U.S. Scrappage Scheme Moving Forward

[MazdaMatt]

Is it their intent to force anybody to do anything? Or are they just trying to persuade people?

[cfg83]

MazdaMatt -

Originally Posted by MazdaMatt

Is it their intent to force anybody to do anything? Or are they just trying to persuade people?

There's no force involved, just an incentive. A similar plan was invoked in Germany and saw a 40% increases in sales. You can argue that the Kei Car policy in Japan is also an incentive program because it promotes tiny 600 CC cars. I *think* it complements the other laws in Japan that discourage large car ownership.

I don't mind this for "economic" reasons. You can argue that it is greenwashing, but under today's economic conditions, it's ok with me.

CarloSW2

[MazdaMatt]

I agree fully.

[vinny1989]

Here in the UK ive heard adverts for many manufacturers mentioning the scrappage scheme. Some offer more than others.. (Fiat £2000, Ford up to £4500, Skoda up to £4500, etc)

In my mind though, its just a government ploy to get people to borrow money, with the side effect of then having more people driving lower pollution cars.


Has anybody else noticed though, that this offer is only on CARS.... Why not on motorbikes and scooters too? It would get more people onto two wheels, create less traffic in cities, more efficient.. (1 person on a motorbike or 1 person in a car? Which takes up more room, which is better on fuel, which doesn't get stuck in traffic as much) Really bugs me that governments are going on about everybody needing more fuel efficient cars, when so many people could get away with using a motorbike/scooter and only having a car as a second vehicle.

/rant... Sorry.

[Nevyn]

Is it required to be NEW-new? I'd be willing to scrap my Lumina (EPA 08 17/27/20) for say, an '04 Civic Hybrid 5MT (EPA 08 38/45/41). In my area, they can be had for $4500 to $6500. I'm not in a position to finance for a NEW car.

[SuperTrooper]

The bill pased the House on Tuesday and is on it's way to the Senate. I hope they don't screw it up too badly.

[gascort]

I think it's another bailout for the auto industry, just labeled as being "green" for PR. I guess if they were going to do it, though, it is good to motivate for somewhat higher MPGs, and you have to compromise somewhere.

I am kicking myself though, my wife wants a NEW car with high MPGs and I sold my '91 Ford F150 (14 mpg) last year for $700 to buy the escort. Arrrrgh!

[him88002]

Looks like the bill is all but passed. I will probably be trading in my baby (93 Cadillac Deville). Probably will sell my 99 civic cx hatch too. Just waiting to see if the Ford Fiesta or Toyota IQ come out in time for me.

[Matt Herring]

The qualifications to receive the dough is pretty easy...your car trade has to be EPA rated at 18 mpg or less and you have to buy a car EPA rated at 22 mpg or higher for $3500. For $4500 you have to buy a car EPA rated at 10+ mpg higher than your trade.

For SUV's you have to buy an SUV rated at least 2 mpg higher than your trade for $3500 and at least 5 mpg higher than your trade for $4500.

So the EPA rating cutoff seems to be at 22 mpg for the new car purchase and 20 mpg for a new SUV purchase. I guarantee you will see some shenanigans with EPA ratings in the coming months. What happens to all the new cars that get 21 mpg and new SUV's that get 19 mpg...they are now on the death watch.

[shovel]

Building a new car instead of maintaining an existing car is RE TAR DED. I have a special stapler for the reproductive organs of anyone who thinks it's a good idea to scrap a running, or one-repair-away-from-running machine. The future doesn't need retard DNA.

Anyone who thinks cars are ruining the environment needs to look at all the other outright wastes of resources we do that are less visible to the public than cars. Ever see how many acres of carpet and vinyl sheeting and cardboard and lumber that get simply thrown away into landfills from trade shows? How about all the miles of tape and shrink wrap? Every single week. Every major city. How about the hundreds of thousands of people flying from everywhere in the globe to visit the trade shows? Jet fuel ain't green. How about the millions of tons of freight shipped back and forth to the shows in diesel semi trucks? That's just my industry, WASTE WASTE WASTE WASTE WASTE. I won't make as much pollution in my whole life with every piece of trash I throw away, with every mile I drive in a 4x4 all my life, as is produced from ONE big trade show. Now think of all the other industries wasting needlessly?

Cars aren't the problem, they're just VISIBLE to idiots who can't think on a bigger scale. Old cars being scrapped is retarded - old cars scrap themselves just by getting used, any program intended to accelerate that is as wasteful as throwing away momentum by braking, except sometimes you NEED to brake - you don't NEED to throw away running, already manufactured, already DELIVERED TO THEIR AREA OF NEED cars. How much fuel is wasted bringing a new car to you when you already have a car? How much fuel is wasted bringing the resources together to manufacture a new car? How many petrochemicals are used, how many noxious chemicals are created as byproducts from manufacturing a whole new car?

Retarded. Utterly retarded and disgusting.