Cash for Clunkers is causing a RWD Volvo controversy-

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/hammer-time-old-volvos-never-die-except-when-they-do/

Some of the comments sound like Brickboard members.
--
1989 240, 1992 745

The 'clunker" has to have an original city/highway rating of 18mpg or less. my 240 is 21 so I don't qualify or I would do it in a second. I'd love to have a diesel golf that get's 45 mpg's.
--
1991 white 240 auto

I can't get that website to come up right now, so I don't know what is said there, but:

1) Since the amount you get from Cash for Clunkers is a function of how much better the mileage is of the new car, relative to the old car, and since most bricks get equivalent or better mileage than comparable cars sold today, wouldn't you have to pay money IN to trade in a brick under this program?

2) I have to wonder how many of the folks who own these clunkers are able to qualify for a new car loan only because of the $4k down payment that you and I (actually, our kids) are donating to them. Doesn't it seem likely that a disproportionate number of these folks will end up getting their new car repossessed? Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't writing loans to folks with a low probability of repayment the thing that triggered this recession in the first place?

My take on the whole Cash thing is a quick fix for Obama to look like he's getting "it" done. In short order Car Sales are up for his Bailed out Auto makers. Although he is forcing the hand of Americans to possibly get deeper in debt with a deal " too good to pass up".
As far as my 200. I have literally put less money into maintaining that car in the last 20 years then my daughter has dumped into a MUCH younger Chevy Blazer in the last 10 months. What a piece of junk. American Corporate philosophy "Designed to die".
Not to sound like a tree hugger but, How much Greener would the Earth be if the Cycle time was increased on these newer cars instead of the Cost and pollution of Recycling?
--
'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.no.net/ebrox/Tony's%20cars.htm

I'm one of 'em :).

I don't think too many old Volvos are being traded in. But if I still had the extremely rusted out '78 244, maybe, if I wanted the car payments. This was a very short list but probably typical:
‘97 Explorer
‘00 Frontier
‘96 F-150
‘97 Blazer
‘00 Dakota
‘00 Grand Caravan
‘00 Cherokee
‘98 Grand Cherokee
‘05 B1500 Conversion Van 12″ TV and raised roof!
‘97 Expedition

A friend jumped at the chance of getting rid of a POS Cherokee and got a Camry.

I would love to see a list of the clunkers. It has to be available since that $3.5-4.5k belongs to us.

Tom

Yes, some of those posts are by Brickboarders. That guy Sven's Maintainer showed up there.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/hammer-time-old-volvos-never-die-except-when-they-do/
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Sven: '89 245 NA, 951 ECU, expanded air dam, forward belly pan reaches oem belly pan, airbox heater upgraded, E-fan, 205/65-15 at 50 psi, IPD sways, no a/c-p/s belt, E-Codes, amber front corner reflectors, aero front face, quad horns, tach, small clock.

Some of the comments sound like Brickboard members

Some of them probably are.
--
'80 DL 2 door, '89 DL Wagon

I know one comment is by a brickboarder called jorrell, he was really not happy with the comments about how expensive maintenance and repairs were! I think jorrell corrected that error, er, uh, gee, maybe that was me!

I wish we could start a federal registry for eligible 240 buyers... can they do their own work? If not, they must have big cash! Perhaps over the edge a bit....

jorrell
--
92 245 278K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!

Heh, I said my piece there. user = 'forty2'