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TJ_98370
Bubble Banter Boss
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:40 am
Posts: 842
Location: Poulsbo
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 Cash for Clunkers I've been checking out the Cash for Clunkers program. I’m seriously considering participating. I would never normally get $3,500 to $4,500 trade-in for the 1993 Explorer I’m thinking of trading in. On the other hand, the Explorer is paid for, runs good, looks good….... I’m wondering how many other readers are considering taking advantage Cash for ClunkersFuel Economy RatingsSummary of Car Allowance Rebate System - Cash for Clunkers Voucher Qualifications. Minimum Fuel Economy for New Vehicle* . Passenger Car -22 mpg * $3500 Voucher - Mileage improvement of at least 4 mpg $4500 Voucher - Mileage improvement of at least 10 mpg . Light-Duty Truck - 18 mpg * $3500 Voucher - Mileage improvement of at least 2 mpg $4500 Voucher - improvement of at least 5 mpg . Large Light-Duty Trucks - 15 mpg * $3500 Voucher - Mileage improvement of at least 1 mpg or trade-in of a work truck $4500 Voucher - Mileage improvement of at least 2 mpg . Commercial trucks $3500 Voucher - Trade-in must be at least pre-2002
Last edited by TJ_98370 on Mon Aug 24, 2009 5:32 pm, edited 11 times in total.
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| Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:53 pm |
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biliruben
Bubble Banter Boss
Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 4:31 pm
Posts: 575
Location: Lake City
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Re: Cash for Clunkers I would, except then I would have to buy a new car. And talk to a car salesman. And pay for it.
I had two sweet clunkers I would have loved to have used, but gave them away.
I like my 95 pick-up too much to get rid of.
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| Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:56 pm |
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WestSideBilly
Bubble Banter Boss
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:41 pm
Posts: 550
Location: Land of entitlement
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Re: Cash for Clunkers I really, really hate this program.
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| Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:47 pm |
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TJ_98370
Bubble Banter Boss
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:40 am
Posts: 842
Location: Poulsbo
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Re: Cash for Clunkers I've read that this program morphed into something not originally intended. Note the measly 1 to 2 mpg improvement required for large light duty trucks. Some interpret this as another form of bailout to auto manufacturers so they can rid themselves of all of the Cadillac Escalades, Chevy Tahoes, Dodge Durangos, Ford Expeditions, etc.
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| Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:19 pm |
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The Tim
Bubble Blogging Buffoon
Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2007 6:02 pm
Posts: 790
Location: Kenmore, WA
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Re: Cash for Clunkers Considering that one of the requirements for the "clunker" you're trading in is that it... have a "new" combined city/highway fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon or less Neither my '01 Saturn SL2 (gets >30mpg) nor my '97 GMC Snonoma (gets >20mpg) would qualify. Not that I'd be interested in flushing my money down the toilet on a brand new car, anyway...
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| Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:31 pm |
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Racket
Bubble Watcher
Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 5:32 am
Posts: 17
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Re: Cash for Clunkers So wait, if you are buying a new car, you can buy a POS for $100-200 and trade it in for $4,500>?
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| Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:40 pm |
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Markor
Bubble Banter Boss
Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2007 11:04 pm
Posts: 604
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Re: Cash for Clunkers To qualify you have to have owned the POS for at least a year.
Few will qualify for this program.
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| Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:48 pm |
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TJ_98370
Bubble Banter Boss
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:40 am
Posts: 842
Location: Poulsbo
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Re: Cash for Clunkers Buying a new car is generally a bad investment, the first few years depreciation is killer. However, if you are the type that keep a car a long time, buying a new car may be the way to go. Maintenance is important with respect to a car's longevity, and with a new car you have control over that from day one. We bought our "clunker" Explorer new 16 years ago and it is still a reliable vehicle. However, it gets 17 mpg overall and I know it's just a matter of time before something major malfunctions. I believe we, and others like us, are prime candidates for this program
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My major problem is the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor). She really, really likes her Explorer. We were looking at a Honda Fit and she likes it, but she is emotionally attached to her Explorer. Logic, such as the Fit has better safety features, better overall reliability, and a lot better gas mileage, have little influence. I guess I should be thankful that she isn't the type that wants a new Beemer (not like that would actually happen).
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| Tue Jul 14, 2009 6:59 pm |
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PublicEnemy#1
Reductio ad Absurdum Champion
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:00 am
Posts: 80
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Re: Cash for Clunkers Nope,
I am actually getting rid of my newer '05 car and getting something OLDER that has paint that was applied properly, fenders and doors made of something other than thinner than thin sheetmetal, something without so many cheap plastic parts, etc. etc.
Sorry, but for me, airbags and mileage just ain't worth it.
My next car is going to be from the late 60's or early 70's. I don't want black boxes for insurance companies to use in order to invalidate an accident claim, etc.
I used to drive late 1950's Mopars around downtown Seattle in the earl 1990's, but then parts became scarce for them and I eventually sold them off in favor of something more "modern".
What a mistake!
I have since seen the error of my ways and am unloading the '05 this week and buying a car that won't depreciate any further and is easy to work on.
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| Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:26 am |
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Racket
Bubble Watcher
Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 5:32 am
Posts: 17
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Re: Cash for Clunkers You just bought a piece of crap, there are plenty of great cars that are being made today.
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| Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:53 am |
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rose-colored-coolaid
Bubble Banter Boss
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:26 am
Posts: 1977
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Re: Cash for Clunkers Looked into this program, but it's a joke. Just to summarize, this bill defines clunker as any car built after 1985 (84?) that gets poor terrible gas mileage. Translation: if you own a 15 year old or older truck, you can get a killer trade in on it. If you don't, you don't exist.
The fuller interpretation: if you were responsible and bought an older car (or drove your brand new car for years and years) with anything resembling reasonable gas mileage, then you get to pay for the most irresponsible members of society to buy a slightly less fuel inefficient new truck. Congratulations.
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| Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:16 pm |
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The Tim
Bubble Blogging Buffoon
Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2007 6:02 pm
Posts: 790
Location: Kenmore, WA
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Re: Cash for Clunkers rose-colored-coolaid wrote: The fuller interpretation: if you were responsible and bought an older car (or drove your brand new car for years and years) with anything resembling reasonable gas mileage, then you get to pay for the most irresponsible members of society to buy a slightly less fuel inefficient new truck. Congratulations. Sounds pretty much on par with the housing-related programs where responsible home buyers and those that held off and decided to rent get to pay for the most irresponsible members of society (who bought way more house they could afford and/or took out loans with terms that would be impossible to meet a year or two down the road) to stay in "their" homes.
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For great justice.
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| Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:36 pm |
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TJ_98370
Bubble Banter Boss
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:40 am
Posts: 842
Location: Poulsbo
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Re: Cash for Clunkers RCC and The Tim,
I understand what you are saying. I get it. Those who were already acting responsibly with respect to non-renewable resources / environmental concerns, can't take advantage of the program, even if they wanted to.
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| Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:05 pm |
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PublicEnemy#1
Reductio ad Absurdum Champion
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:00 am
Posts: 80
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Re: Cash for Clunkers Racket wrote: You just bought a piece of crap, there are plenty of great cars that are being made today. Please do me a favor and name one. My last two cars were an '02 BMW and a '05 Lincoln. They both paled in comparison to the older cars I own/have owned in terms of regular maintenance chores and options that don't break at 20,000 miles. I didn't buy a Kia or a Hyundai, FWIW. I just can compare the '05 Lincoln to the '95 Lincoln I owned and the '95 was a lot more substantial in paintwork, bodywork, coachwork, interior appointments, etc. And don't even get me started on the crap BMW is putting out these days compared to their earlier work. It's like the Porsche Cayenne... Who in the heck thought a Euro Import Sports Car marque needed an SUV version? Doesn't that completely go against what the marque was originally about? The stuff being made today is JUNK, regardless of price point. If you disagree, then give me a brand that uses substantial sheetmetal, excellent mechanicals with minimal regular maintenance, systems that don't go haywire at the smallest sign of battery discharge, excellent coachwork with top quality materials AND installation, switches, motors and relays that are made to last more than the warranty period, etc. I am amazed that BMW puts out such a substandard product compared to 40 years ago. The ball is in your court.
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| Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:59 pm |
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The Tim
Bubble Blogging Buffoon
Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2007 6:02 pm
Posts: 790
Location: Kenmore, WA
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Re: Cash for Clunkers PublicEnemy#1 wrote: If you disagree, then give me a brand that uses substantial sheetmetal, excellent mechanicals with minimal regular maintenance, systems that don't go haywire at the smallest sign of battery discharge, excellent coachwork with top quality materials AND installation, switches, motors and relays that are made to last more than the warranty period, etc. Since you didn't include any sort of price range as one of your qualifications, I'm going to go with the Saleen S7. When I went to their factory a few years back (a few do-hickeys I designed were going into them to control mundane things like wipers and HVAC) it was difficult not to drool on the production line. The sparkling clean production line, with its beautiful shiny floors you could eat off of... Photographs do not do that car justice. It is a truly fine piece of engineering and manufacturing. Which is not to say that it's worth the $580,000 sticker price, but still... ...wait, what were we talking about?
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| Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:27 pm |
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