If you missed it:


May 06, 2009 -- New program to provide $4,500 voucher for fuel-efficient cars Washington, D.C. is set to take a cue from Europe in adopting its own version of a "cash for guzzlers" program.

The central idea is to allow people to take an old, nearly worthless car and receive a cash bounty of up to $4,500 toward buying a new fuel-efficient vehicle.

Under the proposed system, the full amount of the voucher would phase in based on the miles per gallon your next car purchase gets.

Say you start from a baseline of 18 mpg on your current vehicle and get a new car that gets 22 mpg. Then you'd get a $3,500 voucher. You're only eligible for the full $4,500 voucher if your next purchase gives you at least 10 mpg more than your old vehicle.

There will be a separate program for SUVs (you'll need a 5 mpg increase to qualify); one for light-duty trucks (2 mpg increase); and one for work trucks. The latter is a real reversal in policy; small business was previously given tax subsidies to buy the most fuel-inefficient trucks it could!

Talking about legislation that's in progress is always dangerous. But there's a lot of momentum for this and a general consensus on the broad outline that seems to be agreeable to most politicians in D.C.
http://clarkhoward.com/liveweb/shown...9/05/06/15696/

This may be a good reason to get rid of an old gas guzzler parked in your driveway for a new FEH or FFH. I still have my '02 Explorer and my other relatives have even better guzzlers to consider.

GaryG

 

There is a good deal of information and consumer feedback on www.cashforguzzlers.net about the bill. I like the idea to help jump start car sales and help out car dealers and consumers at the same time.