The Cash for Clunkers program (assuming they get it sorted out and extended and funded) hit me just at the right time. I drive an Expedition with 190k miles, the tranny is about to go on it, and it needs tires for about $650. So if I can get $4,500 it just might make me pull the trigger.

I was already shopping for a used car, and it was looking like I was going to have to pay at least 12,000 for one that would suit me. So the Cash for Clunker pushes me about 2,000 closer to jumping to a new car.

Here's what I will get, if I do it. What would you or will you get? Are you tempted?

i would be tempted to suckle up to the Gov'ts teat, if I had a car that needed go, and I wanted to take on new car payments. as it is both cars are paid off as of Oct. So, I will drive them till they die.

My wife's cousin jumped on it and got some touring model with leather seats for a sick price.

I'm still driving a borrowed vehicle, so it's a moot point for me.

Mom and Dad inquired about it for a clunker Jeep Cherokee (it's about 25 years old) that Dad drives and found that it didn't qualify.

We just got a new lease (Honda Insight) and turned in the Mazda 3. I don't think it would've qualified. It got too much MPG.

That's kind of what I thought. If that vehicle doesn't qualify as a clunker, what would?

If I needed a car I'd be down at a dealer in a flash. How could one not take advantage of this steal if they're in the market?

it is a funny program, in that the car must be destroyed, which robs the after market of used engines. lots of complaints from the various players in the post dealer pathway, from scrap adn demo companies, and the junkyard and used parts crew.

All to worship at the altar of Gaia.

woot.

It's too old. There are some criteria to protect against people being able to bring in an old jalopy and get $4,500 for it. Age is one of them.

My mother looked ito it and since she lives in Texas, they are also doing a program to clean up the air pollution, so she could get a brand new Honda Civic with a sticker price of $17,806 and after the Car for Clunker program, the Air Check Texas program and the Honda Discount the price dropped to $7806. The only hitch was that her current car, a Ford Escort station wagon, didn't qualify because it got too good of gas milage.

We can't afford a car payment right now. So we will continue to drive the minivan into the ground. It actually gets decent mileage.

The car has to get less than 18 mpg to qualify.

Our only car is an '06 Impala - doesn't qualify.

My Ford Taurus wagon with the golf ball hail finish does not qualify sine they claim it gets 19 MPG (which is above the required 18 MPG).

My old Ford Expedition chugs along at about 10 mpg, but they claim it gets 13.

I've been eyeing a Forester for about the last 6 months, as a good ski car/wagon. My folks have an '06 and really like it. My current car ('00 Nissan Altima, made in Kentucky) is EPA rated at a combined 21mpg (although I consistently get 24 in the city and routinely get over 30 on road trips), so it doesn't qualify, but the trade-in is about in the same neighborhood as the CARS program buyout.

The Nissan is the first non-Subaru I've ever owned. It's great, except in the snow.

Basically, it boils down to the Nissan being paid for, and not wanting to take on a payment again.

This is a good time to get a Forester, Hank. They really improved the body style with the 09, so you might get t deal on an 09, or even better, the second year of a body change is always good. They troubleshoot all the rattles out.

I was talking about this with somebody too. My car doesn't qualify either.

How many tranny's usually travel with you?

This thread has taken a sudden, strange turn.

W00t! Didn't the government run out of money for this program in like two days?