Washington wants to pay you thousands to junk your jalopy
Filed under: Transportation
I'm not sure if this goes into the category of greening America or bailing out Detroit, but U.S. Senators Feistein, Collins and Schumer have introduced a measure to set up a voucher program for American auto owners that would pay them thousands of dollars to junk their old, low-mileages vehicles and buy new high-efficiency models. As the owner of a 1995 Dodge Caravan, I'm intrigued.
Autos on Display
(FILES) A combo image showing the classic Fiat 500 in Rome and (bottom) a Dodge Truck with Jim Press, Chrysler Vice Chairman and Co-president during the Detroit Auto show in 2008. The Italian Fiat auto group with its tiny Cinquecento back-street "people" car and flashy Ferrari brand agreed to tow mighty Chrysler out of a product-range abyss on January 20, 2009, swapping Italian technology for 35 percent of the US giant. AFP PHOTO/FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/STAN HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Car lovers enjoy the Chevrolet Corvette during opening day of the North American International Auto Show, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jerry S. Mendoza)
AP
Tim Butt, right, of Plymouth, Mich., looks at a cross-section of the 2008 Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle on display during opening day of the North American International Auto Show, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jerry S. Mendoza)
AP
Masakazu Sasaki, left, and his wife, Nami Sasaki, of Ann Arbor, Mich., take a picture of their daughter Rin, not pictured, inside the Jeep Compass Limited 4x4 on display during opening day of the North American International Auto Show, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 in Detroit. The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Electric Vehicle can be seen in the background. (AP Photo/Jerry S. Mendoza)
AP
A Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Electric Vehicle is seen on display during opening day of the North American International Auto Show, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 in Detroit. The Wrangler sports a 200-kilowatt lithium-ion battery and is capable of a 40-mile all-electric range with zero fuel consumption and zero tailpipe emissions. (AP Photo/Jerry S. Mendoza)
AP
General Motors' Chevy Volt is seen on display during opening day of the North American International Auto Show on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 in Detroit. The Volt uses a lithium-ion battery with a gasoline-powered, range-extending engine that drives a generator to provide electric power when driving beyond the 40-mile battery range. (AP Photo/Jerry S. Mendoza)
AP
A cross section of General Motors' Chevy Volt is seen on display during opening day of the North American International Auto Show on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 in Detroit. The Volt uses a lithium-ion battery with a gasoline-powered, range-extending engine that drives a generator to provide electric power when driving beyond the 40-mile battery range. (AP Photo/Jerry S. Mendoza)
AP
Prince Philippe from Belgium tries out the Renault Zero Emission during the 87th annual car show at Heysel, on January 16, 2009 in Brussels, Belgium.
Mark G. Renders/WireImage.com
Prince Philippe from Belgium is seen during the 87th annual car show at Heysel, on January 16, 2009 in Brussels, Belgium.
Mark G. Renders/WireImage.com
Prince Philippe from Belgium is seen during the 87th annual car show at Heysel, on January 16, 2009 in Brussels, Belgium.
Mark G. Renders/WireImage.com
The 'Cash for Clunkers' proposal would reward drivers with a $2,500-$4,500 voucher for sending their jalopies to the scrapyard. Since the program is designed to get the vehicles off the road permanently, no credit would be given for selling a rustbucket to another person who intends to keep driving it.
To qualify for the credit, the junker must have had a fuel economy rating of no more than 18 mpg when new, still be in drivable condition, and have been registered in the U.S. for a minimum of the past 120 days. The proposal calls for the program to run for four years, until 2013, with the expectation that it will consign as many as a million cars a year to an early grave.
Participants would be given a voucher good toward the purchase a new or used higher-efficiency car or truck, or for rides on participating public transportation. The proposed amounts for scrapping
-
Vehicles from 2002 and later- $4,500 for the purchase of a new vehicle, $3,000 toward a used car/truck or transit fares.
-
Vehicles 1999-2001: $3,000 toward a new car/truck, $,2000 for a used one or transit fares.
-
Vehicles 1998 and earlier: $2,000 toward a new car/truck, $1,500 for a used one or transit fares.
The Kelly Blue Book lists the value of my current ride at $1,635, so I'd stand to make a grand on this proposal. I suppose then that I should be more excited than I am.
The reason I'm not doing cartwheels over the possible largess is that I don't see the environmental advantage of scrapping vehicles that still have a reasonable road life ahead. Yes, we will burn less gas, but at the cost of wasting part of the effort put into making the car in the first place, and the cost of more new cars than we really need. This seems like more consumerism run amok.
It also strikes me as a bill destined to create a whole new black market, smuggling cars back from Mexico.
these related sites for: Maps, Driving Directions, Travel, and Cars.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-18-2009 @ 2:39PM
cathy said...
Hope this will print out.
Do not see an option to print and enable.
Reply
1-18-2009 @ 6:29PM
Jim said...
I think this is all a load of crap. What about the guy who wants to restore an old car with his son. Or how about some of the midwest traditions of the demo-derby circuit. I think we would all be better off without this bill.....
Reply
1-18-2009 @ 6:48PM
Richard S. Coleman said...
Government at it again! Most people can not afford to buy a new car. Most would be happy to buy a 2002 or better car-I might. I have a 1992 Dakota with 240,000 miles and would not trade it for a New one! Yes it only gets 15 mpg, but I enjoy driving it with at all the extra crap they put on new ones/ Why should people who can barely afford to the car they have now be 'GIVEN' an incentive to buy a new car-4,500 is not much of and incentive. Besides haven't we-the people-already bailed out the a Big 3? THey offer incentives that are better than Congress wants. Why does Congress care? They are chauffer driven, overpaid politicans.
Please let people live their own lives as they want, without politicans telling us how to live and everything else
Reply
1-27-2009 @ 1:15PM
Ronald Kangas said...
You may not believe this but I have a 1992 Dodge Dakota with 114,000 miles. 2 years ago I had about $3000 worth of work done on it. Now it runs great. I could have goten by with spending only half as much if the mechanics were a little more competent. Truck is 17 and 1/2 years old and still no rust and the paint is still looks good. That is the luckiest truck. I have never had an accident with that truck and when I take it hunting it gets game and fishing it brings back fish. Truck is red.
1-19-2009 @ 12:53AM
Dave said...
I'll keep my old cars! My 1985 crown Vic will get me from point A to point B with out having a monthly payment. I don't mind the gas as it is so much cheapwer then a car payment. My 98 Exlorer is paid for, low milage and in great condition. As far as I'm concerned, this bill is stupid!
Reply
1-19-2009 @ 1:08AM
Bill said...
Is this another bill of goods as in the past Cash for clunkers program, where companies that pollute can buy credits and keep polluting? It is another way to stop the classic car hobby and the used parts suppliers.. The overpaid and under informed people that think for us strike again...Maybe it is time for the Senate to actually tell the people the truth as to whom this really helps...and really research what the car hobby in this country is actually like, bringing family and friend's together and helping people in the process...
Reply
1-19-2009 @ 9:41AM
nick said...
This is the problem with our country, we got dumb asses like, Sen Shumer, Sen Fiestien, Sen Collins, coming up with these lame brain ideas. This is full of corruption to the top of your head. The black market is laughing all the way to the bank. First these three senators should check into the first hospital they see and have their brain checked. How about coming up with a novel idea of cutting spending in Congress and get the graft out of the government. I know for Sen Shummer that goes against his lame brain. All the guy knows is to run his mouth.
Reply
1-20-2009 @ 8:18AM
Mike Emmett said...
I have a great idea! How about $4500 to trade Schmucky Chucky,Fein-Einstein, Kookie Collins for a new model with a brain!
Reply