Cash for Clunkers

Accumulator · 08-09-09, 11:53

I usually avoid internet discussions about politics/etc. like the plague, but I'm curious about how my fellow Autopians feel about the Cash for Clunkers program.

I have all sorts of issues with the govt. spending (my) money on this to begin with, and the idea of deliberately destroying the engines of perfectly serviceable cars simply goes against my grain.

I was just telling Landcruiser how I'm almost certainly saving an elderly friend's old Audi from such a fate by buying it from her before her one daughter gets her hands on it and trades it toward a hybrid or something. I need that car like a hole in the head, but it came down to putting my money where my mouth is (or rather, where my convictions lie).

efnfast · 08-09-09, 12:04

I really don't care if somebody scraps a perfectly good car *shrug*

The one thing I do find funny though is how this will all come back to bite people in the *** - people are trading in used 'junkers' that they can barely afford as is (in terms of gas&insurance), use the $4500 as downpayment and get a new car - congratulations, you've just gone from a car that's paid off that you can barely afford gas&insurance on, to a car that has you in debt wher eyou've got gas+insurance+car payments now.

Nobody learned the first time about over-extending themselves with debt, so let's try this again and see what happens (sic).

Not to mention now the govn't is training people to expect a handout - so when the c4c programs runs out of money a second time, sales will tank as people wait for the govn't to re-establish it for the 3rd time.

Vintage · 08-09-09, 12:11

Just my 2 cents . . .

I think it's a great idea. However, it needs some serious modifications. For example: Why $3500 for your trade in for a 4 mpg increase when you get only $4500 for having to more than double (the 4 mpg) to get 10 mpg or more? How about $3000 for a 10mpg increase and $5000 for a 15mpg or more increase? It just seems like you're rewarding the underacheivers. At the dealership the other day, I saw an old Chevy truck (I love 'em) getting $4500 for a newer SUV just because the SUV was getting about 25 mpg. Go figure.

Also, I personally feel that you should be within a certain income bracket to take advantage of the program. Technically, even Bill Gates is eligible for $4500 if he has a qualifying trade in. It should be more readily available to people finding it hard to pay for gas on a car getting, let's say 15 mpg and trying to get a Kia (example) that get's 30mpg. Instead, you see more people trading in their old (formerly) expensive clunker to get a newer expensive ride.

Again, just my 2 cents. I hope I didn't offend anyone :-)

bigfish528 · 08-09-09, 12:17

Efnfast you said it best. People who can not afford the old current car they have will get a brand new shiny car that they can't afford. So instead of have a old pile of rust sitting on their lawn they will have a new one in their garage in fear of the repo man taking what they can't afford away. Then what is the person stuck with? thats right a bus pass.

David Fermani · 08-09-09, 12:37

I'm all for the program, but think that the Salvage should be sold instead of just turned into scrap metal. That way the Govnt would atleast be able to make some of the money back. It's discusting that with all this new car market stimulation, that auto makers are almost out of inventory. It would have been nice if the Govnt would have planned better (w/the car companies) so that car companies could meet the public's huge demand. They extended the program, but there's no cars in stock? Makes no sence.

rjstaaf · 08-09-09, 12:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Fermani

I'm all for the program, but think that the Salvage should be sold instead of just turned into scrap metal. That way the Govnt would atleast be able to make some of the money back. It's discusting that with all this new car market stimulation, that auto makers are almost out of inventory. It would have been nice if the Govnt would have planned better (w/the car companies) so that car companies could meet the public's huge demand. They extended the program, but there's no cars in stock? Makes no sence.

I believe the original intent of the program was to get less fuel efficient vehicles off the road so salvaging them kind of defeats the purpose.

I definitely agree that lessens just aren't being learned here. This program is going to keep the repo guys busy over the next year or so

bufferbarry · 08-09-09, 01:15

lol what cars am i gonna be working on now? cluckers are my life. lol

themightytimmah · 08-09-09, 01:17

What irritates me about it is the MPG cutoff. We have a 1997 Subaru that's worth about 500 bucks, but it gets too good of gas mileage to trade in - even if we bought a Civic Hybrid or another car that gets 10MPG or more better, we're SOL.

Since my dad foresaw gas prices rising, we chose to buy a car that got good mileage at the time, and got screwed for it 12 years later.

However, if we had bought an Explorer (or anything else with terrible gas mileage) in 1997, we would be able to trade it in on pretty much anything - even a turbo 6 or v8 car.

Typical Government picking winners and losers....don't even get me started on how people who make wise decisions usually end up in the losers category.

AuAltima3.5 · 08-09-09, 01:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjstaaf

I believe the original intent of the program was to get less fuel efficient vehicles off the road so salvaging them kind of defeats the purpose.

I definitely agree that lessens just aren't being learned here. This program is going to keep the repo guys busy over the next year or so

Yes, this is definately the purpose. I just don't think people see that and want a "free" $3500. The part I don't like is that taxpayers are providing this money, but it is for the greater good, kinda.

My qualms come from the marginal increases they sought after for efficiency gains. Four MPG? Are you kidding me? It may be alot over the life of a car, but we are shooting low here.

Flashtime · 08-09-09, 02:26

YouTube - Glenn Beck: Cash For Clunkers is a government scam to gain access to your computer

OTG Signs · 08-09-09, 05:16

It's good for people that were going to do it anyways, but not others.

Flashtime... they've updated their site and that statement is now false 100%. Read about it on another car forum.

a.k.a. Patrick · 08-09-09, 06:01

Hmmmmmmmmmm hypothetical of course;
My American made POS (here come the flames) gets 13 MPG's with the wind at its back. Its worth about $2,000.00. The US Government will give me (basically) $4,500.00 of the 10's of thousands in taxes I have paid them over the last 30 years of working, instead of giving it to the slob who came here illegally. So I pay $4500 less for the car I want, which gets twice the MPG's, which cuts down on my dependence for fuel. At todays $3.00 per gal, I save $1,200.00 a year on fuel based on 12,000 miles per year. (Oh I'll just put that in a nice savings account right? I dont think so...........back into the economy it goes. ) What would happen if gas was only $2.00 PG?
At last check, 175,000 people had participated in the program. Multiply that x 400 gal of gas per year! Comes out to 70,000,000 gals less consumed by Americans.
You speak of low inventory? So American car companies now have to produce more cars, possibly creating more jobs (even temporarily is better then none at all) Oh shoot, ya mean now they cant collect unemployment? And American car companies can pay the government back the millions they owe them?
And I havent even begun yelling yet!!