rssAn Opportunity to Improve ‘Cash for Clunkers’
Friday, July 31, 2009 at 12:04 pm
- 2 Comments
With the news that the popularity of cash for clunkers has already consumed the program’s $1 billion allotment comes the inevitable rehashing of the debate over what cars should be eligible for trade-ins if the program is extended.
Earlier in the year, Detroit’s powerful defenders on Capitol Hill pushed through legislation that effectively allowed consumers to trade clunkers for new clunkers — a boon to the automakers and dealers who were having trouble selling larger vehicles, but hardly a recipe to reduce emissions in any meaningful way.
At least one member of the Michigan delegation, Sen. Carl Levin (D), is already urging additional funding for the program.
“We have been told by the White House that people can keep buying cars under the program until further notice,” Levin said in a statement Friday. “We don’t know how long it will last, so people should go to their car dealers now if they want to take advantage of the program. We’re also going to seek additional funding to hopefully make the program last longer.”
But others are vowing that, if the program is to be extended, the eligible vehicles should get better gas mileage. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), who had pushed legislation hinging the cash subsidies on better fuel efficiencies, issued a statement yesterday vowing to fight additional funding unless some changes are made.
We believe that any extension of the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program must go further in advancing the goals of better fuel efficiency and greater emissions reductions. We will not support any bill that does not meet these goals.
They have this in their favor: Levin and the other automaker defenders can no longer claim that eligibility thresholds have to be kept low to encourage participation.
2 Comments
Comment posted August 2, 2009 @ 1:44 am
Cash For Clunkers: A Short Term Success and Limited In Scope.
Program Needs 2 Expand to 2002-2008 Used, Fuel Efficient Cars as well…
For Long Term Effects
____________________
For long Term Effects, the Cash For Clunkers Program Must Expand to 2002-2008 Used, but, Fuel Efficient Cars.
I Went to Sandy Springs Toyota Today to learn about…..
[Cash 4 Clunkers]
Its Very Streamlined.
Limited in Scope.
Has Performed Very Well, Yet Has Big Holes in the Program.
If you Own Big Gas Guzzling Trucks, Vans & SUV's and you want to Rid Yourself of them, this Program is [Ideal] and that's Obviously whose Turning their Cars in and Cashing in on a New Car or Truck.
If you Own a 95 Honda Odyssey & 97 Nissan Sentra like I and My Wife…
You are Out of [Luck]
Found out the Hard Way, Today.
Also Used Car Salesmen at Sandy Springs Toyota, Complain, that they have No Business in their Department, so their Mgr. ask that they participate in the Cars For Clunkers Program, while their 2002-2008 Cars Collect Dust.
Oddly their Cars get Great Gas Mileage as well, but the cars Sold in the Cash For Clunkers Program are Strictly [2009 Only]
The Program is Too Limited and it Needs to be Expanded to Include 2002-2008 used Fuel Efficient Cars as well.
Also the Insurance Coverage for a Full Year, should be [Excluded] because its Not Needed, the Car will be Demolished and the New car will have to be Covered, before you Drive Off The Lot.
All that should be Required is [Certificate of Ownership] and that Ownership is Beyond 2 Years, as well as a Current Tag.
The Program would have a Longer Lasting Effect.
Comment posted August 23, 2009 @ 8:15 pm
Cash for Clunkers is a great program that actually works as planned, and maybe even better than planned, as it will likely yield many benefits as yet unforeseen and uncalculated..
Obviously C4C has given our manufacturing sector a tremendously needed jolt, but it's not just car makers and car dealers who stand to benefit.
Auto insurers will benefit too, as new cars cost more to insure than the clunkers they replace.
Auto servicing and body shops will benefit too, as most people tend to lavish more care on new cars, than on old ones, and it only stands to reason that new and fully insured cars under warranty get the very best care. That all adds up to a lot of people working, who without C4C might be in the unemployment line.
Lending institutions will benefit too, as the majority of these new car purchases will be made through long term financing agreements through banks or credit unions…
Auto parts manufacturers, and parts retailers, and those who they employ stand to gain from C4C. And don't forget the long distance truck drivers who transport new cars to dealerships, and the local drivers who deliver the parts when those new cars are serviced — they all stand to benefit from C4C too..
All of these auto related industries pay federal, state and state taxes. Much of that money will flow into state and local treasuries, of which many are in desperate need right now. All of that tax money that C4C will generate will go back out to communities where the multiplier effect will continue long after C4C has exhausted it's funds.
Finally, C4C has some nice ancillary benefits too, including lower carbon emissions and lower fuel consumption nationwide. Lower fuel consumption = less demand for gas, and less demand for gas means lower prices at the pump.
C4C IS A GREAT PROGRAM THAT NEEDS TO BE CONTINUED, AT LEAST UNTIL THE ECONOMY IS IN FULL RECOVERY.
IF YOU SUPPORT C4C AND ALL OF IT'S MANY BENEFITS, TELL YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO KEEP CASH FOR CLUNKERS GOING UNTIL THE ECONOMY CAN STAND ON IT'S OWN.
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
