This is a wild tale of the EPA trying to “update” official federal miles per gallon ratings — and probably blowing up untold Cash for Clunker subsidy deals in the process.
Seemed every car dealer in Charlotte was trying to cash in on the federally-backed trade-in program last week. But eligibility hinges on the EPA ratings of the vehicles involved, and that is precisely what the feds just changed.
Upshot, go back and double-check the numbers against the new, new EPA ratings to see if any deal you made or want to make will get the Uncle Sam handout. You are going to hear so much more about this in the coming weeks.
28
2009 At 10:52 am, RickHenderson Said:
So can people who bought a new car anticipating a kickback get their old rides back, no harm done?
I’d be seriously cheesed if I had budgeted $14k for a new car and suddenly learned it was going to be $18.5K (or $23K for those companies that are doubling the rebates).
28
2009 At 11:07 am, Jeff A. Taylor Said:
I loved the EPA guy saying, “”The fact is that we have said all along that any dealer entered into a sales agreement prior to the beginning of the agreement was doing so at his own or her own peril because until the program is final you always run into the risk of a deal made not qualifying.”
Kinda a shorthand for our new Bailout Nation: When Govt Sets the Terms, the Terms Screw You.
30
2009 At 9:26 pm, The Meck Deck » Blog Archive » Cash for Clunkers Suspended, Meck Deck Right Again Said:
[...] other day we pointed out how screwed up the federal Cash for Clunkers program was, predicted much angst, and lo and behold now [...]
28
2009 At 2:53 am, Cash In On The Key. | 7Wins.eu Said:
[...] [...]