary to get up a rock the size of a curb. The automatic probably would have been better, but the CVT reliability is most likely compromised at best when pushed hard off road (I have nothing to prove or disprove this).
One great option is to get the 3.6R. The new models also have the CVT. But with the larger engine, comes decreased fuel mileage. By the time you add A/T tires, skid plates, a lift, and a roof rack to make up for the smaller interior, you’re basically matching the fuel economy of the Tacoma/4runner (in their much more capable stock form), within 1-2mpg. The OB really comfortable, but it really sucks at hauling 3+ people and all their gear; the rear end will bottom out on expansion gaps, even when you sit in the right lane doing 65 getting passed by semi’s. You don’t get 4wd. You get a sedan based chassis (Subaru Legacy) with independent suspension at all 4 corners, vs. a solid axle + IFS. Removing sway bars helps articulation, but is still so poor you can lift a tire in a deep driveway entrance.
Because of all of this, I will be trading in my Outback for a Tacoma in the next few years. Like you said, life is short. The decrease in MPG will encourage me to ride my bike to work more often than I already do. For 99% of people, the Outback will do more offroad than they will ever need. But it just no longer does what I want it to do.
This is exactly what this article: https://www.adventure-journal.com/2018/10/the-perfect-vehicle-does-not-exist/ tries to get at. There are compromises no matter what. I traded my Tacoma for an Outback because driving a truck every day was making me nuts.
When my F150 engine blew-up the decision boiled down to another pick-up or an Outback. Base model to base model the Outback 2.5I was 12-14k less. Far better mileage. Cheaper insurance. 250k reasonable life expectancy. Outback for the win. The Outback pictured in the article could be mines twin. Here’s some real world experience with the addition of BFG KO2’s on a 2.5 Outback. Around town and to local ski hills mileage dropped from 31 to 27 avg. Yet on highway (80 MPH here in MT) the mileage plummeted to 21 from 30. Car can’t stay in 7th gear as it could with stock tires and rims. So for planned long haul highway trips I jack it up and toss the stock rim/tires on. 35 minute swap yields better mileage, quieter ride, better handling. Add a trailer hitch and small utility trailer and you have the carrying capacity of most pick-ups. In the end I use roughly 500 gallons less gas a year with the Outback vs pick-up. That savings alone allows me to buy a Bridger and a Big Sky seasons pass.
Question about used Nissan Leaf, as for a town-only car for us. Anyone have experience with using independent mechanic(s) with your Leaf repairs and maintenance?
Or, do you only use a Nissan dealer in these instances?
Tips?
Honda Ridgeline. It’s a Pilot with a bed. Drives like an Accord, roomy like an Odyssey, awd like a Pilot. 6 speed AT gets 25 mpg. The 2020 model is supposed to get a 9 speed AT, maybe a hybrid. That’s what I’m getting, adding a 1.5” front lift, 32” all terrain tires and a roof rack, that’s it. I’d feel comfortable taking it anywhere.
Great article, and as many others have said it sums up what I’ve spent far too many hours thinking about. I drive an 03 Tundra (with the lovely 4.7L), and my wife has a Forester. The Tundra is great in every way except for the gas mileage. Rather than just repeat everything that’s already been said, here are two other options: 1. Buy a mid-90’s F250 to use as your overland rig and run it on waste veggie oil or biodiesel (which no one seems to do anymore for some reason) 2. Trade your GX for a 2014-16 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel, which gets you a fully capable 4×4 that gets almost 30 on the highway.
There’s no perfect solution (yet), but I do tend to think that keeping the rig you’ve got until the wheels fall off and limiting your driving as much as possible in the meantime might be the most environmentally friendly option.
Become a backpacker and practice LNT. Hike locally. Simple. Done.
Jeep renegade trailhawk. That is all.