So according to this story: http://www.newsobserver.com/1573/story/1367191.html congress is considering a bill that will give folks vouchers toward new fuel-efficient cars if they turn in their old vehicles for scrapping rather than resell or trade them in, to get gas-guzzlers (which they define as any vehicle rated less than 18 mpg combined when new) off the roads. $4500 voucher if the car being scrapped is 2002 or newer, $3000 for '99-'2001, and $2000 for '98 and older. I don't see a lot of takers at the $4500 level (most 2002 or newer cars are probably going to be worth a lot more than that), but it concerns me that we're going to see a lot of interesting older vehicles (full-size cars, full-size trucks, sporty coupes, etc.) being scrapped if this bill gets passed. Thoughts?

1/14/2009 5:52:05 PM

thoughts?

LOL!

1/14/2009 5:53:20 PM

this will never work how it's supposed to - the only vouchers claimed will be for cars that have been gutted or just barely run anyways - how out of touch are the idiots that support this - is this really the best way to spend 1-2 billion dollars

are you allowed to get paid for the car that's going to be "scrapped" or do you just have to give it away to get the voucher?

1/14/2009 6:11:23 PM

retarded

1/14/2009 7:48:28 PM

Cash for Clunkers sucks. Think about all the cars that could be restored that will get crushed

[Edited on January 14, 2009 at 10:08 PM. Reason : .]

1/14/2009 10:07:31 PM

I have a 78 continental I would love to sell them for $2000. what a bunch of shit.

1/15/2009 6:50:43 AM

think about it though, if you have a bunch of parts cars sitting around from restorations, you could make bank

1/15/2009 8:21:40 AM

Yep, i'm going out right now and buying all the $100-$200 cars I can find....I'll take $2k a piece for them

1/15/2009 8:35:57 AM

well in reality is this a coupon to be redeemed upon purchase of a new car?? if so i would think that would keep people from trying to scrap any piece of metal they could get their hands on


if it is cash money, i need to start stocking up!

1/15/2009 9:00:10 AM

True. I bet it's just a coupon for $2k towards a new car.

1/15/2009 9:13:26 AM

***********PUN ALERT***************

As alluded to above, considered purely as a vehicle to transport money to drive more new car sales, than I'd say this would be a rather efficient way to jump start the economy...

/*********PUN ALERT****************

1/15/2009 9:38:37 AM

Quote :

"well in reality is this a coupon to be redeemed upon purchase of a new car?? if so i would think that would keep people from trying to scrap any piece of metal they could get their hands on"

this will work because there are only reputable car dealerships? right

1/15/2009 9:57:57 AM

Yes, it's just a voucher towards a new car, not cash money. (Did y'all read the article??) Also, it can only be redeemed once every three years. And the car has to be in driveable condition, so it couldn't be used on a parts car or a non-running heap.

Probably it'll end up getting a lot of rather useless junk--90's SUVs and full-size trucks etc. But, as chargercrazy said, I'm concerned that it will also end up with a lot of cool, restorable old cars getting scrapped. Back in the 90's California built some sort of incentive into a new environmental law where gas companies could get money by persuading customers to take older cars off the road (though I think they were doing small cash payments, not vouchers); Hot Rod magazine did an article on the process and it was just a shame to see what was going to waste. One example was an elderly person who was turning in for scrap a '65 Ford LTD with something like 75K miles that he had owned since new. The guys from the magazine actually made him a better offer on the car to try to save it from the crusher, and he refused on the grounds that "he was helping the environment". Sigh.

^true....

[Edited on January 15, 2009 at 10:01 AM. Reason : d]

1/15/2009 10:00:45 AM

Voucher is to buy a 2004 or newer vehicle.

If this goes through, I can see the price of used POS trucks jumping because people will buy them to turn around and get a voucher if they are looking for a newer car anyway. Sadly looks like my caprice will be just barely above the MPG requirements to quality, although at this point I could get more than $2k for it thanks to all the aftermarket goodies it has.

1/15/2009 11:47:44 AM

Quote :

"Sadly looks like my caprice will be just barely above the MPG requirements to quality, although at this point I could get more than $2k for it thanks to all the aftermarket goodies it has."

dubs and subs dont count

1/15/2009 11:54:03 AM

Previous owner wanted the subs and amp back, and only new rims I'll be getting are from an Impala SS (got the stocks now).

But it's been lowered, new urethane bushings all around, remote starter (not as big a deal in NC), headers, K&N intake, I don't even know for sure what all has been done to it, I like bikes better and just got the thing because it was cheap, low mileage, and should have a low cost of ownership.

1/15/2009 12:36:01 PM

I hope the coupons are stackable. I'll gladly trade 12 1991 Ford Explorers for a new Civic Si.

They should write an exclusion rule into the bill for the e30. Being the ultimate in 80's vehicles they are far too valuable to be scrapped.

[Edited on January 15, 2009 at 12:59 PM. Reason : l]

1/15/2009 12:58:07 PM

Quote :

"I hope the coupons are stackable. I'll gladly trade 12 1991 Ford Explorers for a new Civic Si."

One per person every 3 years. It's the stupidest thing ever.

1/15/2009 1:12:50 PM

anybody want to buy a 1969 buick elektra 225

it could use some work - but it could be a hot ride

1/15/2009 10:20:45 PM

I already had one. Pulled the engine and crushed it. It was in great shape, too. Interior was perfect. Green satin, just like the inside of a coffin.

1/15/2009 10:36:40 PM

i'd take it. i'm sure $3000 is more than i could get for trading in my vehicle.

1/15/2009 10:40:04 PM