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Cash for Clunkers - Does it Work for You?

2742 messages,  Last post on Oct 24, 2012 at 7:17 AM

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What is this discussion about? Car Buying, Legislation

Edmunds Cash for Clunkers Calculator
 
I Traded My Clunker and Bought a....?

Messages Page 1 of 275

#1 of 2742 Cash for Clunkers - Does it Work for You? by kirstie_h HOST

Jun 23, 2009 (10:51 am)

The Savvy Shopper: Cash for Clunkers - Is it for you?
 
Do you have questions or comments about how this program will work? Here's the place to ask.

#2 of 2742 Is there an upper limit on the age or number of miles? by bhill2

Jun 23, 2009 (11:59 am)

The list of clunkers given in the article starts as 1990. I am sure that this is for space reasons, but is there a limit on how old the clunker can be or how many miles it can have? I have a 1985 Mercedes 380 SE that still runs great, but has 250,000+ miles and is getting a little worn out. Would it qualify? Oh and yeah, how do I find out what the EPA gas mileage figure is on it?

#3 of 2742 Re: Is there an upper limit on the age or number of miles? [bhill2] by tidester

Jun 23, 2009 (1:51 pm)

Replying to: bhill2 (Jun 23, 2009 11:59 am)
I don't believe there is any limit on the age of the car. The EPA estimates for the '85 380 SE are 14 mpg city, 17 mpg highway and 15 mpg combined.
 
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

#4 of 2742 Age limits... by andre1969

Jun 24, 2009 (9:41 am)

my understanding is that the age range is 1984-2001, and for fuel economy, it has to score 18 mpg or below on the combined rating, using those new numbers they came out with in 2007.
 
Fuel economy ratings are available at http://www.fueleconomy.gov. However, one thing that confuses me is 1984 model cars. As far as I know, only the raw laboratory numbers are available for them, and these numbers are much more generous than the numbers they used for 1985-2007, or the even more dumbed-down numbers they use now.
 
Just doing a quick scan through those raw 1984 numbers, the only domestic cars I see that would qualify would be ex-police cars. The Gran Fury/Diplomat and Crown Vic are rated 17 combined, while the Caprice is rated 18. On the foreign front, about the only cars that would qualify as guzzlers would be exotic stuff like Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Rolls Royces, etc.

#5 of 2742 Re: Age limits... [andre1969] by lemko

Jun 24, 2009 (9:43 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Jun 24, 2009 9:41 am)
Wouldn't have helped me apparently. My '88 Park Ave was too fuel-efficient. Would've been nice if I could've got $4,500 towards a 2010 LaCrosse!

#6 of 2742 Re: Age limits... [andre1969] by tidester

Jun 24, 2009 (11:06 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Jun 24, 2009 9:41 am)
my understanding is that the age range is 1984-2001
 
The bill has no specific age provisioning. The 1984 model year stipulation only has to do with how the gas mileage is figured. From 1984 onward, the official EPA gas mileage estimates are to be used while gas mileage for model years from 1978 to 1984 will be determined by "the secretary" somehow making use of EPA and NHTSA data (the formula is not prescribed). From what I can tell, "the secretary" will determine eligibility for earlier model.
 
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

#7 of 2742 Re: Age limits... [tidester] by bhill2

Jun 24, 2009 (12:17 pm)

Replying to: tidester (Jun 24, 2009 11:06 am)
Thank you for all who provided information on this. In fact, I found a web site, http://www.cars.gov/ that gives the information that I was requesting; both age limits and gas mileage values. It states that the car must be less than 25 years old at trade in. That makes MY 1985 cars the oldest that qualify, and those only until the end of the year.

#8 of 2742 Cash for Clunkers - Ownership by jeanvaljean

Jun 24, 2009 (12:19 pm)

Replying to: kirstie_h (Jun 23, 2009 10:51 am)
I've had my eye on this bill for a few months now, but the final language may exclude me. I am 25 and still drive the 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I learned to drive in when I was 16. It was registered and titled in my parents name for all those years, even though I started paying insurance on it in October 2008. The title was transfered to my name and it was registered in my name January 2009.
 
My question is: This October 2009, will providing documentation showing insurance for 1 year, and the continuation of ownership from my parents to me allow me to qualify for the program?
We've had this car forever and it would seem very out-of-spirit of the law to disqualify me for what appears now to be a very poorly timed title transfer.
 
Any thoughts? Is there anyone I can contact about this? Any way to have an exception made?

#9 of 2742 In typical goverment fashion by joel0622

Jun 24, 2009 (2:05 pm)

Well I see it is business as usual for the goverment. They were so excited to say look at us we did something that they have this thing so confusing it isn't even funny. They also have the cart before the horse. The dealers still have no idea how to sign up, we don't know what to do with the cars, we don't know who is going to pay to have them scrapped, who pays to get them to the scrap yard, etc,etc, etc, etc.
 
My understanding is that there is an age restriction. The cars can be no older the 25 years.
 
Allot of good info on the official site
 
cars.gov
 
Your trade-in vehicle must
 
have been manufactured less than 25 years before the date you trade it in
have a “new” combined city/highway fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon or less
be in drivable condition
be continuously insured and registered to the same owner for the full year preceding the trade-in
Note that work trucks (i.e., very large pickup trucks and cargo vans) have different requirements.

#10 of 2742 Wait for the bill or not? by binarylogic

Jun 25, 2009 (10:25 am)

I'm trying to purchase a Honda Accord LX-P. I was wondering if anyone could advise me on whether to wait for this bill to go into effect for my SUV that qualifies for $4500, and lose the Honda incentives, or go ahead and buy the accord, and later try to sell my SUV (I know I wont get $4500 for it if I sold it).

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