Watch out for fake ‘cash for clunkers’ Web sites

re: Watch out for fake ‘cash for clunkers’ Web sites

Smart Steve — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:38:59 GMT

This program is a BIG joke ! It is a short fix for only certain consumers and the auto industry. The Auto Industies made there bed, so they should lie in it.

THE TAX PAYERS ONCE AGAIN WILL BE PAYING FOR THIS AND MOST OF THEM WON'T EVEN QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM. Give it up before we end up even deeper in debt. So what if vehicles are not selling . Maybe we should be spending money on more important things that will be more benificial for all the consumers. Automobile's are such a waist of money anymore. Too many new style vehicle's in this country to choose from anymore. It become an obsession and causing financial debts all over the country. DON'T WAIST YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY ON THIS CLUNKER JOKE OR ON A NEW VEHICLE....A LOT OF GOOD USED VEHICLES OUT THERE TO CHOOSE FROM THAT SERVES THE SAME PURPOSE... ONLY A MUCH SMARTER VALUE.

THINK ABOUT IT BEFORE JUMPING INTO A NEW VEHICLE.

USE COMMON SENSE HERE !!

re: Watch out for fake ‘cash for clunkers’ Web sites

Consumer — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:35:47 GMT

SO, I've read the articles and the related comments and many have VERY valid points. Those of us, like myself, who are in the market right now for a new car and who have been driving older vehicles that may qualify for a voucher have been driving these vehicles for various reasons like a need for more space than smaller cars provide or a want like a tow package or 4-whl drive for recreation purposes. Also, as far as I can tell the "Cash for Clunkers" program will only provide the voucher for a person who is willing or able to buy a BRAND NEW vehicle. I spoke to my salesperson today who was not sure if a 2009 that has only 19,000 miles, but had one previous owner would qualify even though we are still in the year 2009. From our standpoint, the problem with the "Cash for Clunkers" program is that people like myself as well as many friends, neighbors and work associates cannot purchase BRAND NEW vehicles for any reason. The cost is just too great or the payments too high. Most of us who have jobs aren't getting rich,we have more than one child to feed and raise, a household to run and plenty of debt; all of which make it nearly impossible to purchase a shiny new car no matter how great the desire. Hopefully most of the American public is smart enough to see the carrot that is still dangling just out of reach.

re: Watch out for fake ‘cash for clunkers’ Web sites

UHB — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:55:56 GMT

If they're really interested in reducing emissions, shouldn't the relevant factor be the differential in mpg between the old vehicle and the new one? I've got an old pick-up that's rated 21 mpg (combined city/hwy), and would gladly trade it in on a new car getting 35 mpg or more if I could get $4500 (or even $3500) for it. What sense does it make to give people $3500 to buy a new vehicle that gets 2 mpg more than their current vehicle? It's a subsidy to the auto makers, that's all.

re: Watch out for fake ‘cash for clunkers’ Web sites

Neil Crabtree — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:19:20 GMT

The Estimated MPG for my Dodge Caravan 1997 comes out to 19 MPG. This car has never gotten that kind of MPG. And driving in Miami, the airconditioner has to run if you want to breathe. How can they not make adjustments when the MPG figures are for ideal figures in the best of all possible worlds? Even at the .gov site, the unofficial MPG says 17 MPG for drivers "like me" which is basically everybody. There has to be a way to correct this. We were planning on going up to a 27 MPG vehicle and now it looks like we can'T.

re: Watch out for fake ‘cash for clunkers’ Web sites

Bob — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:58:01 GMT

Renewable fuels...that's rich. Let's see, there's wind and solar, those are cheap, well free for now. Biodiesel is too expensive to produce as is ethanol which is not very good for the waterways, and actually lowers gas mileage. Nuclear power is too controversial, so what renewable fuel should we focus on?

re: Watch out for fake ‘cash for clunkers’ Web sites

Bob — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:53:34 GMT

When all these "clunkers" hit the junkyard, when will the "greenies" cry about it as being bad for the environment. All the brake fluid, transmission fluid, antifreeze, freon or R22, plastic, rubber and even gas filling the "recycling" yards causing problems for localities. Maybe the government will give money to the junkyards too, to keep them clean! Those big tractors that billow big clouds of black smoke in these yards?! Oh they mustn't add to the problems of our environment. Let's try to fix one problem by creating a few others.

re: Watch out for fake ‘cash for clunkers’ Web sites

Jim M — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:34:19 GMT

Frankie, I really don't think you understand the program. I'm one of the individuals who owns two old cars but I don't qualify. I have one car 10years old with 156,000 miles that gets 22 mpg and a second car 13 years old ith 110,000 miles that gets 24 mpg. I would like to purchase a vehicle that gets 40 mpg. That would be 16-18 mpg better than I currently get. I don't qualify since my old cars get better than 18 mpg. An individual getting 17 mpg who wants to buy a vehicle that gets only 21 mpg would qualify for $3,500 and wouldn't be getting anywhere near the improved fuel efficiency I would if I purchased a new car. Where's the logic? Since the value of my little 401(k) and modest house have both headed south I'll probably be working 10 years longer before retirment. I put 25,000 miles per year on my American made cars. Do you think they'll last me that long. What a joke! Thanks for the help Uncle Sam!

re: Watch out for fake ‘cash for clunkers’ Web sites

WilliamTex2 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:29:11 GMT

The gov can eat my shorts. I'll drive my 'clunker' until it totally craps out, and then some. A couple hundred bucks in repairs/maintenance every half-year or so is way easier financially and makes way more sense than a new car payment for the 'average joe', even with the messiah handing out some socialist $4500 voucher with money obsconded from us in the first place. If parts become a problem - that's OK because I bought another 'clunker' of the same exact model for practically nothing to keep in storage for parts for years to come. My 14 year old clunker gets 29mpg on the highway, and if you don't like it because of 'green' policy - then you can eat my shorts too while I happily negate your carbon offsets.

re: Watch out for fake ‘cash for clunkers’ Web sites

Don — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:27:17 GMT

The American car Companies will never survive because they are not very intelligent. Last week I heard Chrysler will resume production of its $ 90,000 Viper. People aren't buying $ 15,000 cars so why would they buy one at $ 90,000 ?? They are so stupid it is pathetic !!!

From the 70's on they could never produce a car to compete with Honda, Toyota or Nissan. Is bankrupcy going to suddenly wake them up ??? That's why they are bankrupt...DAH...

re: Watch out for fake ‘cash for clunkers’ Web sites

Joe the Welder — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:26:41 GMT

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

No matter how poor the efficiency of the car you are driving now is, if it is road-worthy and running well, you will contribute MUCH MUCH less pollution to the environment on average by keeping it on the road.

You cause much more pollution and damage to the environment by manufacturing a new car and probably more so if you buy a hybrid...not to mention the pollution contributed as your old wheels are recycled.

Don't buy a new vehicle unless you run the life out of the one you have - of course then it doesn't qualify for this program.