Rewards for the upkeep and maintenance of old cars normally set in after some years. And if you want to get a lucrative return for your car maintenance efforts, place it at special events like auctions. This was the storey of a fully restored and well-maintained 1965 Shelby Cobra netted at a Las Vegas strip. It was auctioned off and was sold for a whopping $440,000. This was only one of 10 cars which were reportedly auctioned off for $200,000 or more. As far as the Cobra was concerned, the car had zero miles and had a fully restored engine.

(Source) Mercury News

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Since most car owners have chosen to stick with their old cars, many are enhancing them to look at their finest. But somewhere along the line, the need to make sure that you car is protected is now becoming an important need. We have seen car alarms sold here and there and here is one name that is familiar to most. The car alarm system is the Viper 350HV Car Alarm System.

As most standard car alarm sets, it comes with a pair of 3-button remotes. For warning, it makes use of a blue status LED light. For the alarm itself (or the siren), it comes with a familiar 6 siren tone. This should be a perfect addition to people who want to make sure that their vehicle is safe and secure potential car theft.

Price: $84.72

(Source) Amazon

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The Cash for Clunkers program that encourages people to trade-in their old cars has been the talk of the town the past weeks but apparently, not all people can be apart of it, because the condition and quality of their cars. Also, others are apprehensive since they are afraid that they may get cheated out of the actual salvage value they could get for their car. But now, DamagedCars.com offers a special deal, something that should entice car owners to get the right cash for their old vehicle even if they don’t intend to avail of the Cash for Clunkers program.

DamagedCars.com will make an offer on used vehicles, regardless of what it is and even if customers don’t intend to purchase a new vehicle. If the offer is accepted, DamagedCars.com can pick up the car anywhere nationwide for free.

That seems to be a tempting offer. There are some people who want to let go of their cars without necessarily getting another vehicle in return. A great option for those cars that do not fall under the categories set forth by the said rebate program, the DamagedCars.com looks reasonable enough to get the appropriate amount due for your old vehicles.

(Source) Press

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After the Car Allowance Rebate System has been finally explained and understood, the next thing you would have to consider is what happens to those old cars traded in. Though not all of them are operable, you have to wonder if they will ultimately end up in the junkyard for scraps. But apparently not “all” of it will.

There are still parts that can be used. For cars, damage means only part and not in whole. Technically this is a form or recycling, offering motorists an alternative as far as cheaper spare parts just in case they don’t want to avail of the CARS program.

As for inoperable ones, they will end up as scrap metal for sure. Why would they be retained for no purpose other than to be reused for other purposes? This is of course all the other salvageable parts of the car that can be used has been taken out. And we all know the hundreds of parts that they carry.

(Source) Press

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The celebrated Car Allowance Rebate System is starting to show the fine prints which most motorists failed to look at. There are some small bits of highlights that people have forgotten to look into and this includes the higher rates for car insurance.

Apparently, when this CARS program was signed into law, much of the focus was into the amount they could get for their old cars. However, insurance premiums were not even considered nor mentioned by most motorists. The only thing that mattered was the savings they can get from the new car which incidentally was way off compared to an actual trade-in.

There had to be a catch and unfortunately this is one of them. Assuming you get the whole $4,500 rebate, you are still not getting the right value for your car. So as a wise motorist, why would you bite? Rather than spend on a new car, you are perhaps better off with your old one and with nothing to worry about.

Keep in mind that in whatever good deal you seem to get into, read everything to the last letter. Some may be aware while others are not. Just be wise on car buying choices. It may place you in a worse bind than when you simply had a functioning car which could be better compared to sacrificing the actual value it has over the market.

(Source) Press

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Cars.com has become another resource to properly educate motorists about the Cash For Clunkers Bill which was recently signed into law. The new guide aims to help in understanding exactly what benefits they can get as well as the credits they would receive should they avail of such an incentive.

“Cars.com has all the information shoppers need to determine how they can best take advantage of the Cash for Clunkers bill when making a new-car purchase,” Cars.com Editor in Chief Patrick Olsen said. “We’ve outlined the rules and regulations and provided a number of scenarios to help shoppers through the process.

These days, a lot of motorists are unaware and apprehensive of the new law, mainly because they lack the understanding. In layman’s terms, all they know is that it is a bill that would help get rid of old cars and boost the sales of new ones in the market, similar to a trade-in deal with a definitive structure on how much they should credit or discount once you make a new car purchase.

(Source) Press

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We have read about it but does everyone understand what the Cash for Clunkers program is really all about? Apparently that needs to be addressed and one good medium to do it is through direct mail. And to make sure that Californians get every detail about this new program that aims to rid consumers of their old cars to get savings off the purchase of new ones, Cubic Marketing has been tasked to deliver the message in a massive effort to educate motorists and dealerships on what this bill is really about.

Cubic Marketing will be responsible for generating and distributing direct mail pieces that will inform the general public and car dealers about the new bill which grants car buyers a voucher of up to $4,500 if they trade in their current clunker for a new, more fuel efficient vehicle.

While we can always find out for ourselves via the web or from the official website of the Cash for Clunkers, the fact remains that not all people would be that tech savvy in finding out more about it. Further, this helps boost the actual intent of the program in a move to help the growing interest in what they can get for their old vehicles.

(Source) Press

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Controversial or not, Volkswagen of America has vowed its support for the “Cash for Clunkers” program of the government where each of their vehicles for their 2009 lineup qualifies for the said program. Under the “Cash for Clunkers” programs, potential new car buyers can get up to $4,500 off from the purchase price of new vehicles who trade-in their old cars.

In order to qualify, eligible new vehicles must achieve at least 22 miles-per-gallon for automobiles, and at least 18 mpg for small light-duty trucks and SUV’s, and trade-in vehicles must achieve 18 mpg or less.

“Volkswagen of America supports this historic decision of the United States Government to enact the Cash for Clunkers program.” said Stefan Jacoby, President/CEO, Volkswagen of America. “The fact that Volkswagen has long been known for producing fun-to-drive, fuel efficient vehicles, combined with our eight Top Safety Pick rated vehicles by the IIHS, should put Volkswagen on any new car buyers shopping list.” added Jacoby.

Among the new cars that Volkswagen has lined up include:

• 2009 Rabbit
• GTI
• Jetta
• Jetta SportWagen
• New Beetle
• New Beetle convertible
• Passat
• Passat Wagon
• Eos
• CC

(Source) Press

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It seems that the car scrappage schemes are finally paying off. At least that is that it seems like for Mazda plants in Japan which have reportedly resumed operations after being suspended due to plummeting sales ever since the recession set in.

We are all aware that Europe had been in the forefront of this scheme which aims to entice motorists to trade in their old cars for discounts on new ones. Apparently a lot of them grabbed the deal to which rising demand is now occurring hence business as usual for car companies to satisfy the new demand.

This leaves a bright spot in the car industry. Apparently other cars are bound to follow the lead of Mazda of Japan but no one knows when that would be. This is the best news we have gotten from the auto industry to date!

(Source) RAC

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Perhaps we can get some pointers from this “Cash for Old Cars Scheme” being pushed by New Zealand. The Ministry of Transport (MOT) is trialling a scheme which rewards motorists for parting with their tired old cars. The first 150 people to scrap their vehicles at Metalcorp Ltd in Christchurch or Wellington Scrap Metals will be given either a Metro or Snapper card loaded with $250.

“These vehicles usually lack the safety and environmental benefits of newer vehicles.

“Owning an extra unwanted car costs money and is harmful to the environment. By getting rid of it sooner rather than later, you avoid the expense of further licensing and WOF costs.”

While only the first 150 receive cards, the trial runs until the end of May with everyone who brings in a car to go in a draw to win a new Toyota Corolla.

(Source) Stuff.co.nz

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Despite rising gas prices and the availability of electric and hybrid vehicles, car owners are sticking out with their cars today. Only 1 in 10 Americans would be willing today to pay more for an environmentally friendly vehicle, notes Alexander Edwards, president of automotive research for Strategic Vision, Inc. Strategic Vision is a company of clinical psychologists and business professionals with more than 30 years of experience studying how and why consumers make buying decisions and the factors that drive owner satisfaction and loyalty.

Edwards is a featured panelist on a forum entitled “Does Green Matter in a Try-to-Survive Market?” to be held at 9 a.m. EDT, on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, as part of the ATX-Consulting4Drive Executive Business Theater. The event is in conjunction with the three-day annual Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress at Cobo Center.

Edwards will detail how American consumers continue to have a long list of priorities for their next vehicle purchase that rank higher than having a fuel efficient vehicle.

According to Strategic Vision research, out of 124 attributes cited by consumers for their next vehicle purchase, overall environmental friendliness of the vehicle ranked 53rd, emissions controls ranked 87th, fuel economy/good mileage ranked 120th and fuel efficiency ranked last at 124th.

Despite the low rankings for fuel efficiency and environmental friendliness on consumers’ list of importance, Edwards asserts there remains opportunity for automobile OEMs to market green vehicles.

(Source) Press

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In a move to do away with the old and in with the new, Britain is on the threshold of devising a plan to entice local car owners to trade in their old cars for new ones. The scheme would probably involve payments of £2,000 vouchers to scrap vehicles that are more than nine years old and offer discounts on new more environment friendly cars.

The plan is designed to boost demand for new cars and help UK’s motor industry which is suffering during the recession. Austria, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Spain and France are among countries that have started such a plan.

Many British ministers are pessimistic about the proposed car scrap scheme as they believe that the plan would mainly benefit countries like Germany and France that produce many of the cars that are sold in the UK. UK car producers say that the plan could generate demand for up to 250,000 new cars.

(Source) Press TV

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In a move to help fight recession and entice new car buying, the South Korean government has announced a tax break for all motorists who replace their aging cars. The strategy and finance ministry said the measure, worth up to 2.5 million won (US$1,900), would be available to drivers who trade in a car that is more than nine years old. The incentive, which will run from May to December, was announced as local auto makers feel the bite of the global economic downturn.

South Korean car manufacturers, including Hyundai Motor, have reduced their output due to slumping sales while Ssangyong Motor, the smallest automaker in the country, is under court receivership to avoid bankruptcy.

The tax break will come from reducing purchasing and registration taxes by 70 percent, officials said. They estimated it could potentially affect 548,000 vehicles – 32.6 percent of the total 16.8 million registered in the country.

The government is also considering providing more liquidity to auto finance companies as part of efforts to stimulate demand.

(Source) eTaiwan News

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In a familiar effort being practiced today, the Automobile Association in Britain has vouched for a car trade-in scheme that would allow buyers to trade in their old cars as their partial payment for newer ones. We have seen similar schemes through the months and hopefully, it can help brighten the light of a faltering car industry in the U.K.

The program has been backed by motor manufacturers who fear a drop in their industry. The number of new cars registered in the UK in January declined 30.9% year-on-year. The ’scrappage’ scheme, as it is called, has been adopted in several European countries.

In Germany, drivers get 2,500 euros for trading in a car more than nine years old, while in France motorists can receive up to 1,000 euros.

(Source) Bombay News

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Dacia Pitesti, owned by Renault, has announced that they will be stopping production for the time being and will resume operations on February 9. Though it is obvious that among the reasons is the falling car sales hitting the world today, Dacia pointed towards the crash of the Romanian market is the actual cause for stopping operations.

Dacia general manager Francois Fourmont recently declared that Dacia will try to survive the crisis until March by temporarily halting production but, in case the measure proves to be insufficient, an entire shift may be laid off – some 3,000 – 4,000.

The producers hopes to find some help from authorities, including the buy-back program for old cars, in which owners receive deductions when acquiring a new car.

14,000 employees will stay at home until February 9, receiving 85% of their gross income, without incentives.

(Source) Hot News

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