Clunkers for Hummers?

[G_j]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090813/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_clunkers_not_so_green


<snip>

A list of eligible vehicles has been available to the public on the clunker program's Web site, http://www.cars.gov White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

Edmunds.com determined the list of top sellers and trade-ins under the program from weekly sales data collected directly from dealers, company CEO Jeremy Anwyl said.

Both lists of top sellers include, for example, the fuel-saving Toyota Corolla, and the clunkers program by its definition is encouraging consumers to dump older, less fuel-efficient cars for new, more efficient models.

But the program, now expanded to $3 billion and offering rebates of up to $4,500, isn't limited to the best gas savers on the market. And that's good news to Beny Ledesma, general sales manager at Williamson Cadillac-Hummer in Miami.

The dealership has sold three 2009 Cadillac SRXs — the six-cylinder engine model — through the clunkers program, he said, and is finishing paperwork on two more. Ledesma hopes to sell the other 14 at the dealership, along with some of the Hummer H3Ts on the lot that are eligible for clunker rebates.

Both vehicles get about 18 mpg, considerably less than the 25.3 mpg average that LaHood has attributed to new cars purchased under the clunker program.

"The Cash for Clunkers is definitely generating traffic for Cadillac and Hummer," Ledesma said.

<snip>

[Warpy]

1. There are always a few pigs and chislers

who will abuse any good program and try to spoil it for everybody.

This program, however, is working as it was supposed to in the vast majority of cases.

If an 18 MPG H3 will qualify for the program, consider the mileage of the clunker being traded in!

There has to be an improvement in efficiency, even for pigs who are determined to remain pigs.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Your link has a comma, so doesn't work. nt

[izzybeans]

3. So the Hummer's bring the average down.

They are an outlier, skewing the true positive impact of the program.
John Stossel's Randroid self already tried to cherrypick this crap.

[G_j]

5. posted this because it explained, for me, how that works. nt

[izzybeans]

11. Makes sense.

I just got out of a debate with a friend of mine that's fallen down the Rand-rabbit hole, probably went off topic a bit.

Sorry if I did.

[NYC_SKP]

4. You're only going to get the credit if your trade-in gets worse combined mileage.

So, there is a benefit, though I'd prefer that only 30 MPG new purchases apply or that the rebate was more progressive/graduated.

What is the value of the credit for the purchase or lease of a new passenger car?

The value of the credit for the purchase or lease of a new passenger car depends upon the difference between the combined fuel economy of the vehicle that is traded in and that of the new vehicle that is purchased or leased. If the new vehicle has a combined fuel economy that is at least 4, but less than 10, miles per gallon higher than the traded-in vehicle, the credit is $3,500. If the new vehicle has a combined fuel economy value that is at least 10 miles per gallon higher than the traded-in vehicle, the credit is $4,500.

[Deja Q]

6. And the trade-in must be 18 or lower; a great way to give subsidy to SUV buyers and SUV sellers...

Buy a SUV 6 years ago with big tax incentives, and now ditch them - also with big tax incentives...

[Statistical]

8. For one with higher mpg rating.

To get $4500 on an 18mpg vehicle the old vehicle would need to be <=8 mpg.

12,000 miles @ 8mpg = 1500 gallons
12,000 miles @ 18mpg = 667 gallons
Savings 883 gallons (55%)

Compare that to higher mpg vehicle
12,000 miles @ 18mpg = 667 gallons
12,000 miles @ 28mpg = 429 gallons
Savings 238 gallons (35%)

The govt gets better "carbon for the buck" in the lower mpg example.

[NYC_SKP]

10. I love you, statistical.

And your DU handle is so fitting.

That first example yields three times the fuel savings as the second.

Cool.

:patriot:

[NYC_SKP]

9. Oh thanks, you had to remind me of the big tax incentives for buying Pig Wheels.

:mad:

( :hi: )

[taterguy]

12. There are big tax incentives for all internal combustion engines

I guess we can quibble about the definition of Pig Wheels.

I'm guessing it's: "Any vehicle that gets fewer MPG than the one I usually drive."

[Statistical]

7. In related news the rules of mathematics keep working even under Cash for Clunker plan.

In related news the rules of mathematics keep working even under Cash for Clunker plan.

So let me get this straight:
The average is 25.3 mpg yet it is shocking that some of the vehicle are <gasp> less than 25.3mpg

I hate to break it to the author but disregarding the extremely unlikely scenario that every single vehicle is exactly 25.3mpg then it is a mathematical certainty that some of the vehicles MUST be < 25.3mpg.



Good to know that the cash for clunker program follows the rules of mathematics. I though maybe it being government sponsored some how the rules didn't apply. WHEW that is a releif!