State of Texas is offering incentives in the Houston area up to $3,000 if you agree to trade in and crush your car that's over 10 years old. Would anyone here consider it???
Aug. 10, 2007, 11:41PM
State will offer $3,000 to trade in old, smoky cars


By ALEXIS GRANT
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Houston-area drivers willing to trade in their pollution-belching clunkers for newer, environmentally friendly vehicles will soon be eligible for a $3,000 incentive from the state of Texas.

A new state law, intended to encourage drivers to retire old vehicles that pump out more smoky exhaust than newer models, will kick in around the end of the year. It applies to vehicles at least 10 years old in Texas counties that have failed to meet national air quality standards — including Harris County — for buyers with incomes of less than $62,000 annually for a family of four.

"Those 10-year-old cars, compared to today's standards, they are filthy," said state Sen. Kip Averitt, who sponsored the legislation. "You take 40,000 or 50,000 cars off the road like that, and we know it will make a significant difference."

Harris County residents who think they qualify can contact the Houston-Galveston Area Council to cash in when the program gets underway, likely by the end of the year.

It's good news for drivers such as Ricardo Jamez, a southwest Houston resident who has been thinking about replacing his 1989 Chevrolet Blazer.

"If you're shopping for one, I think (buyers) would take what they can get," said Ricardo, 42. His blue Chevy still runs well and passed its emissions test last year, he said.

Buyers who take advantage of the incentive must purchase a newer vehicle that costs less than $25,000. Those who buy a hybrid vehicle not more than a year old may be eligible for $3,500. The trade-in vehicle must be destroyed or recycled.

Newer vehicles produce significantly less pollution than older ones. Cars manufactured in 2009, for example, will produce about 2 percent of the pollution created by a 1992 model, Averitt said.

Arnie Serrano, who repairs cars at his A&J Auto Repair shop on Washington, said he appreciates the program's concept but thinks it's unrealistic to expect some low-income people to be able to afford a new car, even with the voucher.

"If you own an older car, that means you can't afford to buy a new one," said Serrano, 57, who owns two vehicles built in the mid-1990s. "We'd all like to have a new car."

Serrano's own vehicle was in the shop — he had propped open the hood of his white, 1994 Jeep to replace $600 worth of parts.

"I'd rather spend that one payment that I'm going to make on a new car on my junker and just keep it going," he said.

Averitt acknowledged there will be some people who can't afford to take advantage of the incentive.

"This is not a welfare program, this is a clean air program," he said.

A similar program has been in place for about six years, Averitt said, but the eligibility process was red-tape heavy. It applied only to vehicles that had failed an emissions test, and the incentive was capped at $1,000, so not many Texans applied.

But the fund that pays for the program has continued to grow. The money comes from car-inspection fees paid by drivers who live in eligible counties, and the pot is now $130 million, Averitt said.

Over the next two years, he's hoping enough drivers will trade in and accept the $3,000 incentive to deplete $100 million the Legislature has put aside for the program.

Trade-in vehicles must be functional, recently inspected and registered, to prevent drivers from buying a cheap junker and cashing in on the trade.

Cynthia Brum, a spokeswoman for the Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention, said it would be more effective to reduce dependency on vehicles.

"It doesn't decrease the number of cars on Houston's roads," she said. "We need to focus on a better mass transit system in this area."

I would crush my 84 2.5 notchback for 3k. After getting the money I'd buy a v6 fastback fiero. Haha
Unless you had to buy a new* car. Then i wouldnt

[This message has been edited by bmaxbox (edited 08-11-2007).]

WHAT???

Now all the $3000 and under cars will be snatched up by the drug dealers.

So that means ...Goodby to all the "deals" under $2000 or $1000.

right?

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88 GT, 3800SC, Getrag 5sp. 12" Vette Rotors,Custom stuff done

DIRTY!?

You could suck on the tail pipe of my fiero and walk away with the fresh scent of pine on your breath!

It could certainly reduce the supply of used parts out there as well. But the bulk of the folks who might be inclined to do this drive old cars for a reason....they can't afford new ones. The program might, however, have the effect of compelling people to go out and finance new cars that they can't really comfortably afford.

Then there are the folks who drive old cars because, like us, they enjoy a specific model, and they aren't going to crush their cars. They could offer me $10K against a new car, and they still can't have either of my Fieros. I drive Fieros because I like them. The cars evoke a lot of sentimental stuff from my youth....a new car, regardless of what it is, isn't going to do that.

Incidentally, El Paso county has smog that rivals Los Angeles on some days. The air can look like a cloud of pea soup hanging over the city. Over 2 million people in the two cities combined, and a mountain running right down the middle of town that traps inversion layers. And we have very strict emissions testing....But all of the vehicle emission control laws and programs in the world aren't going to change the fact that Juarez has 1.3 million inhabitants right across the river, and virtually no emissions laws. And the ultra-poor burn whatever they can for heat in the winter....cardboard, old tires, you name it.

But I wish the state of Texas luck with their new program.

[This message has been edited by Frizlefrak (edited 08-11-2007).]

What kind of deals are being made to clean up power plants or should I ask allowed to pollute? The government is still allowing them to emit mercury.

Well when the high polluting counties went to the smog testing in Texas they raised the price from about $12 to $39.

For the 96 and up OBDII cars it's not much extra work, for the older cars they had to put in the equipment to do the acceleration simulation test. But there aren't that many older cars, and the number getting smaller each day, so they now have $100 million dollars they don't know what to do with.

I think the program has merits, but the audience is small. How many people drive old cars and can afford to buy a new car and still stay under the income limits? Well if the time comes to sell my Indy at least I know there will be an audience looking for older recently registered cars.

I would most likely crush my parts car. But the reasoning behind the deal sounds so dumb. Tax money actually pays for this? So dumb..

the politicians that think up that stuff are so far away from reality that everyone else lives, It's incredible.

They act like people have lots of money laying around to buy a $12,000-$16,000 economy car and are simply driving that old car because they are lazy. Everyone I know that drives a old clunker car is because they cant afford anything but a $800.00 car. And what about the 5 year old cars I see on the road that smoke like the batmobile? I see many newer cars that are so poorly maintained that their rings are already shot. I also see 30+ year old cars that are far better shape and maintaince than a 2009 showroom new Car that has not even in a showroom yet.

If Texas wants that program to work then they need to change it, If you are poor and drive a car that has emissions problems they pay to either fix the car completely, or take your car and buy you a $3000.00 car that is in very good mechanical shape. and honestly My 11 year old Geo Metro they cant replace and has far less emissions than a brand new hummer or other SUV. I get 44mpg on it daily in mixed city and highway driving. I cant even replace it with a newer car that can get that gas mileage except with a overpriced hybrid.
Problem is other states will start doing it because faking being "green" is trendy right now.

quote Originally posted by InTheLead: . . . Tax money actually pays for this?. . .

Of course tax money pays for this! Nobody in the environmental movement is going to spend his/her own money on this, because they are all good little socialists.

Having said that, I wouldn't give up my 1997 Contour. 30 mpg, ice cold AC, pleasant to drive. The Fiero? Since it needs major work, yes.

quote Originally posted by Gokart Mozart: What kind of deals are being made to clean up power plants or should I ask allowed to pollute? The government is still allowing them to emit mercury.

Oh come now, everyone knows that Houston's air quality problem is due to the 10+ year old cars on the road, look at this clunker spewing toxic crap out the tailpipe...



Or gee, maybe these palm trees will clean up that crappy exhaust, or at least distract you from all the refineries on the horizon.

[This message has been edited by jscott1 (edited 08-11-2007).]

The bad part about this is that the Fieros that have new transplanted engines like the 3800 Northstar and others (I didnt forget the 4.9) actually spew out LESS polluantants than many newer SUV's do.

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1988 Fiero Formula T-tops
CJB 143 of 1252 "factory T-top cars"

With my '86, I would take that deal in a hot minute. I paid $450 for it. Just get it running well enough to title it and drive it to the place...I'd make money on THAT deal.

NOT my '85, though.

Ed

quote Originally posted by edhering: With my '86, I would take that deal in a hot minute. I paid $450 for it. Just get it running well enough to title it and drive it to the place...I'd make money on THAT deal. Ed

Could be a good business opportunity...sell a bare bones Fieros just barely able to pass inspection for at least $1,500 to people about to buy new cars anyway.

This is the first step twards Big Brother making you do it. I don't like this at all. We are gaing speed as we start down the slippery slope.

quote Originally posted by F-I-E-R-O:

That is awesome

And no way I would trade in my Formula for $3000 so they can crush it, I like the car way too much, even though it is costing me tons of money.

However there aren't many other cars I would feel that way about. If I had an old Honda accord for example I'd drop that like nothing.

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www.FieroDomain.com
Over 120 Fiero Links, Articles, Images, Diagnostics

"If any car is both the parade and the rain, it is the Fiero"

quote Originally posted by RACE: This is the first step twards Big Brother making you do it. I don't like this at all. We are gaing speed as we start down the slippery slope.

My Thoughts Exactly

quote Originally posted by RACE: This is the first step twards Big Brother making you do it. I don't like this at all. We are gaing speed as we start down the slippery slope.

I didn't think about that...soon there will be a law that forbids you to drive anything over 10 years old. Hmmm.

quote Originally posted by jscott1: I didn't think about that...soon there will be a law that forbids you to drive anything over 10 years old. Hmmm.

Do you think Jay Leno would let this happen? I bet he has most of his earnings tied up into vintage cars ,that he drives regularly. Just think, he would have the biggest collection of cars that he wouldn't be allowed to drive. I don't think such a bill would ever get passed if it where come to a vote. It would put parts companies out of business. It would also force more people into debt,because they can't afford a new +30K car every 10 years. When i got my beater inspected a couple years ago it passed with lower emmissions than my 97 cavalier . My beater had a 13 year old motor in it with god knows how many miles. I'm betting this 3,000 dollars is a credit that you get on a purchase of a shiney new moneypit.

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ARCHIES JUNK IS FASTER THAN SHAUNNA'S JUNK

quote Originally posted by FIEROPHREK: Do you think Jay Leno would let this happen? I bet he has most of his earnings tied up into vintage cars ,that he drives regularly.

It's hard to say what politicians would and won't do...they already discriminate against us older cars by making us do the Acceleration Simulation Test...

They could add multitudes of new tests which become progressively more difficult to pass by olders cars which effectively makes them illegal to drive after a certain point.

People like Jay Leno will get waivers to drive old cars and us poor people will be forced into buying new cars, or newer old cars which have a limited life span. Who knows?

Delaware has a law that if your car is 25 years old or older you get it inspected for emmissions and safety. Then all your expections after that consist of only safety. Well in 2010 My 85's will only have to pass one emmissions test and then they are FREE from it ! That means i can mod them like crazy and not have to worry about emmisions. The only other thing they have to pass is sound <95dbs. Thats an easy one

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ARCHIES JUNK IS FASTER THAN SHAUNNA'S JUNK

There was a "sealed crank case" bill that did not become a law. It would have prevented the car's owner from even changing their oil. Guys like Leno do make a difference.

There is already a war on the middle-class financially. Now they want to control your freedom of movement as well.

Being "green" and environmentally conscious has made the systematic removal of our basic freedoms palatable to the masses. Unless you are saving the environment you are committing a sin against Mother Earth. (The worst sin of all). And all of this crap is coming from people who's moral compass is guided only by situational ethics.

Just wait until you are required to pay a carbon tax. Its coming.

Btw, F those Esurance commercials. I get so angry with all that green propaganda bs that it makes me want to chop down a tree and use it to club a baby whale to death.

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Central Iowa Fieros aka. Airspeed, at fieronews.net and ferrarichat.com

start buying $500 cars and make a living.

quote Originally posted by jscott1: State of Texas is offering incentives in the Houston area up to $3,000 if you agree to trade in and crush your car that's over 10 years old. Would anyone here consider it??? Aug. 10, 2007, 11:41PM State will offer $3,000 to trade in old, smoky cars Cynthia Brum, a spokeswoman for the Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention, said it would be more effective to reduce dependency on vehicles. "It doesn't decrease the number of cars on Houston's roads," she said. "We need to focus on a better mass transit system in this area."

I wonder just how deep did the car lobbist reach into the politian pockets for this one? New car sells on the decline, many 2007s still on the parking lot..not sold. Economics not stable here in the U.S. and they want Americans to get into 30k debt when the focus should be on better mass transit. Besides, people with smoking cars generally are on the lower income range. Medium or higher, they generally trade up every 3-5 yrs. Lets call the bill by it true name....POOR PEOPLES BILL.

[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 08-12-2007).]

quote Originally posted by RACE: There was a "sealed crank case" bill that did not become a law. It would have prevented the car's owner from even changing their oil. Guys like Leno do make a difference. There is already a war on the middle-class financially. Now they want to control your freedom of movement as well. Being "green" and environmentally conscious has made the systematic removal of our basic freedoms palatable to the masses. Unless you are saving the environment you are committing a sin against Mother Earth. (The worst sin of all). And all of this crap is coming from people who's moral compass is guided only by situational ethics. Just wait until you are required to pay a carbon tax. Its coming. Btw, F those Esurance commercials. I get so angry with all that green propaganda bs that it makes me want to chop down a tree and use it to club a baby whale to death.

I couldn't agree more ! Oh yeah by the way , it's a baby seal.

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ARCHIES JUNK IS FASTER THAN SHAUNNA'S JUNK

Buyers who take advantage of the incentive must purchase a newer vehicle that costs less than $25,000. Those who buy a hybrid vehicle not more than a year old may be eligible for $3,500. The trade-in vehicle must be destroyed or recycled.


This one line in the proposed law is the kicker.

You have to purchase a newer car. However if I had a rusted frame on a Fiero, with less than pristine salvageable parts and had money for the new car, I'd take the deal. However I'm sure the politicians will sqirm out of the deal if many try to take advantage of the offer.

quote Originally posted by FIEROPHREK: I couldn't agree more ! Oh yeah by the way , it's a baby seal.

I prefer to choke them with aerosol cans. That way I don't get blood on the pelts

The greenies don't understand that the planet hates us. It has come up with more ways to kill us than we have to kill it. We are at war!

quote Originally posted by jscott1: "Those 10-year-old cars, compared to today's standards, they are filthy," said state Sen. Kip Averitt, who sponsored the legislation. "You take 40,000 or 50,000 cars off the road like that, and we know it will make a significant difference."

That's complete

I've got a '99 Grand Am. Ok, so it's only 8 years old, but it's passes the OBD-II emissions test every year since it was new. When it's 10 years old and still passing the emissions tests, it will suddenly be considered "filthy?"

Sounds like Sen. dip-Kip Averitt understands cars and pollution about as much at Ted Stevens understands the intertubes.

quote Senator Kip Averitt: District 22 Occupation: State and local tax consultant with Ryan and Company Education: MBA, Baylor University, 1978; B.S., Economics & Finance, Baylor University, 1977 Hometown: Waco Party: Republican

Well there's your problem..... he's a Wac(k)o Republican.

I wouldn't crush my fiero, but I've got a '95 grand prix I'd sure as hell crush for 3k! $3k would buy me a car twice as good!

That said, I don't think it would make it any easier to afford a new car, one of the stipulations to getting your check.

[This message has been edited by ryan.hess (edited 08-12-2007).]

I take too much pride in driving a car that's older than I am. And why would anyone CRUSH a Fiero. The recycling idea is a lot better. Part them out and give away the parts. Crushing a Fiero IMO is bordering blasphemy

quote Originally posted by Freeman: The recycling idea is a lot better. Part them out and give away the parts. Crushing a Fiero IMO is bordering blasphemy

No details on the program yet...if all I have to do it turn in the VIN plate and title and call it recycled, heck I can do that 5 times over, that's $15,000!

It is so sad how many dumb politicians look at the wrong places to try to fix pollution. Oh well. Like mentioned above it is easy to offer some gals $3K to crush an old car and make some big news and give your political name a green badge. But they can't offer anything to the big polluter because those are paying them BIG money to keep crap like this. Oh well... For those that have a scrap parts car this is great. Give it in and get the $3K to put that 3800SC or V8 kit in your other Fiero

They probably won't pay much for a Fiero as theres not as much scrap metal. But $3k, sheesh if you live there your taxes are paying to crush cars you'd rather own, how sad.

I'm curious, how does an 84 Fiero stack up against any modern auto concerning emmisions?

quote Originally posted by AP2k: I'm curious, how does an 84 Fiero stack up against any modern auto concerning emmisions?

I'm not sure, but whatever magic they use to determine emissions, my 84 passes.

Technically this isn't a tax, the fee is collected from performing emissions testing. The additional fee was intended to reimburse the shops for the additional cost of performing the Acceleration Simulation Test, but the number of people requiring that test is declining every day. Now instead of lowering the fee, the people with new cars are subsidizing the people with older cars with this credit....

On second thought I guess it is a tax.

quote Originally posted by jscott1: No details on the program yet...if all I have to do it turn in the VIN plate and title and call it recycled, heck I can do that 5 times over, that's $15,000!

Then you would have a few extra track cars.

Okay lets say a poor fellow gives up his "Yugo" for 3K and is committed to buy a newer car under 25K.
He soon finds out his credit is worthless and no bank will finance the newer car.
After the "Yugo" is crushed will the State want the 3K back???

quote Originally posted by jscott1: Buyers who take advantage of the incentive must purchase a newer vehicle that costs less than $25,000.

NEWER, not NEW. Can be a good deal, especially when you are NOT required to buy a new one to replace it. On a five year loan, that $3k will save you about $55 per month (varying by interest rate and how much your car would have been worth by alternate methods of getting rid of it). I don't think it will be enough to get people to do this if they weren't already purchasing the newer car.

But this deal is irrelevant for me for 2 reasons:
1. I don't live in Texas...my vehicles are registered in Michigan which requires no inspection anyway.
2. "for buyers with incomes of less than $62,000 annually for a family of four."...I am a bit under that income, but I am sure they would find a way to disqualify me since I have chosen not to have kids.

On the other hand....I can think of a lot more effective of ways to spend 100 million.

Edit to answer the original question. Not a chance in hell my car would be crushed for a paltry 3k...sentimental value is far greater than blue book.

[This message has been edited by CowsPatoot (edited 08-15-2007).]

quote Originally posted by Spoon: After the "Yugo" is crushed will the State want the 3K back???

I have no idea how the program is going to work because the details have not been settled yet. But here is my guess,

Let's say you have a Yugo and you decide you are going to trade than in on a newer car and collect your $3,000. You take the Yugo to your local salvage yard and hand them the title. The salvage yard gives you a receipt saying the car can no longer be registered to run on the public roads, and then you mail that receipt to Austin along with the proof that the car was recently registered and the receipt from your newer car purchase along with a copy of your recent tax return and 4 to 6 months later after they look at all your paperwork collect your $3,000.