AP IMPACT: Clunker pickups traded for new pickups

[SMR 368]

If the goal of the program was to improve the overall gas mileage of America's fleet of personal vehicles, then it was poorly designed. If that's what you want to accomplish, you need to put a ceiling on the fuel economy of the new vehicles that are elgible for the credit - say 25mpg and then perhaps ensure that the trade in has a lower fuel efficiency than the purchased vehicle. I think, though, that the primary goal was to keep building - and selling - new cars.

I believe the amount of the credit given to customers was a function of the difference in fuel

economy between the new vehicle and the trade-in vehicle. To get the max amount ($4,500),

the new car had to be 13 mpg more efficient.

I don't know if that's true, but the minimum was $3,500, which applied regardless of fuel economy and is still $3,500 more than the government should be paying to buy people new cars.

[mawilson 2,133]

If the goal of the program was to improve the overall gas mileage of America's fleet of personal vehicles, then it was poorly designed. If that's what you want to accomplish, you need to put a ceiling on the fuel economy of the new vehicles that are elgible for the credit - say 25mpg and then perhaps ensure that the trade in has a lower fuel efficiency than the purchased vehicle. I think, though, that the primary goal was to keep building - and selling - new cars.

I believe the amount of the credit given to customers was a function of the difference in fuel

economy between the new vehicle and the trade-in vehicle. To get the max amount ($4,500),

the new car had to be 13 mpg more efficient.

I don't know if that's true, but the minimum was $3,500, which applied regardless of fuel economy and is still $3,500 more than the government should be paying to buy people new cars.

$2,500 was the minimum.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

...$3,500 more than the government should be paying to buy people new cars.

Did you feel the same about Bush's windfall tax credit for small businesses who bought SUV's? At least this programs aimed at helping to stimulate the economy while improving overall fuel economy. Bush's SUV tax credit was nothing but a gift to his biggest campaign donors.

[SMR 368]

...$3,500 more than the government should be paying to buy people new cars.

Did you feel the same about Bush's windfall tax credit for small businesses who bought SUV's? At least this programs aimed at helping to stimulate the economy while improving overall fuel economy. Bush's SUV tax credit was nothing but a gift to his biggest campaign donors.

Well, I didn't know about a tax credit for SUV's but I feel the same way if it really was the way you explained it. Bush wasn't fiscally a conservative. Economically he proved inept. Bush did a good job fighting the war on terror and that was about it.

I don't understand why we should blame the free market and fiscal conservatism for the current recession when it's demonstrated time and again that Bush wasn't a fiscal conservative and interfered in the free market in a lot of ways.

[HAL 9000 96]

Where's the problem? In order to qualify for the program as it existed- the intended new purchase had to be eligible. Why are we whining about it now that its over?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Where's the problem? In order to qualify for the program as it existed- the intended new purchase had to be eligible. Why are we whining about it now that its over?

Shhh...don't call it whining. It's only whining when the Left does it.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

...$3,500 more than the government should be paying to buy people new cars.

Did you feel the same about Bush's windfall tax credit for small businesses who bought SUV's? At least this programs aimed at helping to stimulate the economy while improving overall fuel economy. Bush's SUV tax credit was nothing but a gift to his biggest campaign donors.

Well, I didn't know about a tax credit for SUV's but I feel the same way if it really was the way you explained it. Bush wasn't fiscally a conservative. Economically he proved inept. Bush did a good job fighting the war on terror and that was about it.

I don't understand why we should blame the free market and fiscal conservatism for the current recession when it's demonstrated time and again that Bush wasn't a fiscal conservative and interfered in the free market in a lot of ways.

Bush had almost unanimous support among Republicans in Congress over much of his agenda. The notion that Republicans are fiscally conservative is almost a running joke....going all the way back to Reagan. If the label of 'tax and spend' is fitting for the Democrats, then the label 'borrow and spend' is fitting for the Republicans. At least when the Democrats have been in charge, they actually brought the deficit down. Republicans love to spend money, they just don't want to actually pay for it.

[HAL 9000 96]

Indeed. Now this overwhelming market in the US for pickup trucks is apparently Obama's fault. LOL FAIL. Where was this whining when the program rolled out and these illustrious novo-environmentalists could have done something to prevent 'gas-guzzlers' from getting on the nation's roads??

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Indeed. Now this overwhelming market in the US for pickup trucks is apparently Obama's fault. LOL FAIL. Where was this whining when the program rolled out and these illustrious novo-environmentalists could have done something to prevent 'gas-guzzlers' from getting on the nation's roads??

"conservation may be a sign of personal virtue, but it is not a sufficient basis for a sound, comprehensive energy policy" ~ VP ####### 'Weed' Cheney

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Well, I didn't know about a tax credit for SUV's but I feel the same way if it really was the way you explained it.

Here you go:

Thanks to a generous tax credit, Karl Wizinsky is driving a very large vehicle these days — a 2002 Ford Excursion.

"It doesn't hurt to have a larger vehicle, but I wouldn't say it's a requirement of my business," he said on a cell phone while driving the Excursion. "But I ended up saving $32,000."

This year, the perks of buying a large SUV — if you're a small business owner — got even bigger.

Congress recently [this is from Oct 2003] passed a tax bill, as proposed in President Bush's economic stimulus plan, that offers a $100,000 tax credit for business owners who purchase any vehicle weighing 6,000 pounds or more when fully loaded.

...

Meanwhile, legislation that offers a much smaller tax break — a $2,000 tax deduction — to those who purchase fuel-efficient hybrid cars is on track to be phased out. Congress is considering legislation that would extend the tax deduction to encourage consumers to buy the hybrid cars, but the status of the bill remains uncertain.

[NickD 203]

Saw some pretty nice vehicles at the wrecking yards from the clunker thing. My understanding, they pour in ground up brake linings in the engine until it seizes. More than likely, since engines don't carry VIN numbers, it's my estimation that the first to go would be the main bearings, a cheap fix, so these engines can be resold. Not to mention those nice interiors, drivetrain components, body components, and especially the way overpriced electronics. Really, the only thing they can't resell, is that VIN plate.

[mawilson 2,133]

...$3,500 more than the government should be paying to buy people new cars.

Did you feel the same about Bush's windfall tax credit for small businesses who bought SUV's? At least this programs aimed at helping to stimulate the economy while improving overall fuel economy. Bush's SUV tax credit was nothing but a gift to his biggest campaign donors.

Yes... I hate all kinds of targeted tax tricks.