The fact that this is a government program should be enough to raise anyone’s suspicions as to the logic of it . . .

My previous posting is #31 if anyone is interested reading.

Now here is another program the government is throwing at you and it is true. “Cash for clunker appliances” if you want to buy new appliances such as a washing machine, stove, dryer, etc… you should go down to Home Depot and ask for a salesman. You can save $200.00 to $400.00 if you trade in your old clunker appliance.

Now this is a very good program I think. In my opinion it makes sense, it stimulate jobs and economy because it is not a bailout program like for the auto industry which it caused tax payers billions of dollars already. This program is not putting people in more debts for years to come. I have an old washing machine that stucks halfway every time. I called several repair men to check on repair costs but each one of them gave me a big quote which cost nearly buying a new washing machine. Then I decided not to fix it and hauled it to the metal scrap yard vendor a few miles down from my house and I sold it for $25.00 for scrap metal. Then the next day I found out this “cash for clunker appliance” on local TV news. I went back to the scrap yard buyer and bought it back from him for $20.00. Well, not from the same guy that I sold to. He sold it to me right away because he had no place to store it. He had too many old appliances sitting around already and could be weeks before the big metal companies buy back from him. He asked me why the hell I want to buy this piece of crap? I told him I will fix it myself. I assumed he didn’t know about the “Cash for clunker appliance” program otherwise he would jacks up the price. After all I made $5.00 from him. Well, next step on the same day I hauled it to Home Depot and trade it in for a new GE washing machine $549.00 minus $200.00 for a trade-in clunker washing machine. My new washing machine cost me $349.00. Couldn’t be happier than that. Now, you tell me if I am wrong. Is this “cash for clunker appliance” better than the “cash for clunker car”? Personally I am ok to drive in a clunker car but I can not stand it wearing dirty cloths. I like to fix cars but not a washing machine.

I’d like you to tell me which of the two programs is better?

Thanks
Tim

The salvage yard has a list of specific parts from a C4C car that are for sale and which parts are not. Obviously, the parts affected by the “euthanization” process are not available. These cars aren’t just scrapped or simply disposed of.

Speaking of which, parts for older cars are still widely available. Manufacturers use many of the same parts for several years of production and across several different models. Each part in a car isn’t uniquely manufactured for each unique vehicle. For example, many Oldsmobile parts will fit on Chevrolets, Buicks, and Pontiacs. Many of those parts are identical.

Fear, uncertainty, and doubt is a classic sales technique. The new car salesman will tell you that your older car is unreliable due to its age. You’ve heard your friends say, “I’d rather have a $300/month payment and peace of mind…”

When I was younger, I tended to switch cars every couple of years (much more materialistic then). I bought my first new car in 1994; it was a Ford Aspire. It got great gas mileage (40 mpg) and was perfect for a graduate student who was also working full time. In 1996, I was in an accident that hugely woke me up. While I loved that little car (presigous by no means), I learned how unprotective it was. I was driving my little half sister home and another driver ran a stop sign. Praise God, I saw the car and slammed on the breaks, so it hit the front end. (Had I not, my sister would have been seriously injured). We both ended up with soft-tissue damage. I continued to drive the vehicle. Finally in mid-1997, I was in the position to buy a different vehicle, so I purchased a ‘97 Kia Sportage (new). I drove it until it was truly on its last legs (where I was spending tons on fixing in 2004). After parting with $800 here and $500 there, I decided it was time to part.

Rest of the story (with a moral):
I did my homework. I researched, researched, and researched (and then researched some more). I also test-drove many vehicles that were top on the list. I did need an SUV because of my activities. I ended up purchasing a Jeep Liberty 4×4 Renegade that was specifically designed for bad and off-road conditions. That was the end of 2004 — little did I know I would end up in VT two years later. VT has true winters (12″ of snow one day followed by 19″ is common — as well as ice storms), and the winter of 2007 had the highest snowfall in its history. Yet, I never missed a day of work because I couldn’t drive in (30 miles away with lots of hills). In fact, the day after the “Valentines Day Blizzard” where it snowed 36″ in less than 24 hours, I made it to work the next day (only to find the office and factory 1/3 full). Now I live in Colorado, where the winters aren’t nearly as harsh, but I am glad that I can drive in any condition (whether here in the front range — only 5,800 ft at my place and 14′ers in the high country).

Moral:
I researched to find a vehicle that would go anywhere. I bought what I could afford (I paid it off last year). I bought what I needed. Need is the important point here.