But despite the number of trade-ins destined to be "totaled" at junkyards everywhere, some local scrappers said caveats in the program's rules are hurting business.
Cash for Clunkers - or the Car Allowance Rebate System program - is a federal incentive that gives car buyers a voucher worth up to $4,500 toward the purchase or lease of a new vehicle, provided they swap their old car for a new one that gets better gas mileage.
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Ford Motor corrections. - 2009-08-15 15:28:05
Mazda does not make the Ford Ranger. Ford does make the Mazda pickup though (Same vehicles). Ford Crown Victorias are not 'Slapped together from foreign parts' in an American (US) plant. They have been assembled in Canada for many many years using U.S. (80% usually) and Canadian parts.
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Emma G. - West River, MD - Karma: Terrible
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clunkers - 2009-08-13 15:56:21
gosh,guess I will just go get my chicken and corn grown in Seaford!Now talk about american!
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jim p. - seaford, de - Karma: Terrible
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American Car - 2009-08-13 13:43:51
In this day and age of worldwide economy. What is really an American Car? A few years ago, the Toyota Camry is made in KY and supposed to have more American Parts it in than the Ford Crown Vic, which was 80% foreign built parts but slapped together in an American Plant. Also at one time, the Toyota Truck was 100% fabricated outside American soil, and shipped over here and then all the parts were placed in the American Plant and bolted together and Toyota called that American made.
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Rick M. - Laurel, Md - Karma: Excellent
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Rick - 2009-08-13 13:12:13
I am in total agreement with your comments. My point to Jim P is, don't be talking to me about my Toyota when American cars may not be so American.
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M. Donnell - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent
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Rebadging Happens All Over the Plac - 2009-08-13 10:04:14
The Chevy Geo is just a Toyota with a Chevy bowtie on it, they did it for years, starting in 1985 with the Chevy Nova. Mazda makes the Ford Ranger. Honda brought Isuzu Rodeos and Troopers and rebadged them as Passport and Accura SLX. Isuzu then brought Odysseys and Civics and resold them as Oasis and Gemini. Isuzu also makes the Chevy S-10 and GMC S-15.
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Rick M. - Laurel, Md - Karma: Excellent
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Jim - 2009-08-13 09:03:35
Do you know the mileage I get on my RAV4?BTW, my last vehicle was a Chevy Geo Prism. Bought it at a local Chevy dealer. Do you know what was stamped on the engine....Toyota.
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clunkers - 2009-08-12 15:48:29
and your rav4 is still a small suv and gets no better mileage than my full size cars and once again both american.
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jim p. - seaford, de - Karma: Terrible
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Jim P - 2009-08-12 13:01:24
"When you buy a Tacoma the bulk of your money goes to Tokyo, where absolutely none of your neighbors, employed or not, live and work"
This is your comment that I was responding to and I believe it does mention jobs. I don't drive a pick up, I drive a RAV 4 which is no longer or wider than a Chevy Malibu. Yes, it gets great mileage.
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clunkers - 2009-08-12 12:12:55
m.donnell,we are talkin about cars not jobs I'll ask you the same question does your car get 25-30mpg and is full size and does he really need a p/u to drive every day? oh his tacoma gets what 21mpg ,almost a clunker now!
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jim p. - seaford, de - Karma: Terrible
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Jim P - 2009-08-12 09:54:52
Okay, let's close down the Kentucky plant, those people shouldn't have jobs if they are using parts made in Japan.
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clunkers - 2009-08-12 05:58:40
go back to my original comment it is the car not the engine that is the problem,take your engine out of your suv and put it in a mustang and guess what you get 5mpg more,also do you know how to build an engine? if you did you would also know you can change the intake and exhaust and get better or worse mpg depends on which way you go.
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jim p. - seaford, de - Karma: Terrible
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clunkers - 2009-08-11 01:40:11
when is ok for all tax payers to pay for someones new ride!Like I said I paid for mine without your help.and mine get better mileage than most ones being purchased and yes both of mine are american and fullsize..
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jim p. - seaford, de - Karma: Terrible
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Jim - 2009-08-10 20:40:58
I can almost hear Jim yelling "Dey took er jobs! (overseas of course)"
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Insider Info - , - Karma: Excellent
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clunkers - 2009-08-10 15:44:40
yes,your Tacoma was built in KY. using parts from JAPAN NOT AMERICA! thats like your sony was built in AMERICA......get real, and by the way I 'am one of the LUCKY AMERICANS TO BE UNENPLOYED. hope you are next,then you might buy TRUE AMERICAN.
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jim p. - seaford, de - Karma: Terrible
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clunkers - 2009-08-10 14:44:10
where's my 4500 or my credit for already having cars that get great mileage 23-35mpg and I paid for them with my money! now I pay again w/my taxes for someone who wants a new car ,did I get a new car? hope you need a wheel or body repair on something else and you can't get it because it was CRUSHED
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jim p. - seaford, de - Karma: Terrible
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Emma is right - 2009-08-10 14:25:40
This cash for clunkers program is another government handout with more unintended consequences than benefit. The government takes my hard earned tax dollars and hands them to a poorly run auto industry so they can get joe idiot to trade in his fully working vehicle for a brand new shiney vehicle using money he doesn't have, but borrowed from a poorly run banking industry. Benefit? 4 mpg in some cases. Unintended consequences, more government debt, more personal debt, an unbalancing of the new vs used car auto market, an unbalancing of the scrap metal industry/market, etc. Remember, the government can't give anyone money, without first taking it from someone else. Read that sentance again... it's an important point.
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B K. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent
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T. Williams - 2009-08-10 10:14:00
I have a Toyota that was made in Kentucky. I doubt the folks working in that plant share your sentiments. Those are my fellow Americans that would be out of a job without the Toyota plant. There is a sticker on the frame of each Toyota that has a code identifying where it was manufacturer
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Support Tomorrow: Buy Local Product - 2009-08-10 09:22:54
When you buy a Tacoma the bulk of your money goes to Tokyo, where absolutely none of your neighbors, employed or not, live and work. Right now this state and the surrounding country is about belly-up with all the dire consequences that implies. I'm not a nationalist when it comes to the marketplace, that's long been impossible, but I can definitely see the value to buying local, whenever possible. Last time I checked Ford, Chevy, and Chrysler pickups were an excellent value. Every U.S.-model pickup I ever owned when single (4) sailed past 150k miles and sold quickly even then.
Hey, buying local vegetables and furniture is a wise idea too!
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T. Williams - Virginia Beach, VA - Karma: Excellent
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clunkers - 2009-08-10 00:56:47
well P.de dreu ,tacoma why a tonka toy thats made of thin steel with doors that go tink instead of thud,oh if you knew what you were talking about you would know that alot of the engines are the same as in your so called clunker,and as for the 4wd, why most people never put it in 4wd or they think they can drive in the snow and put it in the ditch.also my older corvette and z28 still got good mileage.all this has done is hurt the used car dealer now the new car dealer has no used cars to sell and ma-be no new ones and is waiting to get their money.its all about hp to weight ratio thats why my 1973 VEGA got better mileage with a 350 v8 than the 4 banger.and most of your new cars use composite panels....NOW GET REAL!
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jim p. - seaford, de - Karma: Terrible
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Idiotic - 2009-08-09 17:48:06
Metal (Scrap) prices are at an all time low and this will make things worse. Killing used cars isn't the answer. Where are poor people going to get affordable transportation? Cars that would have gone to charities are now being scrapped. If your engie dies where will you get another one? You can't get the used ones as they've been killed and remanufactured engine are made from non DESTROYED/Killed engines. This is just another 'Feel good' government givaway that accomplishes little and has unintended consequences. Just another case of the Feds manipulating a market they have no business meddling in.
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Emma G. - West River, MD - Karma: Terrible
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clunkers - 2009-08-09 12:36:08
Seems to me that getting these engines out of circulation is a good thing. Jim, corvettes get great mileage partly because it is a light and aerodynamic vehicle, and partly because it is a modern engine. Lots of clunkers are older SUVs, so your rationale doesn't work for those. While and old SUV may be cheap to buy, the long term cost of owning a 10 yr old 4WD Explorer is much higher than most buyers realize. I think this program is great. Problem is... buying a qualifying car or truck has raised the prices significantly. Go try to buy a Tacoma, there aren't any available, the program has been so successful. If you do find one, don't expect a deal.
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P. de dreu - Hanover, MD - Karma: Neutral
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clunkers - 2009-08-09 04:53:52
thank you Sheehy,the car should be damaged in a way not to resell such as takin a sledge hammer to the roof,its the vehicle the engine is in,not the ENGINE that is the guzzler.thats why 2005-2009 CORVETTES get around 22MPG city and 27MPG on the hiway,set the cruise on rt.50 at 65mph and see what you get! thats great for a 400HP car that can also go about 180mph.All this does is put people who need a new engine or want to build a racecar in a car the CAN'T AFFORD,
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