Cash For Clunkers

[1970ChevelleSS]

They just announced that there are gonna keep this going till Sept.2010. OH MY!

[WILMASBOYL78]

Jim Ferron is "right on the money"....these are used car customers...not the typical new vehicle buyer. The government has no business creating these types of programs. They would have been better off giving all the dealers a tax cut to help energize their business or an across the board consumer rebate/incentive to upgrade to a more fuel efficient vehicle...new or used. No one is talking about the costs the dealers are facing to handle the paperwork, phone calls and "engine destruction" process that is required. This whole mess qualifies as an unfunded federal mandate heaped on the backs of private business owners.

Remember when rebates and low interest financing started..?? since then dealers are hard pressed to generate sales unless there is a "program" in place. Once this CFC is over...the government will have to dream up another offer (scheme) to keep the ball moving.

By the way...where does the money come from to pay the dealers the $4500

Press #1 for the answer...or just hold and Ms. Pelosi will be with you shortly.

A chicken in every pot and a clunker in a every garage

ps...Congress is voting as we speak to add 2 Billion Dollars to the program....I can hear the presses running

[StealthBird]

I read that the way the dealer is supposed to disable a clunker is to drain the crankcase, then pour silicone silicate in, start the engine, and it slowly dies. Geez, I know it's just an engine, but if I were to see this, I'm not sure I could help myself. I'd be yelling "Turn it off! Turn it off!". Seems a shame to inject automotive poison, then sit back and watch (and hear) an engine slowly die.

What's interesting is that in one week, $250 million of the $1 billion allocated was used. What many dealers are doing (this is no surprise) is that they're taking EXISTING used cars on their lots, changing the dates they were traded in (an unethical used car dealer, who would have thought? ) and submitting the forms to get $4500 per car. Then the dealer keeps all the money.

Gee, another well thought out plan.

[Jim Ferron]

Thank you Tom,

I'll tell you juuuuust one idea that would have made some sense....

First and MOST important, only cars BUILT in the good ol' US of A should be eligible [to buy]. Why are our tax dollars going to foreign workers and foreign manufactures?

Have you EVER heard of a more stupid idea?

And not to be political here...even though we need Health care relief more than any other single reform...I hope it better thought out than this...

What do YOU guys pay? I'm over $1500 for a family plan, no dental...nearly $10 an HOUR of my pay [salary] goes to just healthcare.And even if your employer provides it, it's still YOUR money, or that much LESS than your employer can afford to pay you, Imagine a ten dollar an hour raise???

Health care is my LARGEST personal and business expense.

Sorry waaaaaay off the subject.Please don't yell at me...I just venting...