Some old cars got bumped out of the new-car discount program when the government changed the eligibility for about 100 older vehicles last week. Other cars are now on the list.
The Detroit Free Press says: "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said ... a review of data on 30,000 models from the past 25 years in preparation for the clunkers program changed the eligibility of about 100 vehicles. Of those, roughly half had their mileage increased above 18 m.p.g., making them ineligible, while the other half were found less efficient and could now qualify."
"The government relies on the data from the http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ Web site to determine whether an older model qualifies for a $3,500 or $4,500 voucher. The problem was first reported by users at Edmunds.com and other Internet sites who reported the fuel economy figures on their clunkers changing without warning, knocking them out of the program."
Says Edmunds: "A few examples brought to Edmunds.com's attention by shoppers through its forums are a 1993 Camry station wagon with a V6 engine, a 1988 Toyota 4Runner and a 1992 Saab 900S. Initially each had a combined mileage rating of 18 mpg so they qualified as clunkers, but their "refreshed" rating came in at 19 mpg, so they ended up not qualifying."
Want to check your car?
Click here for the official government list of vehicles that qualify.
Have you had a problem with the program?
Click here to send us an email, and we'll check it out.
- Doug Miller
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
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10 comments:
And you want to manage my healthcare!
Make sure that you ask the dealer what the scrap cost of your vehicle is. That amount is to be added, above, what the voucher amount is. If not, the dealer will be banking the scrap money. Take advantage of the entire program if you are going to use it.
Amen! You see how well VA and Medicare has gone. Why do so many Canadians and Europeans come here for their hip and knee replacements? Why will our congressmen not answer your questions about how issues with those programs?
Seems that this is defintely maybe a good thing, now this is resolved, they can take on managed healthcare for us.
I've been advertising my 1999 Chevy Astro Van on Craig's List at $1,500 with no takers.
I traded it in on a new 2009 Chevy Malibu (2.4L / 6 seed auto transmission) and got $4,500 credit.
I also got a $2,000 GM rebate on the Malibu.
I discovered Chevy has something called the Nissan Challenge going on right now. So, I included my 2002 Nissan Xterra (15 mpg) and got a total of $6,500 for it... about $1,000 more than it was worth even in my most optimistic dreams.
That was $13,000 in credits. I got the Malibu for $23,500 (about $1,300 below the sticker).
That's $10,500 plus tax, title and tags.
What a JOKE!!!
The government can't even handle this little program and people want them to take over our healthcare!!!
The red tape is ridiculous. It's 1000 times worse on the bill the dems have drafted. So many rules, it's crazy to think they'll do a good job.
I bought my new car in February and would have qualified. Apparently Washington doesn't believe people that purchased this year before July 1 are doing their part. Makes sense.
Besides, what kind of future father would I be if I took $4,500 now just told the lender to bill my kids later?
Keep taking my money and not giving it to the people that really need it, then printing more money so what money I have left won't be worth anything. I won't do anything about it, but don't expect me to be happy.
I am a true believer that to whom much is given, much is expected. If you can't get the bulk of the excess to those that have very little in an efficient manner, then perhaps someone else needs to be doing it.
The problem is only getting worse. Everyone is too busy aligning themselves with a political agenda, and we waste our days fighting about how Washington should be spending the money. No one wins. The tragic part is that I lose, but I still have a comfortable lifestyle and can manage just fine. The biggest losers in the Washington political game are the people that need help the most.
And somehow people like me and a lot of you are still the bad guys...
Amen to 7:00pm. Do people think that the government will suddenly decide healthcare is the program that they'll actually do right after so many other failures?
And all this program does is add debt to those who can't afford it. Most people who drive old junkers can't afford newer cars or they would have already bought them. So they get you to trade in your car that works and is paid off for a brand new car which will depreciate 20% as soon as you drive it off the lot.
Next up will be "flat screens for tubes". Trade in your old tube tvs and get $100 towards a flat screen that costs $2k or more, under the premise of saving the environment.
The program requires that, "for passenger automobiles, the new vehicle must have a combined fuel economy value of at least 22 miles per gallon." - cars.gov
I think they should get at least 30 mpg combined city/hwy. Too much confusion if they changed the requirements?
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