If you cars aren't aware, the German auto industry (which had stagnated) saw a large increase in its auto sales, despite the global recession. Yet here in America (and everywhere else for that matter) auto sales have tanked. The reason for this is noted in the article.

The Germans Got it Right - Cash for Trash

 

Well what do you know, the German have finally admitted what their business process essentially is. Cash for trash.

 

This is the same program that they had in California. Its total B.S. since the only result is many classic vehicles that only need basic repairs to be totally roadworthy will be gone forever. In the mind 90's Hot Rod magazine found a '67 Camaro in line to be scrapped. It was just a 6 cyl RS model, but still they sank a few hundred bucks into it, got it tuned up, did some basic maintenance and it ran clean and got like 23 mpg overall. Excellent for something that age, and no eoconobox has a chance in hell of lasting for 30+ years. Scrapping cars that have timeless appeal and last forever in favor of faceless throwaways makes no sense at all.

Granted, many of the cars that would get scrapped wont be muscle cars, bobtail 4x4s or anything else worth holding onto, but the parts within them are usually salvageable and can be used to restore something that DOES have value.

 

I think something like this we also need here in our country.

 

The only thing the Germans ever got right was BMW!

 

Except the quality.

 

Yea, at least on a temporary basis.

 

so, we(the taxpayers) pay to get older cars off the road? What ever happened to driving a vehicle you can afford. In the end, your paying yourself to get a new car under the cash for trash scheme. That's using federal tax dollars to fund an industry by trying to create artificial demand. How many americans actually keep the same car for more than 6 years anyway? Seems I heard somewhere around 6 years in the US is the average length of ownership. So, if a similar program was in play in the US it would have to be around 6-7 years. Not the 10 or older in Germany. In Europe most car owners keep their vehicles much longer than we do because of the high price of new vehicles relative to their after tax income and lesser need for multiple vehicles per capita.

 

Finally somebody gets it...

 

in the us, theyre called "cash for clunkers", and its basically aimed at taking classic cars off of the streets, which is why youll find strict opposition to these laws at car club meetings, and big shows like SEMA...