So I turned in my clunker 2 years ago....

And all the people that bought houses within their means should be able to get government help too, right? Since the people that couldn't afford them are getting assistance.

mookeywrench wrote:

2 years ago i got a new car because my old one was a gas hog and bad for the environment.

So since I did the responsible thing out of my own volition I don't get rewarded with a 4500 rebate, but for those who did hold on to the POS's now get an awesome deal on their new car.

I think if anyone can prove that they traded in their clunker for a more fuel efficient car within the past x amount of years, then they should be rewarded with a tax credit.

2 years ago, the Bush administration did not value the environment or he would have given this incentive. its honorable that you did this on your own, and too bad you can't get the rebate. But like any "sale" all bets are off before the sale happens. There is just so much money to "give" away- and this rebate will run out of money today or tomorrow (based on news reports). Imagine how much money would be spent if they had retrograde the rebates by 1 year or 2- People are already bitching that the Obama administration is spending too much money and the deficit is getting bigger and bigger.

no- its great that YOU took the incentive to be proactive- Everyone should do things because its the right thing to do- not just because someone is paying you to do it.

Atleast it's going to get those cars off the road now, so they won't be driving them anymore. Also, part of the reason some of those people are still driving the "clunkers" is probably 'cause they can't quite afford a new car so this is the push they need.

South of Seattle wrote:

And all the people that bought houses within their means should be able to get government help too, right? Since the people that couldn't afford them are getting assistance.

Yeah... if we would have bought our house 2 months later, we could have gotten the free $8000

mookeywrench wrote:

I think if anyone can prove that they traded in their clunker for a more fuel efficient car within the past x amount of years, then they should be rewarded with a tax credit.

While the rebate is a move to get less fuel efficient cars off the road, I think that it's more an incentive to get people to buy new cars and help the manufactures and the economy in general. I've always seen this program as more of a stimulus program than an environmental one.

South of Seattle wrote:

And all the people that bought houses within their means should be able to get government help too, right? Since the people that couldn't afford them are getting assistance.

EXACTLY where my mind went as well.
given that we have chosen to do things *responsibly* while others have not.
it is what it is, and life goes on...

blackredyellow wrote:

South of Seattle wrote:

And all the people that bought houses within their means should be able to get government help too, right? Since the people that couldn't afford them are getting assistance.

Yeah... if we would have bought our house 2 months later, we could have gotten the free $8000

ouch!
that had to hurt. i too wondered where those first-time buyer incentives were when we bought our home over 12 years ago. yea, no such thing existed. eh well...again, c'est la vie...

JaneNY wrote:

I'm sorry you missed out OP. We've always driven fuel efficient cars, and now they're getting old, and we're considering what and when to buy next, but since our current cars are fuel efficient we can't take advantage of the program either. However, we have reaped savings in gas expenses for driving the more fuel efficient cars. Maybe you can keep in mind the savings that you've already realized in 2 years of better fuel efficiency. Its just one of those things. No one gets to take advantage of every sale or deal.

now,now jane...don't be getting all reasonable on the topic.
well stated and exactly true....and so it goes...

mookeywrench wrote:

JaneNY wrote:

I'm sorry you missed out OP. We've always driven fuel efficient cars, and now they're getting old, and we're considering what and when to buy next, but since our current cars are fuel efficient we can't take advantage of the program either. However, we have reaped savings in gas expenses for driving the more fuel efficient cars. Maybe you can keep in mind the savings that you've already realized in 2 years of better fuel efficiency. Its just one of those things. No one gets to take advantage of every sale or deal.

did that and it amounts to a present value of $912.00

this wasn't a sale or deal though, this "sale" was funded by taking away from my earned income.

this sale or deal should've never happened.

so, if the program was retroactive, thus allowing you to partake, you'd be ok...now that you can't, it should have never happened...

hmmmm....

mookeywrench wrote:

2 years ago i got a new car because my old one was a gas hog and bad for the environment.

So since I did the responsible thing out of my own volition I don't get rewarded with a 4500 rebate, but for those who did hold on to the POS's now get an awesome deal on their new car.

I think if anyone can prove that they traded in their clunker for a more fuel efficient car within the past x amount of years, then they should be rewarded with a tax credit.

What if you bought a new car now and received the $4,500 rebate....would you offer to pay it back if the rebate was reduced 3 months from now?