A "Down Side" to the Clunker Program...

[Big Panda]

....we may not have seen coming.


I can't believe it, but today someone here at our Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge dealership traded in their 'clunker' on a new Chrysler. By LAW, we must take their 'clunker', put an additive in the engine that will cause the engine to seize and then call an approved scrap yard to pick up the vehicle for destruction.

The 'clunker' traded in today was a 'one owner, 29K original mile 1984 Old Cutlass. IMMACULATE inside and out. (sorry, if I had my camera or phone with me, I would provide a pick to post).

This is what bothers me.....a really nice older car being scrapped. But can you blame the owner? They're getting $9,000 for an '84 Cutlass! Even in perfect condition, a collector won't pay that kind of money but at the same time you hate to see such a nice car be 'crushed'.

It's a sad day here at the dealership......

[forestacademy]

Yeah, But they could have found someone who would pay $4,500, Maybe, but Chrysler upped the deal beyond what a colector would offer.

It is going to make those other "Classics" more rare and valuble

[Dave Van]

The cut off date was added so real collector cars would not qualify. Now a 84 Olds might be nice car....but as stated the car is far from a collector car. I have a 85 Ramcharger that I have considered doing the same thing as I would get $8000 off a Dodge Charger the wife wants!

[Neonspinnazz]

Meet Exhibit A of the C.A.R.S.



Meet Exhibit B after it meets Exhibit A



Meet Exhibit C after $4500 rebate and seeing you old ride smothered with additives

[Godfather]

Hmmm........ my understanding was they had to kill the engine, but could sell off the body as parts. Did that change?

[Terry Stibal]

There is a provision for stripping off the non-drive train parts on the vehicles. The most important provision of the "scrapping is that the engine cannot be reutilized.

[Kermit]

Originally Posted by Big Panda

....we may not have seen coming.


I can't believe it, but today someone here at our Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge dealership traded in their 'clunker' on a new Chrysler. By LAW, we must take their 'clunker', put an additive in the engine that will cause the engine to seize and then call an approved scrap yard to pick up the vehicle for destruction.

The 'clunker' traded in today was a 'one owner, 29K original mile 1984 Old Cutlass. IMMACULATE inside and out. (sorry, if I had my camera or phone with me, I would provide a pick to post).

This is what bothers me.....a really nice older car being scrapped. But can you blame the owner? They're getting $9,000 for an '84 Cutlass! Even in perfect condition, a collector won't pay that kind of money but at the same time you hate to see such a nice car be 'crushed'.

It's a sad day here at the dealership......

This was one of the "one off" types of situations I mentioned in the original Cash for Clunkers thread a while ago. Please don't tell me it was a 2dr Cutlass. Pure classic.

All that being said, I was totally ready to give up a '78 El Camino but it is too old. Maybe I'll go ahead and do some work on it. For now, it goes out with the others in line for a makeover.

It's a horrible fate for such a nice car....the Cutlass.

[sandalscout]

How'd they get $9000 for it? The maximum government amount is $4500, plus the scrap allowance. No car is worth $4500 scrapped, surely.

[Neonspinnazz]

Originally Posted by sandalscout

How'd they get $9000 for it? The maximum government amount is $4500, plus the scrap allowance. No car is worth $4500 scrapped, surely.

Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep are offering double the C.A.R.S. rebate with $4500 bonus cash allowance with or without the clunker.

$4500 for the clunker

$4500 from the dealer in cash allowance rebate. Trade in is not required so one could get $4500 from the said dealers without killing the "clunker"

[Turbo42]

right the junk right can strip it but drive train has to stay in tact