Cash for clunkers anyone?

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

My Mom's 2001 Kia sportage died yesterday so I'm thinking of trading it in for the cash for clunkers thingy and getting a Nissan Versa.

Anyone do this yet?

Just wondering how it works in the real world.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Read this thread:
http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...-clunkers.html

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

You would need to check the composite gas mileage for her car to see if it meets the minimum mpgs for the program. My guess is that it wouldn't. I checked my 2003 Montana and it got to good of gas mileage to qualify.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

I checked the gas mileage and it is a combined 18mpg which I think is just at the cutoff.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

Check out this website for composite mileage, need details of vehicle -

Side-by-Side Comparison


Other websites:

CARS.gov - Car Allowance Rebate System - Home - Formerly Referred to as “Cash for Clunkers”

Side-by-Side Comparison

Cash for Clunkers FAQ | CARS Questions and Answers

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Thanks for the links.

I'm going now with my brother. Hopefully we can get a deal.

Wish me luck.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

GOOD LUCK! I think you are wise to move on this fast, before the money runs out again.

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

Our junky 2001 Hyundai Elantra won't make the mileage cutoff, so DS will be driving the bomb for a couple more years.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

My understanding is that the car needs to be operational....so I hope your dead car has a few more breaths in it.

If you want to know what you can get try the clunker calculator at New Cars, Used Cars, Blue Book Prices & Car Values - Kelley Blue Book

My Mom's 2001 Kia sportage died yesterday so I'm thinking of trading it in for the cash for clunkers thingy and getting a Nissan Versa.

Anyone do this yet?

Just wondering how it works in the real world.

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

My understanding is that the car needs to be operational...

I currently have a deal in place, but my dealer will not release the new car until they get the official acceptance from the government (which I just found out may be against the official rules, but that is a different discussion).

I was just thinking -- when I turn in my 99 Durango, can I take a sledge hammer to it first and have some fun? How about ripping out the stereo and selling it first? Taking off the hood, panels, other parts and selling them before turning it in? I was halfway expecting to see some stories surface by now of people that have done that.

I'm not really serious, (except for maybe the sledge hammer thing... ) but I was just wondering.

Kurt

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Well honestly I was disappointed today. We went looking for the cheap cars, you know just a basic transportation car but new one with A/C and automatic and these supposedly "cheapo" cars are 16K. I mean a Nissan Versa and a Kia Rio. Yikes. It looks to me that they've jacked up the price to compensate for the rebate funds.

Also the sales staff was less than helpful everywhere we went. It's like they are not that interested in selling the car. I guess people are coming in and have bought most of the inventory because there were hardly any small cars on the 3 lots we visited.

We got the car running, turns out the battery was dead but the check engine light was still on so we left it at the dealer.

So for now I am awaiting an estimate of repairs on the old car.

So much for getting my piece of the pie.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

The clunker trade in cars are being destroyed, so that means less of the lower cost inventory on the used car lot. So yes, you are seeing more higher priced cars.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

I currently have a deal in place, ... Taking off the hood, panels, other parts and selling them before turning it in? I was halfway expecting to see some stories surface by now of people that have done that.
... Kurt

Check with the dealer to find out what is allowed to be missing.
Check 1999 Dodge Durango Truck Parts > LMC Truck Has 1999 Dodge Durango Truck Parts In Stock to get some idea of what parts are worth.

Just one headlight... maybe $100... each.
The hood... maybe $500.

Of course, if no parts are available... other Durangos may leave the road in years to come.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

The dealer called today, they still can't figure out why the check engine light is going on. This is going to be interesting. Unfortunately I think if it's something serious I might have to trade it in for a nice used car instead of a new car. So no stimulus money for me.

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

We were just able to pick up our new car on Wednesday. It took about a week and a half for dealer to get the paper work done and once we had signed the deal our salesman wasn't very interested in getting the car to us even tho it was sitting on the side of his lot with a sold sign on it. I finally called the GM on tuesday and picked up the car on Wednesday. We traded our Grand Voyager van which we were going to get rid of next year anyway (155K on it) and bought the Toyota Rav4. So far so good.
The van just qualified for the cash for clunkers at 18mpg.
When we first went to the dealer, it was the only time I ever had to take a number to talk to a sales person. 45 min wait just to talk. And it's amazing how the dealers forget how it was a couple of months ago when they weren't selling cars!! lol Oh well, it worked out good for us as the van was a good car but was starting to cost some $ for maintenance.