I realize that I should have known better, but when Chrysler announced yesterday that they would offer "double cash" added on to the CARS (AKA - Cash for Clunkers) program it got me thinking. After all, 9 grand off the price of a car is considerable, right?

With my van that has a combined mileage rating of only 14mpg, I should have some options, right? Well, not exactly. The only cars that would qualify for me to get the double ($4,500) cash are the Dodge Caliber, Dodge Avenger, Chrysler Sebring, and Jeep Compass (but only with the manual trans). Only FOUR cars that get a combined mileage rating of 24mpg or better? Wow!

In taking a look at these 3 options closely, I realized a couple things pretty quickly:

1 - None of these 4 cars (even WITH the 9 grand savings) was going to cost me much if ANY less than the Fit. Pathetic!

2 - There is a reason that Chrysler is in such trouble. I read various reviews on each of these cars and they consistently rate at the bottom of the barrel in their respective classes. This was far from confidence inspiring for me when I considered gas mileage, maintenance costs, and most of all resale value.


Nice try Chrysler, but you'd have to TRIPLE the cash for clunkers money to make me REALLY consider taking the risk on your vehicles. My favorite quote that I found when researching this option was this:

If you are going to be purchasing a vehicle from Chrysler, I believe that program is called "Your car for a clunker."


Warner

 

Lmao, what did you expect, it's Chrysler.

This is a big reason why the CARS program FAILS. Most people in their right mind will go for the full $4,500 but that requires them to get something with 10mpg more than their current vehicle, and guess which carmakers usually build those kind of fuel-efficient cars? That's right, foreign brands, particularly Japanese.

I'm just bitter because our tax money is going to this program, and it won't help me in the slightest. 99% of the cars on the road are better than mine but since my car gets a meager 21mpg, it's too good for the program.

Get the Fit.

 

Yea, I wish I'd have kept my lesabre a lil longer and gotten in on this but o well. They're just doubling it to get rid of inventory just like stores drop prices on product that doesn't sell...I don't mind the compass though, not gonna lie there.

 

You like the Compass, huh? I'm on the phone right now with the local Chrysler dealer....she's going to tell me what my options are on a Compass...

Warner

 

Yeah, after the announcement yesterday I'll admit to heading over to the Dodge site to see what was what. My Jeep is 17MPG combined so my choice are even that much more limited to get the full $4,500. Basically the Calibur SE 5-speed manual was the only one that qualified.

Doing the math, it would end up being about $5K cheaper. That said, $5K is not enough to get me into a base model stipped down genetically stonewalled Calibur, over a FIT Sport. Nyet.

 

Okay...talked to the internet manager (who turned out to be a neigbor of mine!) about the deals. Here's what she told me. She doesn't have (nor can she GET) a manual Compass, period. She quoted me on a Compass Sport Auto that only had a tire upgrade and a radio upgrade that invoiced for $23,771. She said pretty much across the board they are selling them for $200 over invoice, so the price on this vehicle would be $23,971. It's unclear if I'd get $3,500 or $4,500 for the Cash for Clunkers (not sure if it qualifies as an SUV or not, and the auto doesn't beat my trade in van by 10mpg). They are offering $4,500 total rebates on this vehicle, so the amount I'd have to finance would either be 15k or 16k. The current deal I have worked out on the fit I'd have to finance $13,500. So NO DEAL CHRYSLER.

Warner

 

I also laughed when I saw this. I used to have a PT cruiser (super special lease deal from my Dad), and I considered it a gas-guzzling clunker. I can't believe it made the list (MT only, however).


BMW 328 22
Chevrolet Camaro 22
Honda Element 22
Hyundai Tucson 22
Kia Rondo 22
Kia Sportage 22
Lexus ES 350 22
Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 22
Mitsubishi Outlander 22
Nissan Maxima 22
Saturn Vue 22
Subaru Forester 22
Subaru Impreza 22
Subaru Legacy 22
Subaru Outback 22
Suzuki Grand Vitara 22
Toyota Tacoma 22
Toyota Venza 22
Chevrolet Impala 23
Chrysler PT Cruiser 23
Ford Ranger 23
Ford Transit Connect 23
Honda CR-V 23
Mazda B2300 23
Mercury Mariner 23
Mitsubishi Eclipse 23
Mitsubishi Galant 23
Pontiac Solstice 23
Saturn Sky 23
Toyota Avalon 23
Volkswagen New Beetle 23
Volkswagen Passat 23
Volvo C30 23
Volvo S40 23
Volvo S60 23
Audi A3 24
Chrysler Sebring 24
Dodge Avenger 24
Ford Escape 24
Hyundai Genesis Coupe 24
Lexus IS 250 24
Mazda5 24
Mazda6 24
Mazda MX-5 Miata 24
Mazda Tribute 24
Nissan Rogue 24
Scion tC 24
Scion xB 24
Toyota RAV4 24
Volkswagen Rabbit 24
Volvo V50 24
Acura TSX 25
Audi A4 25
Ford Fusion 25
Honda Accord 25
Hyundai Sonata 25
Jeep Compass 25
Jeep Patriot 25
Kia Optima 25
Mercury Milan 25
Mitsubishi Lancer 25
Suzuki SX4 25
Volkswagen CC 25
Volkswagen Eos 25
Volkswagen GTI 25
Audi TT 26
Chevrolet Equinox 26
Chevrolet HHR 26
Chevrolet Malibu 26
GMC Terrain 26
Nissan Altima 26
Pontiac G6 26
Saturn Aura 26
Toyota Camry 26
Toyota Highlander Hybrid 26
Dodge Caliber 27
Kia Spectra 27
Saturn Astra 27
Ford Focus 28
Hyundai Elantra 28
Kia Soul 28
Mazda3 28
Nissan Sentra 28
Pontiac Vibe 28
Saturn Vue Hybrid 28
Toyota Matrix 28
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid 29
Honda Civic 29
Hyundai Accent 29
Nissan Cube 29
Nissan Versa 29
Pontiac G5 29
Saturn Aura Hybrid 29
Scion xD 29
Chevrolet Aveo 30
Chevrolet Aveo5 30
Chevrolet Cobalt 30
Kia Forte 30
Kia Rio 30
Lexus RX 450h 30
Pontiac G3 30
Toyota Corolla 30
Honda Fit 31
Ford Escape Hybrid 32
Mazda Tribute Hybrid 32
Mercury Mariner Hybrid 32
Mini Clubman 32
Mini Cooper 32
Toyota Yaris 32
Nissan Altima Hybrid 34
Toyota Camry Hybrid 34
Volkswagen Jetta TDI 34
Smart ForTwo 36
Ford Fusion Hybrid 39
Mercury Milan Hybrid 39
Honda Insight 41
Honda Civic Hybrid 42
Toyota Prius 50

-P

 

yea, the compass was a decent vehicle I thought...I mean nothing special but I've sorta always like jeeps...other than the jeep if I were able to get an srt4 caliber...well yea.

lol, yea, fit it is fer sure.

 

If Chrysler had offered a vehicle that could, in any way, compete with the Fit in the last eight to ten years they wouldn't be owned by Fiat right now. Or should I say "powned" by Fiat LOL

 

Chrysler. Enough said.

 

This doesn't sound like General Fit Talk.

 

The weak bailing out the weak.....sounds like a winning recipe

 

Well said. And true.

Warner

 

The truly terrible thing for Chrysler as a brand is that they no longer have any residual value as a result of all this. I looked at used Chrysler vehicles in the classifieds of the Washington Post this morning at work. The "cars under 10K" section has: an 08 PT Cruiser, three 300s ranging in age from 06-03. When a three year old Hyundai is worth more than a one year old Chrysler you are in deep deep trouble. And I don't mean that as a slight to Hyundai either. And how are you supposed to make an informed purchase decison about a Chrysler when you know it is effectively worthless the moment you leave the dealership? Even at eight grand off sticker the math does not add up there....

 

Could not give me one - our local Chevy dealership was on the radio this morning saying how you can get the Aveo with $1000.00 off - and they
had many to chose from - could not give me one of those either!

Cat :x

 

As my 9 year old daughter would say, "True story".

Warner

 

In general, the talk is stick with the Fit.

 

Yeah I thought Chrysler for a brief moment...hoping that the Dodge Challenger would make the CARS cut but nope :-( I spent a few days behind the wheel of a 09 Chysler Sebring rental while on vacation in Vegas...it was horrible!! Underpowered, noisy, and falling apart.