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Cash for Clunkers - Does it Work for You?

2647 messages,  Last post on Oct 01, 2009 at 6:33 PM

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I Traded My Clunker and Bought a....?

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#188 of 2647 Re: That will teach me [british_rover] by andre1969 Jul 12, 2009 (3:15 pm)
Replying to: british_rover (Jul 10, 2009 7:53 pm) You know what is funny is that my old H-Body Pontiac Bonneville gets a 19 combined rating so it doesn't qualify but the same year camry with a six cylinder gets a 18 so it does. I guess my old GM car is a fuel efficient marvel as far as you are concerned.   Wow, you still have that old beast? From what I've heard, those things actually are pretty fuel-efficient, if not the most sophisticated in other respects. Lemko had an '88 Park Ave that could get 29-30 mpg on the highway, I think. Didn't you mention that you've been able to crack 40 with your Bonneville, if you nurse it just right?   Those early Japanese V-6 cars tended to not be very fuel efficient, in general. I think it's because they tended to be more powerful, premium, driver's-type vehicles, with fairly high horsepower and agressive gearing. The 1985 Maxima, for example, is only rated at 15/20 with the automatic, although it's 17/23 with the stick (17/22 if you bought it in Cali). IIRC, the original Camry V-6 was a small 2.5L unit, so it was probably more of a revver as well, and coupled with aggressive gearing.   I don't think Japanese V-6es really started getting economical until the later 1990's, when they reached larger displacements, and were better-suited to loafing along like an old pushrod...although they were ready to rev up when you required it. Replies to this message: british_rover (Jul 12, 2009 6:32 pm)
#189 of 2647 Does the clunker need to be driveable? by guntherhops Jul 12, 2009 (3:26 pm)
My '94 minivan's battery died 2 months ago, and then C4C came up, and now that old junker is worth $4500!    I jumped it yesterday, and rev'd it for a few minutes, but then it kept dying when I took my foot off the gas. I'd hate to have to pour money in it to cash it in.    It is registered, insured, but out of inspection (PA). Do I need to be able to drive it to the dealer, and have them be able to drive it around the lot 'til the scrapper picks it up? Replies to this message: isellhondas (Jul 12, 2009 4:29 pm)
#190 of 2647 Re: Negotiated Scrap Value under C4C/CARS ?? [spazvt] by gagrice Jul 12, 2009 (4:09 pm)
Replying to: spazvt (Jul 12, 2009 2:59 pm) So I offered to split the difference between black book and the mandatory $50, so I get $200 and they get the car and the rest of the benefit of selling off parts or selling the whole vehicle to a junkyard for parts. They refused to negotiate on it at all.   I'm with you on this all the way. I would go ahead and make the deal without your due on the scrap. Then file a complaint with the NHTSA when they make the final rules available. I would hope they make that portion clear in the final draft. A vehicle with a decent body is worth a lot more in parts than a rusted out hulk with a good engine. Replies to this message: isellhondas (Jul 12, 2009 4:30 pm) gagrice (Jul 12, 2009 4:41 pm) kdhspyder (Jul 13, 2009 9:19 am)
#191 of 2647 Re: Does the clunker need to be driveable? [guntherhops] by isellhondas Jul 12, 2009 (4:29 pm)
Replying to: guntherhops (Jul 12, 2009 3:26 pm) You have to be able to drive your car to the dealer.   I guess if it doesn't start the next day it's not your problem.
#192 of 2647 Re: Negotiated Scrap Value under C4C/CARS ?? [gagrice] by isellhondas Jul 12, 2009 (4:30 pm)
Replying to: gagrice (Jul 12, 2009 4:09 pm) I wouldn't plan on any scrap value. As I see it, the junk yards are going to have the upper hand here. They will probably dictate the rules. Replies to this message: gagrice (Jul 12, 2009 4:41 pm) kdhspyder (Jul 13, 2009 9:19 am)
#193 of 2647 Re: Negotiated Scrap Value under C4C/CARS ?? [isellhondas] by gagrice Jul 12, 2009 (4:41 pm)
Replying to: isellhondas (Jul 12, 2009 4:30 pm) That may very well be. If there is only one Salvage yard in town you take what he offers for the junker. The fact that the engine is scrap metal only will have some bearing also. I don't see the dealers getting involved in scrapping out parts. Unless their body shop sees a fender or door that they can use. I know most of the time you pay for someone to come and haul the car off your property. Not sure why they even put that little caveat into the bill. Typical legalese to satisfy all the lawyers in the Congress.   PS And give Edmund's posters something to debate.
#194 of 2647 Re: That will teach me [andre1969] by british_rover Jul 12, 2009 (6:32 pm)
Replying to: andre1969 (Jul 12, 2009 3:15 pm) Nah I sold it when I moved up to CT. A guy I worked with had a friend that needed a car bad after his 88 Buick Part Ave died. I sold him my Pontiac for 500 bucks cause I really couldn't take it up to CT anyway.   I had managed to get it up to 40 mpg on a couple of occasions with the right weather conditions and road conditions.   I normally averaged 30-35 on the highway and mid 20s around town.   My Bonne had mods though. Made a front undertray/bellypan had a custom cold air intake and was also full of synthetic fluids all the way around. The tires had a a super high tread rating too so they were fairly low roll resistance and I kept them at 41 PSI too.   I had suspension mods too but I doubt they helped the mileage any. They just kept it from handling like a boat in a turn.
#195 of 2647 Re: to kernich and volvomax [volvomax] by greanpea68 Jul 13, 2009 (6:18 am)
Replying to: volvomax (Jul 06, 2009 3:13 pm) VAST majority of people with these cars either a) were financially unable to buy a new car   I keep saying the same thing to people !!!! Here is why I say that. If they could have afford it they would have done it when Gas Prices were $4.00 per gallon.   GP
#196 of 2647 not all poor by stickguy Jul 13, 2009 (7:40 am)
My sister is looking for a new car, and would be happy to use this.   But, her relic (1995 Maxima, probably up to about 180K now, and needing brakes and suspension, no AC anymoe I don't think), likely rated too high in MPG to qualify.   Now, her situation? THis is my nephews car. He is going to inherit her current car, and she will be buying the new one, but both are now in her name. SO dumping this for $3,500 on a dealer would have been a fantastic windfall, since she ain't getting close to that on the street. Replies to this message: stephen987 (Jul 13, 2009 7:46 am)
#197 of 2647 Re: not all poor [stickguy] by stephen987 Jul 13, 2009 (7:46 am)
Replying to: stickguy (Jul 13, 2009 7:40 am) Yes, the '95 Maxima has an EPA combined mpg of 21, so she's not going to be able to take advantage.

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