Cash For Clunkers

[Dick W.]

Re: Cash For Clunkers

The program has been an ill conceived farce so far. Government contractor's computers crashed Friday and today. Smart dealers quit doing deals last week.

AutoNation, the #1 dealer group, has $45,000,000 due them, Group 1 the #2 dealer group has 1,000 deals done with just 37 been reimbursed. These are not hearsay numbers, they came out of Automotive News this afternoon.

Dealers say that all the program has done is to rob September and October sales.

Conceived one day, a 1,000 page bill written the next, and voted on the next. Typical Washington incompetence. And they want to run the country's health insurance? . Most of them could not run a corner lemonade stand.

[Thomas N.]

Re: Cash For Clunkers

I "believe" the law states the radiator, AC and tires may be reused---all else in the crusher.

Not true. Salvage yards are buying these cars already. Some have come through the salvage auctions. LKQ corp purchased 1000 in the past week in the midwest. The parts will be sold, titles are JUNK.

[Brandon T.]

Re: Cash For Clunkers

How awful..I know a lot of guys hate c4's but I really loved the 95 vert I had. I love late model c4's and even though this was a early one I still hate to see that happen to it, was a decent looking car given the age.

what idiots...

[William M.]

Re: Cash For Clunkers

Complete joke. We tried all day at the Mercedes dealership to put in 2 lousy Cash For Clunkers deals to meet the 8 PM deadline. Govt computer crashed. Program extended to noon tomorrow, when the computer will crash again, because all the dealers trying to put them in today will try tomorrow.
Now imagine this administration running universal health care. No, you can't have that life-saving procedure now because the computer's down.

[Louis T.]

Re: Cash For Clunkers

Hi Don,

would


http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/calcu...lumn=1&id=1692

The old vs. new MPG calculator starts here:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/calculatorSelectYear.jsp

Louis

[John H.]

Re: Cash For Clunkers

Just got home from a meeting and saw the video link.I take it that the S-10 next to it was also fried. The S-10 looked like it was not too bad nor was the Vette. Some of the other video links showed decent, usable cars being destroyed.The energy it took to create these cars has now been wasted! I just love sending my quarterly taxes to the Fed and the state knowing that they are being put to such good use!These are all of OUR taxes at work.

[Don G.]

Re: Cash For Clunkers

Louis

Thanks for the clarification. I was not aware of the recalculation process.


Don

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Cash For Clunkers

Louis:
Thanks for publishing the calculations. I just traded in my '98 Grand Voyager for a new Ford Edge and according to my old window sticker the Voyager got pretty much the same milage as the Edge. I knew that the calculations had changed and suspected that they had to convert the old numbers to the updated ones but wasn't sure. I got the $3500 on the Edge. I have to repectfully disagree with the nay-sayers on this one. I think this program was one of the best moves the government has made yet to spur the economy and get jobs back in the manufacturing sector. Here in Detroit we're seeing extra shifts at existing plants, at least 1 new plant to open and workers being called back from lay offs. Will it continue? Let's think positively instead of revelling in "I told you so's". Just my 2 cents.
Jeff

[Tim E.]

Re: Cash For Clunkers

Not to worry......according to weekend TV, just put in a bottle of the Z-Max cure-all and it'll be good as new!

[Chris E.]

Re: Cash For Clunkers

As a kid of the 80s, and probably in rare company in the NCRS, I grew up loving the C4. For me, that was "Corvette". That was the car I stared at in the showroom floor, fogged up the driver's glass staring in at the steering wheel, and swore to the salesman that "I'd be back some day". That was the car that started it all for me.

Then, one day I learned more about that old red Chevy sitting under the tarp in the 4th garage stall at our house. That old Chevy turned out to be an old vette. The rest is history. (see my other posts)

It breaks my heart to see they intentionally destroy a Corvette, no matter what year it is. That one looked like at least an 86 (third stop light mounted high on the roll hoop out back). I can't remember when that third stop light dropped down to the rear valence, 90 maybe? Dunno.

Either way, that video is hard to watch......

[Clark K.]

Re: Cash For Clunkers

There is much discussion by citizens that this CARS program was a waste of tax dollars. It did NOT help poor people buy new cars because poor people can never get enough money together for a down payment, much less qualify for credit. What this program did was take tens of thousands or otherwise driveable, affordable cars out of circulation, further hurting poor people. The program did NOT take the non-running junkers out of backyards/lots.

As for the video of the C4 being destroyed, well, look at the bright side. This just makes your C4 that much "rarer".
-Clark

[Dale S.]

Re: Cash For Clunkers

No doubt the owner voted for the " CHANGE" .

[Chris L.]

Re: Cash For Clunkers

I spent 16 years in the auto business and this is by far the stupidest program ever. I have talked with 3 of the deealers I worked with and they have yet to receive the first dollar from the government!! What kills me is the Corvette that was destroyed on youtube probably got 20 mile per gallon, yet the 09 Denali I have gets a whopping 12 MPG !!! Which one is the "clunker" ????

[Jack H.]

Re: Cash For Clunkers

Also, consider what's neglected... The yardstick is mpg and NOT mpg of WHAT fuel?

Suppose the combined average of your 'guzzler' was 21.6 mpg AND it was flex fuel optioned AND you did the non-economic act of using E85 fuel which reduced your actual combined mileage to 18 mpg. The fact that E85 is only 15% gasoline and 85% ethanol (made yesterday with essentially a ZERO carbon footprint) then your 'guzzler' would have an effective C02 profile of Toyato Prius delivering 120 mpg!!!

But, that's not how the 'green' folks want to think... They only want to focus on mpg and forget the composition of the fuel itself!

BTW, here's a show stopper... Ask your liberal, tree hugging, friends for the technical definition of 'green'. Yes, you want to know the EXACT definition, so you can do pre-purchase calculation(s) on each and every product you're about to buy to decide whether you're being 'green' or not.

That one has 100% SHUT UP my liberal friends (mostly well heeled attorneys and educators)... It's akin to the early days of 'organic' food sales (what the heck is an 'inorganic' food anyway?). The definition is whatever they want it to be regardless of the truth of the matter!

[Richard T.]

Re: Cash For Clunkers

It took quite a long time to die. Can you guys imagine if this Government program was in place during the 1973 oil crisis? Good by big blocks. I agree with the nay sayers who have posted comments.