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Last chance: After Monday, no more cash for your clunker.
RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—If you want to qualify for the government's wildly popular Cash for Clunkers program, you've got to make your purchase by Monday, the Department of Transportation announced Thursday. Of course, you could also wait 'till next year for the unveiling of the electric Chevy Volt; a government rebate is expected for that ultra-efficient car, too. The program covers either a more efficient gas-powered car, or a hybrid, as long as it gets better gas mileage than what you're driving now (some other restrictions apply).
THE DETAILS: On Thursday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the Cash for Clunkers program will come to a close at 8 p.m. EDT on Monday, Aug. 24. Based on conservative estimates of valid transactions thus far, DOT's number crunchers estimate there is enough money in the pot for car dealers to continue to submit applications through Monday night. The program, which offered rebates of up to $4,500 when people turned in gas guzzlers for at least slightly more efficient vehicles has cut deep into General Motors' and Ford's inventories, and many laid-off workers were called back to work. It's not clear if the end of the program will result in them being laid off again. In the early days of the program, DOT reported that Ford Explorers, Jeep Grand Cherokees, and minivans were among the most turned-in clunkers. Top replacement models included Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius, Ford Escape, Toyota Camry, Dodge Caliber, Hyundai Elantra, Honda Fit, and Chevy Cobalt. Domestic vehicles accounted for about half of the replacements; the average fuel economy increase was nearly 10 miles per gallon—a 61-percent increase in fuel economy.
$4500.00 Rebate for purchase of a newer more fuel efficient Auto
I wonder how many people had the money or available credit line to go out an invest in a new car... My main thought is more towards the people short on cash due to the current recession! I wonder how many women or men with a single incomes managed to do it. Or a family that have more than any number of mouths to feed in a depressed area such as Louisiana after the Catrina floods. For that manner sinse the government didn't help too many of them then, why would they help them now?
I'm just referring to the double standard created by polititions trying their best, to, not so much help their constituents but, help themdelves look good for the next election.
The visually poor and not so visually poor people that would give an arm and a leg to get a decent car. So they could cut loose the clunker that is costing them a fortune to fuel and maintain. Because a car in no longer a luxury but a nessecity.
Where are the do-gooders when something like this happens? Well, I guess, they wouldn't get as much INK as they would for that as they would over One SPCA Infringement.
These Are Just People, that we just treat like animals!
"There is a difference you know!"
There is never a government policy implemented that is easy for people to qualify for, nor ever has enough money in it to help the people it should really help.
This stimulous package was not to help people that needed new cars but for the government to get a handle on a more green name at the expence of those that had the money to lay down for a new car or two or three and so on.
Why are we always so blind to see the facts or ignore them and let these people get away with that?
1. The policy should still be in place until they are all off the
road.
2. Those in need should be helped further with qualifications.
3. The automakers that built those loads of junk should take
ownership for making junk when they clearly knew how to make
better vehicles but chose not to.
4. Isn't that another form of polution?
Nothing shines through so clearly as the guy on a dolly coming out from under a car with an oily filter in his hand and says;
"You Can Pay Me Now or You Can Pay Me Later!"
Doug Sinclair,
Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada
Excellent choice of words for me to prove I am a human and not a SPAMER; "THE BUNGLE"