Cash For Clunkers Hype In Full Force

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The cash for clunkers program was started to start paying China back debt. They refused to take American Dollars and wanted scrap instead. Hence this is how the whole program started. Don't trust the government they continue to lie to everyone.

john of IN 11:36AM February 18, 2010

until ces maximum medium inside american exempt

jaxineland of GA 11:02PM December 01, 2009

Right now you can get $3500 - $4500 for a qualifying car/truck, plus if you buy the right vehicle could get a 4000 - 4500 rebate from the manufacturer. The average saving is 8-10k dollars.
This is a scam !! I know it sounds good, however prior to the cash for clunkers program you could easily purchased a vehicle for 80-10k below sticker price. My wife and I just purchased a brand new '09 dodge journey about 4 months ago that had an msrp of around 27k dollars, we walked out of the dealership paying 21k, that includes tax, title, docking fee's and all. I had looked for new dodge journeys or for a pickup for several months prior to purchasing and found the same prices, 8-10k dollars off msrp. Dealerships were even advertising it. The way it use to work was.... The manufacturer offered around 4k dollars off in a rebate or incentive program and the dealership could discount the vehicle around 4k dollars, plus you would get around 1k dollars for a owner loyalty program and if you purchased around the end of the month, a dealer would usually dip into his dealerships hold back $$ and you could get another 500-1k off.
Dealerships stopped discounting, they are just giving the manufacturers rebate + cash fro clunkers money. Now this program is suppose to help the American people ??, how ?? I would say most people who couldn't afford to purchase a new vehicle prior to this, still cant afford it. Are you really getting 3500-4000 for that old vehicle? No, you could have purchased a new vehicle and kept your clunker prior to the cash for clunkers program, and still saved the same amount of money.
And this part really gets me fired up!! Well all of those old vehicles being traded in under the cash for clunkers are being destroyed as far as I understand, so for those Americans that can not afford a newer vehicle, guess what.. Your slowly being forced to purchase a new vehicle because our brilliant government is going to destroy a large number of still decent used vehicles. How does this help the small used car dealers? How does this help poor working class Americans?
Does everyone remember what Toyota did not long ago? There was a mass recall on Toyota pickups for a frame rust problem. They recalled practically every late model Toyota pickup, and gave 1.5% Kelly blue book "good" value to the owner. All of they recalled trucks were crushed and sent back to Japan or China for scrap steel, and FYI China has a overwhelming need for steel. Scrap steel is at a basically all time high in value due to China's need for steel. This created a need for Toyota owners to purchase a new Toyota pickup, however to be fair, the truck owners were not required to purchase another Toyota. But as a loyal owner, most probably did buy Toyota because they felt they were being treated good.
I don't know for sure, but if the cash for clunkers are being destroyed and China who the USA owes a lot of money to needs steel, well it doesn't take much to add 2+2!!

Ohio Resident of OH 6:06PM July 30, 2009

This is yet another example of how clueless the "experts" and at least some of the pundits in Washington are.
Now that the program is up and running for less than a week it is clear all the program will be exhuated in a matter of weeks--most likely in August.
When that happens Matt, will you go back to your experts and ask them where they screwed up? Your readers will will want ot know.

Joe of MA 4:56PM July 30, 2009

Wasn't there a government program giving rebates to Dr.s and others who bought large, gas-guzzling SUVs as an essential for their work? If those gas guzzlers are now cashed in as clunkers, why should they benefit twice?

Helen J. Rockwell of OH 11:28AM July 29, 2009

This will be a dud program in final analysis as it is too flawed in a bad economy!

Ken of WI 12:40AM July 29, 2009

Too bad that the Cash for Clunkers program only takes into account the "OFFICIAL" average mpg of the car. My 1995 Ford Aerostar is lucky to get 10 mpg city on a GOOD day and 15 mpg highway on a VERY GOOD DAY (no kids in the car, no AC on, and the driver weighs in like a jockey)but according to the Gov site the mpg is 18. This vehicle has been regularly serviced and maintained but heck, it is over 14 and has loads of miles. My best C4C quote is $3500 and with that I can purchase a 5 seater sedan or a hybrid 4 seater and go into big debt. If the Gov't IS really serious about getting "clunkers" off the road, the rebates would be more generous and would allow for bigger families to trade into a newer fuel efficient "family" sized vehicle. Of course, bigger families are not green--never marry into a family where twins are the rule not the exception.

ChiChi of CA 1:31PM July 28, 2009

I have an 86 Acura Legend and a 1966 Chev Malibu. The first one gets 16 MPG, the second gets 11 MPG, but neither car qualifies for the program. The first car gets gas mileage that's too high (according to the government). The second car is too old for the program. Deperately need a new car, but I can't use either car to buy new under the government program. So the clunkers will keep on rollin'. So much for "goverment help".

Mike of NY 1:26PM July 28, 2009

I have a 99 ford explorer sport, with 180,000 miles. I get 13 mpg and it s about to break down. Takes about 30 min to get anywhere in Columbia Mo. I think a new car would be the ticket.

Corey of MO 1:14PM July 28, 2009

I agree with foureyebuzzard, this program was good for me to. Yes there were many goverment programs in the past which for some reason or not I didn"t qualify. The dealer I bought from yesterday sold 15 vehicles, I beleive all the sales people, management. mechanics,labor staff all have to pay their bills and eat too! What goes around comes around. Its not easy to change the world we live in, however its nice to see a bright corner for each of us from time to time. I hope good fate from my purchase follows those who could not afford or qualify.

michael of WI 8:52AM July 28, 2009