Cash for Clunkers Program

[Shawnee123]

jim, I have a question:

I was thinking maybe I could get in on this once I get my settlement and purchase a new vehicle, well it's worth a shot anyway.

The MPG ratings for my piece o' crap car is higher than 18 when you figure the EPA city/highway average. I find this crazy. How are people turning in WAY better cars than my POC and getting the deal? Am I missing something?

[Madman]

What boggles my mind about this "Cash for Clunkers" thing is the debt people are going in. Sure, get a non-gas guzzler. That's always a good idea. But the debt? Isn't that part of the original problem from the beginning? Debt. Now the gummint is telling people to get into more debt? Just doesn't click in my feeble old mind.

I have two vehicles, a 98 Crown Vic and a 99 Dakota. Both just over 100k in miles but both run super. Main thing - they have been free and clear for years. Granted, this "program" isn't for everyone but, who would want to trade in a car that's paid for for one they're going to be paying for over the next 4, 5 or 6 years.

Interesting note about this special. I couldn't help but to notice in the paper a couple of weeks ago. Our local Kia dealership was advertising this "Cash for Clunkers" thing and featured the list price for a Kia Rio at $21k Then with the federal rebate and their rebates it would knock the price down to $12k for a new Kia Rio.

Personally, I think this entire stimulus thing has been a pile of crap from the beginning. Never, ever should a single dime ever have been given out. Capitalism should have just taken its course (if a business fails, then it fails).

[Ibby]

The problem, Madman, is that when those businesses fail... lots of real, actual people lose out with it. Not just the execs - they've got plenty to fall back on - but all the workers all the way down the line who are suddenly out of a job, losing their home, out on the street, in dire need of our help as moral people, not to mention a social and fiscal drain on society. If we can solve the problem of absurd executive compensation, the ideal solution within our current system is to help the businesses survive. Society stays productive, people stay working and earning money, and the teetering balancing act that is the capitalist economy stays upright a little longer.
Krugman makes a good if inelegant point in today's NYT:

So it seems that we aren’t going to have a second Great Depression after all. What saved us? The answer, basically, is Big Government.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by Ibram

The problem, Madman, is that when those businesses fail... lots of real, actual people lose out with it. Not just the execs - they've got plenty to fall back on - but all the workers all the way down the line who are suddenly out of a job, losing their home, out on the street, in dire need of our help as moral people, not to mention a social and fiscal drain on society. If we can solve the problem of absurd executive compensation, the ideal solution within our current system is to help the businesses survive. Society stays productive, people stay working and earning money, and the teetering balancing act that is the capitalist economy stays upright a little longer.
Krugman makes a good if inelegant point in today's NYT:

Unfortunately you're right. It's the "little guy" that ultimately loses out. The heavily paid execs can generally maintain the lifestyle they already have.

No one is really concerned when small business fails. They're not missed much. But, when the mega-corp's crash and burn, everyone knows about it.

I can't help but to thing when Carter bailed out Chrysler with a $1 billion bailout package just before the end of his term. Then when Reagan became President some airline was going belly up. Reagan's response: "The U.S. Government is not in the business of bailing out failed businesses." As a result, that airline was bought out by another company and it survived.

Well, if this "Cash for Clunker" thing works... great! I'm keeping my clunkers.

[Dagney]

Originally Posted by classicman

Anyone see this as a way to give the big 3 more money without calling it a bailout? just sayin...

While I don't disagree with you on this, I would think that if that's truly what it was (a schemed bail out) then the financial reward would be limited to only those folks who bought a car from one of the 'big three'. (More money for domestics, lesser reward for imports).

[classicman]

yeh - I know Dag. I was, like I said, just sayin.

[Dagney]

Well, it's weird - when we were home this weekend watching TV, the only commercials we saw that were even mentioning the Cash for Clunkers program was Toyota - none of the domestics were even mentioning it.

Considering they NEED the money - I'm surprised by that!

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

jim, I have a question:

I was thinking maybe I could get in on this once I get my settlement and purchase a new vehicle, well it's worth a shot anyway.

The MPG ratings for my piece o' crap car is higher than 18 when you figure the EPA city/highway average. I find this crazy. How are people turning in WAY better cars than my POC and getting the deal? Am I missing something?

it's al about the mpgees. i did 5 more clunkers today, bringing the total to 69. along with 8 other deals.

jesus. i was there from 6 am till midnight and fucking busy the whole time.

I'm seeing lots of Explorers, Grand Cherokees, Durangos, Windstars, and Grand Voyager/Caravan/T&C s. I would have expected more F150s.

[Ibby]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Ok, has anyone actually gone on line and had to register and did you get this as a term of service agreement for your trade in? If so, WTF? I got this in an email and have not been able to confirm it yet. I would like to hear from any first hand buyers or someone in the know.

If true, that is a bit frightening for the average Joe who never reads the fine print when cash is involved.

Anyone?

http://www.examiner.com/x-10974-Kans...d-and-the-ugly

That quote only applies to DEALERS using the DEALER version of the website, making them de facto government contractors using government websites for government money.

On any State Department computer, using the State Department WebPASS program for inter-office procurement or motor pool requests, you get this text:

Consent to Monitoring Warning:
This Department of State computer system should be used for official U.S. Government work only. Use by unauthorized persons, or for personal business, is prohibited and may constitute a violation of 18. U.S.C. 1030 and other Federal laws. You have NO REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY while using this computer. All data contained herein may be monitored, intercepted, recorded, read, copied, or captured in any manner by authorized personnel. System personnel or supervisors may give law enforcement officials any potential evidence of crime, fraud, or employee misconduct found on DoS computer systems. Furthermore, law enforcement officials may be authorized to access and collect evidence from this system. USE OF THIS SYSTEM BY ANY USER, AUTHORIZED OR UNAUTHORIZED, CONSTITUTES EXPRESS CONSENT TO THIS MONITORING. IF YOU DO NOT CONSENT, THEN DO NOT LOG ON.

Its no big deal. Big Brother is not using car sales to spy on you. They ARE using car dealers who are working with the government to sell you cars and stimulate the economy, and AS PER REGULATIONS, do have the ability (not necessarily the wish) to check their computers that are accessing the DoT servers. It's a security thing.

[ZenGum]

That's exactly what they want you to think.

[TheMercenary]

That is why I asked Jim, because he is on the inside. I want to hear it from a credible source.

[ZenGum]

First time I've heard a car dealer referred to as a credible source...


J/k Jim, *most* of you guys are pretty straight. I've just had bad experiences while trawling through the bottom end of the market.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Some salesmen are scumbags, but LJ is a finance manager and they're above all that. They get an once of your flesh, without resorting to nasty stuff.

btw, heres a reminder from the Feds.

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Some salesmen are scumbags, but LJ is a finance manager and they're above all that. They get an once of your flesh, without resorting to nasty stuff.

funny you should say that. Oft times, in order to break the ice...ease the tension....etc, I say, 'OK, Folks.....this is where we take the Pint of Blood!' it always gets a laugh....and people recognize that I know they are feeling nervous..... I have a couple other things I say to people to shake them out of their shock/whatever. when I put the Power of Attorney in front of them, I say...." this is a Power of Attorney. It makes our Attorney more Powerful." If they laugh, I know they are smart enough to understand the words coming out of my mouth. If they just sign it with that stupid look on their face, I know they are in shock over having just bought a car. If they stop and look up at me with a shitty look on their face, I know the won't be buying a goddamned thing, and that they wet the bed into their teens.

[lumberjim]

we sold 35 cars on saturday.