About 14,000 British Cash For Clunker vehicles sit on a UK airfield, awaiting the final destruction via compactor. This parking job reminds us of the Scarlett Letter – and much like that character these unused, poor fuel economy vehicles await their inevitable demolition.

via – Jalopnik

You’ve had a look back at what our Automopedia staff feels were the 10 Best & Worst of 2009 Automotive Events. Now, we’ve put a lot of hard work into some all of these posts, so we’d like to take this opportunity to thank all for reading, and check out some of our favorite posts from 2009!

Cash For Clunkers

When you were searching out information on how to get Cash for your Clunker we had the scoop. It might have saved the automotive industry in America – well Cash for Clunkers, not our post. Though we’d like to believe Automopedia helps fight terrorism and saves Americans from the Red Menace. Now, whatever happened to the Cash for Fridges program?

Sexiest Scifi Ships

2009 was the year of Trek – Star Trek made it back on the big screen, with USS Enterprise warping to high box office numbers. Whether or not you’re into science fiction films we’ll all agree some of the Sexy Scifi Ships are worth discussing – and boy did you readers put on those geek hats and rip us a new one. We couldn’t even make it up to you by posting a bunch of Scifi Ship battle scenes! And yes, in 2010 we will bring you more scifi goodies mixed in with your weekly automotive news.

Movie & Television Rides

Of all the movie and television car posts we’ve done on Automopedia, one stands out in our hearts – for some reason the reboot is big in Hollywood, on screens big and small. We have to deal with remakes of classic car chase features, that almost always let down. Frankly, these car movies & shows Hollywood insists on remaking pretty much suck the big one.

The Big Three

Oh yeah, all this fun talk about movie and TV cars – we almost forgot about the Big Three and those automotive mergers in 2009. Where do the car makers stand now? Well, Italy owns ChryslerDodgeJeep, Pontiac is gone, Saturn is next, Saab is almost dead and Buick somehow survived all of this!

Cartoon Cars & Real-World Counterparts

Ok, enough of that serious business about car mergers and what not. Let’s have some fun with cartoon cars, and of course their real life counterparts. Whether it’s the Ecto-1 or Scooby-Doo’s Mystery Machine, favorite childhood animated memories have almost all been made into live-action features. We’ve still got quite a car crush on that Cadillac Ambulance with Ray Stanz behind the wheel.

The Electric Car & Alternative Fuels

And finally, the car that would change America’s Auto Industry – at least it was supposed to. But lack of interest and financial downturn caused Tesla to close its doors and quit production of an all-electric Tesla S sedan. It was anarchy when Americans faced what could have been a second gasoline crisis. We demanded alternative fuels – and Tesla answered. But hybrids prevailed and the plug was pulled on electric vehicles once again. Maybe next year…

It has been a tumultuous decade between 2000 & 2010 – and a lot has gone on within the auto industry. From Clunkers to SUV’s – electric vehicles to satellite maps – car tech has come further than anyone could imagine. Join Automopedia as we take a look back at what we feel is the best, most interesting, or most insane auto related events from the last 10 years.

10. Cash For Clunkers

From used car lots in Maine to the junk yards of Southern California – auto-related businesses were struggling in the later half of the 2000′s. Our Government felt it best to raise money and get customers back in dealership lots by offering up several thousand dollars for people to trade in beaters, and receive a fuel efficient auto. This deal was to be known as Cash For Clunkers. See, the $3500-4500 you were promised by Uncle Sam for your Ford Explorer towards a Ford Focus was supposed to inspire people to Buy American again – or at least just buy. It worked for a period – enough so that C4C was extended past its original deadline.

9. The Big Three

Oh yeah, these guys. One of the catalysts which brought forth the end of America’s strong auto industry (and eventually, Cash For Clunkers) was the misuse of funds and production of unpopular, over-sized vehicles by “The Big Three” car manufacturers – Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. Bosses for all companies were brought up in front of Congress – and last we checked not one of ‘em has a job. In the end – GM sold off most of its brands, Chrysler was bought out by Italy’s Fiat, and Ford is…well it’s still Ford…and they still produce Expedition.

8. Hummer H2

Hummer’s H2, as disgusting for any eco-friendly car shopper to think of, is on this list for one reason only – Hummer has been and always will be ripe for parody. Come on – look at the picture above! How can we live without stretch H2-Limos?! It has become the stereotyped Republican soccer mom vehicle or ride of any “douche bag.” And where would all those anarchist kids in Southern California throw their Molotov cocktails when they wanted to burn a truck?

7. Ford Mustang Reborn, Again

The Fifth Generation Ford Mustang first popped back up around 2004 and a half – 40 years after the original ’64 and a half Mustang hit dealer lots. Many trash the updated “Rustang” – but we at Automopedia give praise for looking a hell of a lot better than the previous gen’s attempt to make Ford’s Pony up-to-date.

6. Danica Patrick

Love her or hate her – Danica has spend the last half-decade bringing attention and talent to the sport of Formula One racing. Throughout her career, Danica has blazed a path of female rivers in both F1 and NASCAR. She’s become an integral part of Andretti Autosport, had her own show of XM Satellite Radio, taken home a variety of checkered flags and is even on her way to giving stock car racing a try. She’s also added much-needed sex appeal to the male dominated sport.

5. The City Car

Along with the uprising of Electric Vehicles (See below) the “City Car” has become widely popular within the United States. Mazda2 & Nissan Cube – SMART Car, Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit can take inspiration from the likes of Fiat and Peugeot. Yes, America, you will get used to seeing tiny Italian and French cars take over your driveways – and then…THE WORLD! And ok, we’ll give a mention to the Hyundai Accent 2-door…but we wont like it.

4. Car Shares

As part of the urban attitude towards fighting pollution and city-wide congestion, many have adopted car sharing. Zipcar and PhillyCarShare have become two of the better known (out of dozens) multi-user autos. Usually, someone signs a membership, checks out where a local car is parked, goes to it and magic unlocks the ride for you! The concept has branched out not only all over the globe, but to other modes or transit. Some cities have adopted bicycle shares. Now, if we can only get Harley Shares.

3. Google Street View

With an army of camera-ready cars taking photos and sending them directly to orbiting satellites, Google changed the look of driving directions with their Street Views option. The Idea behind Google Street View is…wait, what the heck is going on up there?! Did that fire truck just run over an elderly person on a bicycle?! And what in god’s name is going on down here…

…good christ! Google Street View is pure EVIL!

2. Return of the DeLorean

Back to the…Past when John DeLorean snorted a boat-load of coke and tried selling the rest to FBI agents, the DMC died…hard. In 2006, a miracle occured – using a combination of new and original parts from the old DeLorean storage facility you can now have an all new 2009/1982 DMC-12, for the small amount of $42,500. Flux capacitor not included.

1. Hybrid Cars

Everyone seems to be producing a hybrid gasoline-electric automobile nowadays. But a mere 10 years ago the only major producer (stateside) was Toyota. Now, with the rise in gasoline prices, and death of SUV’s (we should say, their rebirth as “crossovers”) almost every company is working on the next big hybrid. Tesla, a private company, has a well publicized all-electric car – too bad they went belly up.

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

This weekend Automopedia witnessed one of the best Ohio traditions – The Loraine Co. Fair & Wellington Demolition Derby. If you have the means to see a demo derby we highly recommend checking one out. There’s nothing like an open field, the smell of fresh mud, grass-fed hot dogs & hamburgers, the roar of V8 & V10, and the sounds of smashing metal. Part of the fun is spotting what make and model each demo car is before a bout – and seeing what’s left of them after.

Here are a few hints – pretty much all Demolition Derby vehicles are American Made Automobiles – because frankly those imports come apart way too easily. Also, most of the vehicles are 4-door sedans from the mid-1970′s to late 1980′s (Except for one Mercury Grand Marquis, circa 1994, that popped in this year). The winner of each bout, which this year consisted of a Lincoln Town Car, a Cadillac Coupe DeVille, one early 70′s Dodge Charger and a rare Ford Crown Vic station wagon, went on until the final round – where it’s white knuckle driving until the last car stands. So, grab your trucker hat and bag-o-kettle corn, cause Automopedia is goin’ down home to the ol’ fairgrounds for some demo derby action! Let us know your results with a comment, we’ll update you once we figure out which car is which under all the carnage.

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In the spirit of trading in your junker for a new, fuel efficient and environmentally friends vehicle (Cash for Clunkers) kitchen appliance manufacturers are offering Cash for your old Fridges, Microwaves, Ovens, and so on. Companies such as GE, Sears and Best Buy will accept old “beater” appliances and give customers, supposedly depending on how much electricity the thing takes up, some payola towards a fancy new stainless steel fridge. We at Automopedia think it would be really ironic if you went out and bought one of those nostalgic looking fridges as a replacement.

“Beginning late this fall, the program authorizes rebates of $50 to $200 for purchases of high-efficiency household appliances. The money is part of the broader economic stimulus bill passed earlier this year. Program details will vary by state, and the Energy Dept. has set a deadline of Oct. 15 for states to file formal applications. The Energy Dept. expects the bulk of the $300 million to be awarded by the end of November. (Unlike the clunkers auto program, consumers won’t have to trade in their old appliances.)” – Yahoo News

Now we ask you, what’s next? Cash for Children’s Toys? (or just for Children!), Bucks for Beer Bottles? Better yet, how about Pay for Pampers! Send in your used diapers to be recycled into planting mulch! …eww. Regardless of what’s next, the “cashing in” or everything old seems to be the latest craze helping companies stimulate their pockets, and hopefully hold onto a few more employees. But will the US Government continue to play Pawn Shop to our used appliances, vehicles, and whatever else people want to get rid of, but not put out to the curb?

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.