Overhaulin'

Cash for Clunkers....good idea?

Do you think this is a good idea? I do not. I do not consider my '78 or '79 El Caminos to be clunkers. I take good care of them. My '79 is my fun car, and I admit, it doesn't get over 11 miles per gallon. '79 has a '71 400 small block over 30, cam, headers, etc. But my '78, with a 2-barrel carb can get 25+- miles per gallon. Also, my insurance is cheap, $100, 6 months. And Since they are classics, I can get 5 year tags which are way cheaper and I don't have to worry about it for 5 years. I was in an accident with the '78, work car, about 4 months ago. Some lady in a Geo broadsided me, crushed my quarter panel, busted one of my wheels and bent a rear axel. It sounds bad, but not nearly as bad as her car, demolished. I felt much more safe in my steel body car than I would have in her plastic car. Plus I finished fixing it within a couple of weeks. Not the quarter panel, I didn't have a welder. Besides, it was still drivable. I didn't have to take it to a mechanic and have him hook up a diagnostic computer and charge me out the ass to fix my car. Plus, I do not have a car payment, or outrageous insurance you must have with a new car. So, tell me; when I get mid 20 mpg, good insurance rates, 5 year tags, no car payment, safer than plastic cars, easier to fix yourself than new cars, where is the incentive? Granted, I will never give up my cars. They are like my guns, you will have to pry them from my cold dead hands. Anyway, $5000 dollars is the maximum amount to be given. My '79 with 30,000 miles on rebuilt engine is worth twice that easy. Even if the car is worth $5000, it is worth keeping. I wouldn't trade an old car for a car payment, no way. I feel an older car is like another freedom. I can maintain it totally on my own, with no outrageous fees. One last thing, I OWN my vehicles. Are we not learning from the current economic situation? So, all of this to get 10+- mpg more avg. I do not think it is worth it. What say you? 1978 Chevy El Camino. 1979 Chevy El Camino.

Public Comments

1. Nope.
2. Maybe if there are restrictions on it like, you have to have had good title for at least 5 years, you can't have a criminal background etc... But as it stands now, its basically going to cause a few rich people with spare cash to buy all the junkheaps in the US and make a ridiculous profit trading them in for credits or selling them to other people.
3. Yes, paying to take cars off the Road that get poor fuel mileage and emit more pollutants that modern cars is a great idea. this not only saves fuel, helps the environment, but also serves to stimulate the economy and help save US auto jobs...
4. I don't think the cash for clunkers deal includes classics. As a matter of fact I know it doesn't. So no worries. You never said the makes and models...? Curious because i own some myself. ADD ON: I do however think that the program is a good idea, especially if it means more people buying from the big three.
5. I think I bought a brand new car ... let's see.. back in 1970. My classic Plymouth roadrunner. Man, I wish I still had that car. I have NEVER paid full, new price for a car since that. Hate being in debt for a car. My current vehicle is paid for, not to mention that I need a large vehicle to accomodate husband's wheelchair. I'll admit it is a 2000. I am not a help to the automakers, who rely on persons keeping a car for maybe 2-3 years before having to have a new one. For many persons, that mentality translates into two persons having to work in a family, just to keep up payments. IS it a good program? I actually do support the concept of trying to build cars with better mileage and so forth. I don't think it is an overnite turnaround. As people naturally turn their cars around, the better cars will evolve. It may work for some persons, but I also think that I resent the concept that older is "always" a clunker.
6. Yes it is a good idea. No one is trying to take away your hobby. A lot of people simply can't afford to replace the old clunker and need reliable cost effective transportation. I'd much rather subsidize a car to get to work than pay welfare to someone who has no transportation.