Posted on 08/03/2009 4:59:17 AM PDT by TornadoAlley3
Washington, DC – On the heels of news that all of the $1billion in funding appropriated for the “Cash for Clunkers” or “CARS” program has been exhausted, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) today stated that any extension of the program must adhere to higher fuel efficiency and greater emissions reductions.
Senators Feinstein and Collins, along with Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) previously authored an alternative “Cash for Clunkers” proposal that would have achieved 32 to 38 percent greater oil savings and emissions reductions than the enacted program.
Following is a joint statement from Senators Feinstein and Collins:
“The extraordinary reaction to the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program demonstrates that consumers do want to purchase more fuel efficient, less polluting vehicles.
We believe that any extension of the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program must go further in advancing the goals of better fuel efficiency and greater emissions reductions. We will not support any bill that does not meet these goals.
We will insist that any extension of the program requires that the minimum fuel economy improvement for newly purchased vehicles be at least two miles per gallon higher than it is under the enacted Clunkers program. It is also important to include lower-income consumers who are disadvantaged under the current program. So, we would also include a voucher for the purchase of fuel efficient used vehicles.”
Oh boy.
Well, that’s the end of the program. Nobody will be able to agree on anything.
I’m glad I closed my deal Friday. I got a 2009 PT Cruiser and traded in a 1994 BMW 740iL that was due for smog inspection soon and probably would’ve required $1000 of repairs to pass.
All this program proves is government can't do anything efficiently and a lot of people are taking advantage of it to get new cars. If they'd offered the same program and included trucks with lower mpg, lots of people would have gone that route.
This program is a waste. It's destroying perfectly functional cars to put people back into debt to support the auto industry, oddly enough an industry in which the government has ownership stakes in two of the big players.
....hell, my Ford dealer and I had to take two hours to figure out my deal last Thursday...we had to call up endless government screens; some of which seemed contradictory BTW....if they ad more eligibility requirements, nobody will be able to figure them out.
What this program is doing to to take thousands of PERFECTLY FUNCTIONAL cars out of the used car market, thus denying those who ALWAYS purchase “Pre-owned cars” the ability to do so. Democrat politicians are patting themselves on the back, as they have seriously raised the average cost of those autos purchased by those with lower incomes. More unintended consequences.
Wait until the NEW “sticker shock” kicks in.
“So, we would also include a voucher for the purchase of fuel efficient used vehicles.”
I was listening to the Radio on Saturday in south Jersey. I hear on the radio this ad for some dealership’s Cash for Clunkers BLOWOUT!!!! Their come on? “We’ll waive the fuel economy requirements, we’ll even waive the 1 year of ownership!, we’re INSANE!!!”. CLEARLY not the actual cash for clunkers gov’t deal. It’s a varient of the ole “We’ll give you $4500 for any car you can drive, drag, or drop on our lot” deal that used to be very popular a few years back.
Both terrible choices...
Don’t get in an accident in a PT Cruiser. It is one of the worst small cars in crash tests.
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Recent testing indicates that new cars are safe, regardless of their relative size. No surprise, then, that most of the latest 2009 model-year small cars tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety performed fairly well. Included in this round of testing were the Chevrolet HHR, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Saturn Astra, Suzuki SX4, and Toyota Matrix. All seven of these machines (remember too that the Pontiac Vibe uses the same underpinnings as the Matrix) scored “good,” the highest rating available, for occupant protection in frontal crashes, and only the newest designs — the SX4, Matrix and Vibe — scored that high in side crash testing.
The poorest performer of the group, Chrysler’s PT Cruiser, also happens to be the oldest design. This being the case, it’s lowly “poor” rating in side and rear crashes, due in large part to its ineffective head restraints and lack of rear side-mounted airbags, isn’t too shocking. The HHR and SX4 also scored only marginally better in seat/head restraint testing. The latest MINI Cooper was also smashed for science, and it performed fairly well for a car of its diminutive proportions.
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/17/sx4-matrix-scores-good-on-iihs-tests-pt-cruiser-not-so-much/
There should be no pissing away money with anything that has a motor bigger than a lawn mower. Let the aholes on welfare push it up the hills.
Actually Government Motor and Chrysler are fudging the numbers, the best fuel mileage car on the market is a diesel VW.
They don't make them anymore.
A second here for the VW TDI, turbo diesel. 44 mpg with a basic diesel engine and lots of power. Why would anybody buy these complex hybrid Toyotas and Hondas that can’t get out of their own way. Test drove a VW Jetta. Very nice car and they make US cars look cheap.
Yes, we know that the SRM will spin it this way. The truth is, it is simply about the Lemmings/Sheep Herd getting a free handout from the Government and ObaMao paying back the Unions for their loyal donations to his campaign. In a healthy economy with a supportive government, there is no Friggin' way people would give up their solid SUV's and safer luxury cars, for these pathetic golf-cart sized Clown Cars! This won't help the economy one bit. In fact, it will hurt the economy, because there are not only fewer older vehicles around to keep used parts dealers mechanics and car traders in business. One also needs to realize how the people getting $20,000 to $40,000 loans to pay for these cars, using the $4500 for a down payment who otherwise could not come up with that down payment, many of which will soon find themselves out of a job as this economy goes deeper into a depression later this year. Will the Government pay off their loans and bail them out too? This is an absolute disaster, based on short term insanity! And SHAME on anyone on this Forum who bragged about having taken advantage of this stupidity. In the end, the joke will be on you because you helped support the very thing you so hypocritically condemn! The cost to the tax payers far outweighs the benefits to the already doomed American car industry
Socialism destroys wealth and capital (cars are capital).
>What this program is doing to to take thousands of PERFECTLY FUNCTIONAL cars out of the used car market, thus denying those who ALWAYS purchase “Pre-owned cars” the ability to do so. <
Remember, it is also taking the vital part, the engine, out of the picture for even more low-income folks who cannot afford to replace their current cars. They rely on used parts to keep their vehicles on the road.
Once again, it’s the poor who get a swift boot in the face.
That’s why I don’t consult FR when it comes to choosing what cars to drive...
The ‘94 was extremely reliable and actually economical to drive, not to mention safe. If it weren’t for the ridiculous California smog laws, I’d probably still be driving it, but registration was coming due which means smog test which means new catalytic converters. It used to cost me about $150 to put on new cats, but since Jan 1, 2009 that went up to $1500. My sister drove that car for 3 years and I had it for 8. I replaced it with a 2001 BMW 750iL, which you probably don’t like, either.
The PT is fun and every PT owner I’ve talked to loves theirs. I have a couple friends with close to 200,000 miles on theirs and no major repairs so far.
If I’m really worried about what I’m going to crash into or what’s going to crash into me, I’ll drive my Dodge 1 ton 4 wheel drive Cummins Turbo Diesel truck with the 300lb winch bumper up front that’ll slice through most hybrids.
You can’t live you life based on what MIGHT happen to you.
Promised the little woman I would buy her a jetta next week. She has a car that would qualify for the clunkers BS. But I’m Not into welfare. So I told her to put a for sale sign on it.
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