Congressional Proposal Makes Cash For Clunkers A Possibility

Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Ohio, proposes giving consumers vouchers in exchange for turning in vehicles at least eight years old, dubbed the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save bill, or CARS Act.

"The CARS Act will achieve many goals: consumers will finally get a break to purchase more fuel-efficient vehicles; we will all benefit from a reduction of CO2; and the auto industry will get a jumpstart to spur sales," Sutton said. "This legislation will help consumers, stimulate our economy, improve our environment, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and help our domestic auto and related industries, upon which millions of American families depend for employment."

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HSCenterconsole - 3/18/2009 1:41:21 PM

+1 Boost

The General Lee may be a classic, but it is certainly no clunker.

veyron1001 - 3/18/2009 4:30:52 PM

-2 Boost

I actually laughed out loud on that one. So true.

inspirion7 - 3/18/2009 3:09:09 PM

0 Boost

Love to have that clunker. General Lee sold at Barrett-Jackson auction for $450,000. That is a clunker I believe most wouldn't have issues with. Check it out:

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/20/barrett-jackson-2008-general-lee-dodge-charger-brings-450-000/

thstone - 3/18/2009 6:29:20 PM

+2 Boost

This is the smartest proposal that a congress-person has made since the economy took a dump in December, 1997 and one that I have repeatedly posted. Use our own tax money to subsidize the people who pay the taxes to buy newer and more efficient cars. This, in turn directly and substantially benefits those companies who make reliable and efficient cars and penalizes those who make crappy, inefficient cars. Let the auto buyers decide which car company gets their bailout money, not the lawmakers in Washington. Makes way too much sense to ever be enacted.

crslmn - 3/18/2009 8:02:36 PM

+1 Boost

I don't think this will really help the environment because the vehicles that pollute the most are for the most part owned by people that either can't afford to fix or repair their cars let alone buy a new one. To really improve emmisions maybe we should test vehicles. Here in Florida there in no testing at all. The way to make people buy more efficient cars is to raise the price of gas. However I don't want to be told what type of vehicle I have to drive.

woood - 3/19/2009 1:28:43 AM

+2 Boost

This is what Germany is doing right now and sales went through the roof as people who are scheduled to buy a new vehicle in the next 12 months availed of the government's incentive and bought a new car earlier than scheduled. Provided that the old cars have to be dismantled and sold as parts. This will eventually improve environment conditions but the main advantage is to boost car sales. This is a good move by the government IMO. As to how long the "promo" will last, only time will tell.

valhallakey - 3/19/2009 1:41:33 AM

+1 Boost

Actually it is better for the environment to buy a used car. Since all the materials to be mined, the energy required to build it etc... has already taken place. Buying new is more ecologically damaging in the larger view. However I like the idea as we need to get car sales restarted, and we should be working to recycle, build more ecologically, etc... more of the cars that are being built now.