[kellynla]

"The only part of the stimulus program that is working, the cash-for-clunkers program is, in reality, a subsidy to foreign car companies"

BRILLIANT

[caver]

I plan on subsidizing a foreign car company. My next vehicle will be a Toyota.

[JRios1968]

Somewhere, Admiral Yamamoto is smiling...

[Caipirabob]

Cue the

REAL MEN OF GENIUS song...

Mr. "Subsidizes foreign auto-manufacturers"!

This is for you, Mr. I-don't-know-didly-about-economic-policy-but-still-passed-this-feel-good-legislation-because-it-polled-well-even-though-the-country-is-broke!

Singer:I can feeel the stim-mu-lus!

So now 4 out of 5 cars sold take those American tax dollars overseas never to return...

Singer:My kids are star-ving!

But you can feel good, because that 1 of 5 cars are made my American unions that contribute to democrats

Singer:Show me the mo-nee!

Yes, this is for you, Mr. I-don't-know-didly-about-economic-policy-but-still-passed-this-feel-good-legislation-because-it-polled-well-even-though-the-country-is-broke! This program is just one more shovel load of fecal matter you're dumping on the American people, but it polls well so you can smile and say "Mission accomplished"! After all, you did stimulate the economy, and the nation of Japan is grateful for it...

Singer:Domo Ari-ga-to!

[WayneS]

The Camrys (including the hybrids) and Corollas which Toyota sells in the U.S. are actually made in the U.S. That means the consruction and sale of these models helps the U.S. jobs market.

It took me about 10 seconds of research on the internet to find that out. Perhaps the writer of the article should have done the same.

[DB]

How about basic economics...

Destroying functional things of value and replacing them with new expensive ones purchased via more debt doesn’t make a nation wealthier. It makes it poorer.

Stupid is as stupid does...

[Bushwacker777]

I assume the older cars with wind up in the scrap heap. That means owners who normally might have had to repair cars and kept them going a few more years will not have to do so. That means the American automakers will lose all that money they would have made from parts that would have had to be ordered. Now the foreign car makers will make money from the need for parts for their cars in the future.

[JohnLongIsland]

kellynia,
I gather you are one of the very few that buys American made televisions instead of foreign made. You only hurt yourself and your family and support the socialist agenda and philosophy by buying an inferior product that is more expensive (be it autos or whatever).

[Murp]

There is an apparent discrepancy in sales reports relating to which vehicles have been purchased. The D0T counts not the total cars and trucks sold, but identifies the leading sellars body style. Because compact cars have fewer body styles than say, an F150, it appears they are being over counted, while in fact the F150, because of their numerous body styles are being under counted. Edmunds used cars disputes the D0Ts conclusions. It will be interesting to see what vehicles really are being bought.

[WayneS]

Oh, and Honda manufactures Civic Sedans in Ohio. Last time I checked, auto plants in Ohio employed people from the U.S. work force.

So, with Toyota Camrys and Corollas, and Honda Civics all being made in the USA, it looks like 7 of the top ten, and four of the top five, new cars sold are made in the USA.

The story loses a bit of its punch once that is known, doesn’t it?

PS - It appears that Toyota has a plan in the works to build the Pruis here as well, within a year or so.

[McGruff]

It's hard to tell what constitutes 'An American Car' these days.

[highlander_UW]

My 11 yr old car is a Ford that gets 34mpg. If I were to utilize this program I'd pretty much be forced to by a Japanese hybrid.

This is really another wealth transfer program that takes money from some Americans to subsidize the purchase of cars for others.

[Licensed-To-Carry]

Yep, my mom just traded in her 1999 Cadillac last week for a new Toyota Ultima, take that General Motors.

[MichiganConservative]

The DOT list is wrong and manipulated to make it look like Americans want smaller fuel efficient cars. Edmunds has a different list that shows that Americans still want their SUVs and trucks.

The DOT split a vehicle, such as Silverado, up into different vehicles based on engine and transmission options. Thus it looks like Corolla is selling more, since about everything Toyota sells is some sort of Corolla.

Here’s the truth you can’t get from the goernment:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/edmunds-dots-cash-for-clunkers-top-ten-list-gets-it-wrong/

[DustyMoment]

Cash for Clunkers will do wonders for the Japanese economy, but its impact on the US job situation is problematic. This unintended consequence is a great illustration of what happens when the blunt tool of government subsidy is applied to the fine tuning of a free market economy. Government planners keep getting it wrong. That's why socialism is such a bad idea.

Every once in a while, despite his best efforts, Dick morris tends to get something right!!

[urtax$@work]

7. Hyndai Elantra

Wait until the fueling system charcoal cannister becomes saturated ............. it shuts off your fuel filler pipe so you cannot gas up your car until you replace the cannister. ie; a deliberate shut down of your car.

[Buckeye McFrog]

since most of those Asian models are actually being manufactured here in right-to-work states, what he is actually doing is taking UAW produced cars off the road to be replaced by non-union models. As my Brit friends would say, Brilliant!