Congress contemplates Cash for Clunkers -- get $3000-7500 for your old car?

[gotsmack]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Originally posted by: gotsmack
Very excited about this. Combined with the sales tax write off this year...

Sales tax writeoff?

Is that specific to your home state or is that a deductible or credit for the 2009 federal income tax return? Would that be available for everyone or only for people to do itemized deductions (and who don't take the standard)?

you have to make less than $125k you get an above the line deduction. It is part of the stimulus plan.

 

[Raduque]

Har har har. My old junker gets ~25mpg.

 

[Strk]

That's kind of annoying since I got my car last year. It replaced a 16 year old car that, within two months of having, my brother broke.

 

[gotsmack]

http://www.usnews.com/articles...lp-new-car-buyers.html

Interesting article here

Following cars/trucks are eligable according to US news

Chevrolet: Aveo, Cobalt, Colorado, Equinox, HHR, Malibu, Malibu Hybrid, Traverse
Chrysler: PT Cruiser, Sebring, Town & Country
Dodge: Avenger, Caliber, Caravan, Journey
Ford: Edge, Escape, Escape Hybrid, Flex, Focus, Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Ranger, Taurus
Honda: Accord, Civic, CR-V, Element, Odyssey
Hyundai: Santa Fe, Sonata
Jeep: Compass, Patriot
Mazda: B-Series, Mazda 6, Tribute, Tribute Hybrid
Mercury: Milan
Mitsubishi: Eclipse, Galant, Outlander
Nissan: Altima, Quest, Sentra, Versa
Pontiac: G6, Solstice, Vibe
Saturn: Vue
Toyota: Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Highlander, RAV4, Tacoma, Venza
Volkswagen: Jetta

track and read the bill here

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1550/show

(b) Amount of Voucher-


(1) VOUCHER REDEMPTION VALUE IF USED TOWARD PURCHASE OF NEW FUEL EFFICIENT AUTOMOBILE- A voucher issued under the Program may be applied to offset a portion of the purchase price of one new fuel efficient automobile meeting the criteria set forth in this paragraph, which portion shall be the amount of--


(A) $4,000 for a--


(i) passenger automobile assembled in the United States with a minimum highway label fuel economy value of 27 miles per gallon;


(ii) passenger automobile assembled in North America with a minimum highway label fuel economy value of 30 miles per gallon; or

(iii) nonpassenger automobile assembled in the United States with a minimum highway label fuel economy value of 24 miles per gallon;


(B) $5,000 for a--

(i) passenger automobile assembled in the United States with a minimum highway label fuel economy value of 30 miles per gallon; or


(ii) work truck assembled in the United States registered by the dealer as a registered work truck; or

(C) $3,000 for a nonpassenger automobile assembled in North America with a minimum highway value of 24 miles per gallon.

 

[Falloutboy]

nice program, wish my old focus would qualify though I'm in the market for a new car. I wish they would of just included true domestics in the program, but atleast they have to be assembled in the US, which is why the prius is not on the list.

 

[MovingTarget]

Somehow I think that this would be a bad idea as it would kill off the lower-end used car market. Not everyone can simply afford to go out and buy a car at $7k a pop when they need basic transportation.

 

[Falloutboy]

Originally posted by: MovingTarget
Somehow I think that this would be a bad idea as it would kill off the lower-end used car market. Not everyone can simply afford to go out and buy a car at $7k a pop when they need basic transportation.

I dunno, it might be tbh getting alot of cars off the road, will help the domestic auto industry which in my mind is more bennifical

 

[LTC8K6]

So now we need to know what they consider an "Eligible High Polluting Automobile"...

 

[CupCak3]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
So now we need to know what they consider an "Eligible High Polluting Automobile"...

I've got my fingers crossed for my 2001 Sunfire...

Sadly though, I have a feeling I'll be left out on this one... damn me for getting a reliable, economical car which I could afford and not suck down 15mpg!

 

[LTC8K6]

My 1995 Taurus, with the 3.8L and 52K miles, rated at 17/26, seems like it might be close...

I have only seen an 18mpg figure to qualify, but no explanation if that was city, hwy, or combined.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

i'll stick with my mazda. the only recent problems i had was a bad wheel bearing on the front passenger side, and my alternator died on me. other than that. its done me 191k miles of bad gas milage.

 

[rh71]

We would pull the trigger on a minivan if it qualifies. I've had my Rodeo transmission rebuilt for $3400 thinking it will last a few more years but other small things have made me spend a few hundred more here and there and even if sold it would only be $2k max... maybe. It's 14-years old and driveable - it even passes emissions every year with no problem. I keep thinking junking it would be a complete waste... trade-in for that much sounds good.

 

[LTC8K6]

Looks like the Rodeo probably won't qualify at 20mpg highway.

Can't be sure, though. It's probably on the edge.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
Looks like the Rodeo probably won't qualify at 20mpg highway.

Can't be sure, though. It's probably on the edge.

Looking at the original '95 Rodeo sticker right now (yes I keep records, etc.) and it says 15/18. All I know is I'm never getting more than 14mpg on it anymore. Does it mention if it has to be converted to the new EPA mpg?

 

[LTC8K6]

I don't know about the new vs old ratings.

It was the new rating I gave...

The new ratings are normally lower than the original sticker, not higher...

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg....jsp?column=1&id=12429

 

[LTC8K6]

The site lists 15/18 for a 1994 V6 auto Rodeo 4X4.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg....jsp?column=1&id=11537

 

[The Boston Dangler]

wtf! why do my tax dollars have to subsidize someone else's new car? i don't care if it gets 10 gallons per mile, or belches cyanide. you bought it, it's your goddamn problem. i'm already paying for the one car i'm responsible for - my own. where are my fucking hand-outs?

the only way this hand-out approaches reasonable is if it stipulates the purchase of a car manufactured in the u.s.

 

[lurk3r]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
So now we need to know what they consider an "Eligible High Polluting Automobile"...

I wonder if it will be actual mpg, or rated, pull a couple plug wires and get your junker down to 10 mpg 😛

 

[LTC8K6]

the only way this hand-out approaches reasonable is if it stipulates the purchase of a car manufactured in the u.s.

It pretty much does. Look up a few posts.

 

[lupi]

Woo hoo. I heard people getting loaded cobalts for under 15k and was thinking about getting one to become my commuter car and let my truck be my evenings/weekend vehicle. I got a really good deal for a 2006 from a relative to replace the wifes 96 grandam, but I still have the grandam. If this goes through in the next couple of months, with that % off as up front discount and tex write off, I'll probably be buying.

As for those complaining (neener neener I finally might get some stimulus money my way), this is just part of the auto industry bail out going in different directions. From the news stories I've heard, a hot selling vehicle has like 30 days inventory in the system while normal cars are 60-90 days. Things are so bad for detroit now that they have a backlog like 3 times that looking like it's getting longer than shorter; so unless they can convince people to buy cars off the lot there aren't many other things you can do to spur the industry to righting itself.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

the government should just buy GM, then build a prius knockoff, then give it to every citizen

 

[ElFenix]

(6) ELIGIBLE HIGH POLLUTING AUTOMOBILE- The term ?eligible high polluting automobile? means an automobile that, at the time it is presented for participation in the program established under section 3 of this Act, it--
(A) is in drivable condition; and
(B) has been continuously registered and licensed to operate on public roads in any State for a period of not fewer than 120 consecutive days immediately prior to such presentation.
(7) HIGH POLLUTING AUTOMOBILE- The term ?high polluting automobile? means an automobile that is either an inefficient or high polluting automobile and that was issued a certificate of conformity with the regulations prescribed under section 202 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7521) for any model year before model year 2001, and is not a new fuel efficient automobile.




i note that 6 doesn't really incorporate 7 into the definition.

 

[LTC8K6]

The list of eligible HPAs will be posted on the web. Until it is, we are just guessing.

 

[ElFenix]

edit: no one is going to read all that

 

[LTC8K6]

(d) Lists of Eligible Automobiles To Be Maintained- The Secretary shall prepare, maintain, publicize, and make available through the Internet, lists of automobiles, classified by make and model, which are classified under this section as:

(1) eligible high polluting automobiles; or


(2) new fuel efficient automobiles.