CARS rebate program

**Lady's Human** · 07-15-2009, 08:11 PM

Your gas won't be rationed, you'll just have ration coupons for buying gas at AAFES gas stations, where you won't pay local prices.

You'll have the option to buy gas on the economy, which is more expensive, in addition to the gas you'll be allowed at AAFES, which is a pretty generous amount, IIRC, just not enough make any money selling the gas on the black market.

**Sirrahsim** · 07-15-2009, 08:51 PM

ahh that makes sense. HUbby's sponser didn't explain it at all. It would still be nice to increase our mpg by 10mpg, right?

**Lady's Human** · 07-15-2009, 09:10 PM

Think about it....if you're upside down on the van, you're not really saving anything by doing this.

Besides, you're losing MORE money when you figure in the immediate depreciation on the new car. (roughly 30%)

You're really losing far more buying a new car than you would lose on the gas mileage.

**Karen** · 07-15-2009, 09:15 PM

Would they be better off buying a new car once they get to Europe than buying a new one now, and having to ship it to bring it with them? Just curious ...

**Sirrahsim** · 07-15-2009, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by Karen

Would they be better off buying a new car once they get to Europe than buying a new one now, and having to ship it to bring it with them? Just curious ...

The military pays to ship our car back and forth. If we were to buy a car over in Europe with the intention of shipping it back to the US when we come back we would have to have it altered to US specs, which could easily run in the $10k range. It's just easier to bring a US spec car over there with us....
Or so we have been told.

**Lady's Human** · 07-15-2009, 10:38 PM

BMW, Audi, and I believe Mercedes and Volvo have programs where you can buy a US spec car through AAFES while in Europe, pick it up at their factory, and ship it back to the US when your tour is over.

Another thing to consider is the space factor in a Cobalt or similar sized vehicle. 2 kids, adults, stuff for the kids, clothes, etc......

If you're going to travel around Europe, you should at least do it in something that's going to be remotely comfortable.

Why do people buy SUV's/pickups etc?

Find me an economy car that will haul wood, building supplies, and get up a road that is at best miserable in the winter and I'm there. Until then, however.........

**blue** · 07-16-2009, 03:07 AM

Any car or truck traded in under the Cash for Clunkers program IIRC will be crushed. The vehicles will not be resold as affordable options for poor people, and they will not be stripped for parts for resale so poor people can keep their vehicles on the road. Cash for Clunkers could kill off alot of automotive hobiests if cheap parts dry up because cars are crushed and not recycled.

I hope the CfC law gets more people to by foreign made vehicles, as the original intent for the CfC law was to get Amaricans to help save GM, and Chysler by buying more American made vehicles.

**Marigold2** · 07-16-2009, 07:14 AM

As to why people buy SUV's. Here in this part of Ohio they buy them for the status not for hauling wood. I can see owning a pickup in the country but in the burgs it's just silly. Some of my neighbors here have Hummers.

It's the Dr and lawyer and business owner, it's the soccer mom married to the Dr who drives the big Escolade. If you come to were I work and look at the parking lot you will see either all imports, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes or you will see the Escolades, Hummers and the huge SUV. Soccer mom gets out with her cell phone and bob hair cut her designer purse ready to spend another day shopping and driving the kids to lessons or practice of some kind. They are not worried about the money or the economy or the planet.

Originally Posted by Lady's Human

BMW, Audi, and I believe Mercedes and Volvo have programs where you can buy a US spec car through AAFES while in Europe, pick it up at their factory, and ship it back to the US when your tour is over.

Another thing to consider is the space factor in a Cobalt or similar sized vehicle. 2 kids, adults, stuff for the kids, clothes, etc......

If you're going to travel around Europe, you should at least do it in something that's going to be remotely comfortable.

Why do people buy SUV's/pickups etc?

Find me an economy car that will haul wood, building supplies, and get up a road that is at best miserable in the winter and I'm there. Until then, however.........