Cash for Clunkers Program

[ZenGum]

Originally Posted by jinx

You can't return a new car - it wouldn't be new anymore. And new cars depreciate quickly.

Just ask Shawnee....

[jinx]

Gap insurance. Pays the difference between what you owe and what your car is worth now. Jim sells it.

[monster]

I remember Jim posting a pic of a gap. well worth insuring, but not a lot to do with cars IIRC....

[spudcon]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

The dealer is selling you the car, with Uncle Sam as your co-signer. If Sam doesn't come up with his share, take it up with him.

Yeah, good luck with that.

[spudcon]

Originally Posted by monster

if you had read the entire thread, you'd know whether or not this had been considered *sigh*

OK, I've read the entire thread, some conversation about used cars, but nothing about the inflating of used car prices once $3 billion worth of used cars are crushed. Of course, I still haven't figured out where in the constitution it says they can take money from one group of people, and give that money to another group of people because they made stupid choices.

[monster]

Right.

So at least you read it now. It's so fucking rude not to, being my point.

I see your point and would agree except that there's hardly a dearth of used cars...

As regards "stupid choices" you are seriously off course here. For example, our Windstar counts as a clunker. just. This has been an awesome car for us, we've used it to it's limit, we've needed nothing less. We still are. in a few years, when the kids are too old to vacation with us or can drive their own cars, we may be able to downsize. But for now t works for us. Are you calling us stupid?

[xoxoxoBruce]

If we have 10% unemployment, we still have 90% working, but those people were afraid to spend, partially because the media kept freaking everyone out.
The point was to get the automobile business (economy) moving, with a side benefit of helping improve the mileage of the nations fleet.

Personally I think they should of set the increase in mileage to be eligible higher.

[Shawnee123]

I'm stupid because my 1996 Olds with 210,000 miles on it doesn't qualify for clunkerism (let's not consider things like it stalling twice on my way into work this morning.)

I'm stupid because I didn't understand all the implications of the insurance game, and some kid on a cell phone ran a red light, two weeks and 500 miles into my ownership, and I got royally fucked.

I'm stupid because I didn't listen to the advice of about 100 different people (all with differing opinions) as to how best to handle the whole deal, from buying to settling.

So, I'm stupid. The insurance game is set up to take advantage of stupid, naive, and trusting people such as me.

I say if someone can get a new car by turning in a "clunker" then more power to them. Usually, it's us stupid people getting fucked.

I get so sick of all the really smart people on earth, who make perfect choices about oh just everything, calling everyone else stupid.

[morethanpretty]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

I'm stupid because my 1996 Olds with 210,000 miles on it doesn't qualify for clunkerism (let's not consider things like it stalling twice on my way into work this morning.)

I'm stupid because I didn't understand all the implications of the insurance game, and some kid on a cell phone ran a red light, two weeks and 500 miles into my ownership, and I got royally fucked.

I'm stupid because I didn't listen to the advice of about 100 different people (all with differing opinions) as to how best to handle the whole deal, from buying to settling.

So, I'm stupid. The insurance game is set up to take advantage of stupid, naive, and trusting people such as me.

I say if someone can get a new car by turning in a "clunker" then more power to them. Usually, it's us stupid people getting fucked.

I get so sick of all the really smart people on earth, who make perfect choices about oh just everything, calling everyone else stupid.

I'm sorry shaw. You're not stupid, you didn't make bad choices I'm sure.

[Shawnee123]

In another thread I took responsibility for not being informed enough. Like I said though, all I heard was a hundred people beeping about what I SHOULD do...then about what I SHOULD HAVE done.

For example: the gap yap. I thought gap insurance was to bridge the gap until your personal insurance kicked in. *shrugs* seems like it would be. I didn't read otherwise, until today. That's my fault for not checking I guess.

Anyway, as far as clunker cars, like I say: there's always someone telling someone they made stupid choices. I say the system is set up for otherwise intelligent people to make mistakes.

It's not like making a choice to get drunk before work, or gab on your cell when you should be driving, or not attending the class the government is paying for...

So, anyone who can get a deal on freaking anything....go for it. Maybe you'll get some pay back for someone somewhere having taken advantage (as is our society's bread and butter in the restaurant of Greed.)

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

I say the system is set up for otherwise intelligent people to make mistakes.

You are correct.

Several years ago, I had some elective surgery done. I was concerned about the cost, so I read up about the coverage. Found a doctor in the network. Called the insurance company beforehand and explained what I was getting done. Read the insurance book. I was assured by everyone that it was going to be 100% covered, minus a $20 co-pay. I could hardly believe it was true, but when the rep at the insurance company told me it was true. I believed it.

Later, they refused to pay like $600 of the costs. It turns out that because the doctor did the procedure in a surgery center instead of in his own office, they wouldn't cover it the same way. I assumed that "in-office" procedures meant that it wasn't done in a hospital. What it really means is that the office it's done in is the same office that the doctor has his main practice. The office location where he does his surgery doesn't count as "in-office" because other doctors use it too.

I'm a fairly intelligent person. I read the damn book. I talked to people. And still, they got me. I made a mistake and paid for it.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

I say the system is set up TO TAKE ADVANTAGE WHEN otherwise intelligent people make mistakes.

<vultures swoop in>

[jinx]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

For example: the gap yap. I thought gap insurance was to bridge the gap until your personal insurance kicked in. *shrugs* seems like it would be. I didn't read otherwise, until today. That's my fault for not checking I guess.

If Jim didn't sell it I wouldn;t know it existed... I mean, how often do people buy new cars? And when you're sitting there trying not to get screwed everything sounds suspicious. Gap ins., undercoating, paint protector - who the fuck knows.

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

So, anyone who can get a deal on freaking anything....go for it.

You'd be crazy not to.

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by richlevy

So if I pay $30000 for the car and can't come up with the extra $4500, what happens? The car depreciated the moment it left the lot. Do I get my $30000 back or does the dealership try to give me $26000 back for my 'used' car?

We don't do any title work until your claim says 'Ready for Payment'

If the deal burps, the first thing we'll do is try to keep it together somehow. First, we look at the ACTUAL value of your clunker, and try to make a deal based on that number.

We've had 2 deals fail because the insurance had a small gap. In the first one, the car was actually worth $2600. we gave up the $600 profit we were making, and the customer agreed to pay the balance. The second deal unwound.

Unwinding a deal means giving the car back to the owner. we look over the new car, make sure there is no damage...get the manual and both sets of keys back.....and thats it. the car is still new.....can be sold as new.....much like a demonstrator.

I expect that we will be unwinding a few more deals. some of these cars may be put into demonstrator service. I imagine that there are dealers out there that will attempt to keep portions of customers' deposits as recompense for the miles/condition. we're just not that kind of store. we have a good reputation, and care about our honor.

I'm beginning to worry about the program ending abruptly again. as of tonight, we've done 108 of these deals, and have still only been paid for 7 of them. there are 16 deals 'ready for payment....about 60 'under review, and the rest are 1/2 way entered awaiting image upload and submission. (10 minutes per deal that we simply don't have because we're too busy delivering vehicles)


i'm starting to have weird dreams about this shit.

[monster]

ugh. I was having weird dreams about all the work I do before we went on vacation. You need to go camping with no internet and limited cellphone, i tell you. works wonders