Cash for Clunkers results fudging

[SVOboy]

This was a pretty interesting and eye-opening read: Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy — Autoblog

Basically, the government fudged the way they did the counting to bias small, foreign cars, when the real winners under the program actually included more trucks and domestics. Here's the government top ten list with the real list for comparison:

Top Clunker Sales According to DOT

1. Toyota Corolla
2. Honda Civic
3. Toyota Camry
4. Ford Focus FWD
5. Hyundai Elantra
6. Nissan Versa
7. Toyota Prius
8. Honda Accord
9. Honda Fit
10. Ford Escape FWD

Top Clunker Sales According to Edmunds

1. Ford Focus
2. Ford Escape
3. Honda Civic
4. Ford F-150
5. Toyota Corolla
6. Toyota Camry
7. Honda CR-V
8. Chevrolet Silverado
9. Hyundai Elantra
10. Honda Accord

[cfg83]

SVOboy -

Very interesting. But I'm more happy that the domestics (Ford) did better than reported.

CarloSW2

[jkp1187]

Can't say I'm particularly surprised by the story.

If the government was interested in promoting the purchase of more fuel-efficient vehicles, they'd forget about programs like this and just raise the gasoline tax. The fact that they don't says all you need to know about programs like this one.

[SVOboy]

Originally Posted by cfg83

SVOboy -

Very interesting. But I'm more happy that the domestics (Ford) did better than reported.

CarloSW2

I don't really care who did better, but I'm wondering if the motives in skewing the data were to cover up the truck purchases or something else

[roflwaffle]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

Basically, the government fudged the way they did the counting to bias small, foreign cars, when the real winners under the program actually included more trucks and domestics.

Did the really fudge it or did they just break vehicles up into the same categories they use for EPA FE testing?

[RH77]

My question: is the data reporting complete?

It seems like a big topic was the slow speed at which clunker payment was being processed. Could it be the same for running the stats? Are the invoices for clunker payment attached to a vehicle purchase? If so, there's a mound of paperwork to file and report.

Also, I have questions on Edmunds source. It sounds like they took an informal poll of their own and published the results.

I'm not convinced by either side just yet...

RH77

[Christ]

Originally Posted by RH77

My question: is the data reporting complete?

It seems like a big topic was the slow speed at which clunker payment was being processed. Could it be the same for running the stats? Are the invoices for clunker payment attached to a vehicle purchase? If so, there's a mound of paperwork to file and report.

Also, I have questions on Edmunds source. It sounds like they took an informal poll of their own and published the results.

I'm not convinced by either side just yet...

RH77

I don't think the final word will ever be there... there are far too many purchases that were made at the beginning of the program that still haven't been reimbursed, according to dealers.

[jamesqf]

I don't know who's right, but from reading the article at that link, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be taking this John McElroy as an unbiased source :-)

[Doofus McFancypants]

I am just waiting for the "USed Car Bailout" because of all these Decent cars that were "Killed" that could have easily have been resold. as well as the "Cradit" bailout for those who purchased cars in this program that cannot afford to make the payments.

Lies - damn lies - statics

[jkp1187]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

I don't know who's right, but from reading the article at that link, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be taking this John McElroy as an unbiased source :-)

And why is that?