HA! That's a good one. The last stat that I heard was that 53% of the cars purchased under the program were foreign brands. Nothing against foreign brands (obviously, as a Volvo owner) but do we need to fund foreign car sales with money taken from (unborn, see below) US taxpayers?

Side bar - If we were to pay $1 million every 30 minutes on the national debt it would take more than 600 years to pay off, assuming we don't add to it anymore (yeah right).

I hope all of the new car owners can make their payments. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if we had a car owner bailout for all of the people that gave up the trusty old gas guzzler "not understanding" what they were getting into with their new car payment.

 

You know who is really getting hosed with this vote-buying giveaway? Two groups, basically. First, and obviously, shops and mechanics who've been keeping these older SUV's and vans running. (Very few "cars" qualify as very few have EPA rating 18 or lower--and I'm ignoring Ferraris, etc., what won't be traded as scrap). Second, and more hidden, are owners of late model cars who'd planned to trade them in. What do you think an '08 Focus or Civic or S40 is worth in trade when a cash for clunker trader can get a $4500 or $3500 government rebate when buying a new one? I suspect the price of the year or two old model just took a BIG hit. Think about it. Buy new and get $4500 for the 'ol Cherokee or buy used and get $2000 for the same 'ol Cherokee? Pretty much a no brainer IMHO. So, if your planning to trade in or privately sell your '07 S40, plan on taking a hit, my friend. Or keep the car.

 

Well the Cash for Clunkers program will end Monday guys. What you all think.

 

My friend that was laid off 6 months ago, got his job back. He works for GM.
I guess this program worked for him.

 

wow, that is nuts! the dealer could have easily gotten more than $4,500 out of that car! WTF?

there's a dealer near me that has actually sold a few of its C4C trades... as long as they get more than $4,500 for it, they don't have to do the paperwork!

 

OMG!! That is like actually watching a beautiful animal (like a horse or something) been butchered horribly... Almost brought tears to my face...

 

I really don't have a problem with folks buying foreign cars, we have thousand of people employed in our country at those factories, parts places, etc.

Also, if a dealer does not destroy the car, he can not claim the clunker credit (payment from Uncle Sam). If the car is not destroyed their is a penality or fine of something like $11,000.

I think they should take those cars and give them to people that need cars, have jobs, and need to get to work everyday. Why destroy a good car that someone can use.

 

I agree with you rspi. It was like watching my S80 get destroyed, although I considered turning mine in ("embarrassed face"). Since mine isn't a T6, I don't qualify. I just wanted the money, didn't want to send my car to steel heaven.

 

Oh well, the government is going to be kicking themselves in the hass when three years from now they'll realize that the majority of these people who had "clunkers", had them for a reason, and that's because they can't afford to make payments on a new car. So it's only a matter of time before we'll have a bunch of people faulting on their car loans, and then they'll be like "Oh yeah, that's why we didn't drive new cars".

 

I saw this on other volvo forums and it just made me sad. The good part is that out of all the C4C cars, this one is getting the most attention as a WTF C4C.

 

wow that is really sad... what a fail program

 

That is really a sad mews. Felt very pity on it.

 

Pretty sure that's illegal...

The whole point of the program was to get gas guzzlers off the road, the program isn't working if the dealer is allowed to sell the C4C trades back to the public. Not to mention the fact that the rebate was paid by tax dollars so the dealer would be, in effect, getting free money.

 

I refuse to watch that video, I thought cars had to get worse than 20mpg combined to qualify? regardless, my love for cars could never let me ruin an engine like that. cash for clunkers is one of the worst ideas the government has ever had... so wasteful. I can understand doing it with some POS car but that one was way too nice. they could have sold it privately for more money anyway.

 

I could not watch all of that video. It was like murder! What a nice car! Yeah S80's have their issues but WTF.
I've got an 91 240 "Maxine" that gets 24 mpg when keeping it at 60mph..freeway.
I would rather store that ole girl somewhere safe than to see it go out like that.
That S80 owner probabley got fed up with issues some S80's have and went for the new car purchase.

Ol well....Let's just pray that a communist country doesn't get our Volvo.
Fingers crossed...Hopefully the swede engineer and his investors can save the day!!!!