View Single Post
Old 05-07-2009, 06:38 PM   #5 (permalink)
cfg83
Pokémoderator
 
cfg83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,864

1999 Saturn SW2 - '99 Saturn SW2 Wagon
Team Saturn
90 day: 40.49 mpg (US)
Thanks: 439
Thanked 532 Times in 358 Posts
MazdaMatt -

Quote:
Originally Posted by MazdaMatt View Post
According to that article, they don't NEED to be scrapped, but they may be and you won't get any kind of rebate unless that car's EPA is less than the one you're buying to replace it.

Don't the japanese have a much more agressive scrapping program for engines?

I totally agree that a 1mpg EPA difference does not warrant a big government check. How about "scrap your vehicle and buy a replacement having 20% better EPA rating and we'll give you x dollars". This way there is some incentive for all those hummer driving soccer moms to get into a prius. Your list made no mention of ditching a truck in favour of a car.
(Someone chime in where I err)

From what I have read, the Japanese market is far more aggressive when it comes to planned obsolescence. They make the re-certification rules so stringent that you almost *have* to buy a new car every 4 years. This helps the Japanese domestic automakers because they have an almost "guaranteed turnover" when it comes to sales at home.

I think this is what makes the JDM aftermarket so lucrative. You can import an otherwise "young healthy" engine from Japan that was too old to pass Japanese certification.

I would have kept the "American Only" clause. Technically it's "my" tax money, so I want it to go to domestic manufacturing.

I would modify the rebate to be a scaling delta-T equation. Forget about a specific before/after MPG. How about $200 for every MPG better than the previous MPG? Changing from :



To :



Would yield => 29 - 15 = 14 => 14 * 200 = $2800

CarloSW2

.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	mpg_ford_150.jpg
Views:	146
Size:	72.1 KB
ID:	3414   Click image for larger version

Name:	mpg_pontiac_vibe.jpg
Views:	152
Size:	84.2 KB
ID:	3415  
__________________

What's your EPA MPG? Go Here and find out!
American Solar Energy Society
  Reply With Quote