Cash for Clunkers - Good or Bad Idea?

4110 messages, Last post on Nov 23, 2009 at 11:42 AM

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What is this discussion about? Legislation, Truck, Sedan, Wagon, SUV

For questions about how the program works or to discuss program details, please visit our discussion titled, "Cash for Clunkers - Does it Work for You?"

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#1530 of 4110 Re: Someone pays for it. [british_rover] by gagrice Jul 09, 2009 (7:32 pm)
Replying to: british_rover (Jul 09, 2009 4:48 pm) The current president doesn't respect the Constitution? He did say during the campaign it should be changed. He did circumvent the 5th amendment with his bullying the bond holders in the GM & C faux bankruptcy. You like him that is your choice. I think he is bad for the USA. Difference of opinion. Replies to this message: joegiant (Jul 10, 2009 1:56 am)
#1531 of 4110 Re: Someone pays for it. [kdhspyder] by hpmctorque Jul 09, 2009 (7:42 pm)
Replying to: kdhspyder (Jul 09, 2009 7:13 pm) "Yes we will have to agree to disagree." On this we agree. "The way it's working out is actually a brilliant and effective solution given the short time frame. Both may survive and actually be stronger with a minimal loss in jobs in the country." Now that we've spent all this money to save these companies, I hope you're right. However, I think it's way to early to say that it's working our brilliantly. Let's see if the $60 billion + and interest is repaid.
#1532 of 4110 Re: Someone pays for it. [gagrice] by joegiant Jul 10, 2009 (1:56 am)
Replying to: gagrice (Jul 09, 2009 7:32 pm) My paraphrase...and I'm close: "We need to return the wealth in this country to it's rightful owners..."(Major political screwup when said btw! Hasn't been uttered in quite those words since.) Another one that still rings in my ears, "Don't let a good crisis go to waste...". These folks are reengineering, or at least making a valiant attempt to change FOREVER, the very fabric of this once great country. Time will tell if they are successful in destroying what's left. (As for all that smoke you're seeing about ya these days folks, just keep closing you're eyes and telling yourself that Rome is NOT burning. Rome is NOT burning...) As for the topic of this thread though, Yo! Obama & Co! I'm NOT the "rightful owner" of the $4500 you are about to GIVE me on this clunker program in the midst of this present "crisis" but thanks anyway. Just my humble opinion of course...or is that illegal yet? Disagreeing with the current group of propagandists and distortionists? Reeducation camp here I come!!!
#1533 of 4110 Re: Tangential bit of information [kdhspyder] by srs_49 Jul 10, 2009 (2:44 am)
Replying to: kdhspyder (Jul 09, 2009 4:18 pm) Serious question. Will you hold a grudge against GM forever because it begged for Federal assistance? If next year the Feds conduct a successful IPO and we recover all or most of our money and GM 'goes free' will you forgive it? I don't know about maryh3, but I will. Well, maybe not forever, but it'll take a while for me to get over the blackmail that GM and the UAW forced upon the taxpayers. I was against the bailout, and I still feel that the existing UAW workers (those that drove GM and Chrysler to the brink) gave up very little in return for the $30 billion+ that the taxpayers have given them. I think your "successful IPO next year" for GM is just a pipe dream. It's taken me 30 years to forget and move on with Ford after the pos '78 Ford Fairmont they made. and I was fool enough to buy. Though I do not own a Ford product, I may consider one. I had the CTS on my short list of vehicles I was considering, but it's off if it now. Nothing from GM for me. Replies to this message: steve_ (Jul 10, 2009 7:27 am)
#1534 of 4110 Re: Someone pays for it. [kdhspyder] by maryh3 Jul 10, 2009 (5:19 am)
Replying to: kdhspyder (Jul 09, 2009 3:47 pm) This is just naive and wrong thinking. Money always has and always will carry more weight. But when your corporations name is Haliburton or Exxon/Mobil the money isn't supposed to carry more weight, but if your name is GM it is --- right? And those 2 companies are sooooooooo darn profitable, and contribute so much in revenues --- whereas GM doesn't. Funny how that works. This has always been our history from the very beginning. Ever heard of Trust-Buster Teddy Roosevelt, Sherman Anti-trust Act, Clayton Anti-Trust Act etc. These acts enforced by US law are supposed to make competition fair so the big guys can't shut out the little guys from competing. Except that in this case the government itself is doing the enabling for the unfair competition. You focus on the UAW an easy whipping boy. Except that in Chicago the exact opposite is happening BECAUSE the Unions are not involved. They won't let big boy Walmart in to compete with the Mom and Pops. And they use the strong arm of the government to discriminate against Walmart and block them from opening stores. And could that possibly be because they won't unionize? The government SELECTIVELY follows the money and the big boy IF they grease the proper pockets only. For a government supposedly founded on the principles that men were equal and should have equal rights to compete -- there is something rotten in the State. There are all the suppliers to the B2 and all their jobs. Make the B2 disappear and all those jobs are gone too....at least at this time in these economic conditions. Not necessarily. People will still need cars. The suppliers will simply start selling more to Honda, Ford and Toyota instead of GM. Someone will have to pick up the slack. Why should they fail? Because they ran out of money, their creditors got sick of waiting for them to turn it around and the government has no business getting involved with the private sector and showing favoritism. Replies to this message: dtownfb (Jul 10, 2009 9:52 am)
#1535 of 4110 Scrap Value Received under Program by windsurferk Jul 10, 2009 (5:20 am)
My father is about to "trade-in" an old pickup and buy a new Prius. I'm trying to help him with the process and am wondering if anyone can help me figure out how much I should be able to expect to get the dealer to pay me for the scrap value of the vehicle. I know that the vehicle has to be destroyed, but on the Cars.gov website it says: "No. The law requires your trade-in vehicle to be destroyed. Therefore, the value you negotiate with the dealer for your trade-in vehicle is not likely to exceed its scrap value. The law requires the dealer to disclose to you an estimate of the scrap value of your trade-in vehicle." Surely the scrap value is worth something. I just don't want to hand that to the dealer. Thanks in advance. Replies to this message: kdhspyder (Jul 10, 2009 9:51 am) steve_ (Jul 10, 2009 9:56 am) kdhspyder (Jul 10, 2009 10:10 am)
#1536 of 4110 Re: Someone pays for it. [kdhspyder] by gagrice Jul 10, 2009 (5:29 am)
Replying to: kdhspyder (Jul 09, 2009 6:59 pm) Actually it's you who is in a very shrinking minority according to most polls. While polls can be made to say what the pollster desires. I think you are in the minority as of today. 37% disapprove of the President's handling of the job and only 32% approve. Guess which group I am in. You have already stated which group you are in. And it has been over 4 months since the stimulus was signed. BO's statement was the money would go first to shovel ready projects. When in fact 90% of the money spent according to USA Today is for Medicaid to the states and other social services. So tell me again about these jobs that are being created? Handing out welfare money is NOT creating jobs. Or how a C4C $billion will help more than a few car salesmen get rid of excess inventory. The stimulus package Obama signed in February includes about $499 billion in new spending, and to date, the Obama administration has allocated about $158 billion to specific projects and programs. Most of that money has gone directly to state governments, which then disperse the money to prevent school layoffs, repair roads and fund social services.
#1537 of 4110 Re: Tangential bit of information [kdhspyder] by maryh3 Jul 10, 2009 (5:44 am)
Replying to: kdhspyder (Jul 09, 2009 4:18 pm) I disapprove of anything obtained unfairly or illegally. The question is if it is to my personal advantage to buy from GM even though they violated fairness and fair trade policies -- would I buy from them anyhow? I don't know. But I can't say I blame GM, it is the government I blame because the government is supposed to be the enforcer of the fair trade policies, not the instigator of unfair competition. Does this relate to my ideas about the C4C? I disagree with it yet will take advantage of it? For me, I have a true clunker whose useful life is coming to and end (194K). It still bothers me that anyone will drill a hole into this engine but it would probably be going for a tradein value of $500 soon without this program. The dealer who takes it off me would probably just wholesale it for parts anyway. Since I dislike the government, I will take advantage of the program and screw the government that screws me. Replies to this message: gagrice (Jul 10, 2009 5:54 am) kdhspyder (Jul 10, 2009 9:59 am) dtownfb (Jul 10, 2009 10:06 am) dtownfb (Jul 10, 2009 10:03 am) hpmctorque (Jul 10, 2009 2:11 pm)
#1538 of 4110 Re: Someone pays for it. [dodgeman07] by british_rover Jul 10, 2009 (5:47 am)
Replying to: dodgeman07 (Jul 09, 2009 7:26 pm) As soon as you drop the Liberal Media line I have a hard time buying what you are saying. Of course it also means any news stories I post to try and refute your claim that things aren't getting better don't count because they are all from the Liberal Media and are just part of the agenda.... Clever move there no matter what I come up with it is just part of the Agenda of the Liberal Media to keep us from knowing the truth... President of Philly fed sees improvement towards end of 2009. I expect the housing sector will finally hit bottom in 2009 and the financial markets will gradually return to some semblance of normalcy. So my forecast sees the economy starting to slowly recover in the second half of 2009 and building up more momentum in 2010,” said Plosser, who was the featured speaker at the annual event, hosted by Lyons Companies and the University of Delaware Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship. Initial Jobless claims fall to lowest level since Jan. Sounds like good news to me. Yes the overall employment rate is still climbing but the rate is slowing and that is the first sign of an improvement. Plant closing for automakers skew results With both Chrysler and GM out of BK the numbers should be getting even better as they get plants back online that were shut down. I don't think we will see much improvement for this month but probably a little bit better for next month. Is Bloomberg liberal or conservative? Replies to this message: gagrice (Jul 10, 2009 6:06 am) british_rover (Jul 10, 2009 8:55 am)
#1539 of 4110 Move quickly [maryh3] by gagrice Jul 10, 2009 (5:54 am)
Replying to: maryh3 (Jul 10, 2009 5:44 am) If you plan to cash in a clunker I would get the wheels in motion before the rules come out. Get to the dealer you plan to use. The early bird gets the worm. If as some believe there will be an extension, my guess is it will be shaved down as was this one. This started out as $4 billion and ended up just under $1 billion. If there is a next one it will start in November and most likely have lower dollar amounts. Which would be better at getting the oldest junk off the road. Good luck getting a bit of your hard earned tax dollars back.