Results of the Cash for Clunkers Program

[revvinkevin]

There were several rare or surprisingly new vehicles destroyed under the Obama administration’s cash for clunkers program, designed to sweep old gas guzzlers off U.S. roads. According to new government data, the rebates of $3,500 or $4,500 were enough to doom a 1997 Bentley Continental R, one of the most powerful and exclusive cars in the world and a 1997 Aston Martin DB7 Volante to the crusher.

Additional Facts

The most popular clunker was the Ford Explorer, with 69,887 turned in.

37 people turned in models that were less than a year old.

131 Chevrolet Corvettes were turned in (including 34 convertibles)

22 Peugeots were also taken off the road (a good thing?)

Among the list of unusual clunkers turned in under the program:

1997 Aston Martin DB7 Volante:

1997 Bentley Continental R

1988 Aurora Cars Ltd. (Shelby cobra replica)

1992 BMW 850i

A rare 1987 Buick GNX (one of 547 built)

1987 Excalibur Autos Phaeton

1990 Laforza

1985 Maserati Quattroporte

1999 Mercedes C43 AMG

1992 GMC Typhoon

2006 Roush Stage 3 Ford F-150

http://www.freep.com/article/20090923/BUSINESS01/90923004/1331/Exotic-clunkers-also-got-the-crunch-under-program

 

[runematic]

Were some of those people brain dead? A lot of those vehicles were worth more than the $3500/4500 rebate. It's a damn shame that some of those vehicles went to the crusher. But it's like I always say, when one gets destryed, it makes the survivors rarer and possibly worth more money.

 

[bobbyderegis]

I'd like to see how many of those classics actually went to the crusher!
Bobby in Boston

 

[swestoyz]

I'd like to see how many of those classics actually went

Exactly - I can't imagine that a GNX actually made it to the crusher.......

 

[yogitunes]

This is the same for appliances NOW with the rebate....you get the rebate for trading in your old machine, and it goes to the crusher, How many vintage machines will end up his way?

 

[runematic]

Yogi, I do not think that you need to turn in the old appliance under the program. I haven't actually seen to many details yet.

 

[alanlendaro]

Sorry, but that doesn't smell right to me

Would love to have some backing info on that one...

Also too what where the motivations of the owners turning them in.

Just doesn't add up in my book..

Here is a link to another forum discussing the matter.

Democratic Underground Forums - Request error

 

[roto204]

Oh...

A GNX getting smushed. Good grief, they should have resold it out of sheer propriety...*clutches pearls*

 

[yogitunes]

let me see if I can locate the AD I seen.......

It was an incentive to get rid of your old energy wasting machine, for a new energy saver one....

 

[jamiel]

There was an interesting article in Automotive News talking about how dealership profit margins skyrocketed during cash for clunkers...apparently people forgot to negotiate, so people essentially paid sticker, less the CforC money (rather than negotiating on the purchase price less incentives)

 

[appnut]

martin, the couple of oroginal articles in the press announcing cash for clunker appliances (and I included a link for a thread that's gone bye bye), it specifically stated the purchaser was not required to turn in their old appliance.

 

[douglasdc6]

I agree with you guys - I doubt the rare & valuable vehicles were destroyed .

I`m almost 100 percent sure there were many collectors & investors keeping an eye on this one including dealership employees as well as salesmen.

 

[douglasdc6]

Here`s what someone wrote

Not possible, NO Car salesman in the world would allow a bently, mercedes, or any of the exotic cars on this list to be sent to a crusher. NO WAY. anyone would have cut a side deal and given the person the 4500 or even more to get their hands on those cars. I dont believe it. EVen if they got the clunker funds, the car still would have mysteriously disappeared. Hell, I am an honest person and if I would have seen anyone of these cars come across my lot. I would have written a check for 5k on the spot for the vehicle.
09/23/2009 6:57:02 p.m. EDTNot possible, NO Car salesman in the world would allow a bently, mercedes, or any of the exotic cars on this list to be sent to a crusher. NO WAY. anyone would have cut a side deal and given the person the 4500 or even more to get their hands on those cars. I dont believe it. EVen if they got the clunker funds, the car still would have mysteriously disappeared. Hell, I am an honest person and if I would have seen anyone of these cars come across my lot. I would have written a check for 5k on the spot for the vehicle. hesayshowdy
Recommend(2)

 

[andrewinorlando]

But no one knows what condition those supposed clunkers were in.

Under the terms of the programs, vehicles were supposed to be 1998 or older, so some of these make no sense at all.

 

[scott55405]

That's insane. If you can afford most of those cars, you don't need $4500 from the govt. Not to mention as was said earlier someone surely would have circumvented the standard clunker procedure, which I think was at best flawed to begin with.

I overheard some woman on the bus talking about not being able to turn in some 1980s era Buick because it was too new or too old or too something. I thought if you have an 80s era GM car that still works you should keep it as collectible at the least! LOL

 

[alr2903]

Maybe the high dollar and rare cars were obtained in divorces, signed Cruella

 

[jamiel]

These were most probably errors in data entry at the dealership...they probably had a free-text VIN entry field (with no error checking) and presto...an X in the sixth field rather than the correct C made a strippo Buick Regal into a GNX. It may be interesting if there is any sort (which I doubt) of cross reference between state vehicle license organizations and this database (preventing these VINs from being re-registered)

 

[qsd-dan]

Vehicles 1984 and newer that got 18 MPG or less were the only candidates. Nothing 83 and older qualified and no vehicle that got 19 MPG or more qualified. Not too many classics in that time period, IMHO.

Personally, I believe this whole scheme was a waste. If you take a good hard look at the figures, this program saved about 5 million barrels of oil. That's 1/4 of one days consumption in the US. 5 million gallons of oil cost 350 million. We spent 3 billion on the clunker program to save 350 million. Yeah, real good investment there.

 

[volvoguy87]

Clunkers was a clunk.

The problem with throwing away an old car that gets poor fuel economy and replacing it with a new one that gets better economy is how to account for the fuel (and other resources) used to both dispose of the old car, and to also create the hew one! Over the life of the car, would you ever realize any actual savings of resources and energy?

From a jobs perspective, new cars are often built overseas and car assembly can be outsourced at any time. A Mechanic, however, cannot be outsourced.

In the long run, the best thing you can do for both your fuel economy, and jobs, is to regularly maintain your car. That way, it is in tip top operating condition, rendering the best fuel economy and the highest reliability.

As a historic preservationist, I earn a living because people neglect their buildings and neighborhoods, necessitating restoration. If people followed a regular maintenance and inspection schedule for your buildings, I would be out of work!

Just a few thoughts,
Dave