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http://www.detnews.com/article/20090611/POLITICS03/906110499/1148/rss25


Washington -- House and Senate negotiators reached agreement late Thursday on a $106 billion wartime spending bill that includes $1 billion for a "cash for clunkers" program to boost auto sales.

The program would offer vouchers of up to $4,500 for car buyers who turn in old, gas-guzzling cars and trucks for new, more fuel-efficient models. Auto state lawmakers, carmakers and dealers have sought the measure as a partial antidote for auto sales that have plunged 40 percent or more in the face of a deep recession.

The House and Senate are expected to pass the compromise version of the spending bill next week. But the $1 billion set aside for the auto-purchase program is far short of the full cost of such an effort, estimated at $4 billion. The $1 billion is expected to fund the program through Sept. 30, the end of this fiscal year, according to two congressional sources close to the negotiations who asked to remain anonymous.

That SUCKS. My cars are 20 combined (Lumina) and 21 combined (Grand Prix). Nooo, has to be 18 combined to qualify.

So, in the final version....anything forced to happen to the old, low-mpg vehicles or can they be resold by the dealer? If the dealer can resell, can another buyer take advantage of this deal later?

A waste of time and money, I think. :( Is this just Congress looking after its new investments in Detroit?

Certainly very disappointing legislation. I would have liked to see something much more ambitious, but this plan will get very little return on investment in terms of improving the US fleet MPG. It instead amounts to a subsidy to carmakers and people who prefer to drive gas guzzlers. Why couldn't they have done something that would make a difference, like a fully-rebated major gas tax?

That said, I'm curious about which ratings are compared. If they don't use the revised ratings for the clunkers, a 2-4 MPG improvement is more than it sounds like because of the new EPA test cycles. But it's still very sad that this will motivate plenty of people to go from a 16 MPG pickup to an 18 MPG pickup.

^

If they go by the combined EPA rating there are very few pickup trucks that currently get 18mpg.

Those that do are the least popular, or more accurately shunned by the typical pickup truck owners.

The only 4wd and only fullsized pickup to make 18mpg is the Silverado Hybrids.

Everything else is 2wd, I4 compact trucks, most regular cab, very few extended or crewcabs, and mostly stick.

I'm betting at the last minute they will change the truck requirement to 18 highway, then almost all trucks will be on the list. :rolleyes: Oh and let's add the E-85 trucks too so we can keep saving the family farm, with trucks that are combined 11mpg.

I think that there is only one thing that would make a HUGE impact - if people are allowed to trade in trucks and SUVs for cars. However, I have not seen any discussion of this option and I have become cynical. I have extreme doubts that they really would like to change our countries oil consumption issues ...

Heh, my friend has a Mercury Mountaineer he paid $1000 for that could very easily be traded in on a new compact car.

That's the spirit of the program, trading your old SUV for a new smaller car. Probably won't end up working out like that.

Woo Hoo my 1987 Volvo Turbo wagon is rated at 18 mpg under the new EPA rating system. The car came originally with an automatic from the factory. :Banane06:

Yes I'll take a $4,500 voucher on a new 2010 Prius level three. Since the car would be worth less than $800 on trade in it is now a cash cow. I am so glad I waited to buy a car.

It's about time I actually get something back on all the money I send to Washington.

Woo Hoo my 1987 Volvo Turbo wagon is rated at 18 mpg under the new EPA rating system. The car came originally with an automatic from the factory. :Banane06:

Yes I'll take a $4,500 voucher on a new 2010 Prius level three. Since the car would be worth less than $800 on trade in it is now a cash cow. I am so glad I waited to buy a car.

It's about time I actually get something back on all the money I send to Washington.

Make sure you negotiate their best cash deal before your mention the clunker.

regards
gary