Results of the Cash for Clunkers Program

[qsd-dan]

"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."

EXACTLY!! However, that would require a now obsoleted process called "common sense." God help us all.......

 

[sudsmaster]

I love old cars and I own a number of them.

But there really cannot be any question that a modern automobile engine - with fuel injection and emissions controls - is far cleaner than most any car that is more than 30 years old, and cleaner than many cars that are 20 years old - even if these older cars are running perfectly.

 

[volvoguy87]

Maintenance.

As I have written before, I own, and dearly love, my 1987 Volvo 240. I accept that it is an old car with a lot of miles on the odometer. I have had to do quite a number of repairs in the 10+ years I have had it. I still follow the maintenance schedule in the owners' manual, even though the car is over 22 years old. My Volvo is still very reliable, it gets respectable fuel economy (I have broken 30 mpg before), and it always passed Northern Virginia's emissions tests by a wide margin.

Maintenance pays off,
Dave

 

[tolivac]

Remember a discussion in the vacuum forum about the "cars" program.At the Toyota dealer in my area-the salesman would advise the customer on the value of his trade in car before trading it to the cash for clunkers thing.They saved some that way-and were able to put the cars in their used car stock.That was what was so sad and stupid about the "cars" or "cash for Clunkers" program-cars turned in were destroyed-both the motors and drive trains and the bodies.I think most of those cars could have gotten second homes.Also the dealer I know of was telling me they were having problems getting their share of the rebate.This has been and still is a problem-that is one of the reasons-besides running out of funding-the program was discontinued.And my neighbor has 3 older cars-glad he has them in a way.One of them has flat tires and hasn't moved in months-but just accept it.He works weird shifts as I do -so has limited time to work on his "motorpool".And sadly some of those collector and classic cars WERE destroyed-saw a video of it on the computer a few weeks ago-they first destroy the motor by draining the oil-put in the "seize" compound in the oils place-run the motor until it seizes-then the car is put into the crusher.Parts could NOT be salvaged from the cars turned in under the programs Rules and regs.SAD!

 

[travlincub321]

Cash for Clunkers-Taken from some one who was involved in it

Hey all
Ok, so my 99 Ford Truck decided that it needed a transmisson in late July.. I took it in and figured it out that it would need roughly $3,800 worth of repairs to make it a decent car again. These repairs include:
Rebuild transmisson local shop :1850
Repair power door locks: $450
Replace Broken Passanger Seat $450
Replace winshield: 200
Fix winshield wipers :200
Replace Ball joints (upper's) and 4 new tires $1000

So i decided it was time for a new car.. I mean the paint was faded, it did have 129K miles, and well it was just time
So i whent down to my local Hyundai Dealer (i had already decided i wanted another Hyundai, as i have good luck with the one i have..
I ONLY and i mean ONLY ever buy used cars.... That are $10,000 or less... Mileage isnt an object to me.. Im sorry but a stupid car is not worth 15 grand...

Anyway.. I looked around and spotted a 2005 Hyundai Sonata GLS 4 cyl with 64K for 8995.. The wonderful salesman came over and we chatted and i inquired that i wanted to do turn my suv over for the cash for clunkers program.. I was promptly led to ED and his lovley crew.. Becuase this guy couldnt handle that program... So after our introduction, i asked him about turning in my explorer on cash for clunkers and told him i wanted to look at the aformentioned sonata... Which i was then was promptly told "no sir its not for used cars, only new"... I was like WTF??? Show me! ANd sure enough he did... I was piffed off... But dear ed got me calmed down and offered to show me a new car.. Well i told him i dont buy new cars..But he talked me into looking.. I first drove a Hyundai Accent (i need 4 doors, power window and locks, cruise, and a cd/mp3 player)The 4-door accent had none of this...So out..Next was an elantra.. Well i drove an automatic and to say it was underpowerd was a small understatment.. He then found a couple stick shifts (asking me why i would want one and not believing i could even drive it) We located a Elantra with the basics for a whopping $17,915 (inovice price of $17,296.. Has the basic package and buetooth)..After driving it i kindly informed him i couldnt afford that.. But you know ed.. So i sat down for numbers...

$17,915
5,515 for my trade (4500 cfc and 1015 salvage value for my truck)
12,400 Plus fees which where about 1400 more so thats $13,800
minus $2,500 in rebates it was $11,300.00 Big Gulp.. But mr. ed assured me my payments would be less than $275 a month, even with crappy credit.. W-R-O-N-G... $317 with an additional $1,300 down.. Um, hell to the no..

So i took off, manual shifting gears and whent car shopping.. After a whole day off wasted, i quickly concluded that I was not going to be able to use the cash for clunkers..The cheapest i could get anything was a Nissan Versa HB.. And that was $9,500.. at $285 a month.. So i was pissed

So the next day, started looking at used cars and no cfc.. Whent back to mr. ed and after a long chat about the sonatat i first looked at, they WOULD NOT (i repet) WoULD NOT take my truck in unless i whent for CFC.. With $1800 that sonatat could be mine for $275 a month.. Um, NOOOOOO!

For the next 6 weeks i whent through this and i drove that damn truck with a bad transmisson all over.. Nobody buy a few small independant place would take it.. Finally about two weeks ago i got a car.. And no i never got rid of mr. truck.. Nobody wanted it as a trade... even for $800 or what not... Its sitting in my friend yard for sale for $1500.. Hopefully i will sell it..

I got a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu 4 cylinder with 63K for $8000 out the door.. $200 a month for 5 years... That i can handle.. Well not the down payment..Im fretting over how thats gonna get paid.. But still... I will solve that..

No, i mean there are very few under 10 grand cars for sale now.. Alot of what CfC took off the road was cars that i normally would buy.. Stuff i could afford and not worry with... It was sad what i saw out for CfC...
A 2003 Lincoln LS V8 with 108K.. Needed transmission work
Alot of explorers and jeeps
The saddest was a 1989 Corevtte that had a salvage title but was in immaculate shape.. He CfC'd it for a new Miata
A beautiful 1990 Jaguar Sedan that was valued at $4,000..
One toyota dealer had 300 cars turned in and of them, the manager told me 220 where resaleable cars..

And cars that didnt qualify but couldnt be resold where stuck outback.. A malibu that was well trashed beyond belief, a civic that was mod'd all to hell, a toyota sienna van that reaked of baby puke, a 4 cyl ranger that was dented and bashed to shit...

After this fiasco and whats come after trying to get this malibu.. I am fed up with the american goverment.. I mean.. Why not offer on used cars?? Hell i coulda gotten a nice used 2008 Malibu and paid what i paid for my 05...

UGHHHHHH

 

[hydralique]

Engine parts could not be salvaged, but other parts could be. One of our local you-pick-parts yards has advertised extensively that they have plenty of ex-clunkers available in their yard.

The whole program was kind of lame and probably not too cost efficient, but at least it got some fat SUVs off the road. I don't feel bad at all about the occasional '90s Bentley or Aston-Martin. These cars may seem cool but on a long-term basis they're not going to be great collectibles due to the complexity of their electronics and other systems. A car from the '60s or '70s can usually be maintained by a good, experienced mechanic, but stuff from the '90s will eventually take an electronics expert as well once various computers and sensors start to fail.