Cash for Clunkers

Its alive & well, a good idea IMO

 

Good thread, let's keep this alive. I heard O mention this program, upgrading older cars to hybrids and getting a tax credit or payment in his speech about GM. Diane Feinstein proposed something similar in the stimulus bill but it didn't make it in. I'm hoping on a subsequent bill she gets something in and I think O is hot on it so I expect something to pass.
One problem is in his speech O said on cars made in America. While some Toyota's are built here, my understanding is the Prius is still built overseas. However, it's hard to imagine a program that encourages people to dump their old clunkers to upgrade to a more efficient car and then exclude the most efficient car available.
I'm upgrading from an 85 Cressida so I'll be paying close attention.

 

I heard the cash for clunkers was if you were buying a more efficient vehicle manufactored in North America. What most citizens of the U.S. fail to realize is that Mexico and Canada are also North America. They seem to be very specific in the wording North America and not the U.S. of America.

 

CNN just announced that Obama supports the House version of the Cash for Clunkers bill. The House version does not mention American-made but does require the new car to get 4MPG more than the one it replaces. The old car must be junked. The voucher amounts are $3,500 to $4,500. Only new cars can get a voucher.

The Senate version is much stricter, requiring the new car to get at least 25% better than 27MPG for cars.

They hope to have it done in May. That will work for me as I won't have my new Prius by then.

This is too good to be true.

Oh, yes, I forgot, I do have a Clunker (Echo, 160K miles soon, needs repair, but does get great 33MPG).

Rich N.

 

"Needs to be junked" --- Who would decide THAT? Your clunker would have value to someone like a college student or person on limited budget. Of course you would want it junked... Perhaps the Dealer to get the deal.... But is it the right thing, esp if it doesn't pollute..much.. and gets good MPG as your Echo.

I see a snake's-nest of red tape ---- typical Congressional Bill. You can bet your bootie that special interests are involved in this one too.

I will be trading - or selling outright - my 99' Lexus RX 105K miles 19MPG. Certainly not a junker - but I will be polluting MUCH less and tripling MPGs. Would LOVE to be including in this Bill / voucher!!!

Also - I'd find it hard to believe that a bill as this would pass without the stipulation the that new car must be built (assembled) in North America. The unions would be outraged if this wasn't there - and you know who's majority in Congress. Too bad the Prius U.S. plant is on hold. And of course the argument that most of the N.Amer built cars - most of their parts and assemblies are sourced outside the U.S.

 

Therein lies the rub. These laws have to be very carefully monitored so the wording doesn't endanger collector cars. Most of the car clubs oppose these bills because they may make collecting vintage cars illegal and take historical cars off the road for good. I'm all for getting rid of gross polluters used daily, but what about a pristine, vintage restored Boss 429 or Hemi Cuda? These probably qualify as "gross polluters" due to their rich running to tolerate high-overlap race cams. Should we outlaw a weekend-only hobby car along with the smoking, rusted-out piles of crap that are the real issue? Just food for thought...

 

I love how nobody in Congress ever asks "how are we going to pay for this, again?"

It's not really "free" money....we all pay for it sooner or later!!

 

Sound reasonable to me. Don't want no foriegn cats.

The beauty is, no one is telling you, that you have to do anything. If you want to get rid of your old car, you can.

 

Car Clubs oppose these kind of bills because they are paranoid and don't understand the bills. They have nothing to do with confiscating cars or making collecting or driving cars illegal.

The "Cash for Clunker" bills are completely voluntary. The current proposal would have the federal government give you $3500 for your old car. If your new car gets 10 mpg more than your old car then you get $4500. To qualify the new car must get at least 22 mpg and new truck must get at least 18 mpg.

I really doubt anyone is going to trade their "pristine vintage restored Hemi Cuda" for a $4500 federal voucher. It would be a great incentive to buy a $500 clunker on Craigslist to trade in for a $4500 voucher.

 

California has a similar program, it gives $650? for a polluting car. But you have to have the car registered in your name for the previous 2 years, and it must be capable of being driven to the junkyard. I would think this federal bill would have the same provisions.

If not, I'll be looking on Craigslist, too!

 

What does "outlaw pristine vintage cars" have to do with the "Cash for Clunkers" bill?

Rich N.

 

Some wordings are confusing to me. They say the old passanger cars should be at least 18 mpg or less (combined EPG). This means the clunker has to have a big engine. My old Honda Accord does not qualify for this program then. Then again some articles suggest the old clunker should be just 4 mpg less than the new vehicle. And they say 2000 Subaru legacy with 22 mpg should qualify......

 

I read the same thing.....

I was excited that I'd be able to turn in my 89 Integra for a big voucher to be spent on a new Prius. However, the wording was such (at the time) that the car had to be below a certain MPG threshold, and my 25/29 mpg rated Integra wouldn't qualify.

The reason for the "destruction" of cars is to get the older gas guzzlers off the road, permanently. No one (with half a brain) is going to trade in their muscle car for a voucher unless they feel they couldn't get more for it on the open market.

If nothing else, car collectors should rejoice, it means less muscle cars on the road, thus improving the "value" of their cars, as they are now rarer than before. Yes, some people would have fixed up that older muscle car, but many wouldn't.

I'm hoping the wording changed to a better (4 mpg) car, then I might qualify, otherwise, I'm on my own.

 

One article says they're thinking of expanding it to foreign cars? In typical government fashion they propose a great idea and don't extend it to the most fuel efficient car out there? By the time the bill passes it won't apply to anyone because there will be so many requirements.
I have a a 1985 Cressida and I'm on the fence about a Prius. 4K incentive is a done deal, I wouldn't hesitate a second.

 

Better start buying the clunkers really cheap if you plan to buy a new car.

The clunkers will be worth $1k-2k once this program starts because there will be a demand for those need to trade in to qualify.

I wonder if there is a limit how long you have to own the clunker for?

 

More than likely you just won't be able to find a junker for sale.

So I get to trade in my 08 Prius for a 10 which I was going to do anyway. I get to crush my old van that I have been trying to sell and I get $4500 bucks.

The only things that are different when the law goes into effect are:
-There is one less van on the road
-Some poor slob who needed a good running car to get to work can't find one for a decent price
-I get $4500
-My great/grandkids get to pay $20,000 interest and principle on the $4500.00 the government gave me to crush my van.

Awesome:rockon:

G

 

Anyone know if they have to be running?
That would be even funnier since junk yards could work a deal with the dealerships to sell their cars to the dealership customers for 2k each and then the customers could report them as crushed and save 2k on the price of their new car. And the car wouldn't even have to leave the junk yard.
-The dealer sells a new car
-The customer saves 2k
-The junk yard makes 2k for a car they were going to crush anyway
-Someone in the future pays for it.

Double Awesome:rockon:
G