House OKs $4 billion 'cash for clunkers'

[Egnever]

Source: CNN

WASHINGTON (CNNMoney.com) -- The House on Tuesday waded deeper into the rescue of the troubled auto industry when it passed a $4 billion plan to subsidize new cars sales for consumers who scrap old ones.

By a vote of 298-119, the House approved the "cash for clunkers" program.

The measure would give consumers vouchers worth as much as $4,500 to turn in gas guzzlers and buy new cars that are more fuel efficient


Read more: http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/09/news/economy/cash_for_clunkers/

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This may actually push me to buy a new fuel efficient car. Something I likely would have held off on for a couple more years.

[MADem]

1. I drive a fuel efficient clunker. It sips gas! nt

[kentauros]

31. Your engine is probably still in good condition

while the body is a bit beat up but structurally sound?

I wonder if this 4bil would go further if they allowed vouchers for engine-rebuilds/engine-replacements instead of full replacement of the car. It takes more energy to build a new car than it does to run that clunker into the ground. But I would rather the "clunkers" not be spewing unburnt fuel and oil smoke everywhere, too.

Now all they need to do is go after all the dumptrucks that seem to have nothing but bad oil seals...

[MADem]

33. Actually, the car is almost a quarter century old, and the body is "OK"--

the odd ding (from people hitting me, not the other way around) but it's been painted again (mainly because the paint was faded to the point of being offensive) and has no rust. The engine has less than 100K miles on it--I think I'm up in the high seventies or maybe even the low eighties, finally. I've had all the belts and whatnots swapped out in recent years, and I keep it well tuned and in good nick under the hood. I also got the A/C swapped out to the "less toxic" variety quite a while back, but other than that, that's all I've done to the thing. The upholstery is faded, but I don't care about that. The tape player has died (I wish it worked, but oh, well) but the radio works fine.

I put good tires on the thing and keep them properly inflated. It's a reliable car for a four hundred mile drive (eight hundred round trip), which I do on the odd occassion--other than that, I hardly drive it (maybe two miles a week, tops--feast or famine!). It's a fuel-sipper, too. I can't get over how good on gas it is, particularly on the highway. I don't drive it like a maniac, but it's a five speed manual with very nice pickup for a little car. You punch the gas and it responds well.

If it had airbags, it would be the perfect car--and that's because it has "normal" windows that you can roll down, as opposed to those stupid electric things!

[kentauros]

35. Manual-crank windows break down less often than the electric ones

and are cheaper and easier to repair. I've never owned a car with electric windows or locks. My 2004 Civic is all manual that way (automatic transmission, but my wife at the time refused to drive a standard, even though she never got her TX driver's license as promised.) I keep it all maintained, too, and expect it to last several hundred thousand miles. I get about 33 hwy and 27-28 in town, more on the highway if taking a long trip. And it is all about driving habits, too. Even with an automatic, I get better mileage than some standard shift cars. The best I ever got, and I still can't figure it out to this day, was 42mpg round trip to Austin and back, about 360 miles total. Maybe it was the Spring weather temps, but I've never gotten that great in mpg before or since.

So, how about a voucher/tax-break for everyone that keeps their clunker in good condition and well within the emissions requirements? :D

[MADem]

36. I like that idea of a tax break!

You might have had a tail wind on your trip to Austin! It happens!

[rurallib]

2. Wonder if that would include trucks?

I got a '94 Sonoma that could use an upgrade. But I need a truck.

[Egnever]

12. From the link

Clunkers eligible for the program must get 18 miles per gallon, or less, in combined city and highway driving. The subsidy ends up benefiting more owners of light trucks, SUVs and mini-vans more than it would owners of regular old passenger cars, auto experts say.

[rurallib]

20. Thank you.

[MADem]

22. I will keep my clunker, then.

Mine gets damn near twice that, highway.

[snooper2]

25. I'm in ths same boat...the thing that sucks is mileage hasn't improved

I am assuming this is going to be based on government rating of mileage, and my 99 S-10 with 4.3 V6 is shown at 17MPG combined city/highway. If you look at a 4 banger 2WD new 2009 Chevy Colorado- it shows 20 combined ( fucking just 20! )--and it says you would have to get at least 4 mpg better so I need something with at least 21...that is American made ( so no Tacoma :( )

I REALLLY don't want a Ford but the savings may be the deciding factor, that's a nice chunk of change. Ford Ranger with 4 banger shows 23MPG - while the V6 is 17mpg ( of course :rofl: )

[peacebird]

3. how do they determine mpg? And is there a salary cap?

My 16 year old jeep cherokee could do with replacing......

[Cant trust em]

4. Yeah. If I get some more specifics then maybe I'll think about a new car. nt

[snooper2]

27. probably from this database

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm

[pinniped]

5. My car's transmission is acting weird. Where do I sign up?

?

[Deja Q]

6. Same here!

I'll be an early adopter for the Chevy Volt if all this passes as well!

Chevy does make some good cars; my coworker has an Impala and she swears by it. (Eh, swears in a good way...)

[sarcasmo]

8. The Volt looks nice, but I think the Fusion is coming out Electric in 2012 that may be

A more affordable option for me.

[marybourg]

7. They're not getting my '00 Toyota Sienna with 54,000 miles

on it for no $4500!

[HopeHoops]

10. Yeah, my '00 Pontiac Montana is worth WAY more than that to me.

Besides, they don't make anything even close to as good right now - and I get 26 mpg highway!

It can also take 4x8 sheets of plywood in the bed with room to spare - no SUV can do that.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

18. I thought (was hoping) the voucher was in addition to value of trade-in.

Although my hubby's blazer is a POS, to me,...it's still a valuable commodity in our area. I was figuring we'd get the $4,500 voucher atop a $4,000 trade-in. There is NO WAY we would fail to take advantage of that kind of deal!!!

[marybourg]

21. No. No trade-in. Your old car is "junked" .

The point is to get it off the road.

[happyslug]

30. Yes, this is aimed at someone like me, Jeep Wrangler that needs lots of work

Nut still runs and pass state inspection. It needs a new glove box (The Jeep was stolen a few years ago the the idiots broke the unlocked glove box, the Jeep was recoverded and Insurance was paid for repairs). Kelly Blue Book Trade in Value in fair condition (And that is pushing it) is only $995. With a hardtop it is worth $1100. In my case I would be better off selling the Hard Top for $100, remove anything else of any value (Beside the all metal toll box I installed in the Hood, the Front and rear hitches and the All metal console, I can NOT think of Anything I want out of it). It would be worth $3500 just to get a 22 mpg call (Through a 28mpg would be better at $4500).

For more on Kelly's Blue Book:
http://www.kbb.com/

[Born Free]

9. Looks like I missed it again

neither of my clunkers qualify, one gets an average of 26 mpg and the other is too old

[Inchworm]

11. They'd have to drive the newer car in my driveway

before I gave up my '90 Olds. It sounds too good to be true.

:hi:

[Abq_Sarah]

13. I've got two early 80's 4WD

Vehicles that don't get stellar gas mileage but are worth a hell of a lot more than $4,500 + a car payment.

[Jersey Ginny]

16. The car has to be less than 25 years old.

If yours are, then it sounds like you are in luck!

[The Second Stone]

14. They can pry my 75 Eldorado from my cold dead hands

Being that I only drive it about 30 miles a year. But it does qualify as gas guzzling, old and clunky. Hard to starboard Mr. Sulu! Of course, they are discriminating against the elderly in that my 35 year old car is 10 years too old.

[roamer65]

15. This will screw the poor, lower middle class and young kids.

Wealthier people will game the system by buying up low mpg clunkers and put el cheapo insurance on them for one year to get the rebate.

It will drive up the price of cars these groups depend upon for daily transportation. This may work in Germany where people have public transportation to fall back upon, but not in the US.

I favor generous tax credits to those who buy choose to buy electric and hybrid vehicles and conversely, a large tax on gas guzzlers.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

19. Ahhh! That explains why we've been getting calls from the dealerships,....

,...begging us to allow them to buy our vehicles **SHRUG***

Be sure to call your representative and request a clause be included to limit the voucher to one per person/family/corporation/business. That should take care of your concern that the wealthy will game the system.

[snooper2]

28. you have to have been insured for at least a year-

From the date the bill is signed I believe...so no way to scam the system

[Xipe Totec]

17. Yes, by all means, keep screwing those who had the foresight

to buy fuel efficient cars.

and reward those who bought gas guzzlers....

[lindisfarne]

23. What's the overall environmental gain here?

This seems to have little to no gain. The (relatively small) improvement in mileage will hardly offset the environmental cost of producing more cars to replace the ones that are junked. I think more environmental good could be done by putting the money towards insulating homes or supplying the most energy efficient CFLs for free, etc.

[AngryAmish]

24. So I drive a fuel effecient car so I get to pay extra for those who drive gas hogs?

Why do I have to pay? I've done the right thing. I actually pay income taxes. So I don't get a bonus PLUS I have to pay for those with giant SUVs that choke the enviroment.

And this is a good thing for me how? Why am I punished? What did I do wrong?

[GKirk]

26. What do you see as punishment

for you in this program?

[AngryAmish]

29. I did the right thing

I drove a reasonable car with good mileage.

So if I want to buy a new car I don't get $4,500 of someone else's money to pay for it.

AND

My tax dollars pay for a new car by people who drive gas hogs.

I did the right thing - and I am getting punished for it. I don't like it.

[GKirk]

37. I take care of myself

and other people treat their bodies like a garbage dump. Am I being punished when I don'te receive anything for my health insurance premiums?

[AngryAmish]

38. You don't have to purchase health insurance

You do have to pay taxes. If you don't you go to jail.

Are there health insurance options out there that take your lifestyle into account? Youbetcha.

Yes, the responsible get punished here.

[fujiyama]

34. Basically it's our tax money subsidizing this idiotic program

What a waste of money.

[Psephos]

39. exactly eom

[gizmo1979]

32. A push pull or drag sale?

This is the best we can come up with. Sometimes I just don't get it I guess.