Trade in a Clunker program...

[Tiger]

Hey Everyone,

I am shocked... I just looked at the edmunds.com value for my car... a paltry $2600 for my car! That's alot of BMW for the price! Although KBB said $4700...

The 540i qualified to be traded in because it is combined 17MPG... you need to be 18 or under to qualify.

Now the US gov't is offering up to $4500 for the 'clunker' and if for some reason you like Chrysler product, Chrysler will give you $4500 additional or zero interest loan... now that $9000 trade in credit!

Now before I get ahead of myself... Let's see if any other manufacturers going to offer something similar but not as much as Chrysler.

I can't htink of any affordable cars that would be comparable to our E34... and I shudder to think they will crush our E34... but most likely going to junkyard and parted out or shipped out of the country.

What do you think?

[Tiger]

Looking at the list for maximum $4500 credit...

Toyota Prius
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Honda Civic Hybrid
Lots of hybids but I am not interested in those...
VW TDI cars

Honda Civic GX
Interesting thing about this car is it uses Natural Gas and from what I read... people gets about 38MPG overall... much higher than EPA rated and there is $4000 Tax Credit. Intersting thing also since you are not buying gasoline that has federal and state road tax... this is also another potential big saving.

All other cars... diesels and hybrids cost a big fortune... $40,000+ like the BMW 335D, Mercedes E320 CDI, etc... Biggest kickers are the large car such as Lexus Lh600 or Mercedes S400 Hybrids that cost $100,000+.

[dennyg]

There are a few ways to make some money additionally with your car. 1 Take off the front bumper splitter. 2. Engine cover 3. If your seats are decent trade out for bad ones. Same with tires and wheels. /Tool kit.......well you get the picture. You could make an additional 1000 or more. Any way to pull the cats and weld it back so it would run okay?

[Tiger]

LOL... very funny. Technically you are right... the car just need to be in running condition...

[Ross]

Like this
http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/pts/1289981658.html

Anybody here?

[Tiger]

Dude... that's insane. Well, I guess Obama do want clunkers... so we have to make clunkers for him. LOL

Come to think of it, if we part everything and sold everything, we would get alot of money... just the engine and transmission alone can get quite alot of money... so is the cats.

[whiskychaser]

I see a business opportunity here. You get £2800 (USD 4700) for scrappage. I could buy a wreck and ship it for about £1000. Take away US duty and taxes on scrap - whats that? - 10%? Leaves about £1600 to split 50/50. Then ship it back to me. I can get £2000 scrappage when it comes back. Thats another £1000 to split 50/50...

[tim eh?]

So let me get this straight - the US government is offering to give people money for dumping their old cars and buying new imported cars (what they think everyone's going to buy a Ford?) And this is supposed to help the environment and stimulate the US economy? OMFG we're all going to hell and it's not because we're bad it's because we are stupid... what am I missing something?

I am not US bashing, I think we are all stoopid. We are going to have the same silly program here in no time... I'm mad about it already. How about a tax on (distance travelled per year / car's mpg determined by annual emissions testing) instead? I don't want to pay taxes so people can trash old classics for new beaters and then drive them twice as far because they get awesome mileage. I did my part, I saved my car from the scrapheap (fingers crossed) ... that's a whole car! Rant over for now.

[Tiger]

Yeah I know! Isn't that awesome? This is one way to get the money back from our gov't and put us in much more debt to boost the economy. Wait a minute... people deeper in the debt hole is better for the economy?

I share you sentiment... I am not ready to trade the BMW in... I know I will survive in much better shape than any other new car I buy if I got hit or crashed.

You know... I didn't even look at British cars other than the Mini... I should check out Jags for any great MPG cars... if any...

[Paul in NZ]

they seem to think that there are no energy inputs for makin new cars or junking perfectly good older ones.I would rather keep my relatively innefficient old car going than let it go to someone who will trash it and then dump it.Sooner or later we have to learn new ways of living.We cannot stay on this consume consume consume treadmill