[jyl]

(I know we already have a good hybrid car thread going, but this is a somewhat different issue so I'm starting a new thread.)

How would you compare the environmental and energy consumption impact of a new hybrid car versus a used conventional car?

For example, suppose the choice is a new Toyota Prius that costs $22K and averages 50 mpg, or a used conventional car that costs $18K and averages 22 mpg.

Of course we can calculate the savings in gasoline and the difference in pollution. But what about the savings in not manufacturing a new car?

I guess what I'm really asking is how much energy and pollution is involved in manufacturing a new car.

My wife wants a Prius because it is "green". I'm a fairly liberal and fairly environmentalist kind of guy, but more than anything I believe in hard-headed analysis. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any data to analyze this with.

Any sources?