While new cars are not what Clunkbucket is about, there is legislation afoot that could well destroy the future of American automotive history before it even gets a chance to happen. There’s not much that gets me teeth grinding tire gnashing mad anymore, except things like this so-called Cash for Clunkers program.
Of this writing, it’s hard to tell exactly what the poorly named Cash for Clunkers bill actually is. The program reads and sounds like a great idea. Trade in that oil-spewing behemoth of a vehicle and get a pile of cash for a brand new car that emits nothing but flowers and sunshine! That old clunker? Crushed for good, with no eligibility for recycling.
Here’s the deal. Attempting to consume our way out of a consumption-based problem through a federally funded bailout is a poor plan for a variety of reasons. Worse, is that a compromise between an emissions-based and fuel economy-based proposals seem to have recently boiled down to legislative pabulum. Better to scrap this entire program now then hastily push through another poorly thought out mess that could cost us billions, and solve no actual problems other than smoothing the political feathers of a few ruffled representatives.
The throwaways of automotive culture have sparked motoring trends that over time have become part of our cultural fabric and created giant economic engines of their own. Back in the ’40s and ’50s it was kids tearing the fenders off ’30s Fords and hopping up the engines to make gow jobs, or what we now know as hot rods. Affordable Toyota Corollas and talented drivers begat drifting in Japan. The trend has sparked global enthusiasm for precision driving and older rear-drive cars. American drag racers shoehorning high horsepower supercharged engines into all manner of Fiat Topolinos and Willys coupes created the legendary Gassers. Even from the wheezy Volkswagen Beetle sprang industry built up around aftermarket performance and style. Seriously. Who doesn’t want a gold metalflake Meyers Manx Dune Buggy with a stinger exhaust pipe?
Clunkers and the other castaways of the automotive world are what keeps vintage motoring interesting. Let it be said here and now that if you’re thinking I’m advocating a Luddite-style approach to classic and neo-classic automobiles you are mistaken. Clunkbucket officially encourages the swapping of newer, more efficient, and cleaner burning engines and powertrains into older vehicles. There is efficiency to be found, as many older vehicles are lighter than their modern contemporaries. Swapping alternative fuel and propulsion technologies into existing older automobiles is another capital idea. Advocates of Cash for Clunkers legislation would have you believe that older cars are gas-guzzling despoilers of the environment. To these people who seemingly want to remove all semblance of joy and entertainment from driving and motoring, I present the 1984 Toyota Starlet – which was rated at 55-mpg highway over twenty years ago. Even better is the Spirit of ’76 Dodge Dart Lite.
Cash for Clunkers is an unfortunate name for an ineffective program we’ll all get to pay for again with interest later. Less expensive but far more effective would be to change laws and regulations to allow automakers and individuals to import already existing highly-efficient automobiles. Because of the Byzantine complexity of federal and state regulations, many of these machines are simply not allowed on American roads. Japan has its Kei cars and Superminis. Europe its diesels. Automakers have manufacturing and engineering facilities right here at home. Rewarding profit margin blinded executives and misguided consumers for making poor automotive choices by way of a taxpayer funded voucher program is a simply terrible idea. Crushing cars and crippling an entire aftermarket automotive industry could be the unfortunate results. Stifling innovation through subsidy and ignoring our automotive heritage is precisely what got us into this mess in the first place.
The short-term solution for existing less efficient vehicles is to increase their practical efficiency by having more fun. If you own one of these older evil, gas-huffing SUVs, minivans, full-size vans or cars, it is your responsibility as an American to put as many people as possible in it and bring them to work, the movies, or out to a delicious meal. When summer comes? Stuff that Potemkin-class behemoth full of kids, parents, beach balls, friends and icy coolers and go to the lake or motor out by-the-sea. Depending on how many passengers climb aboard your automobile and get out of theirs, this simple practice could increase practical vehicle efficiency three-to-seven-fold! Less traffic on the way out to the lake is another bonus.
The problem is not so much with the automobile itself, but what we all do with the automobile. Yet another federal bailout disguised as a voucher problem in the name of the environment is not going to change our consumption habits, or the way we use and appreciate the automobile. Just say no to any more of this nonsense, and save our clunkers and future classics from being needlessly crushed in the process.
We live in a Democracy, and the internet has evidently made Goverment easy! Contact your elected official and let them know how you feel.
I agree wholeheartedly!
They’re not giving anyone cash and they only want your reliably running older car that still gets 18mpg. What’s worse, they only require a new vehicle that gets 2mpg (4mpg for cars) more than the “clunker” you let them flat out destroy. Such improvements can likely be had through a basic tune up and not driving like a choad.
But they don’t want you to hear that. They want you to hear that they (not us) are giving out free money in the name of saving the planet. Nevermind that they will require these scrapped cars and trucks to be crushed and smelted, thereby penalizing anyone else who opts to preserve their investment in a vehicle.
Basically, they want to steamroll this garbage through to law so that hundreds of thousands of people (with the financial sense of a lugnut) will be duped into going deeper into debt in order to FINANCE 2 to 4 miles per gallon. Its ridiculous!
If you’re reading this PLEASE contact your “representatives” in Washington and DEMAND that they stop wasting YOUR money on stupid legislation like this simply because people like you aren’t looking to buy a new car from a soon-to-be-bankrupt automaker. Then tell your gearhead buddies to do the same.
Rule #1: Never mess with another man’s car.
That’s exactly what this is out to do. We need to fight this together. Thanks for posting, sir.
no;No;NO!!!!!
The tragedic, frustrating thing about with Cash for Clunkers (or any other name) is how it’s really one program masquerading as another.
If the real goal were to encourage the use of more fuel efficient or clean vehicles by those that are clinging to their dinosaurs, the fed would issue credits for maintenance or better yet, engine swaps.
If they insist on taking these cars off the road, wasting their entire parts content is, well, wasteful. Those engines can be remanufactured into cleaner running crate motors.
In terms of economic stimulus, don’t forget that the replacement parts, aftermarket and vehicle service industries are all important sources of jobs as well.
Mechanics jobs are good jobs that can’t be shipped overseas. Older cars require more money and less in parts to service, Those labor bills all go to Hard Working Americans in jobs that can’t be shipped overseas. Contrast this to the majority of the parts content in new cars. The same new cars that are largely serviced by replacing sensors or other electronic components made in factories overseas.
While we’re at it, I’d propose amending the smog laws in California (and many other states that follow suit) to allow more flexibility in older vehicles.
The pre-1975 free-for-all is nice, but it leaves a ’76-thru-early-80s something-or-other nearly worthless, as you’ve gotta keep the pre-efi vacuum tube hell smog system intact and functional, when a well-tuned swapped in motor would actually run more efficiently and cleaner.
I would propose a rolling 30 year exemption, with a rolling 15 or 20 year rolling exemption on the visual inspection. Just make ’em pass the sniffer test, which should be easy to do on a car you care about.
Most of these vehicles see fewer than 5000 miles/year anyway, so why not implement a low-mileage exemption? Submit to having your odometer checked yearly and you’re in the clear.
My friend sold his 77 4 door Chevy Nova to the ‘cash for clunkers’ program and then saw it driving around town a few weeks later. So the junkyards are getting paid by the government, but why would they crush a good running car instead of selling it? Part of the program stipulates that your car must be in drivable condition and currently registered! Worst program ever.