News Cash for your Gas Guzzler from Uncle Sam?

Kerberos · 06-19-2009, 04:22 AM

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/auto...NoLWNsdW5rZXJz

This is informative so I hope it doesn't end up lost in the black hole of DC

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congress approved a "cash for clunkers" program Thursday to provide government incentives of $3,500 to $4,500 to motorists who trade in their gas guzzlers for more fuel efficient vehicles after Senate Democrats narrowly defeated a Republican effort to kill the plan.

Auto state senators said the program would help hard-pressed car dealers and automakers by bringing buyers into showrooms, and they got help from President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, who made calls to wavering Democrats urging them to keep the plan alive.

"This is an emergency for families and small businesses -- for an industry that has been the backbone of our economy for a generation," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., who sponsored the proposal.

Opponents said it would increase the federal debt without doing much to get expensive-to-operate vehicles off the roads.

Senate supporters of the program overcame a procedural hurdle by the plan's leading opponent, Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., on a 60-36 vote, winning the minimum number of votes needed to keep the program in a $106 billion war-spending plan that the Senate passed later Thursday.

The House approved the cash for clunkers bill last week on a vote of 298-119 and Senate Democrats attached it to the war-spending bill. The overall bill now goes to the White House for Obama's signature.

Four Republicans -- Kit Bond of Missouri, Thad Cochran of Mississippi, Susan Collins of Maine and George Voinovich of Ohio -- voted with two independents and 54 Democrats in favor of the clunker measure, while Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska was opposed along with 35 Republicans.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., changed her vote to support the vehicle incentive plan and spoke by phone with Obama during the vote.

Cantwell spokeswoman Ciaran Clayton said Obama "acknowledged Senator Cantwell's concerns that the cash- for-clunkers program ... did not do enough to meet our nation's urgent need to reduce foreign oil dependence" and vowed to work with Cantwell and others to "maximize the number of efficient cars on America's roads."

In addition to Cantwell, Obama and Biden reached out to Democrats Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Michael Bennet of Colorado, according to two people familiar with the outreach. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Obama has encouraged Congress to approve the consumer incentives for new car purchases as part of the government's efforts to restructure General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Group LLC. The bill provides $1 billion for the program from July through November.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who supported a plan with more stringent requirements to receive the vouchers, said she received "absolute assurance" from Senate leaders that if the program was continued beyond November it would be modeled after the bill she pushed.

Supporters said the program, which would be implemented by the Transportation Department, was expected to be implemented by early August.

The auto industry and its union lobbied heavily for passage of the cash for clunkers plan as GM and Chrysler have received billions of dollars in government-led bankruptcies and the entire auto industry has dealt with plummeting car sales. In May, overall sales were 34 percent lower than a year ago.

Under the proposal, car owners could get a voucher worth $3,500 if they traded in a vehicle getting 18 miles per gallon or less for one getting at least 22 mpg. The value of the voucher would grow to $4,500 if the mileage of the new car was 10 mpg higher than the old vehicle. The miles per gallon figures are listed on the car window's sticker.

Owners of sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks or minivans that get 18 mpg or less could receive a voucher for $3,500 if their new truck or SUV got at least 2 mpg higher than their old vehicle. The voucher would increase to $4,500 if the mileage of the new truck or SUV was at least 5 mpg higher than the older vehicle.

Dealers participating in the program would receive an electronic voucher from the government for the trade-in to apply to the purchase or lease of a qualifying vehicle. The bill directs dealers to ensure that the older vehicles are crushed or shredded to get the clunkers off the road.

The program was intended to help replace older vehicles -- built in model year 1984 or later -- and would not make financial sense for consumers owning an older car with a trade-in value greater than $3,500 or $4,500.

The U.S. industry is expected to generate about 9.5 million vehicles sales in 2009, compared with more than 13 million in 2008 and more than 16 million in 2007.

Associated Press writer Matthew Daly contributed to this report.

The bill is H.R. 2346.

Otter · 06-19-2009, 05:39 AM

Hippies

Kerberos · 06-19-2009, 06:28 AM

Meh...

My 94 Suburban gets about 10-12MPG at best.

I don't see the specifics on the trade in policy. Are they taking these gas guzzlers to junk'em or can I get the dealer to give me some $ for it on top of the gov't buy back?

If I could get $6K total for my Suburban that would help on a vehicle purchase.

**Bugeater** · 06-19-2009, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerberos

Meh...

My 94 Suburban gets about 10-12MPG at best.

I don't see the specifics on the trade in policy. Are they taking these gas guzzlers to junk'em or can I get the dealer to give me some $ for it on top of the gov't buy back?

If I could get $6K total for my Suburban that would help on a vehicle purchase.

The way I understand it your car has to be '84 or older and worth less that $3,500/4,500 and the gov't just makes up the difference at trade in time. For example, if you had an '81 Suburban worth $1,000 you'd get a credit for $2,500/3,500 depending on the mpg of your new vehicle.

Quote:

The program was intended to help replace older vehicles -- built in model year 1984 or later -- and would not make financial sense for consumers owning an older car with a trade-in value greater than $3,500 or $4,500.

rad · 06-19-2009, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerberos

Meh...

My 94 Suburban gets about 10-12MPG at best.

I don't see the specifics on the trade in policy. Are they taking these gas guzzlers to junk'em or can I get the dealer to give me some $ for it on top of the gov't buy back?

If I could get $6K total for my Suburban that would help on a vehicle purchase.

You didn't read the article.......

Dealers participating in the program would receive an electronic voucher from the government for the trade-in to apply to the purchase or lease of a qualifying vehicle. The bill directs dealers to ensure that the older vehicles are crushed or shredded to get the clunkers off the road.

Kerberos · 06-19-2009, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

The way I understand it your car has to be '84 or older and worth less that $3,500/4,500 and the gov't just makes up the difference at trade in time. For example, if you had an '81 Suburban worth $1,000 you'd get a credit for $2,500/3,500 depending on the mpg of your new vehicle.

84 and LATER means newer.

84 and Earlier would suggest older. IIRC?

This would keep someone from putting $100 into a piece of crap 1977 Pinto to run just far enought to get it to a lot to get $3500 to $4500 for it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rad

You didn't read the article.......

Dealers participating in the program would receive an electronic voucher from the government for the trade-in to apply to the purchase or lease of a qualifying vehicle. The bill directs dealers to ensure that the older vehicles are crushed or shredded to get the clunkers off the road.

Yea I just skimmed the article. I missed that.

**Lzen** · 06-19-2009, 07:32 AM

Oh yeah!! More spent tax dollars.

burt · 06-19-2009, 07:45 AM

Another reason for people to delay purchasing a new vehicle......BRILLIANT!

BigCatDaddy · 06-19-2009, 07:56 AM

I wonder if I can trade a $4500 valued vehicle in, according to the guidelines, for a cheaper car and cut a deal with the dealer to have him give me the cash back from the voucher?

Infidel Goat · 06-19-2009, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I wonder if I can trade a $4500 valued vehicle in, according to the guidelines, for a cheaper car and cut a deal with the dealer to have him give me the cash back from the voucher?

I believe it must be a new vehicle you purchase...

LaChapelle · 06-19-2009, 08:00 AM

Oh the scams that have got to be running through peoples minds. The honesty rep with car dealers isn't helped.

**Lzen** · 06-19-2009, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaChapelle

Oh the scams that have got to be running through peoples minds.

Including car salesmen.

El Jefe · 06-19-2009, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Otter

**** YOU HIPPIES!!!!

I'm off to run over some wild life in my 4x4 then back over them in four-low using as much gas as possible to make sure their dead.

I drive my 79 Cutlass Big Block as much as possible, just to offset that hybrid that I pass on the freeway everyday.

LaChapelle · 06-19-2009, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lzen

Including car salesmen.

Sell you a clunker next door to the new car dealership. To trade in.

Brock · 06-19-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burt

Another reason for people to delay purchasing a new vehicle......BRILLIANT!

Delay? It's about to be signed into law.

06-19-2009, 04:22 AM
Kerberos Chiefs Baby Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Henderson, NV Casino cash: $10000632	Cash for your Gas Guzzler from Uncle Sam? http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/auto...NoLWNsdW5rZXJz This is informative so I hope it doesn't end up lost in the black hole of DC WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congress approved a "cash for clunkers" program Thursday to provide government incentives of $3,500 to $4,500 to motorists who trade in their gas guzzlers for more fuel efficient vehicles after Senate Democrats narrowly defeated a Republican effort to kill the plan. Auto state senators said the program would help hard-pressed car dealers and automakers by bringing buyers into showrooms, and they got help from President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, who made calls to wavering Democrats urging them to keep the plan alive. "This is an emergency for families and small businesses -- for an industry that has been the backbone of our economy for a generation," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., who sponsored the proposal. Opponents said it would increase the federal debt without doing much to get expensive-to-operate vehicles off the roads. Senate supporters of the program overcame a procedural hurdle by the plan's leading opponent, Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., on a 60-36 vote, winning the minimum number of votes needed to keep the program in a $106 billion war-spending plan that the Senate passed later Thursday. The House approved the cash for clunkers bill last week on a vote of 298-119 and Senate Democrats attached it to the war-spending bill. The overall bill now goes to the White House for Obama's signature. Four Republicans -- Kit Bond of Missouri, Thad Cochran of Mississippi, Susan Collins of Maine and George Voinovich of Ohio -- voted with two independents and 54 Democrats in favor of the clunker measure, while Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska was opposed along with 35 Republicans. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., changed her vote to support the vehicle incentive plan and spoke by phone with Obama during the vote. Cantwell spokeswoman Ciaran Clayton said Obama "acknowledged Senator Cantwell's concerns that the cash- for-clunkers program ... did not do enough to meet our nation's urgent need to reduce foreign oil dependence" and vowed to work with Cantwell and others to "maximize the number of efficient cars on America's roads." In addition to Cantwell, Obama and Biden reached out to Democrats Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Michael Bennet of Colorado, according to two people familiar with the outreach. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Obama has encouraged Congress to approve the consumer incentives for new car purchases as part of the government's efforts to restructure General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Group LLC. The bill provides $1 billion for the program from July through November. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who supported a plan with more stringent requirements to receive the vouchers, said she received "absolute assurance" from Senate leaders that if the program was continued beyond November it would be modeled after the bill she pushed. Supporters said the program, which would be implemented by the Transportation Department, was expected to be implemented by early August. The auto industry and its union lobbied heavily for passage of the cash for clunkers plan as GM and Chrysler have received billions of dollars in government-led bankruptcies and the entire auto industry has dealt with plummeting car sales. In May, overall sales were 34 percent lower than a year ago. Under the proposal, car owners could get a voucher worth $3,500 if they traded in a vehicle getting 18 miles per gallon or less for one getting at least 22 mpg. The value of the voucher would grow to $4,500 if the mileage of the new car was 10 mpg higher than the old vehicle. The miles per gallon figures are listed on the car window's sticker. Owners of sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks or minivans that get 18 mpg or less could receive a voucher for $3,500 if their new truck or SUV got at least 2 mpg higher than their old vehicle. The voucher would increase to $4,500 if the mileage of the new truck or SUV was at least 5 mpg higher than the older vehicle. Dealers participating in the program would receive an electronic voucher from the government for the trade-in to apply to the purchase or lease of a qualifying vehicle. The bill directs dealers to ensure that the older vehicles are crushed or shredded to get the clunkers off the road. The program was intended to help replace older vehicles -- built in model year 1984 or later -- and would not make financial sense for consumers owning an older car with a trade-in value greater than $3,500 or $4,500. The U.S. industry is expected to generate about 9.5 million vehicles sales in 2009, compared with more than 13 million in 2008 and more than 16 million in 2007. Associated Press writer Matthew Daly contributed to this report. The bill is H.R. 2346.
Posts: 5,638

06-19-2009, 06:28 AM	#3
Kerberos Chiefs Baby Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Henderson, NV Casino cash: $10000632	Meh... My 94 Suburban gets about 10-12MPG at best. I don't see the specifics on the trade in policy. Are they taking these gas guzzlers to junk'em or can I get the dealer to give me some $ for it on top of the gov't buy back? If I could get $6K total for my Suburban that would help on a vehicle purchase.
Posts: 5,638

06-19-2009, 07:32 AM	#7
Lzen Supporter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Jan Quadrant Vincent 16 Casino cash: $2040692	Oh yeah!! More spent tax dollars. __________________ If at first you don't succeed ...skydiving is not for you.
Posts: 41,431

06-19-2009, 07:56 AM	#9
BigCatDaddy The Beast Inside Your Head Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $1749122	I wonder if I can trade a $4500 valued vehicle in, according to the guidelines, for a cheaper car and cut a deal with the dealer to have him give me the cash back from the voucher?
Posts: 25,903

06-19-2009, 08:00 AM	#11
LaChapelle Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10004900	Oh the scams that have got to be running through peoples minds. The honesty rep with car dealers isn't helped.
Posts: 8,588