Cash 4 Clunkers - Destroying Cars Turned In

DZL_LOU · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 3:15 pm

Today I visited my local Jeep Dealership for some repairs and the techs were busy adhereing to a documented process in destryoing any car turned in under the Cash for Clunkers program.

It turns out that on top of the paperwork mandating that you have to own your clunker for a year in your name, proof of in force auto insurance, and it must run when brought to dealership.

The dealership MUST DESTROY the engine in the process. Techs are actually causing the engine to seize by removing the oil and placing a water and Sodium Silicate solution into the crank-case and running it until the engine siezes.

Taking a look around the lot designated as the Clunker for Cash lot, there were many cars, SUV's and Trucks that had only begun their mid-life service. Many of these cars were driveable with only 50K, 60K or 70K miles on them. So, while the Cash for Clunkers program is pretty much DOA right now, I am amazed that people are rushing again to get into debt with a new car and leaving behind some nice Grand Cherokees (old body style) and 2002 Libby's that I would probably drive until the engine seized on it's own.

The techs are actually sick to their stomachs doing this process of destroying the engine as it goes against what they have been doing for years which is fixing these cars.

Boiler · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 3:36 pm

I guess I don't understand the whole program...you get $ for your car from the government. Wouldn't you have gotten at least as much in trade for a 2002+ car that was in decent shape?

chefdab · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:46 pm

It's an incentive plan to get you to buy a more fuel efficient vehicle.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:55 pm

the '02 Liberty's count for that?!

BrendonR · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:59 pm

It's got to be the stupidist program out there right now.

Trade in a perfectly fine car, to get a new car which has better fuel milage. The differential payment of course, will MORE than outweigh the cost in fuel savings.

ridenby · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 5:42 pm

Anybody near Ky.wanting to get rid of 2002 lib.let me know.I could use a spare. :lol:

Blue KJ in PA · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 6:20 pm

Any vehicle less that 20 yrs away and that gets 18mpg or less qualified...until they ran out of moolah. My 03 KJ qualified but my 1988 Olds 98 did not

BugginKJ · **Joined:** Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 4576

News just said The House voted to rush an additional 2 BILLION into the program............ :roll:

wheeee32 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:15 pm

I gave a huge eye-roll when I read they approved more money for this idiotic program. :roll:

Boiler · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:33 pm

It would have made more sense to give a tax deduction for buying one, instead of destroying all those perfectly fine cars / parts cars.

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:36 pm

Don't look at the program the wrong way. The idea, besides getting those cars off the road, is to sell more NEW cars. That keeps the dealership going, the auto companies going and the suppliers going. Our local Jeep dealer has a 30% increase in new auto sales. No more lay offs!

Here is a bad part of it though: some jerk took a 1998 Jaguar in with 60K miles, perfect condition and runs like a top! Here is Florida it would qualify as a classic car. The mechanic that told me about it drove it around the dealership and said he fell in love with it. But, it is history now. What a shame. It should have gone to a collector instead of the scrap pile.

Terry

BugginKJ · **Joined:** Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 4576

Boiler wrote:

It would have made more sense to give a tax deduction for buying one, instead of destroying all those perfectly fine cars / parts cars.

OHHHHHHH but thats the idea.....to get all those tree killin oil eatin junks off the green road the Government is now layin.........

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:46 pm

You also have to buy a vehicle that gets a certain amount better MPG than the vehicle you are turning in to get the discount.

The reason to destroy said vehicles is so that they aren't sold to others and still have the poor fuel economy cars on the road.

The other thing is that perhaps the government should enforce/penalize the auto industry more for selling current vehicles that get terrible gas mileage and give incentives for selling more fuel efficient cars.

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:25 pm

The really sad part is...it was pushed through under the premise of helping American carmakers.

Why, then, did they not specify it has to be a GM, Ford, or Chrysler product?

Our government makes ThunderbirdJunkie sick.

callaway · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:31 pm

We were thinking of sending the Cougar to the great junkyard in the sky via this program... unless of course TBJ wants to buy it :wink:

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:50 pm

Ummm...ThunderbirdJunkie made several offers :wink:

Drassis · **Joined:** Tue Sep 23, 2008 7:31 pm **Posts:** 182

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

The really sad part is...it was pushed through under the premise of helping American carmakers.

Why, then, did they not specify it has to be a GM, Ford, or Chrysler product?

Our government makes ThunderbirdJunkie sick.

I agree with this 120% it should ahve been for American automakers only

ridenby · **Posted:** Sat Aug 01, 2009 2:25 pm

Drassis wrote:

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

The really sad part is...it was pushed through under the premise of helping American carmakers.

Why, then, did they not specify it has to be a GM, Ford, or Chrysler product?

Our government makes ThunderbirdJunkie sick.

I agree with this 120% it should ahve been for American automakers only

AMEN

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Sat Aug 01, 2009 3:13 pm

Yes it would have been better BUT, it will help Americans keep their jobs even if it is a foreign auto company.

Terry

mrpink417 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 01, 2009 3:50 pm

If you buy a car that gets 20-28mpg you get $3500, if the car gets over 28mpg you get the full $4500- as long as your clunker qualifies.

There is a $15,000 fine for driving, or removing anything other than the hazardous fluids. If you get caught taking a lug nut off of a CARS car you will get fined, and lose your right to accept this program.

The sad part for me is that this shows Americans will not do anything now unless the government pays them (home buyers credit, CARS, etc). This problem is only going to get worse the more obama hands out.

p!nK

Cash 4 Clunkers - Destroying Cars Turned In

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