Cash for Clunkers Site goes ONLINE!

[Analog]

http://www.cars.gov/

5 Important Things to Know

* Your vehicle must be less than 25 years old on the trade-in date
* Only purchase or lease of new vehicles qualify
* Generally, trade-in vehicles must get 18 or less MPG (some very large pick-up trucks and cargo vans have different requirements)
* Trade-in vehicles must be registered and insured continuously for the full year preceding the trade-in
* You don't need a voucher, dealers will apply a credit at purchase

 

[xanis]

Any idea what the size of the discount would be? Or is it determined on an individual basis?

 

[Insomniator]

The program is such a joke its not even funny.

 

[knawlejj]

hrmm motortrend says my 1998 mercury mountaineer gets 18mpg on the highway...other sites say 19-20.

 

[GrumpyMan]

I wonder if I can sell my neighbor's car for him? Such a clunker! :thumbsup:

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: Insomniator
The program is such a joke its not even funny.

Yup. I have a 97 4runner and the trade in value is about the same as the voucher. I feel like i'm the target candidate yet there is zero incentive for me.

Why would they expect someone who drives around a clunker where it would be worth it to do the program would be the type of person that would buy a new car? Yet another stupid ass gov't program.

 

[theknight571]

My truck gets 13 around town and 16-18 on the highway.

But it's paid for... why would I trade it in?

Better be a good discount.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: knawlejj
hrmm motortrend says my 1998 mercury mountaineer gets 18mpg on the highway...other sites say 19-20.

I think you need to go with the numbers from http://fueleconomy.gov

 

[geno]

No. The program does not apply to the purchase of used vehicles.

Pff, just lost total interest. Thanks, but no thanks.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: GrumpyMan
I wonder if I can sell my neighbor's car for him? Such a clunker! :thumbsup:

Yes you can. You don't even need the title or the keys

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: Insomniator
The program is such a joke its not even funny.

Seems like a great deal for my brother. He's driving a late 90s Ford Ranger, fair condition, with something like 180k miles on it. It's worth no where near $3500-$4500 + scrap value.

Only thing I'm worried about for him is the MPG, as I'm not sure which engine he has.

 

[Wheezer]

so you drive a clunker now because you cannot afford a new car yet some how the government has waived it's magic wand and suddenly you can afford one?.....jesus christ this is the housing fiasco all over only now there will be a shit load of repossessed cars sitting all over the place...of course with all those people that walked away from their homes can afford a new car since they don't have a house payment.

American greed + idiotic government program= disaster.....this is gonna be fun to watch.

 

[GrumpyMan]

Originally posted by: dabuddha

Originally posted by: GrumpyMan
I wonder if I can sell my neighbor's car for him? Such a clunker! :thumbsup:

Yes you can. You don't even need the title or the keys

I hear that works with homes too!!! :laugh:

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: Wheezer
so you drive a clunker now because you cannot afford a new car yet some how the government has waived it's magic wand and suddenly you can afford one?.....jesus christ this is the housing fiasco all over only now there will be a shit load of repossessed cars sitting all over the place...of course with all those people that walked away from their homes can afford a new car since they don't have a house payment.

American greed + idiotic government program= disaster.....this is gonna be fun to watch.

Exactly. This program makes no sense. Even for people who drive around clunkers because they are cheap (i.e. me). My trade in value is approx $3500. Why would I buy a NEW car?

 

[HardcoreRobot]

so uhhhh, why exactly again are my tax dollars being spent to buy someone else a new car?

 

[Auryg]

It would have been nice when I still had my old '88 Grand Marquis..but again, I couldn't afford a new car. I suppose I could have given it to my parents, who would have given me back what it was worth - I assume a lot of this will go on.

 

[thegimp03]

Originally posted by: Insomniator
The program is such a joke its not even funny.

Yeah, you're telling me. Basically, it values every POS that gets below 18 mpg at $3,500 or $4,500. And then, you only have to buy a car that gets marginally higher MPG. Like that's going to save planet earth. :roll:

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: Insomniator
The program is such a joke its not even funny.

Yup. I have a 97 4runner and the trade in value is about the same as the voucher. I feel like i'm the target candidate yet there is zero incentive for me.

Why would they expect someone who drives around a clunker where it would be worth it to do the program would be the type of person that would buy a new car? Yet another stupid ass gov't program.

idk, my dad was talking about it last night... he thinks he can get $4,500 on his SUV that's probably not even worth a grand and trade it in for a sedan or small truck.

they originally bought the SUV when my sister and I were in college to assist with all the moving back and forth, but they haven't really "needed" a car that size in 7+ years.

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: thegimp03

Originally posted by: Insomniator
The program is such a joke its not even funny.

Yeah, you're telling me. Basically, it values every POS that gets below 18 mpg at $3,500 or $4,500. And then, you only have to buy a car that gets marginally higher MPG. Like that's going to save planet earth. :roll:

Its not meant to save the planet. Its supposed to stimulate the economy.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: Analog

Originally posted by: thegimp03

Originally posted by: Insomniator
The program is such a joke its not even funny.

Yeah, you're telling me. Basically, it values every POS that gets below 18 mpg at $3,500 or $4,500. And then, you only have to buy a car that gets marginally higher MPG. Like that's going to save planet earth. :roll:

Its not meant to save the planet. Its supposed to stimulate the economy.

Hardly a stimulus.

Clunkers with trade in values > $3500-4500 = no effect
People who drive clunkers with value < $3500-4500 = can't afford a new car
People who drive clunkers with value < $3500-4500 AND can afford a new car = are driving around clunkers because they are too cheap to buy a new car, probably will buy used.

This is a stimufailus. Obummer yet again.

 

[S Freud]

Originally posted by: geno

No. The program does not apply to the purchase of used vehicles.

Pff, just lost total interest. Thanks, but no thanks.

Exactly what I thought. I drive my old Ranger because it gets decent enough mileage and its paid off. Why would a want what basically equals out to a down payment and then pay 200-350 bucks a month?

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
so uhhhh, why exactly again are my tax dollars being spent to buy someone else a new car?

don't worry, the eco-idiots wrote it so that a very select number of cars will actually be eligible; it's the SUV owners wanting to downgrade that will be the real beneficiaries but that's a big gamble on whether or not they will apply enmass.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Insomniator
The program is such a joke its not even funny.

 

[Crusty]

Originally posted by: lupi

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
so uhhhh, why exactly again are my tax dollars being spent to buy someone else a new car?

don't worry, the eco-idiots wrote it so that a very select number of cars will actually be eligible; it's the SUV owners wanting to downgrade that will be the real beneficiaries but that's a big gamble on whether or not they will apply enmass.

No kidding, my 98' Accord won't be eligible for it because it's not rated at < 18mpg 'new'. Don't worry Robot, you won't be buying me a new car anytime soon

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: Analog

Originally posted by: thegimp03

Originally posted by: Insomniator
The program is such a joke its not even funny.

Yeah, you're telling me. Basically, it values every POS that gets below 18 mpg at $3,500 or $4,500. And then, you only have to buy a car that gets marginally higher MPG. Like that's going to save planet earth. :roll:

Its not meant to save the planet. Its supposed to stimulate the economy.

Hardly a stimulus.

Clunkers with trade in values > $3500-4500 = no effect
People who drive clunkers with value < $3500-4500 = can't afford a new car
People who drive clunkers with value < $3500-4500 AND can afford a new car = are driving around clunkers because they are too cheap to buy a new car, probably will buy used.

This is a stimufailus. Obummer yet again.

I hate to prove you wrong, but I'm trading in my 1995 Pontiac Transport (18MPGs) for a brand new Honda CR-V. My Transport has 193K and I tend to keep cars forever. I hardly fit your profile. My van's trade-in is ~$500, so its a great deal.