Car Dealers say Clunkers a Failure

[jberryhill]

Actually, Raider, you'd know it will be energy-efficient appliances, if you had been paying attention.

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/hom...nsumeristLinks

As a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Obama administration is encouraging the purchase of energy-efficient appliances through a $300 million appliance-rebate program that will soon dole out amounts that could reach $200 per appliance if you buy Energy Star-qualified models. Appliances that qualify for Energy Star use roughly 10 to 25 percent less energy than the maximum allowed for that category by the U.S. Department of Energy, which runs Energy Star with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

[Gerry]

Yup, just saw that being proposed, JB.

Also interviewing local people.

Car accessory and car care retailers report increase in sales (people want to take care of or trick out their new ride) and the local junkyard business is through the roof! The cars are to be crushed but not before they are stripped of valuable parts or sold off for either scrap or used parts. Doors, radios, radiators have to be dealt with seperately, some interior parts (seats, dashes, etc) fender panels - all of these have great demand and resell value.

[jberryhill]

Boy, I must live among the dumbest car dealers on the planet. After hearing a radio ad from a local dealer urging folks to come in this weekend before the program ends, I checked some of the websites of dealerships near me:

http://www.saturnofnewark.com/AboutS...ashforclunkers

Saturn of Newark - Up to $4,500 Cash for your Clunker - Ends Soon!
PLUS up to $4,000 in additional incentives & discounts!
Sales: (866) 429-2954

Raider, quick! I included their phone number. You need to call that dealership IMMEDIATELY and tell them how stupid they are!

[JMJ]

Come on in and trade in your perfectly good running likely paid for vehicle for one that puts you in debt so we can take that car and destroy it. I noticed how they switched to using the term "recycle" mid course. lol Also don't mind the fact that your neighbors helped pay for your new car while they are still driving their old one. Forget about that person over there sleeping in their car. Enjoy the free ride.. While it lasts.

[jberryhill]

Forget about that person over there sleeping in their car.

I guess you think the government should just hand that guy $4500? What will that do?

The point, JMJ, is that in an economic downturn it is helpful to stimulate demand. $4500 isn't going to buy anyone a car, but is merely enough of a reduction of a purchasing barrier to increase demand by a marginal amount.

As a consequence both Ford and GM recalled laid off workers and put on extra production. In other words, that guy sleeping in the car went back to work. That has a ripple effect on things like people's ability to pay mortgages, etc. Think of it like starting a siphon. There are a lot of interlocking dependencies in the economy, and "unsticking" one part of it can get a lot of parts moving again.

An added benefit of this particular program is precisely what you said - getting that "perfectly good running vehicle" off of the road in exchange for one which consumes less petroleum in the process and, in fact, disabling the engine of that "perfectly good running vehicle".

Have you even bothered to check if that rusty old van in which you are living qualifies?

[Gerry]

http://www.saturnofnewark.com/AboutS...ashforclunkers

Saturn of Newark - Up to $4,500 Cash for your Clunker - Ends Soon!
PLUS up to $4,000 in additional incentives & discounts!
Sales: (866) 429-2954

Cool!

A local Dodge dealer is basically doing the same thing offering DOUBLE the cash.

[JMJ]

Have you even bothered to check if that rusty old van in which you are living qualifies?

John I'm done having conversations with you. I've ignored your comments long enough. You want to try and belittle someone which is pretty typical of your kind. Keep an eye out for my next post. You're going to love this one.

[jberryhill]

John I'm done having conversations with you.

...and they say prayer doesn't work! Harumph!

[Raider]

Raider, quick! I included their phone number. You need to call that dealership IMMEDIATELY and tell them how stupid they are!

How are the dealers stupid?... I fail to see the humor.

[Donald Aquilano]

All this did was increase the debt for many Americans. Now they can tell their neighbors how they traded a perfectly good used car for a new car with a nice big car payment. Plus the old car went to the scrap yard instead of being broken down for spare parts or being given to some poor person who could use it.

I have a question for you all.....

How many of these new car owners will not be able to afford their car payment come the next six months???

My answer: A quarter to half of them.

[Gerry]

John I'm done having conversations with you.

...and they say prayer doesn't work! Harumph!

[DomainsInc]

Is there anyone besides the usual suspects who badmouth absolutely anything this administration even tries who has an opinion on this? Raider, bd77, gregcyber, jmj...these people are in every thread saying the same things over and over.

[Seraphim]

If the Federal Government is all about bailing or buying out failing elements of our economy, then why not just give the incompetent auto industry the tax dollars directly? I don't understand this "cash for clunkers" song and dance routine at all? It's an auto industry bailout, with the silver lining being all US tax payers pay for it once, while some tax payers head to the dealership so that they can pay for it twice.

I understand that we need more fuel efficient cars on the roads, we are supposedly running out of oil. But again, look at the government's solution to this, and then tell me it's not extremely sinister. Real wealth, that is cars owned outright by US citizens will be turned into scrap metal. Bank equity on the other hand via the finance companies is obviously going to shoot through the roof if this program works. So is this not just another tax funded scheme of expropriating albeit rusty clunker citizen owned wealth, and handing it over to the Wall Street banks who will finance it all, AGAIN...???

My second residence is in Poland. Here in this country financing for a home or an automobile is still very hard to secure. What that looks like on the ground, is lots and lots of wealth is still in the hands of every day citizens, as opposed to the banks. Yes extended families live in one home. Yes the average car on the road here is cheaper than what you would find in the US, and maybe even a little older. Now with that in mind, realize that Poland has been virtually unscathed by this global economic bank induced crisis. While the standard of living is much higher in Western Europe and in the United States because it's banked owned and financed, people here live on less but generally own more.

Food for thought anyway.

[Donald Aquilano]

Is there anyone besides the usual suspects who badmouth absolutely anything this administration even tries who has an opinion on this? Raider, bd77, gregcyber, jmj...these people are in every thread saying the same things over and over.

You want me to say something nice about Obama? OK here it go's....I would like to thank Obama for authorizing the Navy Seals to kill the Somali pirates off the coast of Africa. You remember the incident right? The one where Captain Richard Phillips was rescued by the US Navy.

[JMJ]

So is this not just another tax funded scheme of expropriating albeit rusty clunker citizen owned wealth, and handing it over to the Wall Street banks who will finance it all, AGAIN...???

That's the whole point. They have done this to many countries over the years. Debt=slavery

Meanwhile

$2 trillion higher deficit projected (only 6 months in and already having to change the numbers.)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...w165507D80.DTL


And when one asks where the 14+ trillion dollars went they are called a "kook."

[Raider]

How many of these new car owners will not be able to afford their car payment come the next six months???

My answer: A quarter to half of them.

This is exactly what I was thinking.... I think the last thing Americans want to do right now is go further into debt.

You want me to say something nice about Obama? OK here it go's....I would like to thank Obama for authorizing the Navy Seals to kill the Somali pirates off the coast of Africa. You remember the incident right? The one where Captain Richard Phillips was rescued by the US Navy.

I sat here thinking long and hard, trying to come up with something GOOD Obama has done in the last 8 months, and this is the only one I could come up with.

I'll bet it's the only one his supporters can come up with too.

Is there anyone besides the usual suspects who badmouth absolutely anything this administration even tries who has an opinion on this? Raider, bd77, gregcyber, jmj...these people are in every thread saying the same things over and over.

I can see the truth about Obama is taking it's toll, If it troubles you so much, perhaps you should stay out of the political section for the next 3.4 years.

And I believe JMJ was a big Obama supporter, It's refreshing to see people like him speaking out against the wrongs for the candidate they once supported, I have greater respect for members like him and Seraphim, than for members who ignore the damage Obama's done to this Country since taking office.

[JMJ]

And I believe JMJ was a big Obama supporter, It's refreshing to see people like him speaking out against the wrongs for the candidate they once supported

Not only supported, voted for him but also donated to his campaign. I passed most of this stuff off as "conspiracy theory" myself. It didn't take long for me to see it was a big con job I'll tell you that. I've been doing everything I can to right my wrong since and will not stop until he and the rest of them are exposed for what they really are.

Don't worry there's many people jumping ship I just happened to be near the life raft.

Stunningly bad poll numbers for Obama and Democrats
http://www.examiner.com/x-2304-DC-Re...-and-Democrats






http://www.rasmussenreports.com/publ..._tracking_poll

Obama Poll Numbers Plummet Faster Than Carter's
http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/o...31/242550.html

[DomainsInc]

This is exactly what I was thinking.... I think the last thing Americans want to do right now is go further into debt.



I sat here thinking long and hard, trying to come up with something GOOD Obama has done in the last 8 months, and this is the only one I could come up with.

I'll bet it's the only one his supporters can come up with too.



I can see the truth about Obama is taking it's toll, If it troubles you so much, perhaps you should stay out of the political section for the next 3.4 years.

And I believe JMJ was a big Obama supporter, It's refreshing to see people like him speaking out against the wrongs for the candidate they once supported, I have greater respect for members like him and Seraphim, than for members who ignore the damage Obama's done to this Country since taking office.

Its not taking any toll, it just seems that every "obama" thread is inundated with those who have obviously biased views (on both sides) making it nearly impossible to have any kind of real discussion. If JMJ supported Obama and now disagrees with him, thats different and I can respect that but even if Obama achieved world peace you and several others on this board would still find a way to tear it down. I think the cash for clunkers is a great idea, however being funded from tax dollars is not. Here in canada there are some dealers who are offering similar rebates but out of their own pockets. Many things need to be tried before we find something that acually works. I'd rather that than an administration that sits on their hands.

[Raider]

but even if Obama achieved world peace you and several others on this board would still find a way to tear it down.

Your so wrong about that, I've seen far more conservatives on this Forum praising the accomplishments of past Presidents regardless of party than Liberal's and Democrats have towards Republicans.. They've been tearing Bush down ever since I've been a member here, In their shallow little world, Bush can do no right.

Good luck trying to find one political post of a Lib or Dem praising Bush for anything, when there is actually plenty to praise him for. Yesterday was rarity though, when JBerryhill acknowledged the great effort Bush made for humanitarian Aid to Africa... To hear a Liberal say that, it was a absolute shocker.

I think the cash for clunkers is a great idea, however being funded from tax dollars is not.

I agree with you here 100%

See

[Seraphim]

It seems that the two most popular replacement cars within the Cash For Clunkers program have been the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. If I'm not mistaken, most of the auto parts in those cars are still made in Japan. I've owned a late model Honda, and still recall seeing Kanji all over the engine. Though I suppose the same may also be true for domestic cars and trucks, with manufacturing plants scattered across the globe. One more thing for me to research I guess, who makes what where, and who benefits...