cash for clunkers act is retarded - too restrictive

[BlahBlahYouToo]

if it was an environmental initiative, it should accept all cars made before a certain date, because those are most likely the biggest polluters.
instead, they are limiting it to cars that get 18mpg or less.

my old civic (pre-OBDII) with a busted catalytic converter is throwing a CEL (has been for years) and probably emits more toxic gases per mile than a new chevy tahoe. but unlike the tahoe, it won't be eligible because it was rated higher than 18mpg.

once again, congress fails.

i believe the german version of this act accepts cars xx years old, and has been successful. the US version is going to fall flat on its face.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Fix your title. It's CASH for clunkers. Big difference.

And I agree. There's too much fixation on straight up MPG (rated MPG no less, not actual MPG, which decreases over the life of the car).

 

[Nik]

I don't know WTF you're talking about. I don't read P&N.

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: Nik
I don't know WTF you're talking about. I don't read P&N.

Thanks for your invaluable post!!! I will cherish it forever! :heart:

 

[PlasmaBomb]

German scheme

 

[Crusty]

Originally posted by: Nik
I don't know WTF you're talking about. I don't read P&N.

If you don't know WTF he is talking about then just ignore this thread.

WTF is your problem lately?

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: Nik
I don't know WTF you're talking about. I don't read P&N.

let me edumacate u.

trade in any car/truck/suv that you currently own (insured for the past year) that gets under 18mpg.
your new car has to do 4mpg better to get you a $3500 credit.
better than 10mpg will get you $4500.
car cannot be older than 25 years.

german's version accepts any car older than 9 years, but only gets $3320.

i like their version better.

 

[KLin]

I can't take advantage of it myself. My Tacoma gets 20mpg. DAMNIT

 

[Drakkon]

I could have seen a program where its cars more than 10 years old, or based on mileage, or based on some other number of factors. But I think the reasoning was to get all the suv/trucks off the road that were leased during those cheap gas years that only get 12-14 mpg. Those are the ones being given the blame most of the time and thus those were the ones targeted by this program. The program wasn't made to benefit those with civics and vw's that are not getting the same gas mileage they once did - that just comes along with owning a car and you shouldn't be credited for not better maintaining it.

 

[beat mania]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
if it was an environmental initiative, it should accept all cars made before a certain date, because those are most likely the biggest polluters.
instead, they are limiting it to cars that get 18mpg or less.

my old civic (pre-OBDII) with a busted catalytic converter is throwing a CEL (has been for years) and probably emits more toxic gases per mile than a new chevy tahoe. but unlike the tahoe, it won't be eligible because it was rated higher than 18mpg.

once again, congress fails.

Ideally, since your car throws a CEL, it shouldn't pass the annual/bi-annual inspection in your state. Then it would have to be fixed or junked anyway.

Don't know how you got through years without fixing it and still being able to drive it. Is it registered?

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: beat mania

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
if it was an environmental initiative, it should accept all cars made before a certain date, because those are most likely the biggest polluters.
instead, they are limiting it to cars that get 18mpg or less.

my old civic (pre-OBDII) with a busted catalytic converter is throwing a CEL (has been for years) and probably emits more toxic gases per mile than a new chevy tahoe. but unlike the tahoe, it won't be eligible because it was rated higher than 18mpg.

once again, congress fails.

Ideally, since your car throws a CEL, it shouldn't pass the annual/bi-annual inspection in your state. Then it would have to be fixed or junked anyway.

Don't know how you got through years without fixing it and still being able to drive it. Is it registered?

Not all states have inspections. I could cut out my cat and put in a straight pipe if I felt like it. I think I could get a ticket for it, but it would be tough to do.

 

[JDub02]

this is sweet. i can dump my old truck for one rated 2 mpg better and get $3500 or 5 mpg better for $4500.

my truck is rated at 11/15 .. not hard to step up from that. this might be a good time to move to a 3/4 ton diesel.

 

[randalee]

My '94 Pontiac Firebird has a V8 -- EPA combined is 19. Oops, just missed it.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: Drakkon
I could have seen a program where its cars more than 10 years old, or based on mileage, or based on some other number of factors. But I think the reasoning was to get all the suv/trucks off the road that were leased during those cheap gas years that only get 12-14 mpg. Those are the ones being given the blame most of the time and thus those were the ones targeted by this program. The program wasn't made to benefit those with civics and vw's that are not getting the same gas mileage they once did - that just comes along with owning a car and you shouldn't be credited for not better maintaining it.

like i said, depends on their initiative. if it's to reduce pollution, they should expand it to allow all cars older than 10 years. those cars, regardless of maintenance, have more toxic emissions than newer cars.

if it's to reduce gas usage, then i see the point.

if it's to spur sales, then do both.

 

[SearchMaster]

My old conversion van is rated at 11....this is tempting...

 

[arcenite]

which MPG rating? Combined? I have a 2003 jeep liberty that I've been looking for an excuse to get rid of... 15 city, 20 highway, and 17 combined

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: Crusty

Originally posted by: Nik
I don't know WTF you're talking about. I don't read P&N.

If you don't know WTF he is talking about then just ignore this thread.

WTF is your problem lately?

Wow, it's just a little ribbing. Holy christ, lets not get all up in arms about it.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: SearchMaster
My old conversion van is rated at 11....this is tempting...

Heh, I managed to get 13 out of mine once.

 

[SearchMaster]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: SearchMaster
My old conversion van is rated at 11....this is tempting...

Heh, I managed to get 13 out of mine once.

I've gotten as high as 18 over a long trip, but that was 6+ years ago. Now I probably get 12, but the EPA rating is 11 combined.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: beat mania

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
if it was an environmental initiative, it should accept all cars made before a certain date, because those are most likely the biggest polluters.
instead, they are limiting it to cars that get 18mpg or less.

my old civic (pre-OBDII) with a busted catalytic converter is throwing a CEL (has been for years) and probably emits more toxic gases per mile than a new chevy tahoe. but unlike the tahoe, it won't be eligible because it was rated higher than 18mpg.

once again, congress fails.

Ideally, since your car throws a CEL, it shouldn't pass the annual/bi-annual inspection in your state. Then it would have to be fixed or junked anyway.

Don't know how you got through years without fixing it and still being able to drive it. Is it registered?

Not all states have inspections. I could cut out my cat and put in a straight pipe if I felt like it. I think I could get a ticket for it, but it would be tough to do.

I thank God that my state doesn't have "safety inspection" bullshit.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

i cant think of any scenario in which i would want my tax dollars used to help someone buy a car

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: SearchMaster

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: SearchMaster
My old conversion van is rated at 11....this is tempting...

Heh, I managed to get 13 out of mine once.

I've gotten as high as 18 over a long trip, but that was 6+ years ago. Now I probably get 12, but the EPA rating is 11 combined.

It's a high-roof, probably doesn't help much.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
i cant think of any scenario in which i would want my tax dollars used to help someone buy a car

you've already been bailing out mortgage houses, auto makers, bankers. what's wrong with helping out the environment and a fellow citizen or two.

 

[Evadman]

What if the MPG is unrated? My '99 Ram that I am working on gets about 7 MPG, but it is a 2500, so the MPG is unrated. I would love to trade it in (and get $6-7k value) plus another $4.5k from cash for clunkers, and then pick up a Diesel. I've wanted to switch my project truck from gas to diesel for a while, and this sounds like a great way to do it, and make the planet a better place (tm).

 

[gotsmack]

You don't get trade in value, only the voucher.


Can I use the trade in voucher from my car to buy a suv? My 88 Volvo just made the cut at 18 mpg combined.