Comments on: American Car Buyers Outsmart DiFi & Collins http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/ Firedoglake weblog Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:48:09 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: killfile http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1950242 killfile Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:59:23 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1950242 <p>“Go buy a new car, today? Why? 28.3 miles per gallon for cars, 21.9 miles per gallon for S.U.V’s, and 16.3 miles per gallon for trucks is pathetic, the legacy of over a decade of lack of pressure on US auto makers to pursue fuel economy.”</p> <p>Amen to that.</p> “Go buy a new car, today? Why? 28.3 miles per gallon for cars, 21.9 miles per gallon for S.U.V’s, and 16.3 miles per gallon for trucks is pathetic, the legacy of over a decade of lack of pressure on US auto makers to pursue fuel economy.”

Amen to that.

]]> By: tinman1967 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1950199 tinman1967 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:52:42 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1950199 <p>One thing that bothers me about the cash for clunkers program is it rewards those who have not really been all that concerned about saving fuel in the past.<br /> For the past thirty years I’ve owned cars that get 30+ per gallon. For people like me, no credit will be available because we did too good a job of being careful consumers.<br /> I think the government should write all of us out a check for $4,500 to spend as we please.</p> One thing that bothers me about the cash for clunkers program is it rewards those who have not really been all that concerned about saving fuel in the past.
For the past thirty years I’ve owned cars that get 30+ per gallon. For people like me, no credit will be available because we did too good a job of being careful consumers.
I think the government should write all of us out a check for $4,500 to spend as we please.

]]> By: kenmelvin http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1950169 kenmelvin Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:09:02 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1950169 <p>Especially if one’s constituency bought and got stuck with a gas guzzling SUV that they couldn’t give away.</p> Especially if one’s constituency bought and got stuck with a gas guzzling SUV that they couldn’t give away.

]]> By: ferrarimanf355 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1950162 ferrarimanf355 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:00:52 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1950162 <p>How about when Ford rolls out the Fiesta? I refuse to buy anything from Government Motors. </p> <p>… in the meantime, I’m waiting for Ford to put their new 5.0-liter “Coyote” V8 in the Mustang GT. Should be good for 400 HP, and should be enough to smoke those Camaros…</p> How about when Ford rolls out the Fiesta? I refuse to buy anything from Government Motors.

… in the meantime, I’m waiting for Ford to put their new 5.0-liter “Coyote” V8 in the Mustang GT. Should be good for 400 HP, and should be enough to smoke those Camaros…

]]> By: jawbone http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1949843 jawbone Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:50:25 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1949843 <p>On July 23rd my clunker was worth $4500 to me, as it was rated at 18 mpg.</p> <p>On July 24th it was re-rated at 19 mpg by the EPA. It’s magic!</p> <p>But I didn’t find out until I heard the reports of people having traded in cars which the EPA changed the mileage rating on. </p> <p>13 years old, close to 200,000 miles (I bot it used out of state when my wonderful Mazda died dead on a trip…really miss that baby’s mileage, upper 20’s, better on hiway driving. Sob), not getting 18 mpg with <i>any</i> local driving tossed in. Once it gets up to cruising speed, lowest 20’s, but that doesn’t happen much.</p> <p>Oh, well. Easy come, easy go.</p> <p>If my Health Insurance Parasite hadn’t been –and still is– bleeding me dry, I could have bought a different car. But the parasite demands feeding, or it will let me die.</p> On July 23rd my clunker was worth $4500 to me, as it was rated at 18 mpg.

On July 24th it was re-rated at 19 mpg by the EPA. It’s magic!

But I didn’t find out until I heard the reports of people having traded in cars which the EPA changed the mileage rating on.

13 years old, close to 200,000 miles (I bot it used out of state when my wonderful Mazda died dead on a trip…really miss that baby’s mileage, upper 20’s, better on hiway driving. Sob), not getting 18 mpg with any local driving tossed in. Once it gets up to cruising speed, lowest 20’s, but that doesn’t happen much.

Oh, well. Easy come, easy go.

If my Health Insurance Parasite hadn’t been –and still is– bleeding me dry, I could have bought a different car. But the parasite demands feeding, or it will let me die.

]]> By: secularhuman http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1949836 secularhuman Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:36:41 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1949836 <p>Respectfully, the program was clearly not designed for you.</p> Respectfully, the program was clearly not designed for you.

]]> By: secularhuman http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1949835 secularhuman Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:35:40 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1949835 <p>Now that DiFi’s been placated on the cash for clunkers, piss her off again, esp. if you’re a Californian. I called her office Monday to ask why I couldn’t find her position on a public option for health reform on her website. I was told by a very polite young man that the senator hasn’t presented her position yet, but that she was “open to a public option.” I said I was very disappointed to hear that and asked how I could leave a comment. He said that I could leave it with him. I told him what I thought, that she should have long ago taken a position favoring a public option. I could hear him typing as I spoke. He asked for my Zip code and that was the end of the conversation. I followed with an e-mail comment to her site saying that she not only should be endorsing a public option but that in light of the huge fiscal difficulties in her state with millions unemployed she should be in the forefront pushing health-care reform.</p> Now that DiFi’s been placated on the cash for clunkers, piss her off again, esp. if you’re a Californian. I called her office Monday to ask why I couldn’t find her position on a public option for health reform on her website. I was told by a very polite young man that the senator hasn’t presented her position yet, but that she was “open to a public option.” I said I was very disappointed to hear that and asked how I could leave a comment. He said that I could leave it with him. I told him what I thought, that she should have long ago taken a position favoring a public option. I could hear him typing as I spoke. He asked for my Zip code and that was the end of the conversation. I followed with an e-mail comment to her site saying that she not only should be endorsing a public option but that in light of the huge fiscal difficulties in her state with millions unemployed she should be in the forefront pushing health-care reform.

]]> By: Teddy Partridge http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1949794 Teddy Partridge Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:51:25 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1949794 <p>This is the long-term value of the program: people’s gas bills will go down. Sure, the planet might be a little greener and there might be fewer particulates in the air, but lowering folks’ gas bills at the pump is what they will see, remember and (hopefully!) vote for.</p> <p>I don’t think you’ll convince many of the C4C trader-inners that the “stimulus” isn’t working, as the GOP wants to.</p> This is the long-term value of the program: people’s gas bills will go down. Sure, the planet might be a little greener and there might be fewer particulates in the air, but lowering folks’ gas bills at the pump is what they will see, remember and (hopefully!) vote for.

I don’t think you’ll convince many of the C4C trader-inners that the “stimulus” isn’t working, as the GOP wants to.

]]> By: Teddy Partridge http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1949789 Teddy Partridge Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:46:01 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1949789 <p>Well, it’s not for everybody. I don’t even own a car. But when I use the little car-share Prius, Fit, Scion, or Jetta, I am glad for fewer monster truck/SUVs I have to sit behind, totally blocking my view of the road ahead. </p> <p>They are unsafe for everybody, and I’m happy to see them go to the crusher.</p> <p><a href="http://jalopnik.com/5329940/where-cash-for-clunkers-money-is-being-spent" rel="nofollow">Top ten vehicles traded in:</a></p> <p>The Ten Most Traded-In Vehicles<br /> 1. Ford Explorer 4WD<br /> 2. Ford F-150 2WD<br /> 3. Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD<br /> 4. Jeep Cherokee 4WD<br /> 5. Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan 2WD<br /> 6. Chevrolet Blazer 4WD<br /> 7. Ford Explorer 2WD<br /> 8. Ford F-150 Pickup 4WD<br /> 9. Chevrolet C1500 Pickup 2WD<br /> 10. Ford Windstar FWD Van</p> Well, it’s not for everybody. I don’t even own a car. But when I use the little car-share Prius, Fit, Scion, or Jetta, I am glad for fewer monster truck/SUVs I have to sit behind, totally blocking my view of the road ahead.

They are unsafe for everybody, and I’m happy to see them go to the crusher.

Top ten vehicles traded in:

The Ten Most Traded-In Vehicles
1. Ford Explorer 4WD
2. Ford F-150 2WD
3. Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD
4. Jeep Cherokee 4WD
5. Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan 2WD
6. Chevrolet Blazer 4WD
7. Ford Explorer 2WD
8. Ford F-150 Pickup 4WD
9. Chevrolet C1500 Pickup 2WD
10. Ford Windstar FWD Van

]]> By: kaleberg http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1949785 kaleberg Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:44:07 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/04/american-car-buyers-outsmart-difi-collins/#comment-1949785 <p>I actually know someone who took advantage of Cash for Clunkers. The clunker was an old powder blue pickup truck named Kirby with terrible gas mileage and a lot of history. Kirby hadn’t been doing all that well, but could be coaxed into action when needed. Well, Kirby has been replaced by a smaller, newer vehicle with much better gas mileage though no history yet. I doubt my friend would have replaced Kirby without this Cash for Clunkers deal. Sure, the new truck is not a Honda Civic or a Toyota Prius, but it sips gas in comparison to old K.</p> I actually know someone who took advantage of Cash for Clunkers. The clunker was an old powder blue pickup truck named Kirby with terrible gas mileage and a lot of history. Kirby hadn’t been doing all that well, but could be coaxed into action when needed. Well, Kirby has been replaced by a smaller, newer vehicle with much better gas mileage though no history yet. I doubt my friend would have replaced Kirby without this Cash for Clunkers deal. Sure, the new truck is not a Honda Civic or a Toyota Prius, but it sips gas in comparison to old K.

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