State expands car-scrapping plan

mdwhit

If you think the federal plan is a bad- read this one!!



http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jun/27/state-expands-car-scrapping-plan/?uniontrib

[Deleted User]

That's the People's Republik of Kalifornia for you. Is anyone really surprised?

rambos_ride

Those CA idiots can't pay their own bills now - where are they getting money to add to their own Clunker program?

CA program does target older cars - unlike the federal (boondoggle which I hate as well)

So you car-nuts in CA ought to start complaining LOUDLY - "BALANCE OUR BUDGET FIRST"

Clunkers on the road should be their least priority on the list

hudnut1tmr

It's easier to take away our civil liberties than to balance a budget. Illinois is REAL GOOD at that.

hudsontech

The biggest trouble with these programs is that they target a group of drivers that cannot afford to drive a decent car. So, if you force them to give up their daily drivers you take away their means of getting to work, whatever that may be.



In CA's case they'll give you up to $1000 or $1500 for your car. Now, who's going to be able to buy a fuel efficient car for that money - or even $4,000 or $5,000. The politicians don't get the msg - Joe Doakes is driving that 1972 guzzle-mobile for a reason. He bought it for next to nothing in the first place because, NOW LISTEN UP POLITICIANS, IT WAS ALL HE COULD AFFORD, AND IS ALL HE CAN AFFORD TODAY!!!!!!!!! Simple. But, then, it's so simple a politician cannot understand it.



Take me, for example. I'm a retiree living on $2500 a month. I drive a 12 year old Cadillac that needs work, but it runs. If I could afford a newer, fuel efficient car I would have one. I can't so if some law comes along that says I can't keep my car on the road, I'm walking. It's a half-mile to the nearest bus stop - and who's going to carry my groceries on the way back home. My doctor is about 10 miles away - no car, no doctor. And the beat goes on.



Catch-22.



Alex Burr

Memphis, TN

MikeWA

Pretty good commentary on Fox News by one of the first guys I've heard with any common sense on this. Said this deal will apply to two primary groups, neither of which will utilize it, but for different reasons. Group 1 is Alex (and me)- older cars, but owners wouldn't buy a new one anyhow (and mine doesn't even qualify- '95 Lincoln Continental, 19 mpg city, 25 highway- too fuel efficient! go figure).



Second group, and the one they're really targeting, is the pickups and SUVs- but most of them are worth more than the 4 grand or whatever that they're giving you, so that group won't bite, either. Many with "guzzlers" have them to tow a boat or trailer, and so can't downsize because the littler one won't cut the mustard. Yeah, they drive the guzzler to work during the week, because the extra gas is a lot cheaper than owning yet another car, but they're not going to give up the boat or trailer.



You'll have the occasional person who has an old Bronco in addition to their "regular" cars who might go for it, because the Bronco isn't worth what they'll give for it- but those are likely to be few and far between.

Hudsonrules

:mad:Here we go again! Politicians in the car companies pockets. I thought Obama was going to do away with the DAMN lobbyists. Guess not yet. The idea behind all this nonsence is to force people to buy new or newer cars and trucks to make the car companies show a profit and then they can pay the goverment back. Hmmm. The CRAP they build now days is overpriced throw a way plastic vehicles. Yes, they do get better mileage and are more reliable and have more conviences than cars of the past but theyall look alike, have no personalities. You buy a car to go from point "A" to point "B" and if it gets fifeteen miles per gallon and it is paid for, that is a lot better than paying thirty five thousand plus for something that will get you twenty five miles per gallon and payments forever including maintainance. Then try to buy parts for the same vehicle after it is seven or so years old. Try to find a mechanic that can work on it.

A person is better off with an older vehicle that is paid for, that was built when the car companies used iron and steel, had good designers and took pride in what they built.

Todays Hybrids are not what they are cracked up to be, when the batteries need replacing, buy a new car, it will be cheaper. Arnie