More Obama success: Cash-for-Clunkers results in biggest one-month mileage improvement on record

[scheming daemons]

A study by the University of Michigan finds that the fuel economy of new cars and light trucks sold in July noticeably jumped, thanks to the "cash for clunkers" program.

The average mileage for new vehicles went from 21.4 miles per gallon in June to 22.1 in July. That's best one-month mileage improvement university researchers have seen since the Environmental Protection Agency reconfigured mileage estimates in October 2007.

Study co-author Michael Sivak said the increase was especially impressive because it happened at a time when gas prices were falling and unemployment levels shrank somewhat. Normally, those factors would lead to more gas guzzlers.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/32371356

[notesdev]

1. And in exchange

We get the pollution involved in creating a new vehicle, where the old one was perfectly serviceable, and an additional $1B (soon to be $3B of debt we have absolutely no way to pay for, a destroyed vehicle for every new purchase, and a floor on the cost of used vehicles, which makes it more expensive for first time drivers and the poor to be mobile.

Oh yes, and most of the money didn't actually stay in the US; there was no requirement that the cars purchased be US-made, and thus the biggest beneficiary of this program is Japan.

Forgive me if I don't start cheering at the artificially-created 0.7 MPG m/o/m efficiency increase.

[scheming daemons]

2. Wow... so many lies in one post....

1. The new vehicles were going to be produced in any case. And if we're going to produce them, might as well make them higher efficiency MPG.

Or do you really want there to be no more vehicles produced... and therefore the death of an industry and loss of millions of more jobs?


2. The vehicles being purchased via the C4C program are a higher percentage American-made than vehicles purchased outside of the program. Normally, 45% of vehicles sold in the United States are American-made. In the C4C program, 50% of vehicles sold have been American-made.

[notesdev]

5. Nonsense

1 - The new vehicles weren't going to be produced, because there was no demand for them. Supply and demand, basic economics. Previous levels of auto manufacturing were only occurring due to unsustainable debt. This program encourages people to take on more debt. How many of those debts will default? How many people do you know who can afford to assume more debt at this point in time?

2 - for every job "saved" two were probably lost when the money to save those jobs was taken from others, who could have used it to provide actual needed jobs (not production of more cars that we don't need), and without the government taking a hefty cut in administration and waste.

3 - One of the 'higher efficiency' vehicles eligible to be purchased is the Hummer T3 pickup. Explain that one.

4 - Your second point is absolutely false; you can go argue the point with GM if you like:

http://industry.bnet.com/auto/10002081/dont-look-now-but-gm-says-clunker-helps-the-japanese/

It could and probably still will happen, but it’s amazing to me that so far no flag-waving senator or representative seems to have jumped on something a General Motors executive said yesterday: that Japanese brands are benefiting the most with regard to “Cash for Clunkers.”

C4C is a UAW/government-owned corporation subsidy, nothing more, nothing less. Argue the merits of that if you will, but don't fool yourself into thinking that there are any other actual benefits to this program.

[jpak]

7. LOL!!!!1111

"The new vehicles weren't going to be produced, because there was no demand for them."

That's why they call it....

...wait...

...wait...

A STIMULUS PACKAGE - TO STIMULATE DEMAND AND PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK...

AND IT'S WORKING!!!!!!11

Tough shit!!!111

:rofl:

[notesdev]

10. So what you're saying

is that you haven't the slightest clue when it comes to economics. No need to confirm; anyone who does understand economics will spot it immediately.

[jpak]

3. What a stupid post

:rofl:

[yodermon]

4. it burrrnz.. teh stupid...aarrggh

[rbixby]

11. I'd just like to say

that with out the 'clunker credit' I wouldn't have been able to trade in my 1995 econoline conversion van (13mpg highway) for my new efficient Nissan (35mpg highway), and yes, my old car was serviceable, but in the same respect, I was spending $65 a week at least on gas (that's approximately 30 gallons of gasoline burned up and put into the atmosphere). So in my mind, this is a good thing, I'm saving money, I'm saving the environment, and I'm helping to stimulate the economy. Nay say all you want, but to me this was a plus all the way around.

[DCKit]

12. Even if only 45% were mady by Ford, Chrysler and GM...

Many of the Toyotas, Hondas, etc... are MADE in the U.S.. The profit from each vehicle may not stay in the U.S., but the taxes and wages do.

I'm not having a problem with that.

[JenGatherer]

6. Factor in that

a lot of low priced cars were taken off the market. Cars that people could actually save up for and afford without taking on debt.

[KittyWampus]

8. You mean all those used car dealers and used car ads just evaporated? Just like that?

[TexasObserver]

9. recommend

[HillbillyBob]

13. I think this is the only way left to go. It kind of kills me to see

good machinery broken down.
We have had since 73 to really buckle down and build better mileage vehicles.
If they could do it in Europe and Asia and build decent size cars and trucks. look at Mercedes , 7 gear transmissions.
I have made our Dodge Dakotas mileage increase from 19 on the road and 14 in the city to 19 city and up to 24 on the road, I put in a K&N air filter ($60) took off the funnel intake and put on a piece of 4 inch pipe to give it more air.
Good Michelin tires, a tonneau cover, and a teflon finish. It is Duponts spray on wipe off product , I did that about 5 weeks after we bought it new and it lasted long , the truck is 11 years old and the paint is still like new I have treated it a couple more times and try to keep it clean. I also use Slick 50 and synthetic oil.
We need to make a lot more progress on mileage and emissions.
I had a VW and a little 914 both had the same engine the 914 would get 40 mpg and the VW would get 35 this were both 1974 model years with 5 speed manual gear box.
I had an 83 Datsun 280zx that got 40 on the road and 25 in town, 6 cylinder/5speed /turbo.
It is in the gearing on the road gears can be a lot higher and deliver less passing power but at 70 you dont need much passing power. Those vehicles gave that kind of mileage at 75 or better.