Clunker Faces: She Heard About It Through The Grapevine

Once in awhile I get through to my readers or, in the case of talking directly with my sister about cars, I pass along some important news which others are glad to receive.

Passing Along Helpful News

My sister works in the jewelry department of a large department store and mentioned to a friend about the “cash for clunkers” program that I had told her about a few days earlier. Rosemary Delgado, my sister’s co-worker, hadn’t heard about the program but was interested in what my sister shared. It turns out that Rosemary’s 1994 Mercury Grand Marquis was ready to be traded in, a car that she purchased new. I later learned that Rosemary typically keeps cars for ten years, but she loved her Mercury so much that she didn’t want to part with it. Until “clunkers” came along, however.

“Tell your brother ‘thank you’ for sharing his information. I brought my old car to the Toyota dealership and drove out in a brand new Camry a few hours later. The money from the federal government was a help but I’m especially glad that I didn’t have to bother with the hassle of negotiating a trade – the salesman was happy to take my car as is.”

No Hassle Trade In

One of the things that has concerned some people about “clunkers” is worry that the dealer won’t accept their trade in. Under normal deals, some dealers are picky when it comes to what car is traded in, low-balling the amount offered which means that the customer has to either take it or leave it. In the case of the CARS program, your car needs to be running and registered/insured for the past year, but it doesn’t matter what sort of condition that it is in. Effectively, a sticking point in the new car transaction has been lifted, allowing eligible people to trade their clunker in and leave with a new car without much of a hassle.

As for my sister, she ended up buying a new car too – a 2009 Ford Escape. However, she didn’t have a clunker to turn in, striking best possible deal on her new car without a government program weighing in.

Oh, by the way, if you ended up taking advantage of “cash for clunkers” then feel free to share your story here by hitting the reply button. Let us know what car you traded in and what car you got under the CARS program.

See Also — Clunker Faces: First Rejected, Then Accepted

Clunker Faces: First Rejected, Later Approved

When Bob Elliott brought his silver 1986 Mercury Marquis to his local Ford dealer, he heard some news that he wasn’t prepared to take in: his 23 year old sedan with more than 225,000 miles on the odometer wasn’t eligible for the federal government’s CARS program. The burly construction worker hadn’t planned on buying a new car, but when the scrappage program came along he thought he’d surprise his daughter by trading in the car she drove for a new Ford Focus.

Eligible Or Not?

Elliott was surprised to learn that his car wasn’t eligible, having seen it featured on the qualifications list earlier. His salesman assured him that the Mercury didn’t qualify, explaining that at the last minute the EPA recalculated the mileage figures resulting in some cars being added to the list while others were removed. Undaunted, Elliott had his salesman recheck his information and sure enough his car was eligible – it turns out that the larger Grand Marquis didn’t make the list that year, while the midsize Marquis did. The Ford rep wasn’t aware that both models were sold in 1986 and keyed in the wrong information.

For Elliott, the good news which had turned bad and turned good once again was just the kind of seesaw he wasn’t looking to ride. Once he got his bearings about him, he chose a bright red 2009 Focus RS with automatic transmission which netted him $3500 from the federal government. Had he selected the manual transmission his rebate would have been $4500, but he knew that his daughter couldn’t drive a stick. Besides, with a trade-in of less than $500, Elliott was pleased with whatever deal he could arrange. And, leaving the showroom having paid less than $15,000 including taxes, tags and fees, he knew that he had a bargain courtesy of the American taxpayer.

Two Marquis Models

Elliott’s roller coaster experience was unfortunate, but probably a lot more common than has been reported and certainly understandable. For the 1986 model year, Mercury was still producing both the Grand Marquis (based on the Panther platform) and the Marquis (based on the Fox platform). Oddly, it was the smaller Marquis with a V6 engine that qualified (18 mpg) while the larger Grand Marquis with a V8 motor (19 mpg) that did not.

Disappointed shoppers are legion and include those people who have the means to buy a car, but wouldn’t have minded getting an extra rebate. Some people waited too long to buy as the Spring inventory glut has given way to the Summer sell off, as automakers trim production and moved inventory. As inventory matched demand the hefty discounts went away, replaced by more sensible rebates or low financing offers. Some buyers who weren’t eligible for CARS still got money off of the sticker price but at a far lower amount than what they would have received this past March.

As far as Elliott’s daughter, she is happy with her new Focus, enjoying the SYNC entertainment system and glad that her a/c keeps her cool on the hottest of summer days.

See Also — Clunker Car For Car Owners

Clunker Care For Car Owners

Not everyone who owns a rusting relic will seek to trade their car in under the federal government’s “Car Allowance Rebate System” or CARS. More widely known as “cash for clunkers” the program has been responsible for taking well over 300,000 aged vehicles off the road so far, models which consume a lot gas and pollute heavily.

To that end, a number of different organizations including those with a vested interest in having consumers keep their old cars going (that is, after market parts suppliers) are offering tips to drivers on how to extend the life of their vehicle. Indeed, with a little extra care, many cars can be driven for several more years which means that owners won’t have to fork over monthly payments for their new ride, a downside of the CARS plan.

Your Valuable Investment

“The fact is that ‘Cash for Clunkers’ is only going to benefit a very small fraction of American consumers,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Many do not qualify for the program and others are very hesitant to spend money for a new car, opting to keep their current vehicles longer. It’s important to remind motorists that those who treat their vehicles as valuable investments and commit to regular vehicle maintenance, end up saving a lot of money.

“In fact, according to Runzheimer International, the difference in the savings over a four year period between keeping a car and buying a new one is over $10,000. Even with the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ incentive, maintaining your current vehicle is the best economic option.”

Preventive Maintenance Tips You Need

To help ensure reliability and safety, and extend vehicle life, the Car Care Council recommends these preventive maintenance steps:

• Change the oil and filter every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or per the owner’s manual. Periodic oil and filter changes keep your engine clean on the inside.

• Check the tire pressure at least monthly, including the spare. Your car’s tires affect its ride, handling, traction and safety.

• Schedule a tune-up annually to optimize your car’s performance. A well-tuned engine delivers the best balance of power and fuel economy, and produces the lowest level of emissions.

• Have the alignment checked at least annually. Potholes and other road conditions, as well as normal wear, can take their toll on your car’s steering and suspension. A wheel alignment reduces tire wear, improves fuel economy and handling, and increases driving enjoyment and safety.

• Inspect the windshield wipers and lights on the car. Lights and wipers play a major role in safe driving, and they are normal wear items that need periodic replacement.

So there you have it! Solid tips on how you can extend the life of your car, avoiding costly payments while getting many more years out of your favorite ride.

Source: Car Care Council

See Also — KBB Forecasts Used Car Price Bubble