Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


11

Used-Car Dealers: Program's a Clunker

Other groups also unhappy with government rebates

Share

(Newser) – The Cash for Clunkers program has proven to be a shot in the arm for the new-car market, but not everyone's a fan. Used-car dealers say their business is suffering, the Sacramento Bee reports. "The used side sort of slipped" since the program started, said one Honda dealership manager. Three out of every five trashed clunkers normally would have ended up on a used-car lot, auto analysts estimate.

Advocates for the poor are unhappy with the program, too. They say lots of perfectly good cars that could provide basic transportation are being destroyed rather than donated or sold at an affordable price. Also revved up: Car collectors who fear future antiques are being lost. "We don't know what cars will eventually be collectibles in the future," said the California Auto Museum's director.

Vehicles are stacked after crushing as part of the government's Cash for Clunkers program at Victory Auto Wreckers in Bensenville, Ill.
Vehicles are stacked after crushing as part of the government's Cash for Clunkers program at Victory Auto Wreckers in Bensenville, Ill.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Greg Signore, owner of Elm Auto Sales, at his used-car business in Kearny, N.J., on Aug. 11. By some estimates, three of every five of clunkers turned in would have gone to a used-car lot for resale.
Greg Signore, owner of Elm Auto Sales, at his used-car business in Kearny, N.J., on Aug. 11. By some estimates, three of every five of clunkers turned in would have gone to a used-car lot for resale.   (AP Photo/Stuart Ramson)
A woman shops for a car at Springfield Auto Mart in Springfield, Vt., on July 27, 2009. Above her is a car that was put in a Dumpster as a promotion for the government Cash for Clunkers program.
A woman shops for a car at Springfield Auto Mart in Springfield, Vt., on July 27, 2009. Above her is a car that was put in a Dumpster as a promotion for the government Cash for Clunkers program.   (AP Photo/Rutland Herald, Vyto Starinskas)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
11 comments
VIEWING:
 
Jayster999
Aug 14, 09 4:52 PM CDT
Such are the inequities in government intervention (i.e., socialism). Twas ever thus... Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
dearlizzie
Aug 14, 09 10:50 PM CDT
Jayster999 I assume then you are privately educated, never set foot nor tire on a public road or interstate highway, use no cash or coin, incinerate your own trash, use no medicine as much of it developed with government grants, etc. And what the heck are you doing on the internet, which exists because of government innovation and intervention.
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
Derni
Aug 14, 09 4:54 PM CDT
No program is perfect-but if they eat up gas why give them to anyone even if they're in good shape? the purpose is to get them off the road Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-1
IN RESPONSE:
AnnieChrist
Aug 14, 09 6:55 PM CDT
Where have you been for the last 100 years BK? The American consumer economy is founded on the concept of "built in obsolesence." Especially beginning in the late 60's/70's corporations stopped building products to last, instead they built them cheap and shoddy, knowing the customer would be back shortly to replace a perfectly good product with the latest super-duper, all improved, version. Most Americans had to look up 'recycle' in the dictionary up until a few years ago. Landfills all over the country are filled with perfectly usable TV's, appliances, and other consumer goods that were not designed to be repaired, because we were encouraged to replace them. I'm guessing here, but I'll bet there are more cars still on the road from the 30's 40's and 50's than from the last 30 years.
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
AnnieChrist
Aug 14, 09 7:04 PM CDT
Thank you Demi. In their quest to criticize all things Obama, the right has again come off looking like idiots. They crticize a program designed to get gas guzzlers off the road because, the program is getting gas guzzlers off the road.
Vote up! Vote down!
-1

View all 11 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

71 Stories

UPDATED


 GM to Repay Bailout Early, 
 Posts (Smaller) $1.2B Loss 

Auto giant speeds $1.2B per quarter repayment sked

Nov 16, 09 6:48 AM CST
(Newser) - General Motors will start repaying its $6.7 billion debt to the US and Canadian governments early, with $1.2 billion quarterly payments beginning next month, reports the Detroit News . The accelerated repayment plan is a strong indication that finances are looking up for the troubled automaker, which today... More »

MORE ABOUT:
General Motors • Detroit • auto industry • auto bailout • Cash for Clunkers

 GM to Try Money-Back 
 Guarantee 

Firm hopes 60-day refund period will rouse sales

Sep 10, 09 4:46 PM CDT
(Newser) - General Motors is offering a good old money-back guarantee as a ploy to entice buyers to its showrooms, USA Today reports. Buyers will be able to get a full refund on any new GM model within 60 days of purchase. The automaker plans to announce the refund program in ads... More »

MORE ABOUT:
General Motors • automaker • auto industry • auto sales • US automakers • refund • Bob Lutz • Edward Whitacre

Clunkers Drives Ford's August Sales Up 17%

Hyundai surges 47%; GM drops 20% and Chrysler 17%

Sep 1, 09 1:56 PM CDT
(Newser) - Cash for Clunkers reverberated through August auto sales reports released today, with Ford and Hyundai scoring big jumps, the Wall Street Journal reports. The winners and losers:
  • Ford's light vehicle sales rose 17% year-over-year, with the Focus and Escape both in the top eight most popular vehicles purchased through
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Chrysler • Ford • auto industry • auto sales • Cash for Clunkers

71 Stories


Business  •  Politics  •  US 
TwitterFollow @NewserBusiness on Twitter

 
auto industry • car dealers • auto sales • used cars • Cash for Clunkers

from our news partners