Comments on: Cash For Clunkers Program

By: Ruthless

Ruthless — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:21:41 +0000

This program should bust anyone in the face that is looking to buy a new car through this deal. Hell what is wrong with a good efficient used car. Surely you can get one through this program, or at least I hope you can. There is no way in hell I’d put another bill on myself. So if you can only buy a new car out of this program, then to hell with it.

By: glenda

glenda — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 03:58:33 +0000

this is just another example of people trying to have things they can not afford, and they are being enabled by the government. Didnt people learn anything from the housing bubble bursting?? People were given loans they couldnt refuse, but couldnt afford. I think we are a nation of “gotta have it now”. I teach my kids the importance of saving. But just to correct a previous comment, there is a difference between low income, and low class.They are not the same, a rich person can be low class.

By: Just Me

Just Me — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:24:09 +0000

The_Duck, I don’t think this program was made to support the low class of America…
The thing that bugs me is that my ‘96 Chevy Lumina 3.1L is rated at 21 combined MPG. When I fill it completely which is 16 gallons, I can drive it for about 13 days, at 21 miles per day…

When I do the math…
13 days x 21 miles/day = 273 miles per tank
273 / 16 = 17 MPG

And the 21 Miles I drive, about 16 of them are highway.
Although my car is truly below the MPG mark, the government statistics show that it is not…and therefore my clunker does not qualify.

By: The_Duck

The_Duck — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:29:10 +0000

What people don’t understand is that this program will NOT help low-income families who can’t afford to have a car payment! Sure you get $3500 or $4500 trade in value, but you still have to pay for the rest of the vehicle! How can lower incomes do that?
For example : A family of 4 with only 1 adult working and the other unemployed, 2 small children in school. After they pay their mortgage, utilities, grocery bill, etc … there isn’t any money left over for a car payment! This is just dumb. Plain dumb. The only people who can afford to do this Cash for Clunkers are people who have the money to buy a car in the first place!
Let’s get real America ! ! !

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:12:36 +0000

This is the most relevant section of this thread. This program isn’t about helping dealerships, however it is about clearing inventory to make it easier to close all the dealerships that the government decided to scrap. This is really only going to help the banks making all the new loans. Also each sale will send tax revenue to the government. You might think “but the government is spending money to generate tax revenue???” No, the government is going further in debt and generating tax revenue, because tax revenue is “liquid”. And as far as this program “limiting cars available to low-income people”, well you can bet some of that “liquid” tax rev will go towards helping to buy new gas-sippers for low incomers since there will be fewer junkers available for purchase.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:10:26 +0000

I’m trying to do this right now but my junk 1992 BMW 325i comes as “unknown” in the Vehicle Category and it is a passenger car, it get a combined gas of 16 mpg. This program was rushed through and they went to run our health care. I don’t really agree with the program but if you going to do something then do it right. I will not get the 4500 because the lazy A@@holes in the govt. They can read a bill before signing it and they can’t do anything correct.
Tom

By: changein2012

changein2012 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:10:46 +0000

uh hello – WE ARE FOOTING THE BILL!!!

By: Lena1962

Lena1962 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:36:45 +0000

Your car must get less then 18 mpg to qualify.

By: Lena1962

Lena1962 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:34:57 +0000

Don’t mean to pop your bubble Diasdiem. You must show proof of insurance and registration for a year……..If you can’t do that, then you cannot cash in your clunker….

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:38:27 +0000

Fortunately, the credit is given to the Dealer and not to you. They have to claim the credit as income, not you! This means NO tax implications for you.

By: Jayden

Jayden — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:41:31 +0000

Ok. This is not good for consumers. Look at all the scams popping up on the Internet and at dealerships with this program. If you don't watch closely, you'll be taken advantage of. Watch video, http://tinyurl.com/nlv3ed

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:04:59 +0000

Well it’s going to benefit me and I am farthest from rich as you can go. I make less than 25k a year and luckily I was rich enough to pay 600 dollars for a 96 Ford Explorer with 200k miles a few years ago. Yeah me having a whole 600 to buy that piece of crap of car, yup big reward for me and my richness.

By: Brittany

Brittany — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:26:40 +0000

When I first heard about this bill I was extremely excited because my 1995 Buick Regal is on it’s last leg. Doing research today though, I have found that the qualifications state that the old car has to get 18mpg or less! My car gets a combined 20mpg! I am devastated. There aren’t too many cars that get <18mpg. This seems like a way to reward the rich since they were the only ones that were able to afford the expensive gas guzzling SUVs over the past 10 years!

By: Judy

Judy — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:30:45 +0000

Thanks for your input – I am concerned that this program, besides wasting tax dollars, has a second agenda – destroying the used cars so that they are not available to people who cannot afford new ones – plus the parts will not be available to people who still own the older models so it will be harder and more expensive to repair them. The used cars that will qualify for this credit may not initially have that much of an impact on the market, but it may just be the start of more programs and laws that limit the freedom of choice and adds more government regulation to every area of our lives.

By: wizardprang

wizardprang — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:10:27 +0000

I am as right-wing and suspicious of government as they come, but that theory simply does not make sense to me.

I cannot see how this law will restrict access to used cars – chances are the car you want would not qualify for the credit/allowance, and you would probably not want one of the vehicles that does.

T(r)olls and roadside cameras, however, are another issue entirely… but are not germane to this discussion