Comments on: Toyota Tundra Cash For Clunkers Notes

By: admin (Jason)

admin (Jason) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:49:01 +0000

Jim – First, go to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm and see if your van averages 18mpg or less according to the EPA. If it does (again, according to the EPA), then your vehicle is eligible. It gets a little sticky when it comes to deciding if you can trade your van in on a truck. It looks like the answer is “yes”, but until July 23rd that’s just a guess. Visit http://www.cars.gov for up-to-date info.

By: mk

mk — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:34:07 +0000

One of the rules is your new vehicle purchase has to get 2 more mpg avg. fuel economy to get a 3500 voucher and either 4 or 5 (not sure) to get the 4500 voucher. Jim, unless the toyota highlander has the 3.5L V6 and not the V8, it probably would not get 2 more mpg. I too would like to trade in the caprice getting 18 mpg, but even the 4.6L V8 2010 tundra in 4wd gets 17 mpg avg (15/19) so it would not qualify. Basically, most new full size trucks and larger SUV’s with V8 engines will not qualify unless your clunker gets really bad gas mileage under 14-15 mpg avg. city/hwy. fuel economy. Correct me anyone if I am wrong. There is a lot of info. on the internet on the cash for clunkers so most people should be able to figure it out. I thought I read that 1 billion dollars is set aside for the program and will take effect starting August 1st and probably running to possibly until the billion is used which they guess is this November or later.

By: Mickey

Mickey — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:17:50 +0000

I seen where one of the stipulations you have to own that clunker for at least one year in order to qualify. Jason can you find out what if they have any other stipulations?

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:34:42 +0000

I have a Dodge minivan that gets around 18 miles per gallon. Do I qualify for a voucher, and do I have to buy a truck? I want a Toyota Highlander. What are the chances?

By: admin (Jason)

admin (Jason) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:55:54 +0000

Scott – You can trade your SUV on a new car – in fact, that’s the most likely scenario based on how the law is worded. However, as MK said, there are some things to consider.

By: mk

mk — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:18:06 +0000

It sounds like you can trade any vehicle in as long as it gets an average city/hwy driving of 18 mpg or less in on ANY new vehicle that gets at least 2 more mpg for 3500 trade in voucher (your 97 honda passport may be worth over 3500 trade in though???) and if new vehicle gets 5 mpg more than trade in, then you can get 4500 trade in voucher. I don’t think too many cars on the road get 18 mpg or less, but it would qualify more for trucks and some heavier full size SUV’s. What sucks is unless you have a way older vehicle that is worth trade in under 3500 or 4500 bucks, the fed. govt. cash for clunkers program is useless. Basically, if you know your older vehicle is worth 3500 or 4500 bucks, you might as keep it and sell it outright for more than that amount. If the fed. govt. wants these older gas hogging and air polluting vehicles off the roads, they should consider not only mpg, but also the amount of air polluting these older cars do to the environment. I, for one, am going to drive the 86 caprice into the dirt until it costs me over 1K to fix unless the fed. govt. and Obama gives me as a nice gift a 3500 or so trade in voucher. I wish I liked the chevy aveo better or similar dinky car for about 10K, because with a 4500 voucher trade in thanks to the Obama administration, 5500 for a new car is pretty darn cheap, yet cramped/not fun to drive.

By: Scott Erickson

Scott Erickson — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:38:44 +0000

Can I trade my 1997 Honda Passport in on a new car or does it have to be another SUV under this fed program??

By: mk

mk — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:56:01 +0000

I might as well since right now, the 2010 tundra double cab are slim pickins. 18 mpg is correct on my caprice, and I confirmed the 2010 4.6L tundra 4wd is rated at 15/19 which is only 17 mpg average which is not 2 more mpg to get 3500 rebate since the tundra double cab weighs around 5600 lbs and new vehicles/trucks weighing 6,000 lbs. or more need only 1 more mpg better, not 2 to get 3500 rebate. I’ll wait and see, but I wish I would have waited 2 months until now to get a 2009 corolla which would have qualified. Timing is everything when it comes to rebates.

By: admin (Jason)

admin (Jason) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:04:15 +0000

MK – I think you’re correct about the voucher not being available for you if you’re looking to buy a truck, but I think it’s still too early to say for sure. Again, if you look at the fuel economy rating on FuelEconomy.gov (and I’ve read this is the site that you need to consult), your vehicle gets an EPA combined fuel economy rating of 18mpg. The trouble for you is that you’re trying to trade a car “clunker” in on a new truck. There’s no clear guidance yet, so I would suggest you wait until the government rolls out their new website with all the criteria in the next month or so. Can you wait until the end of July to buy your new Tundra?

By: mk

mk — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 19:06:53 +0000

I just saw that the fed. govt. approved the cash for clunkers program. Unfortunately, I really don’t think my 1986 caprice classic will qualify to buy a new 2010 tundra (car yes, truck no) since the new light duty truck bought must get 18 mpg (and the 5.7L is rated at 17 hwy, but the 4.6L is 19 hwy I think), but the catch is even with the 4.6L V8 tundra, my caprice classic, according to the law, has to get 2 mpg less than the new light duty truck to get 3500 trade in voucher and 5mpg less to get 4500 trade in voucher. The caprice gets 18 mpg driving and unless I can prove to the toyota dealer the tundra will average and actually get 20 mpg on the hwy with the 4.6L V8 which it might since I have gotten 19 hwy with my 5.7L tundra (but EPA rates it at only 17 mpg hwy). Does anybody know if the 4.6L V8 2010 tundra 4wd is rated at 20 mpg hwy? If so, I might have an outside chance to get 3500 trade in voucher. The fed. govt. should have considered not only mpg, but also smog/air pollution because I know 100% my 1986 caprice spews out more pollutants thru the tailpipe than a new tundra would anyday.