Topic: Cash for clunkers. Why kill the motor? WTF America?!?!

[Joel]

...The Biturbo zips to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds and reaches 100 mph in only 21.4 seconds, covering the quarter mile in 15.3 seconds at 91 mph in the process.

IMO not even the Maserati emblem would make me want to spend over 4k on it and use it as a daily driver.

Faster than my 14 year newer Sebring convertible.

[SOHC4ever]

Via Barry Ritholtz's excellent blog, the top 10 cash for clunkers trade-ins trade-fors (vehicles that the clunkers are being traded for):

1. Toyota Corolla
2. Honda Civic
3. Ford Focus
4. Toyota Camry
5. Toyota Prius
6. Hyundai Elantra
7. Ford Escape (front-wheel-drive)
8. Honda Fit
9. Nissan Versa
10. Honda CR-V (four-wheel-drive)

Ritholtz points out that there are NO GM or Cryslers in the top 10.

Edited to correct my mistake - these are the cars that consumers trade FOR.

[ColinMc]

Wait a second...I think that list is cars people are BUYING when they trade in their cars. Even a first generation Toyota Prius with a billion miles is worth more than 4500 bucks and that's number 5?!

[Laminar]

Via Barry Ritholtz's excellent blog, the top 10 cash for clunkers trade-ins:

1. Toyota Corolla
2. Honda Civic
3. Ford Focus
4. Toyota Camry
5. Toyota Prius
6. Hyundai Elantra
7. Ford Escape (front-wheel-drive)
8. Honda Fit
9. Nissan Versa
10. Honda CR-V (four-wheel-drive)

Ritholtz points out that there are NO GM or Cryslers in the top 10.

As if someone would actually WANT to buy a Cobalt or a Caliber.

[ColinMc]

Lol ok, now I realize that's what you meant...

Yeah other than a truck there is no domestic vehicle that even vaguely interests me...maybe a new generation CTS-V...My Mini Cooper S is a blast and I could sell it now, pay off my loan and not be in the hole...hell i'd probably make money at this point.

[SOHC4ever]

Yeah other than a truck there is no domestic vehicle that even vaguely interests me...maybe a new generation CTS-V...My Mini Cooper S is a blast and I could sell it now, pay off my loan and not be in the hole...hell i'd probably make money at this point.

This is a rarity in automobile finance.

[ColinMc]

Well I can't speak for the pre-07 Mini's but I know part of the reason I chose my 08 Mini Cooper S is the resale is incredible plus I got a killer finance rate. I'm not sure but I think it might be the number 1 highest resale car out there...if not number 1 then in the top two or three anyways.

That and it's super fun to drive and i've averaged 35mpg during the past year i've owned the car.

[Inigo Montoya]

Yeah the trucks have been heavily traded in. But you have to remember, a lot of those cars ARE built in the US and so should still benefit US workers.

[goon 1492]

To a certain extent, the main profits still go over seas.

[Inigo Montoya]

Some of course but then even with american cars, some goes overseas for parts. At least it still keeps jobs for americans.

[Really?]

I just wished I fit into this program.  My 04 Intrepid is the biggest clunker I have ever owned.  It gets 22mpg combined according to them.  I wished it got something close to that.  I think the Intrepids came off the same line as the K car.  $1000 to change a darn water pump.  It blows oil throw the oil pressure sending switch (not under warranty because it came through the electrical portion of the switch}.  I have been through 6 of them and the one I have is leaking again.  It overheats every day.  The drivers door speaker is wet often.  $1000 to get to the heater core if that is even the problem there??  That is the last part of the cooling system that has not been replaced.  There have been a ton of other problems with it.  Oh, the drivers window keeps coming off the track, it is off the track now. 

That is enough for now, carry on.

[razor02097]

I'm going to keep my clunker jeep... I can't drive a prius up a hill in the cincinnati snow storms and I'm sure as heck not taking a RAV 4 on the trail  

CARS program just isn't right for me... hope the few people that actually needed new vehicles got them and are happy with them cause its your and my dime thats paying for all this  

[ofreen]

CARS program just isn't right for me... hope the few people that actually needed new vehicles got them and are happy with them cause its your and my dime thats paying for all this  

And our kids' dimes into the foreseeable future....

[razor02097]

CARS program just isn't right for me... hope the few people that actually needed new vehicles got them and are happy with them cause its your and my dime thats paying for all this  

And our kids' dimes into the foreseeable future....

 ^^^ yeah that too 

[Frankencake]

I heard that the CARS program ended today.  I looked at (with a teary eye) my '93 4 runner with 200000 miles and thought that $4500 wasn't a bad deal.  Oh well.  I guess that I'll have to seize the motor myself.

[Laminar]

I heard that the CARS program ended today.  I looked at (with a teary eye) my '93 4 runner with 200000 miles and thought that $4500 wasn't a bad deal.  Oh well.  I guess that I'll have to seize the motor myself.

http://www.cars.gov/files/Windown%20Release%208.20.pdf

You still have the weekend.

[chrislib]

All I know is that circa 1997, chevy made some durable stuff. Watched a 97 1500 p/u get roasted yesterday...it took a GOOD 3-4 min or so at WOT for that thing to seize, and oh boy the noises coming out of it. The kid roasting the engines then did a late 80`s Bronco...20 seconds tops, I was dissapointed,lol.

[HavocTurbo]

If the 80's bronco had the 5.0v8 in it....

and the 1500 had the 305v8....

The 5.0 flows more oil than the 305. Which would be why the chevy took longer.

The chevy 350 flows more than the ford 351.... so it would probably die first.

But I bet the Buick 455.5 goes faster than them all. There's hardly any pressure in those old engines. Oil just flows all over em.

[ofreen]

All I know is that circa 1997, chevy made some durable stuff. Watched a 97 1500 p/u get roasted yesterday...it took a GOOD 3-4 min or so at WOT for that thing to seize, and oh boy the noises coming out of it. The kid roasting the engines then did a late 80`s Bronco...20 seconds tops, I was dissapointed,lol.

That is just a criminal waste.  Government sanctioned vandalism.

[HavocTurbo]

All I know is that circa 1997, chevy made some durable stuff. Watched a 97 1500 p/u get roasted yesterday...it took a GOOD 3-4 min or so at WOT for that thing to seize, and oh boy the noises coming out of it. The kid roasting the engines then did a late 80`s Bronco...20 seconds tops, I was dissapointed,lol.

That is just a criminal waste.  Government sanctioned vandalism.

You're not a chevy guy are you?


............*gag* 

[BLUE71TURBO]

MONDAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR THE CASH FOR CLUNKERS.  YOU STILL HAVE THE WEEKEND IF YOU DARE !!

[Industrial Cafe]

this made me sad

beautiful machine.
3.0v8 5 speed.... *sigh*

[ofreen]

All I know is that circa 1997, chevy made some durable stuff. Watched a 97 1500 p/u get roasted yesterday...it took a GOOD 3-4 min or so at WOT for that thing to seize, and oh boy the noises coming out of it. The kid roasting the engines then did a late 80`s Bronco...20 seconds tops, I was dissapointed,lol.

That is just a criminal waste.  Government sanctioned vandalism.

You're not a chevy guy are you?


............*gag* 

Ha, far from it, at least not modern Chevs.  But to deliberately ruin a functional engine of any make for a political purpose that will have zero impact on the environment is a travesty.

[Industrial Cafe]

MONDAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR THE CASH FOR CLUNKERS.  YOU STILL HAVE THE WEEKEND IF YOU DARE !!

I wouldn't do it, even if you gave me 3,500 to 4,500 dollars towards the purchase of...(whispers in the background) oh thats... (more whispers) oh.

....

[ofreen]

this made me sad

beautiful machine.
3.0v8 5 speed.... *sigh*

Sad yes, but it pisses me off more.  And we want to put the same governmental bureaucratic dip#$%*s that created this absurdity in charge of health care?