Might be trading in my Eclipse on the Cash for Clunkers program

[slowbubblecar]

I only wish this started a few months sooner as I bought a new civic. Could have traded in a truck worth $800 for the credit. I could be some what against getting rid of a good car depending on what it is, but you need to do what makes the most economic sense to you. I am not sure what the physical requirements are. Maybe you could take all of the doors, fenders, hood, trunk and most of the interior out and sell them? You should look into is a little more. I am pretty sure a dsm won't get you $4,500. It also depends on how much better the new car is for mpg if I remember correctly.

[NOT THE BLUE LAMPSHADE]

[quote=john;298653]Looking at cars.com, a 95 eclipse mpg is: City: 21 – 22 Highway: 27 – 32.

They don't differentiate between the turbo or AWD but the combined MPG is likely over the 18 mark. No real way to prove that it only gets XXmpg now./quote]

I thought it had to be like 17 or 18mpg to qualify.

Remember!!! Only $1,000,000,000.00 is going towards this!!!

[john]

^^^ Yes, it has to get worse than 18 combined (city and highway) so I don't see how the eclipse would qualify.

[SnoEclipse]

That driveline is pretty much irreplaceable. Any chance that you'd be able to get the $4500 after a motor/tranny pull?

Or would you be able to get the $4500 or more after a part-out?

The FedGov vouchers are the easy way out, but not the only way.

[john]

Car must be in running condition.

[tpunx99GSX]

it doesnt go by the factory ratings on cars.com it goes by a newer epa rating, not sure if its any different.

[john]

Well I am assuming they are going by the EPA rating when they were new which should be similar to cars.com. Hard to adjust an EPA rating for a 14 year old car and say it is accurate.

If you can trade it, do it. My guess is that it won't be approved when they send it in. I called Hopkins Honda on Friday and dealers could get approved on Fri, vouchers aren't avail until Mon.

They give you $200 for a trade in, charge sales tax, and apply for the voucher. Then take $4300 off of the remaining balance when the vehicle is approved.

[curt_gendron]

Please don't send a perfectly good DSM to the crusher. :(

[john]

Please don't send a perfectly good DSM to the crusher. :(

If you had a car worth $3000 you were looking at getting rid of and could get a $4500 trade in would you do otherwise? I definitly wouldn't go through the hassle of trying to sell it and get less than I would trading it in...

I think some people are in denial about the dsm being considered a "clunker."

Any word if he did this yet? Did it qualify?

[john]

I know this isn't an official list of acceptable cars but here is the list that edmunds.com came up with as far as eligable vehicles go:

http://www.edmunds.com/cash-for-clunkers/eligible-vehicles.html

Note, 3000gt does qualify but eclipses and talons do not.