'Cash for Clunkers' Introduced in Congress

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how about they lower the car payments and insurance payments to a realistic price for the average american, instead of giving a portion of the money for your dependable yet expensive gas guzzler for a newer expensive one you may not be able to afford and lose in the long run, or just give me a refund on my insurance every year I don't wreck basically it's free money I give them if I dont use it...

john of NE 5:13PM July 12, 2009

The Cars For Clunkers legislation is actually very focused and is only available for a limited four month time frame. It offers participants the opportunity to trade in certain older cars for certain other new ones. Unfortunately, many cars do not qualify for the program and therefore are still ideal for the 'traditional' car donor option. Such non-qualifying cars let people give their cars to non-profit organizations who help people with many different kinds of needs, like supporting youth organizations or our older folks or to help promote the arts and health research.
Help yourself with the Cash for Clunkers program if you qualify or if you don't qualify or would like to help others, give your "clunker" to charity and take a tax write-off!
Here are 400 not-for-profit organizations that can always benefit from your 'clunker' or unneeded vehicle. To donate your car, just click on the link to the charity on the web pages below.
http://www.donatecarusa.com/charities/full_list
http://www.donatecarusa.com

john cooper of CA 5:48PM June 24, 2009

This bill is a joke. I have been driving my Cavalier for 10 years now. Last time it was in to my mechanic, because of the noise I was hearing when I hit the brakes, he informed that this car was just so rusted underneath that it was the brakes hitting the rust. He said just drive it until the body falls apart. lol At least the government will stand up for me when my tires fall off on the highway that I am not driving a clunker. Yipee Too bad I could not have afforded a Cadillac 10 years ago.

S Lewis of OH 1:59PM June 20, 2009

I have a 1989 Buick. When it was first made, the fuel economy rating was 26mpg. I have recently conducted road tests to get the actual mileage, and it's turning up with 18mpg or 19mpg. Does this qualify my car? Or is the government going off the manufacturers rating?

Dylon of NC 12:17PM June 17, 2009

Well, first the government taxes you. Then it passes through all the departments until it gets to the one that pays this out, in the meantime, growing smaller as it pays all those paychecks. Then eventually, you get a portion back for trading in your car. Isn't the government wonderful? They give you part of your own money back for this trade-in! :)

Gadaki of WA 1:47AM June 15, 2009

OK where do we go to get this deal. My husband has a gas eating '98 Chevy Blazer-runs great but is expensive to run -- we're ready -- how do we get this money!

Ginny of NJ 1:36PM June 10, 2009

This bill would put every charity car donation program in the nation out of business since the amount of the voucher would be much greater than the tax deduction. The solution is to simply allow the charity to issue the voucher in lieu of the tax deduction. The charity would then junk the car in accordance with the bill. This way, everyone wins, the car dealer, car maker, car buyer and the charity.

karenc of NY 7:13PM June 06, 2009

Gee $2000 for my perfectly serviceable 07 Grand Cherokee? I'm 99% certain I could do better than that in a 3rd party sale or a trade in. Strikes me as a bit wasteful.
I have a better idea. The Fed should offer a tax credit to anyone who repaints their car green. You know, so they're more environmentally friendly.
Remaining useful life of my car * ( current mpg - new car mpg ) < energy required to make a new car.

jeff of CA 12:29AM June 04, 2009

For those interested in an independent analysis of the Cash for Clunkers bill, the following op-ed is a good read http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/21/clunkers-bill-congress-opinions-contributors-guzzle.html. The author, Rafi Musher of Stax Inc. (www.stax.com), offers an alternate approach that would help us reach our goal of energy independence more effectively, at 1/3 the cost.

Nancy H of NY 4:27PM May 28, 2009

Wrong title. I've got a 1995 "clunker" that was rated 26 mpg. Part of the law is to stimulate new car purchases. Better to require NEW purchase to get 5 mph over one turned into to get people to buy even MORE efficient cars AND stimulate new car sales. I'll keep my clunker, get 24 mpg, keep maintaining and NOT buy a new car. Program is not well thought out. Why the 18mpg limit?

Bob Moravsik of NJ 8:01AM May 22, 2009