Did I forget to tell you about my "Cash For Clunkers" deal?
I am sure you have heard of the CARS or Cash For Clunkers government program to get gas guzzeling clunkers off the road and maybe stimulate the economy the right way for the car manufactures. If not, here is my story…..
I started researching the CARS program as soon as I heard about it. This was before most because I get emails from the White House about new legeslation through my involvment in the Pickens Plan. As usual the information came slowly and most was not even available until the day the program started.
I new I needed to do something about new wheels. My "Clunker" realy was a clunker! A 87 Dodge Dakota with a loose engine balancer….. it clunked like the engine was about to blow sence I had purchased it a little over a year before for $500 cash! A neutral switch, rear axle bearing and seal, oil and gas was all it cost me the whole year and a half I owned it. But the brakes were getting bad, the frame had a tender spot, and that anoying knock! I had been watching for another deal like my Dodge to get me through another year or so with no payments, but then came the cash for clunkers…… I got to thinking!
The program started the 21 of July if I remember correctly and I was surfing the online car lots looking for a deal. After I did some rough figuring (My Dodge was eligible and was worth $4500 if I purchased a car getting over 27 MPG) I could get into a new car (sub compact) for a monthly payment of around $150! But my credit was’nt that great (another story) and I didn’t even know if I could fit in one of these cars comfortably! (6′ 180 lbs) I narrowed the field to a few cars I thought I could afford if I could get financing. One was a Chevy Aveo. I happen to drive by a Chey dealership everyday going to work and back so I stopped to take a look. Chevy has stiffed this dealer and they will not be selling Chevorlet after next year (I had just seen an article in the paper) so I didn’t plan to buy from them anyway…….
Well….. I was totaly surprised at the room in the Aveo, and after reading some very negitive articles on them, was impressed at how it drove. I tried some of the other cars on my list…. all great little cars and all had their good points, but even with some of the advertised deals I had seen….. no one beat the local Chevy Dealer! (I got another $1000 off with Chevy summer deals which ended July 31, had to hurry!) ……………
I now own (I looked at the car Saturday and drove it off the lot Tuesday evening on my way home from work) a moon blue Chevy Aveo 5. Tax, Title, fees and interest come to $7,700! A monthly payment of $151!
The next week I heard on the news CARS was out of money!
Clunkers requirements
The clunkers program will give you $3500 for a car that has been registered and insured for at least the last year in your name if you buy a car (or truck) that gets over 5 mpg more than the average (factory sticker) town/highway of your clunker. That is it… no trade in or anything else added on. The dealer has to cruch the car or truck (or can sell parts except the drivetrain). You can get $4500 if you buy a car (or truck) getting over 10 mpg average than your clunker.
So if your wheels are worth less than $35 -$4500, you have owned, regestered and insured it for over a year…… here is your chance!
Keeping it clean
After using the carwash and spending $8 to get my new car thrashed with wet rags, I thought I should look for a better way of washing and protecting its finish. I found a waterless wash that has peaked my interest! I Live in Vermont and think I might still need water for the big chunks! The protection aspect looks great though. I have ordered the basic kit and will be letting you all know what I think of it and how to get the best results. You may want to take a look and give me your oppinion! I would like to hear from different areas and aplications….
