Cash for Clunkers

[deejayoh]

Ford Focus, baby

[TJ_98370]

[Markor]

Their late-90s Ford was a clunker, yet they replaced it with a Ford? I guess it's good for me that some people never learn.

[TJ_98370]

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In 'Gold Rush mentality,' demand for cars peaked in July and could fall to pre-Clunkers levels next week, report says.....

[redmondjp]

I am encouraged by the list of cars that Deejayoh posted above; people actually are trading in gas-guzzling SUVs for much smaller, fuel-efficient cars. Many of the cars on the list are ones that I recommend people go look at if in the market for a new smaller car. And it hurts not my feelings to see those Ford Exploders imbibe the liquid death!

And just in my own observations of what people are driving and what types of vehicles I see parked at my workplace, I'd say that there are significantly more cars than SUVs, as compared to say 5-10 years ago. That is encouraging. Not that I'm anti-SUV, but for most people who commute alone to work daily, there are better vehicle choices. I'm very happily getting 36-38mpg commuting in my '97 Civic.

Any predictions on when the program runs out of $ again? I'm guessing the end of September.

[deejayoh]

[The Tim]

[TJ_98370]

[The Tim]

[rose-colored-coolaid]

[WestSideBilly]

[The Tim]

WestSideBilly, all of the problems you mention with the concept of a fully-automated highway system can be worked out over time. Difficult technical challenges will be solved, costs will come down, and piece-by-piece, the system will come into place.

I never said it would happen quickly. I wouldn't be surprised to see it in my lifetime, but I'm not necessarily expecting that we'll get there in the next 75 years.

I am an electrical engineer though, so I probably tend to have a fairly optimistic view of what's achievable through dedication and applied brainpower, given enough time.

[TJ_98370]

[TJ_98370]

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[TJ_98370]