To qualify for $4500 voucher:
- 10mpg increase in cars/minivans
- 5mpg increase in small trucks/SUV's/vans
- 2mpg increase in large trucks/SUV's/vans (6000-8500 lbs)
- New work trucks do not qualify for $4500 voucher (8500-10,000 lbs)
To qualify for $3500 voucher:
- 4mpg increase in cars/minivans
- 2mpg increase in small trucks/SUV's/vans
- 1mpg increase in large trucks/SUV's/vans (6000-8500 lbs)
- New work truck in same or smaller weight class (8500-10,000 lbs)
The new catch:
- New car must be new
- New car must be worth less than $45,000
- New car must get at least 22mpg
- New small truck must get at least 18mpg
- New large truck must get at least 18mpg
The old catch:
- Old car must not be new
- Old car must not have historic value
- Old car must be drivable
- Old car must be less than 25 years old
- Old car must be insured/registered to you for the past year
- Old car must get 18mpg or less
- Old truck must be a pre-2002 model
- Old truck must get 18mpg or less for small truck/SUV/van or 15mpg or less for large truck/SUV/van
So
the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act should never be called Cash For Clunkers... It's actually a feel good bill that's about gas mileage/pollution and not a more comprehensive bill that's about gas mileage/pollution
as well as safety/stimulating the economy... Right?
So my '97 Pontiac Sunfire 4-door that gets at least 24-26mpg does not qualify, even though it has terrible crash test ratings and needs $400-600 put into it every year. Even if I were to get a new Volkswagen TDI, or a Toyota Prius, or Honda Insight. This cut-off is based on 2-4mpg.
Now don't get me wrong, my Sunfire ain't a bad car (it would be in much better shape if I hadn't bought it used a few years ago and found out the hard way the previous owner(s) didn't do regular maintenance), but it really highlights the disadvantages and possible worthlessness of this bill.
This program will not be successful enough to significantly reduce pollution. This bill will change the landscape of the used car business somewhat, and a lot of cars getting 18mpg that would serve someone just fine will now be destroyed. Some popular models might see their used car market prices going up (a lot of pick-ups, Jeeps, and Land Cruisers, and 4 Runners come to mind where I live) which might screw a lot of rural buyers who are looking for a good price on utility.
Knowing that Obama plans to use TARP money to fund this thing, how the heck did it make it this far?
I know we talked about this a couple weeks ago*, but I really wanted to highlight the erroneous use of the "cash for clunkers" moniker. It has next-to-nothing to do with the clunkerness of your vehicle. It's almost entirely mpg-based. And here I am in the market for a new vehicle. Yeesh.
*Click to see Bob's kick ass van -
http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/index.php?topic=19830.0