Today the official tally of Cash For Clunkers trade-ins was released. Most of the cars given up to sacrifice to the automotive GOD’s are predictable – but there are a few surprising (newer) models. Some of the more shocking vehicles on the Cash 4 Clunkers trade in list include 2004 & 2005 Chevy Astro Vans, hundreds of El Caminos (bastards! hang them by their thumbs!) and a…ready for this…2008 Dodge Avenger.

Now I know the Avenger isn’t the hottest automobile to come off the CDJ line in years, but I had no idea it fit in the category of tradable cars, with gas mileage, etc. Perhaps it was a sympathy trade for whoever bought one.

In all the C4C .pdf reads like a death list. Thousands of cars were junked in the United States alone – not counting the other countries who participated. In the end, this plan may have helped auto assembly lines for a short time, but did the buyers/dealers involved with C4C really get the best of this government initiated program?

We at Automopedia wouldn’t dare say anything negative towards the US Government, we love ‘Merica!! Umm…but maybe you can give those dealerships, who took in thousands of Clunkers for you, the rest of their money? That’s right, car dealerships across the nation who participated in Cash For Clunkers are still waiting for the rest of their junker funds. Some still expect MILLIONS of dollars to come their way after car trade-ins, but have yet to see all of it.

When Cash for Clunkers was first announced, dealers were supposed to be reimbursed within 10 days of a sale. It may be a little naive to think a dealer would receive millions of dollars up front via Uncle Sam, but look at it this way – if your business was hanging on the promise of monies yet to be deposited you’d be antsy too. The USA has $2.878 billion left to hand out. Looks like it’ll be a light Christmas in the Obama White House.

Thanks peterj! Source: CBS2 News

If Cash for Clunkers has been so successful for both our economy, environment and job creation, why isn’t the US Government pumping more funds into it? Vote in our new fancy poll blow, and share your thoughts in ‘Comments’

Update – C4C on life support – Stays Alive until Noon Tuesday! Well, sort of. Dealers have until noon tomorrow to file for reimbursements

Much like Capt. Willard and Colonel Kurtz, car buyer and our government have traveled up river to find a common ground – to save their auto industry, or have it put down. Regardless of the outcome, that journey is over, Cash for Clunkers is coming to an End. How will history books record C4C? Will it be a rousing success for the automotive industry in America? Or a triumphant waste of time for the American People? Some experts are doubting the “Environmental Impact” of C4C, which was one of its main selling points. Others claim it to be the greatest thing to happen since the invention of seat belts. You can’t doubt a big turnout, as this past weekend had dealer lots packed with voucher-waving customers. The Department of Labor is shipping in workers to help relocated junked cars, and thousands of assembly lines across the country have rehired laid-off employees due to new vehicle demand.. And lets face it, if the CARS Act wasn’t successful, would so many other countries be mimicking it?

Canadian Cash For Clunkers

Canada saw it’s version of C4C kick in last week, which offers upwards of (are you ready??) … $300 dollars per trade in. Chrysler Canada has announced they will match and even beat this number if you come pick up a new CDJ vehicle – upwards of $1500 on top of the $300. (source: Canada.com)

Viva La Clunkers! Cash for Clunkers Chile

The government of Chile is currently trying a similar program, in order to “stimulate new truck sales” in the country. Chilean officials agreed to introduce $4 billion Chilean pesos ($7.3 million USD) to subsidize consumers buying new trucks, thus relieving the roads of 500 old ones built before 1984, which produce higher emissions than newer models. Sales of new heavy trucks plummeted 51% in the first seven months of 2009 – hopes are 250 new vehicles will hit the pavement this year and 250 more in 2010. (source: WSJ)

Ich Bein Ein Clunker! C4C in Germany

Clunkers are being taken off the road in Germany as well, but not only thanks to a C4C-type program: thieves are grabbing beaters from German streets and selling them in for cash. Then the cars (approx. 50,000) are shipped out of the country, given another chance to pollute. Some of the vehicle destinations include Africa and Eastern Europe. Maybe Lt. Aldo Raine needs to have a word with these German car thieves. (source: treehugger.com)

As tens-of-thousands of Americans still wait for their Gov’t Endorsed Vouchers, 100,000 more are rolling out of dealerships in a new, or pre-owned, fuel-efficient rides. But, as with any government program, we may have to wait and discover just how successful C4C really was.

This coming Monday Night, August 24th 2009, won’t be just for Football – as Cash for Clunkers, the popular Government “trade your beater in for a fuel-efficient ride” act will come to an end by 8 pm. This is the second time Clunkers announced extinction, but it looks like Uncle Sam won’t be around to pick up the tab again. C4C is S.O.L. again after Gov’t estimations on how much of the $2Billion remaining they need to fill vouchers, those being for customers who traded in their vehicles and have yet to receive any “Cash” – full details can be found in the Detroit News piece below. Good Night, Sweet CARS Act…

The Obama Administration will end the $3 billion “cash for clunkers” program at 8 p.m. Monday — giving dealers and consumers one final weekend to junk a vehicle and buy a new, greener one. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said today the expiration day was determined by using conservative sales estimates, to ensure that there is enough incentive money left in the pot to cover what’s expected to be brisk sales this final weekend. Also late today, Chrysler Group LLC joined General Motors Co. in announcing they will advance funds to dealers who are awaiting payment from the government for clunkers deals.

As of today, the Car Allowance Rebate System, as the program is officially known, has resulted in 457,476 vehicle deals worth $1.91 billion in rebates.

Transportation Department officials estimate about $400 million in vouchers have yet to be submitted by dealers. The department also expects to spend about $100 million on administration costs for the program that began on July 24 and is credited with putting life back into U.S. car and light truck sales. That leaves $600 million for remaining transactions. Dealers have been submitting paperwork for about $100 million, or 20,000 vehicles, a day in recent days. The program has provided rebates of up to $4,500 when people turn in vehicles with a combined city/highway 18 miles per gallon or lower.

Most consumers have turned in trucks and SUVs in exchange for smaller cars, with an improved gas mileage of about 60 percent, the department said. Applications for rebates will not be accepted after 8 p.m. eastern time Monday, and dealers should not make further sales without receiving all the necessary paperwork from their customers, the department said.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the trade association that represents General Motors Co., Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp. and seven other automakers, praised the government’s handling of the program.

“Automakers congratulate Congress, the Obama administration and NHTSA for developing and implementing a successful program,” alliance CEO Dave McCurdy said. “In less than six weeks, the CARS program will have generated close to 750,000 new vehicle sales. With an average fuel economy increase of almost 10 mpg, the program has achieved its goals of stimulating the economy, enhancing energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

Earlier this month, President Barack Obama signed into law a $2 billion expansion of the program after the first $1 billion ran out in the first days of the program. Congress approved a transfer of unspent funds from the $787 billion stimulus program to refuel the program. The Department of Transportation now has more than 1,200 government and contract employees processing dealer applications for rebates and has added computers at its headquarters as well. The department has processed 167,000 applications through today, but it isn’t clear how many have been paid.

So, you have a clunker to trade in for a Government Voucher towards that new Ford Focus – but it isn’t at your local dealer. Fear not, the US-of-A is now allowing car buyers to trade their beater in towards a new car reservation. The CARS Act is giving dealers the thumbs-up to give a car reservation for people who come in with their C4C cash. See, the first half of 2009 was so bad in America’s Auto Industry many dealerships did not order 2009 – 2010 vehicles. Now that Cash 4 Clunkers is getting buyers back into lots the demand for brand-spanking-new rides has returned.

The Department of Transportation ok’d this move yesterday, allowing an exchange for a reservation on models that aren’t in stock. “Popular models like the Ford Focus have been flying off the shelves so fast that the Blue Oval actually instituted mandatory overtime at it’s Wayne, MI assembly plant, but the additional stock isn’t hitting dealers fast enough” according to Car & Driver. Now, customers looking for a certain vehicle can still get what they want, they’ll just have to wait a few extra weeks. Hope you have a bus pass.

I must have passed at least three dealerships this weekend, all of varying brands, featuring a junked car half-slumped inside a dumpster. It’s become the new hack advertisement by dealerships promoting Cash For Clunkers. When CARS officially started, news websites and blogs were crawling with the iconic image of what appears to be a Chevy or Geo jeep hanging out of the trash:

Now, EVERY dealer who has a rusty, American-made vehicle on their lot parks it on the front lawn with a C4C banner – garbage companies who rent out industrial sized dumpsters must be making a killing off C4C! And though CARS has been a runaway success, it’s a bit sad to see all those USA-produced cars, rust holes and all, hanging out of the trash.

Well friends, it looks as though our greatest fears have been squashed – the CARS Act, which was already in danger of losing funds, will have an extra $2 Billion dollars in its pocket. Keep cashing in those clunkers, because $2B won’t last as long as we all think.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced the vote after lengthy negotiations between Democratic and Republican lawmakers today. Reid has said Democrats have enough votes to pass the bill, meaning consumers could take advantage of the rebates of up to $4,500 until Labor Day.

If the Senate approves the additional money, it’s likely to lead automakers to increase production and bring back laid-off workers. Many automakers reported low inventories due to increased sales from the program at the end of July. Already Hyundai Motor Co. has added a day of production to its Montgomery, Ala., plant, and Ford is considering increases.

Source: Freep.com

Cash for Clunkers, also known as CARS or C4C, has been so successful that the billion-dollar government program is already out of cash, and might end this Friday. August 7th, 2009 may be the last day for people to cash in their old beater for a $4500 voucher towards a new, fuel efficient auto – unless the Senate OK’s another $2 Billion towards CARS.

Senate officials want to keep the program afloat – but many Republicans are against the move, claiming it was “a model of government inefficiency and out-of-control spending.” According to Miami Herald: Dealers are increasingly worried that they won’t be reimbursed under the program. NADA Chairman John McEleney warned that until further definitive guidance on the availability of funding is provided by the administration, dealers who accept additional clunkers’ deals may face a risk that they will not be reimbursed.”

In honor of the US Government’s overly-successful Act – Cash For Clunkers (which is such a hit Uncle Sam may not be able to cover the tab) – Automopedia’s Pinup Girls pose next to, on top of and inside several classic clunkers. We’re betting you can pick up a few bucks with the rusty vehicles these beauties are posed with. Don’t be shy – both cars and cats are safe for work viewing.