plenzmd1 Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Thought I would just let everyone know the cash for clunkers law has been approved and goes into effect July 1. Here are some websites with info http://twitter.com/cashclunkers http://www.cars.gov/ http://www.cashforclunkersfacts.com/ In brief, If you have a car that gets 18mpg or less, or an SUV that gets 16mpg or less, you will be eligible to turn in your car and get either $3500 or $4500 on a new car that gets at least 4mpg better for a car, or 2 mpg for an SUV. Program starts 7/01. For me this is great as I am turning in a 96 Explorer with 225,000 for a new car and will get the $4500. I have been waiting on this legislation to pass, and passed on buying a used vehicle in anticipation of this passing. And not to turn this into a PPP thread, but miracles of miracles Obama is not placing any income restrictions on taking advantage of this program. Couple of notes of interest 1) You will have to show proof of insurance, registration and title proves you have owned the car for at least 1 year . So no going out and buying a $100 POS and trading it in. Also, the car has to be drivable to qualify. 2) Only $1B is approved as of now, no telling how quick that will run out. So I would not delay if this is something you can take advantage of. BTW, this does not affect rebates etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim in Anchorage Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I can get $4500 trade in on my gas guzzler 1970 426 hemi cuda? Count me in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 so for my 92 explorer which i paid 1100.00 cash for and, knock on wood, gets me from point A to point B, I can now go a minumum of 10,000 in debt to get a shiny new car?????? YOWSER!!!!! If I can't pay my car loan, can I get a government bailout???? I am just busting...I know it is merely an option to people looking to buy a car, not a mandate to do so.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDS Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I presume they look at the original manufacture's MPG estimates? My car just died on Sunday... Not worth fixing and not worth a new engine. Of course, this means I don't qualify, but I wonder if I was close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 that is still up to debate, or rather probably just resolved with the actual passage of the bill Q: My car is old and originally got more than 18 mpg, but now it gets 14 mpg. Will it qualify? A: That is another popular question. We will have to wait and see if the bill provides a reasonable assessment of current MPG versus original manufacturer EPA MPG. I presume they look at the original manufacture's MPG estimates? My car just died on Sunday... Not worth fixing and not worth a new engine. Of course, this means I don't qualify, but I wonder if I was close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Adams Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 What a colossal waste of money. On top of the money grab, the cars traded in MUST BE SCRAPPED! If your trade-in is worth more than 3500-4500, the program won't have any interest for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Adams Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 that is still up to debate, or rather probably just resolved with the actual passage of the bill The official MPG charts are here. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 The 18 mpg cutoff bites. My Dodge Caravan is rated at 20 so we missed the boat. I was planning to get a car that's rated for 26. Since this program is supposed to promote fuel efficiency you'd think a 30% improvement in MPG would qualify you for something. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted June 23, 2009 Author Share Posted June 23, 2009 I presume they look at the original manufacture's MPG estimates? My car just died on Sunday... Not worth fixing and not worth a new engine. Of course, this means I don't qualify, but I wonder if I was close. I would talk to the dealer about this. I am pretty sure they will be pretty lieneient on what constitutes "driveable". so for my 92 explorer which i paid 1100.00 cash for and, knock on wood, gets me from point A to point B, I can now go a minumum of 10,000 in debt to get a shiny new car?????? YOWSER!!!!! If I can't pay my car loan, can I get a government bailout???? Its funny cause one of the dabates was how much impact would this have on car sales. Some people said the only people who have cars worth less than $4500 prolly can't afford a new car...which I thought was funny. I just tend to hand onto cars pretty long. Think about this though Pooj, you could buy a new Hyundai Sonata for about $17K, get $3k in rebates plus get $4500 from the Gov. for a total price of $10K as you mentioned. Add in the gas savings and not having a repair for the next 5 years, and my gut is that is a cheaper way to go than hanging onto the Explorer!!!! [EDIT] btw Pooj, forgot to add in that in 5 years i would assume one could get at least $4K for the car, and total would only be $6K. Not bad for driving a decent new car for 5 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDS Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 The official MPG charts are here. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm thanks. Assuming they take the 1st set of numbers, mine averages to 21 MPG. Crud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 thanks. Assuming they take the 1st set of numbers, mine averages to 21 MPG. Crud. My '98 S-10 shows 19 mpg under the revised numbers. But I'm not getting rid of it, anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Adams Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 thanks. Assuming they take the 1st set of numbers, mine averages to 21 MPG. Crud. From the cars.gov website FAQs, Go to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm and click on the model year of your vehicle, the make, and then the model. Under the words "ESTIMATED NEW EPA MPG" in the red banner, there is a red number with the word "COMBINED" under it. That is the new combined city/highway fuel economy for your vehicle. You may then enter the make, model, and model year of a new vehicle you may want to buy and see its combined MPG for comparison. Most mid-size sedans made in the last 25 years would come in at 19+. I've never driven anything that averaged less than that. Even my old 8 cylinder Chevy Caprice shows up as a 19MPG car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill from NYC Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 The official MPG charts are here. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm Is this deal for city or highway driving? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDS Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Is this deal for city or highway driving? read the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBill Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Crap my car is rated for 20 MPG - have been debating about buying a new one. This would have pushed me over the edge but no go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Adams Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Is this deal for city or highway driving? It's the combined number on that chart. Unless you're driving a boat or a truck, you're SOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Adams Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Crap my car is rated for 20 MPG - have been debating about buying a new one. This would have pushed me over the edge but no go. Good. I hope no one can use this free money. It's complete rape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill from NYC Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 It's the combined number on that chart. Unless you're driving a boat or a truck, you're SOL. Thanks. Mine is 21 mpg combined on that chart, but I'm not sure I believe the numbers. The highway number might be right, but it says I get 18 in city driving, and I don't believe this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Good. I hope no one can use this free money. It's complete rape. I've been rolling around this or that way this gravy train will be manipulated. The first is the "must be insured for a year" clause. Second...."It must be destroyed". Just like Medicade, Medicare, Section 8, pick the program - it will be gamed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erynthered Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 This shiit is pretty funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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