Marauders going to the crushers?

[J D]

My appologies for the inflamatory title but it may well be deserved as the "Cash for Clunkers" bill passed the house of reps. yesterday, and although it probably still has some tweeks to be made in the senate, our Mercurys are in the crosshairs.

A passenger car, post 1984 (because in '85 the EPA first started measuring fuel economy), with less than 18 MPG combined can be traded in for another vehicle that has 4 MPG better and that costs >$45K and receive a voucher for $3,500. Or $4,500 if the new car has 10 MPG more than the original.

Now, I know many present on this forum will, like I, look at their window sticker and say that we get 20 MPG average, but not according to Uncle Sam (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/FEG/noframes/18745.shtml). According the government the '03-'04 MMs make 17 MPG combined which puts the Marauder in fair game territory. BTW believe it or not but the 1993 Grand Marquis, which is a decade older and makes 19 MPG, will be spared the hangman's noose.

And Granted that a good number of us here probably won't be trading up, but for those who may never see this forum, and perhaps never quite cared that much for the MM might be swayed by this offer would see their Marauder off to Motor-Valhalla.

The silver lining in this is that the fine print says that the cars can have everything striped and sold by the party doing the crushing except the drive train (with the exception of the Trans, Drive shaft and rear end IF separated from the engine). So unless dealerships start to rent crushers to thin their back lots, we could see a lot more parts coming our way. Everything from wheels and body panels to the exhaust manifolds and heads can be bought and only the aluminum block would have to go under the law.

Some Mercury Marauders will inevitably see thier way out of the world in a violent accident, but to see them crushed just to make way for new econo boxes just irks me, anyone think the same way? :depress:

[Glockafella]

When did america get so crappy?

[rayjay]

When did america get so crappy?


since the social commies took office....

[SC Cheesehead]

since the social commies took office....

Change you can believe in....:rolleyes:

[Haggis]

Change you can believe in....:rolleyes:

Two nickles, a dime, a quarter and three pennies.

[Mike Poore]

Good post, JD.

To dealers and some sellers alike, it's strictly economics.

Think about the Single Action Army Colt revolvers that went into the furnace during the buy-back outrage. One widow turned in her deceased husband's cased, highly engraved pair of SSA Colts, worth a small fortune, + a number of other valuable handguns, and insisted they be destroyed.
There are people who will turn in, and strip a MM, put the parts on a CV and take the cash.
Of course, you know who's gonna end up with the $4,500 don't you? The dealer, of course, who will simply deduct it from the trade-in value of the MM, or add it to the purchase price, and prolly keep the stuff he strips off it, to boot, leaving the trade-ee thinking he made $4,500.

Such a deal! ;)

[FastMerc]

Thats a bunch of crap I cant believe SEMA let this happen.Lets see if the senate is just as stupid.

[knine]

Good post, JD.

To dealers and some sellers alike, it's strictly economics.


Which dealers? The ones being forced to lose their franchise? WAKE UP AMERICA.

[CBT]

Start with the DTR's. :lol:

[juno]

Start with the DTR's. :lol:

My apologies to the DTR folks, but that made me spit my coffee! :D

[Phrog_gunner]

since the social commies took office....

That is why I propose that you should have to take a civics/national government test to be able to vote. I mean if you have to take a test to drive a car, you should have to take a test to keep from ruining the country.

[Breadfan]

I'm amazed at some of the things I pay for, like these stupid programs.

The money I sent to Uncle Sam in my taxes should NOT be going to this or anything like it. Shame shame shame.

[FordNut]

I doubt that driveable Marauders will go to the crusher dur to this policy, as they are still worth well over $4500. But it is in effect a tax on the poor. Who will sell a $1000-$1500-$2000 car if they can trade it in and get $3500-$4500 from the government for it? Who NEEDS these cheap cars? Nobody that can afford a new car, just the folks with very low income levels.

DUMB, DUMB, DUMB program we're paying for with our tax $$$. Maybe people will wake up and we'll get a turnaround in the mid-term elections. Otherwise this great country is going into the toilet.

[BAD MERC]

I don't give a rat's ass what they call a clunker. It ain't all about gas mileage. I will argue to THE DEATH that a 50's 60's or even 70's muscle car is WAYYYYY greener than a POS Prius. Why? Glad I asked - those cars were manufactured 50 years ago and have already had their impact on the planet and have lasted at least this long with cheap repairs and recycled parts. New computer-controlled cars that are obsolete in a decade cannot be fixed or restored when they are 40 or 50 years old, maybe even 10 years old. The days of some teenage kid buying his first $200 car are over. Sure, in the year 2025 you may find a cheap '05 beater but it will take specialists and experts to do the most minor of repairs easily topping thousands of dollars. A $45,000 car with that lifespan is horrible for the environment. Regardless of whether or not it got 35MPG. This might just be experience speaking but it really makes sense.

[LIGHTNIN1]

The commies wont be satisfied with this. Not enough people are going to buy the micro cars they are going to mandate so they will have to force people into them by crushing everything over 5 or 10 years old. Change is here.:puke:

[Breadfan]

It's a true shame, and cool American cars are disappearing once again. All in the name of "Climate Change" because their minds change so much, is it global warming or global cooling - well, let's cover all the unfounded bases and just call it "climate change."

I say long live V8's.

Say no to the Priae!







(Priae is plural for Prius)

[CoreyM75]

The govt did the same thing in the 70's to clean up the US from cars that were sitting in yards, junkyards, etc. The cars that were crushed then were really good cars from the 20's-60's. The new law is just as dumb. The impact will affect those that buy cheap cars that are under the 3500-4500 price range. Not as many winter beaters, starter cars, etc. A lot of poor people riding public transortation.

[KNIGHTRIDER]

off subject but " Change we can belive in " this is just to funny. i might have one made.








https://fhowa.floridahospital.org/Exchange/LUIS.GONZALEZ/Inbox/1_multipart/image001.jpg?Security=2

[knine]

That is why I propose that you should have to take a civics/national government test to be able to vote. I mean if you have to take a test to drive a car, you should have to take a test to keep from ruining the country.
You can, it's called the Presidency test. Become President, and see if you pass. :mad2:

[timfromme]

Hi,
I have been reading up on the "Cash for Clunkers" program that the House just passed. Now we are waiting to see if the Senate would pass it. Our Marauders won't be going anywhere. If your vehicle is worth more than the $3500 or $4500 incentive, you are ineligible for the program. I have a few friends that drive low MPG cars just cause they can't afford a new car payment with this troubled economy. Why add another bill while my so called "clunker" is paid off. My Marauder is all paid for, I don't need another bill added to all the bills I already have. Glad my Marauder is worth more than twice the incentive. Thank you. timfromme

[babbage]

since the social commies took office....


Good Answer ray! I agree. Obama makes me sick.

[MMBLUE]

hope and change my a$$. Barry doesn't mind spending money like a drunken sailor. Soon he will be spending us in oblivion.:stupid:

[Vortex]

Everybody wants to blame Obama on this but Id like to point out the state of Texas (the reddest of the red states) had this program two years ago. What I think it really is is a "gimme" to the new car dealer lobby more than any ecological excuse. I didnt like my tax dollars supporting it before and I still dont.

http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/air/mobilesource/vim/auto_dealer.html

[sconut1]

Socialism is a dangerous, dangerous thing.

[guspech750]

I doubt that driveable Marauders will go to the crusher dur to this policy, as they are still worth well over $4500. But it is in effect a tax on the poor. Who will sell a $1000-$1500-$2000 car if they can trade it in and get $3500-$4500 from the government for it? Who NEEDS these cheap cars? Nobody that can afford a new car, just the folks with very low income levels.

DUMB, DUMB, DUMB program we're paying for with our tax $$$. Maybe people will wake up and we'll get a turnaround in the mid-term elections. Otherwise this great country is going into the toilet.


the toilet has been flushed along with our rights and tax dollars!!! ill decide how big a carbon footprint i leave!!

[JimmyXR7]

My appologies for the inflamatory title but it may well be deserved as the "Cash for Clunkers" bill passed the house of reps. yesterday, . . with less than 18 MPG combined can be traded in for another vehicle that has 4 MPG better and that costs >$45K and receive a voucher for $3,500. Or $4,500 if the new car has 10 MPG more than the original.:depress:


I have kept my gas reciepts (and maintenance records) since I purchased my Marauder. My Marauder has a average gas mileage of 19.1 MPG over the last 32,000 miles.
I do drive in the early morning to work, before the traffic gets bad but I drive in heavy traffic in the evening. I use the bad California gas too!
I do not know how the Government figures are calculated but mine are actuals.
Jim

[J D]

I have kept my gas reciepts (and maintenance records) since I purchased my Marauder. My Marauder has a average gas mileage of 19.1 MPG over the last 32,000 miles.
I do drive in the early morning to work, before the traffic gets bad but I drive in heavy traffic in the evening. I use the bad California gas too!
I do not know how the Government figures are calculated but mine are actuals.
Jim
Indeed, infact on the gov website 2 real world drivers placed the mileage at 19 also.

[whd507]

I get just over 20, but much less traffic to deal with.