‘Cash for Clunkers’ Finds its Congressional Sponsors

Great and let's restrict that credit to only for purchase of American cars!!!!! Help bail out the automakers.

“how do you entice the driver of that $50,000 Escalade to scrap it for $4,500?”

Relentless peer pressure. Escalades are soooo lame/2008/Bush-Cheney. Dontcha know only dorks drive Escalades?

All the cool kids drive high mpg.

[...] The Washington Independent » ‘Cash for Clunkers’ Finds its … (washingtonindependent.com) – January 14, 2009The temporary “cash for clunkers” program would work like this: Owners of vehicles that get less than 18 miles-per-gallon would be able to turn in those cars for $2500 to $4500 in credit toward the pu… [...]

Thankfully, someone is calling BS on this and wants it stopped to avoid wanton destruction of our automotive history.

http://www.semasan.com/main/main.aspx?id=62498

Seems to me they aren't selling too many of those huge ass SUVs that get 5 mpg anymore, if they were there wouldn't be a need for a automotive bailout

We elected these boneheads? Retrofitting would be much cheaper and is already available!! Those purchases would be better with more jobs created to meet the demand. Older cars could get new engines and other retrofit components with out going into debt. New technologies are ready and te increase in sales would keep many employed.

California has had a similar program for a number of years. The State will pay you $1,000 for your old car (it must qualify). It's a great program. I got rid of a 1985 Bronco-II and bought a newer car (not brand new).

This is a great program and does double duty since, in many cases the older cars have a bigger impact on the air quality (smog). Retro-fitting is way too costly since state laws are usually written in a way that any change from the original configuration requires the car be brought up to current emission standards.

It is also important to consider the environmental costs of manufacturing new vehicles. They might be outweighed by the benefits of the bill, but they should certainly be mentioned. A lot of energy and resources have gone into the manufacture of existing vehicles, so I would like to see this bill directed towards used, fuel-efficient cars specifically.

Ok there is less of a chance of a person trading in an Escalade for a small amount to purchase a more friendly gas model but it is a good start and it will help boost the auto sales and the economy which is a good thing. I am looking forward to this bill.

Sounds good but unrealistic. You have an economy where people are losing jobs left and right, banks are not lending and people are not spending. So if I understand this correctly people are to turn in their cars which are owned free and clear for a credit towards the purchase of a new or used car. Why not just pay people to turn in their old car and then they can use that money for mass transit, a new/used car or even for car pooling, a motorcycle or bicycle.

This bill is not good. So, let me get this straight. Under this program, “they” want to give me a $2000.00 – $4000.00 check for my 93 Cobra Mustang, semi low mileage equipped with a power adder, which deems it a gus guzzler. This vehicle see the road 25-50 days a year. This Mustang passes CA strict smog laws. The reason I do not have/want a new car, is because I do not want a car payment. I have 2 vehicles that are paid off. I have spent 3/4 of my adult life dealing with a car payment. It feels good not to make a monthly car payment. So, they take my vehicle and give me a check. I will have to take out a loan to purchase this vehicle. What if my credit is subpar? Will the auto makers give me a good % rate wih my subpar credit? The auto makers need my help, I do not need their help. Heck, the auto maker execs just came back from Capital Hill asking for a bailout with taxpayers money. Some may say, use your savings, you don't need a loan. Sounds good, but I was saving that money for a house, emergency fund, etc.
This bill will will cause more harm than good

Just as CEO's who bankrupt companies get bonuses, people who recklessly squandered our resources by buying hogs get compensated for their effort – while, in both cases, the rest of us pay the price for their stupidity. I expect to soon see a tiny silly car pull up, then our leadership to start pouring out of its door. This will happen right before the dancing bear act.

Very bad bill. It would be much better to give grants to people to fix there older cars at local shops.
It would put people to work in all segments of the aftermarket including dealer shops. It would fix cars that most people cant get loans to fix making them mobile. Think about it.
You can read my letter to the aftermarket through CAREAUTO.org, AERA.org, WAWA-PSA.org

what dumb idiots! what politician would scrap there limo, and so what makes them think the American people want to drive cheap euro trash cars, or ultra cheap Asian junk!
Its bad enough some CEAOs sold America out for a few Benji's, I'm a Vet served so idiots like the ones mentioned above sadly could do there job, but if you want my Chevy Van it'll cost ya 20K!

what dumb idiots! what politician would scrap there limo, and so what makes them think the American people want to drive cheap euro trash cars, or ultra cheap Asian junk!
Its bad enough some CEAOs sold America out for a few Benji's, I'm a Vet served so idiots like the ones mentioned above sadly could do there job, but if you want my Chevy Van it'll cost ya 20K!

You live in California! You have smog because there are millions of people living in a very small low valley.. Retro-fitting would be the way to go, even though it will never happen. I personally think it is the most idiotic thing I have ever heard. In this economy, someone like myself cannot afford to buy a new vehicle. There is no way my husband and I, even with us both working could afford a new vehicle payment. This bill will only help those who 1) already drive newer vehicles 2) have extremely good credit. If it had of included newer USED vehicles, it might have help a whole lot more low-income families and accomplished what they are wanting too. Our government has lost all touch with reality!

I scrapped a 2002 escalade for $4500 and got a saturn that gets 32 mpg. well it was a horrible idea and i dont care that much about the world

A clunker that travels 12,000 miles a year at 15 mpg uses 800 gallons of gas a year.

A vehicle that travels 12,000 miles a year at 25 mpg uses 480 gallons a year.

So, the average Cash for Clunkers transaction will reduce US gasoline consumption by 320 gallons per year.

They claim 700,000 vehicles so that's 224 million gallons saved per year.

That equates to a bit over 5 million barrels of oil.

5 million barrels is about 5 hours worth of US consumption.

More importantly, 5 million barrels of oil at $70 per barrel costs about $350 million dollars

So, the government paid $3 billion of our tax dollars to save $350 million.

We spent $8.57 for every dollar saved.

A clunker that travels 12,000 miles a year at 15 mpg uses 800 gallons of gas a year.

A vehicle that travels 12,000 miles a year at 25 mpg uses 480 gallons a year.

So, the average Cash for Clunkers transaction will reduce US gasoline consumption by 320 gallons per year.

They claim 700,000 vehicles so that's 224 million gallons saved per year.

That equates to a bit over 5 million barrels of oil.

5 million barrels is about 5 hours worth of US consumption.

More importantly, 5 million barrels of oil at $70 per barrel costs about $350 million dollars

So, the government paid $3 billion of our tax dollars to save $350 million.

We spent $8.57 for every dollar saved.