You can’t fix stupid! Cash-for-Clunkers, part 2
In August I wrote about the Cash-for-Clunkers program that the government was running and wondered why everybody in the collector car industry was worried about people handing in their classics or collector cars. I challenged everybody to name a future collector car that is less than the $4500 trade-in value. A few of you wrote back and mentioned the pocket rocket Dodge Shelby’s and some spoke for the Pontiac Fiero. Both are good examples and time will only tell if they will be considered collectors. I do know this, thousands of people enjoy them and there is definitely a following for these little cars. But that is not what this article is about.
This article is about value! I am going to be the first person to apologize to all those people who wrote back to me stating to protect the hobby. I am soooo sorry that I actually gave way to much credit to those people out there thinking that they would know what they have. I know what you are thinking, “Joseph, I like you…you’re a good dancer…but what the hell are you talking about?”
I uploaded an article from AutoWeek, you can read it here.
Please read it…I’ll wait……
Now do you know why I am writing this article? When I read this article, I cried, pissed my pants and threw-up in my mouth a little.
After reading this article, I made a case for most of the cars and why they might have been traded in. The Bentley Continental R was an easy one. The guy (or girl) was going through a divorce and didn’t want to give the satisfaction of him (or her) taking the car so they traded it in. Right? Same with the Aston Martin.
Others however, I can’t…I mean…there is no…why would…they are so…you…be…where…who would…..I just threw-up in mouth again.
A GNX?!?! I even specifically called that car out in my article. Obviously that person is not a part of the community, otherwise he would have read my article and not handed it in. Wait a second…I wrote “he”…maybe it was an unfortunate situation and the fellow passed away and his kids or wife didn’t know what they had? We just don’t know. Or maybe it was a misprint and it was a Grand National with 200k miles on it and two missing doors.
Here are more cars that will make you scratch your head…and cry. A 2008 Mustang, 107 Taurus SHOs, Mercedes C43 AMG, XK8 Jag, a Z3, M3, M5, a bunch of 7 series, an 8 series (what?), the Bentley, the Aston, 72 Escalades, an 06 STS, the GNX (with tears in my eyes), 2 Roush F150s, 2 Foose F150s, a GMC Typhoon, Ford Lightning trucks, and list goes on!
So now begs this question, what the hell were the DEALERS thinking? I know some of you out there work for a dealer or own a dealership, please write me and tell me what the heck is going on. I mean, they are required to destroy the cars if they are using the program. So, if a customer drives up in a GNX and wants to take part in the cash-for-clunkers program, why would not offer them more for the car? Even if its $5000 and you keep that car on the road. Don’t get me wrong, I am looking for a good deal as much as the next guy, so if you don’t know what you have and want to sell me a GNX for $4500, I’ll take it. However, I will be keeping the car on the road and making sure it goes to a good home. The dealers had to destroy them! As far as we know.
I am going to get on a soapbox here and vent a little. I just wish everyone would take the time to calculate the value of their cars and figure out a better way to make this world better. I know everyone prefers to take the easy way out, but when it comes at a cost far more valuable then the little time and effort involved, STOP, breath and figure it out. And if you can’t or don’t know how, I am sure you do know someone that does. Six degrees of separation means within 6 friends of friends you can link yourself to everyone in the world.
I am so sad to hear about those cars going to the crusher and am disappointed that we could not have figured out a better way to keep them alive. Heck, all the government needed to do is if the car is handed in and the dealer would like to propose that certain cars should not head for the crusher, then an assessment can be made and those cars will head to a collectors garage and not to the dump.
Wait! We just figured it out. I just got off the phone with my old man and he said maybe these cars stunk of BO? Remember that Seinfeld episode? That’s it! It’s not that our country has a few loose marbles, we just smell! However, I don’t know how a person who can afford a Bentley Continental and also stink to high heaven? Here’s the scary part, what if France launched the same program? Man, they stink.
