Government programs
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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They added 2 Billion more to keep the program going. Unfortunately, it is so poorly devised, like most of the current administration's programs, that none of the dealers are able to get reimbursement or information from the government.
A local dealer here sold 26 cars under the program and can only get funds for 1 of them and no one will provide them with any information on how to proceed. The paperwork is voluminous and confusing according to many of the dealers.
A local dealer here sold 26 cars under the program and can only get funds for 1 of them and no one will provide them with any information on how to proceed. The paperwork is voluminous and confusing according to many of the dealers.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 330
From: Indy Indiana
selling the cars for scrap is a somewhat good idea.. sometimes the metal in a car is worth more than the car.. but from a scrap value standpoint ususally the engine and the tranny are the only thinkg of value in the car.... why pour that stuff down the intake throat and destroy the engine...
thanks big brother for watching over me...
thanks big brother for watching over me...
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
If this program was really about energy and polution, then they certainly did not consider net cost-benefit. To get a vehicle from raw materials to a vehicle consumer requires far more energy and creates far more polution than the vehicles they are taking out of use.
Yet a nother ill-thought government program. They don't seem to ever think through the big picture over time. I've never seen so many nonthinkers as I see now in our Federal government. If the Federal government was a business in the industry I work in, we would have put them out of business years ago.
The saddest part is that those politicians reflect the population majority that elected them. For example, Minnesotans elected a professional wrestler as governor once and recently elected a Saturday Night Live writer/commedian to the Senate last election.
Yet a nother ill-thought government program. They don't seem to ever think through the big picture over time. I've never seen so many nonthinkers as I see now in our Federal government. If the Federal government was a business in the industry I work in, we would have put them out of business years ago.The saddest part is that those politicians reflect the population majority that elected them. For example, Minnesotans elected a professional wrestler as governor once and recently elected a Saturday Night Live writer/commedian to the Senate last election.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,117
Likes: 671
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
selling the cars for scrap is a somewhat good idea.. sometimes the metal in a car is worth more than the car.. but from a scrap value standpoint ususally the engine and the tranny are the only thinkg of value in the car.... why pour that stuff down the intake throat and destroy the engine...
thanks big brother for watching over me...
thanks big brother for watching over me...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 1,356
From: Santa Ana CA
No need to speculate. The link provides the calculator to tell what qualifies and what you can get for it.
http://www.cashforclunkers.ford.com/...25560205373309
http://www.cashforclunkers.ford.com/...25560205373309
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
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Be careful on which link you log on to. check out big brother watching you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWs12...layer_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWs12...layer_embedded
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
I HATE government subsidies.
The scrap market has tanked for things like plastics and common metals used in a lot of cars due to the anticipated influx of tons of cheap and ready to scrap metal coming into the market.
This will likely depress the cost of new American steel, hurting an already reeling market and potentially putting more people out of a job.
I don't like that it is taxpayer funded, like ALL money the government spends.
I think it misses the mark on the era of cars it is focusing on. There are a lot of old early '70s bombers here in Michigan that wouldn't even be roadworthy in any inspection state. They are shooting smoke, burning oil and bounding down the highway at 70+ mph waiting to shed parts or spear into *** end because of drum brakes and poor maintenance. Why aren't we spending the money to forcibly remove these types of cars? Hell, replace them with the cars we are "clunking," now and we'd still be better off.
For that matter, give everyone who owns a qualifying vehicle a $500 voucher for a tune up, brake service and alignment!
Bottom line, government intervention in a so called "free market" continues to erode the principals of our economy, our democracy and our very way of life. Today I am subsidizing farmers, unemployed people who can but don't want to work, families on welfare, single mothers, prisoners and a lot of others I probably don't know about. I can make an argument FOR each of these programs as important benefits to broad portions of our citizenry. But now I am subsidizing people who want a new car? C'mon! :dupe:
The scrap market has tanked for things like plastics and common metals used in a lot of cars due to the anticipated influx of tons of cheap and ready to scrap metal coming into the market.
This will likely depress the cost of new American steel, hurting an already reeling market and potentially putting more people out of a job.
I don't like that it is taxpayer funded, like ALL money the government spends.
I think it misses the mark on the era of cars it is focusing on. There are a lot of old early '70s bombers here in Michigan that wouldn't even be roadworthy in any inspection state. They are shooting smoke, burning oil and bounding down the highway at 70+ mph waiting to shed parts or spear into *** end because of drum brakes and poor maintenance. Why aren't we spending the money to forcibly remove these types of cars? Hell, replace them with the cars we are "clunking," now and we'd still be better off.
For that matter, give everyone who owns a qualifying vehicle a $500 voucher for a tune up, brake service and alignment!
Bottom line, government intervention in a so called "free market" continues to erode the principals of our economy, our democracy and our very way of life. Today I am subsidizing farmers, unemployed people who can but don't want to work, families on welfare, single mothers, prisoners and a lot of others I probably don't know about. I can make an argument FOR each of these programs as important benefits to broad portions of our citizenry. But now I am subsidizing people who want a new car? C'mon! :dupe:
cc
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
The EPA wasn't even done calculating which cars would be elligible when the program started. A Preliminary list of cars was published and the dealers used it then were told after the calculations were done that 87 cars were removed from the list.
Those dealers then contacted the new car owners and told them to return the new car and take their old one back or pay the $4500 back.
Nice!
cc
Those dealers then contacted the new car owners and told them to return the new car and take their old one back or pay the $4500 back.
Nice!
cc
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Here's a good one. Finally found the car she likes and the dealer is no longer taking anything new than 2001. That is only suppose to be for Cat 3 Trucks, I'm trading a Cat 2.
The right way to do this program would have been to make you stand in a long line at the DMV, have the car emission tested, then wait 30 Days for a voucher which expired a day ago. lol
The right way to do this program would have been to make you stand in a long line at the DMV, have the car emission tested, then wait 30 Days for a voucher which expired a day ago. lol
Terrorizing Orange Cones
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,572
Likes: 17
From: Northern CO
Too much government in my life as it is. Poisoning engines in running vehicles seems wasteful and maybe I'm too melancholy about taking care of machinery. Killing them can't be helping the recycled parts industry or their customers.
A federal run "clunkers" program has $1B reasons not to be effective. I think I'll just run the wheels off my old Ram and give 'Thanks' they aren't searching for my classics (yet).
A federal run "clunkers" program has $1B reasons not to be effective. I think I'll just run the wheels off my old Ram and give 'Thanks' they aren't searching for my classics (yet).
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
well I heard their adding another $2 billion to the program to keep it going. I do know that here their not using clunker killer they just drain the oil out and start it and let it run until the car/ truck throws a rod and then will no longer run.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 1
From: North Bellmore Ny
St. Jude Donor '09
I'm just bitter 
1 year ago donated to charity our 92 Volvo Wagon, 20mpg so not eligible anyway. 2 years ago I donated our 93 Saab 9000, 18 mpg combined so would be eligible! Currently own a 97 lexus ES300, 170k miles on the clock, 19 mpg so NOT ELIGIBLE. It's just a big giveaway for people who bought gas hogs.
1 year ago donated to charity our 92 Volvo Wagon, 20mpg so not eligible anyway. 2 years ago I donated our 93 Saab 9000, 18 mpg combined so would be eligible! Currently own a 97 lexus ES300, 170k miles on the clock, 19 mpg so NOT ELIGIBLE. It's just a big giveaway for people who bought gas hogs.
Girlfriend has a 99 grand am gt biggest POS ever but not on the list. Guess I should have talked her the firebird the was $500 more 7 years ago and could have gotten a deal on the new Camaro we are buying.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
Someone raised a point ealier and it's my exact argument against this program. I drive a 96 Grand Cherokee every day with 213000 miles. It gets 15-16 around town. I dont' owe a dime on it. Why would I want to trade it in on a new vehicle even with a 4500 credit? I guarantee you I'm not spending $400 on gas over and above what an economy car would get me. That $400 I'm referring to would be my guess as a car payment on a new economy car. That's what I think is what is wrong with today's society as far as money goes. My Jeep runs perfect, so why do I need a new car? My point is, why trade in something that has nothing wrong and you have no payments for something brand new and take on a 60 month or more payment term, just because you got a $4500 credit. I also agree that the credit should only apply if you buy an American car, not a Honda or Toyota.
