While it is true that cars with low MPG ratings are being taken off the road, many of those cars were still in perfect running condition and would have served as decent daily transportation for many years to come....now they are off to the scrap yard to make our landfills larger still.

I think the program has a decent basis, but it should have more restrictions on the cars that can be traded in.

- Justin

I just find it funny how the govt. managed to "come up" with an extra like 2 billion or something needed to continue the program...

they took it from the military budget, so next year the big story is going to be about how the military grossly overspent and we need to downsize, and no one will remember the billions obama used from them

Here's some fun reading:

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/...ita-doan-cash/

Cliffs: Each car traded in is costing american taxpayers approx. $6,000, and there is no system in place to stop Mexicans / Canadians / illegal immigrants from taking advantage of the $4,500 credit.

- Justin

I dont know why anyone is worried about all this...Obama is going to knock on your front door and solve all of your problems, one by one, then knock on your neighbors door and do the same...no worries

I love how you all are crying about this. WBT is right, you guys aren't getting the big picture. The #1 thing I keep hearing from people is oh, that was a good engine, or was a good car, but were also trying to slow down consumption of fossil fuels, and promote a better America, and Earth. Remember last year when we were crying about gas prices, well it's cars like these that were helping those prices because of our continuous need for petrol.

Another thing is people are saying about where the money is coming from, which is the military budget. So far we sank 3Billion into this, or roughly 1 1/2 B2 bombers.....yeah, remember those price tags for them, not to mention the more then a trillion we spent in Iraq/Afghan, which we seem to forget how much we stupidly piss away running around like idiots in the desert for nothing.

I understand were all car fans, and we hate to see such a program take cars that still could get people around, but this is a way to jump start people into buying better cars, and hopefully getting this lazy country in gear. It's also a good time to to use this as an excuse to go and try get a new Camaro :) I heard Perry Egan is selling MSRP on them, AND doing the cash for clunkers and applies to the Camaro, and no $5,000 market adjustment hike on them.

America has always been in debt, and always will be. You now know where your tax dollars are going, you know its going to a good cause , so sit back and let the restructuring of a better, smarter America start.

This has nothing to do with the environment.....if the additional 2 Billion in funding gets approved, the approximate energy savings this country will see from the increase in fuel economy of the cars on the road would be the same as if the country completely shut down for approximately 3 hours in a year (which would be an approximately 0.00034% reduction).

That doesn't take into consideration the additional resources needed to build these new cars as opposed to keeping the older cars on the road.

- Justin

What I dont understand is why this is applying to foreign car dealerships as well. What the government should have done is implent a "Cash 4 Clunkers" deal if you help out the US economy and buy a domestic... it's like the government is saying "Here is $4500. Go take a vacation in Japan, and buy yourself $4500 in souveniers while you are there."

Which give's jobs back. And as for 3 hours, every little thing counts, better then nothing, and letting these vehicles continue to consume more.

No lie about this, Japan sent a letter to the Government complaining about them trying to entice people to make them only buy from the big three instead of their cars, so the Government couldn't tell the people when this program came out it would only work with domestic cars, although I wish they would have. whats the import ratio of domestic to Japan and vice versa? i love how Japan after domintaing our sales of cars for god knows how long, a program comes out that might help America a little come back from the forgein -dominated car sales.

You know, usually I'm understanding of other people's positions. But in this case, **** THEM. The amount of horse **** involved in getting an American product launched and approved in Asia is astronomical and archaic. We should do what they do and tax the ever loving crap out of imported goods and REJECT imports of stuff that is detrimental to our economy.

But I digress.

Yes, it takes "transportation" off the road. But there's a difference between something that's really "in good shape" and something that's "drivable". If I could count on everybody around me maintaining their beater then I would have more resistance. I'm glad that this will get some of the smoking locomotives and rusty pickups off of the road. It sucks that people will be ditching "good stuff" but at least the $ is going to the crippled auto industry.

HOLY CRAP! So much ****** info.

People really need to stop watching Fox News. Really.

The cars are not JUNKED, they are ripped apart and the parts are sold. Junk yards are unhappy tthat they cant sell the engines, as thats the big money maker, but thats what the Goverment wants to get off the road.

Are some of these cars running ok? Sure. But these people dont want to drive 10-15 year old cars that get poor gas milage anymore. I know I dont. I thought about going in and buying a Cobalt XFE and using my Caprice for 4500's, plus the rebates on the Cobalt and all the other cash, i could walk out of the dealer with a Cobalt that cost me maybe 3-4 grand? Brand new car, 100k mile powertrain warranty, and I go from a maximum of 18mpg in the Caprice to 37.

More then half of the cars so far are American cars that are being bought.

I like how now everyone is worried about where all your tax dollars are going. No one gave a **** when there was a big label on it called "freedom act" or some other super intrusive program, or the trillion dollars spent sending troops into TWO **** holes, only to make a big mess and go no where.

but lets worry about how Americans are buying new cars, from Americans, at American car dealers, spending American money.
But its Obama, he's the anti-christ. Making this political because it already went there and no one locked it. But on Glenn Beck, Im sure he's got some points you can regurgitate on here.

Had it with this nonsense. You guys just cant give it up ONE little positive note, you have to tear it down and destroy it. Its like 92-00 all over again. Every positive Democratic move, and its pissed on.


In the end, no one is forcing you to give up your clunker. Its giving people an incentive to get rid of thier hunks of crap, and get something new.

/\ /\

Damn straight Al, that's what I'm saying.

Yup. Last I heard it was 47% American though. I guess that stat changed?

If I still had my T/A it would go to the dealer no doubt.. Hell for 4500 to 9000 discount one would be an absolute idiot not to take advantage of the program.

Tsar where are you getting 9k from? 4500 is the maximum

Some dealers are matching government contributions. So 4500 + 4500 = 9000 off a brand spanking new car!

ah, ok. Gotcha

Chrysler dealers were matching it, but now that supply of cars on dealer lots are dwindling, they cut it out.
Yes, 9 grand off any car is a hell of a deal....too bad its a Chrysler.


BTW, talked to a friend of Brand Benson, of Benson Hyundai, and they said in 4 days, 203 people took delivery of a new car.
203 cars in 4 days. One dealer.