What is Digg?174 Comments
- marytormey, on 06/24/2009, -0/+39This is just a trick to get people to buy new cars. New cars have always been a bad investment. A new car looses more $4500 in value after only a few months of driving.
- gigi52, on 06/25/2009, -11/+43One of the most ridiculous pieces of legislation that has passed in the last 50 years.
- funkedup, on 06/25/2009, -1/+26This is just what we need. Consumers going deeper into debt to buy something they don't need and can't afford.
- 3fingersalute, on 06/25/2009, -0/+20My problem with this program is that the majority of the people driving "clunkers" either:
A. Can't afford a new car
B. Have such poor credit they can't get financed for a new car anyhow
C. All of the above - Ghostwo, on 06/25/2009, -2/+19Hey look everybody! Our government is using tax dollars to help individuals buy private property, as expressly authorized by the constitution!
The principle of enumerated powers is officially dead. - bschonec, on 06/25/2009, -2/+15Ok, how about not taking that $4,500 bucks out of our paychecks (in future taxes) in the first place and letting US decide when and what to buy?
- pinchduck, on 06/25/2009, -2/+15First the set top boxes, now cars. We are beyond the era of bread and circuses. We need to trim the hell out of our spending and balance the budget. We are so broke that the rest of the world is not going to buy our debt anymore. At that point, our budget will be balanced violently and disastrously. It makes a lot of sense to get our budget balanced before then. Don't give me the "This is only % of the problem", because a) you have to start somewhere, and b) Add up all our stupid spending, and you have 100% of the problem.
- WilliamDavis, on 06/25/2009, -1/+14This is just another cash transfer from taxpayers to automakers. Sickening.
- SamSks, on 06/25/2009, -1/+13I have a prediction. When this law goes into effect, the price of cars on dealers lots will increase by; maybe as much as $4,500.
- rtheybakingcake, on 06/25/2009, -2/+14A lot of Asian car companies employ Americans and also have factories in the states.
- Rogor, on 06/25/2009, -5/+16So the American government is going to use taxpayer money to stimulate asian auto manufacturers, nice move.
- SamSks, on 06/25/2009, -0/+11D. Think of cars as JUST machinery and will drive them into the ground.
Hopefully, when my clunker goes, I'll be able to get a nice USED high mileage car. - StuartGibson, on 06/25/2009, -0/+10We have a similar scheme running in the UK this year, though the only criteria is the car is over ten years old and you've owned it at least a year.
Of course it's a scheme to help boost the new car market (our government is quite up front about this). I actually am taking advantage of it since it means I'm getting £2000 for a car that is worth about £100 and I was planning on changing anyway.
Yeah, I would save more money by buying a one year old car, but there is something rather lovely about specifying exactly what you want and know that no-one else has been thrashing it before you get it. - altgeeky1, on 06/25/2009, -0/+10As a strong Obama supporter, I still have to agree 100%.
THIS is even more dumb than the 'rebates' given out.
I don't see what the goal here was. It's not green as the new vehicle's MPG is pathetically just 22MPG. It doesn't help the poor. It bails out folks who drive 1989 Ford Explorers so they can buy 2009 Toyota trucks. It does not replace the now-phased-out tax credits for hybrids or super-efficient diesels. I've been driving a 1996 30MPG Toyota Corolla since 1998, and I'm still getting that MPG but it's burning some oil and I'm almost ready to upgrade to a hybrid or new diesel.
It does not require purchase of a vehicle built in the USA, either. Can't Japanese and Korean auto dealers get a bailout from THEIR government? (They have government insurance already, so when they get laid off it's not a economic death sentence if they happen to get ill.)
This idea was crazy. - inactive, on 06/25/2009, -1/+11not many foreign cars are imported to america, they are built here
- mrmidgetman, on 06/25/2009, -0/+8Yeah all those bastards driving 20 year old pickup trucks are just rolling in the cash while some poor souls have to struggle to get by with their priuses that they got as soon as they became the new hip thing to drive.
- Blisshead, on 06/25/2009, -1/+9He said "one of..." not "the most...". The ones you listed are also ridiculous.
- itchinbowow, on 06/25/2009, -0/+7Its utter bollocks to claim this scheme (or the UK one) is going to help the environment. This is going to make matters worse. The footprint of manufacturing and transporting a new car far outweighs the small amount of extra emissions an old car will make. This is purely for the benefit of the car industry.
- rignopolis, on 06/25/2009, -0/+6Stick to Ford. They're the only ones not beholden to the government.
- jayv2010, on 06/25/2009, -0/+6Well, the US taxpayers ARE in the car business now. So we have to run a sale from time to time.......
I am surprised that they didn't make the deal for GM cars only - sanibelsnook, on 06/25/2009, -2/+8the DC turds are getting more creative in the way they spend/waste our money....
- Jektal, on 06/25/2009, -0/+6Most GM cars are built and/or assembled outside the USA.
- thinkb4utype, on 06/25/2009, -2/+8Foreign cars built in the USA are only assembled here. Most of the parts are made overseas.
- Thud, on 06/25/2009, -1/+7>then why not let one stone kill two birds?
Expect a call from PETA soon for your insensitive metaphor. - firewall1, on 06/25/2009, -0/+5I completely agree this is stupid. Many cars don't get anywhere near the mileage claimed by the EPA. And after the first 5-8 years, the mileage drops off due to compression loss, worn parts etc. Legislators often due a half-ass job in create laws, and this is a high profile example.
- thinboyslim, on 06/25/2009, -0/+5We've had this in the UK for a couple of months under the name "Scrappage Allowance" the basic qualifying points are 1) the car must be 10 years old or older 2) have a valid MOT certificate 3) been owned by yourself for more than a year. If that's all good you get £2000 off a new car, some manufacturers are even throwing extra money off schemes into the mix as well.
Unfortunately there is a limited pot of money, something around £300million, so by Feb 2010 it's going to stop.
Source: http://www.ukcarscrappagescheme.co.uk/2009/04/05/w ... - MindStalker, on 06/25/2009, -0/+5Yea, I know. I'm less than a year away from paying off both me and my wife's car. It will be sweet. But this offer is very tempting. I'm going to resist though.
- getoffmybridge, on 06/25/2009, -1/+6Who the ***** buys new?
- inactive, on 06/25/2009, -0/+5I have four trucks and cars ranging from 1978 to 2007 none of them qualify. I guess I will have to keep driving them for a few more years.
- oddrewps, on 06/25/2009, -0/+5Imagine that...my car gets 19 mpg.
Oh well, life moves on. I'll just get a more fuel-efficient car when I have money saved up. - Snarfy, on 06/25/2009, -2/+7 Where does the $4500 come from? Taxes? Isn't that your own money anyway? What if you don't own or plan on owning a car? Isn't that $4500 a tax for nothing then? Anybody that doesn't buy into the program is penalized through taxation.
Simply put, for the poor people that ride the bus, it will make used cars even less affordable, and it will take taxes out of there pocket to do it.
This is one of the worst bills to pass in the history of Congress, IMO. - jwkpiano1, on 06/25/2009, -2/+6Actually, that's not true. Most Toyota and Honda parts, at least, are made in the U.S.
- DarkShroud, on 06/25/2009, -0/+4US cars have higher safty ratings. So many of the small light weight cars in Europe can't be sold here without modification. That's why many are not and when they do it comes at a cost of mpg.
- 1jaxstate1, on 06/25/2009, -0/+4WTF, the main point of having a used car is to not have a car payment. My car has to literally die for me to get a new one, and then, I'm going to find a nice used car. This piece of legislation is idiotic, and not meant for the a lot of people who support Obama.
- Jektal, on 06/25/2009, -0/+4Unless he's running a circus act I'd imagine that's precisely what he's been doing.
- geenope, on 06/25/2009, -0/+4I think the 10 year rule for the UK scrappage scheme works better than the 18mpg rule, but this version looks like any car company will accept it which is different to the UK version, where only certain car companies accept it - as they are the ones that lose money.
- DarkShroud, on 06/25/2009, -2/+6Obama didn't want to upset anyone with Buy American again. He seems to be lacking the courage to stick to principle.
- bpotts, on 06/25/2009, -0/+4You have to remember that foreign auto makers employ a lot of Americans too (Honda is one of Ohio's largest employers). Is it fair to these workers if the government says it has to be an American-made car? As far as these workers are concerned they're Americans and they built the car so how is that not American-made??
- akchrs, on 06/25/2009, -2/+6Then how about the people who want to buy a new fuel efficient car do it on their own instead of having me pay for it.
- thinkb4utype, on 06/25/2009, -2/+6Another example of the people making the "correct" decisions and getting to pay for those who didn't. If you paid your mortgage or bought a fuel saving compact car, then you're screwed.
Those who bought houses they can't afford are rewarded with programs to help them avoid foreclosure. Now, your neighbor's gas-guzzling SUV is eligible for a $4500 check.
One thing you do get is the bill for these programs. - inactive, on 06/25/2009, -0/+4I have a 1978 motorhome class C I am going to sell off two of my cars and just drive the motorhome around. Old iron is the best just replaced the master cylinder on the brakes the part only cost me $20. And by the way people get out of your way when you drive a big old motorhome.
- jcounterman, on 06/25/2009, -0/+3You can say "Buy American" all you want, but a higher percentage of my wife's Honda Accord was manufactured and assembled in the U.S. compared to my Pontiac Grand Prix, which was mostly made in Mexico and assembled in Canada.
- blackgt93, on 06/25/2009, -0/+3Some people like NOT having a car payment. Plus, I would imagine with the Gov't "rebate" many dealer incentives will be off the table.
- gigi52, on 06/25/2009, -0/+3The word is RIDICULOUS - which is is.
The Patriot Act was a real response to a real threat/situation. It went too far is certain aspects, but the legislation is not ridiculous.
The Defense of Marriage Act stirs up a lot of feelings about our culture and way of life. You may not agree with it, but it was not ridiculous.
The Authorization of the War in Iraq - not ridiculous. - StuartGibson, on 06/25/2009, -3/+6@akchrs "As a non driver, why don't those people who want to drive places build their own roads instead of having me pay for them."
It's called living in a society. Government subsidies to improve both the economy and environment are generally regarded as a good thing. - pathouston22, on 06/25/2009, -0/+3My Mazda 3 was assembled in Japan, with parts from Japan, and other countries.
- altgeeky1, on 06/25/2009, -0/+3bpotts: I said USA-built not American owned. Toyota Corollas for example are made in the USA (or Canada). I'm fine with that, really.
This also sends the wrong message, that we'll bail out GM but use tax dollars to prop up foreign competition? Propping up cars manufactured in another country though is not "fair" to any American.
Last I checked, foreign autoworkers were not a US government constituency. - sh0x, on 06/25/2009, -1/+4... But does it really help the environment? I would have to wonder. A lot of energy goes into manufacturing a new car. I would have to say that keeping an old car running would be better for the environment than buying a new one.
- ramonday, on 06/25/2009, -1/+4I prefer my '02 Avalanche that gets 17 MPG and can run over a '91 CRX.
- ShadowFusion, on 06/25/2009, -0/+3Ford Fusions are made in Mexico :x
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