Clunk! The clock is ticking

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This program was nothing but a shot in the arm for the economy. For a few months the dealers were busy,but now they are slow, because they have used up their alotment of cars for the year and have little to sell. The next thing is this didn't help the people it should have,most cars were bought by people with 800 credit scores. The lower income person whom it should have help was still unable to buy a car. The trade ins that normally would have been put on used car lots to sell to the lower income people are now crushed and unavailable.
With the amount of cars going to the recyclers and the 180 days time period, how are these cars being able to be processed correctly. You have to drain all fluids and collect the freon, not just dump in on the ground and into the air. Some recyclers should have realized there limits and refused to take any more car in than they could process.
- DEBBIE, INDIANA

This is from some one in the auto recycling industry....The dead line for crushing the cash 4 clunker cars was fully advertised and know by all of us in the industry at the start of the program. Many smaller recyclers had to op-out of the program because they knew they did not have the manpower or resources, and other yards stopped accepting cars when the numbers increased beyond their means to properly process the cars in the allotted time. Now we have these GREEDY yards that scooped up all the cars crying that they can not process them. I mean 800 cars, what was he thinking. How many other yards are in the area or near by that did not get any cars because of their greed. I have wrote to my local representatives and to the NHTSA to ask them not to extend the crushing dead line. I am hoping that many more of the yards will do the same. All these complaining yards knew the crushing deadline at the start of this program and they need to deal with it now. Their GREED put them in this situation. I don't tink it is fair to change the rules once the game has started. JM2C
- Dan Smith, Detroit Michigan

Low incomers should walk. Or as we say here in Concord, "Take the Trolley"! You don't make much money so you don't deserve a car.
- John Norman, Concord

Bill, everyone gets bashed on this website! Even when it's not deserved.
- Mazzy, Bow

Jack Alex: Greenfully disposed of? Are you stupid? You are such an Obama cheerleader.
- Manny, Manchester

Larry in Nashua, you are indeed right in what you say. Those of us who love and drive "classics" are the ones that will pay for this.
However I will be LMAO when alot of the clunker suckers cant make the payments.
Or will the gov't bail them out too?
- Marie, Hooksett

First of all I stand by the comments I posted earlier. But, I would like to add a few thoughts after reading a couple of posts. First of all to Larry from Nashua you forgot one thing. The Ford 5.0L should also be on your list. I have been looking for one for a couple of months now and haven't been able to find one or at least find one that is worth buying or is affordable. Again, I stand beside my earlier comments but to Ron from Candia Yours is the most insightful of all the posts. I don't think anyone has given thought to the other ancialary costs of the undertaking he has upon him. If he is truely the person you have made him out to be` then he is one of the few who do care. Jeff, you do not know me but if you are reading this the I appologize if you were offended by my comments. But a lifetime of experience tells me that for the most part as far as the people II have dealt with on this subjsct I am corrrect and I wont appologize for having a jaded view of the profession. I do applaud you and hope that you get the extension you are looking for.
- cmicke3, Freedom

I am Candia's rep to the Southern NH Plannning Commision and we had a presentation by a lady from the State who oversees the auto recycling businesses and garages in general to make sure that chemicals and other hazardous materials are being disposed of properly. She said that Car World is one of the most conscientious recyclers in the state. They do it the right way according to her. I think that they are a valuable business to Candia and the auto industry and they don't deserve the bashing that they're getting here.
- Bill Stergios, Candia

I just love wasting my tax money bailing out people who can't make reasonable judgments...Instead of buying a Ford Escort they need to keep up the the Soccer Mom Jones across the street and buy a Ford Explorer...skip ahead 10 years and the American tax payer will gives you thousands of dollars to trade that vehicle in on a brand new one. Meanwhile, the responsible person who bought that Ford Escort and could use a new car now is basically SOL!

There is something seriously wrong with this country.
- Mike, Epping

If the obj, of gov, is too eliminate gas guzzlers, then crushing these cars will acomplish that goal , by making the parts unavailable , and more expensive,
- Michael D. Suttner, Franklin Wisconsin

There are so many things to respond to on here I don't know where to start and I can't blame some of the derogatory statements from people and they may have a different view if they were more informed. When this program started the gov't estimated it would be approx 12 vehicles per dealer it ended up being 40 to a few hundred cars per dealer, this program did a great thing for the auto dealers and helped a lot of people that may not have been able to afford a new car obtain one, but is a bad thing for the people that can't afford new and rely on used parts. Those that say Jeff doesn't care about people..THINK AGAIN...if he didn't care he would crush the majority of these cars overnight and want to see it done that way, this program flooded the market with certain models of vehicles which means there are lots of parts available right now meaning prices have dropped on these parts and allows more flexibility in their pricing.Crush them all keep a few parts and the price goes up (supply and demand); also I have seen many a time Jeff personally give someone a break on parts because of their situation and/or replace a part that is out of warranty or was broken by the customer when installing it and not many places will do that! Some say hire more help? he has a man in every available bay dismantling these vehicles. Car World as well as many others operate on the GREEN YARD standards what should they do have guys stripping cars in the field like the old days not caring? These CFC cars were sent to recyclers who voluntarily participated the mercury removal program (not a money maker), yes Jeff is a business man and is concerned about his operation wouldn't you be if it were yours? The reason for looking for an extension is not just monetary, twice to thrice the amount of cars predicted by the gov't that this program would produce were clunked, they extended the time line and allowed the clunker program to be extended yet kept the timeline for the vehicle being shredded the same. You can not just ignore the timeline set either as there are heavy fines for doing so, and also the salvage yards did not get thses vehicles for free, they had to pay for them plus have time and money in the towing,fluid and contaminent removal and crushing so they need time to recoup that.
- Ron, Candia, NH

I just wanted to set the record straight, about Cash For Clunkers. My name is Cathy and I work at Car World and I am in charge of making sure that all the vehicles from Cash For Clunkers get processed and reported properly. First of all the engines are disabled prior to coming to us and we cannot use the engine. The law allows certain registered salvage yards to purchase these vehicles. Second Jeff Kantor did hire more people to help, but will continued to keep them employed even after we have finished processing all 800 vehicles. Jeff cares about our enviroment and that is why he is trying to get more time to process these vehicles for all salvage yards. There is one salvage yard that got 4,000 cash for clunkers and 6 months if not enough time to process these vehicles. So for all of you who are critizing you might want to get your facts straight .
- Cathy, Manchester, NH

Hey cmicke3, this clunker program is causing a shortage on Ford 4.6L engines, Chevy 4.3s and 350s because tens of thousands of them got "clunker-bombed". That 4.3 that was in that 17 mpg big truck could have been saved for someone who needs one for his 25 mpg Malibu. then since after NOTHING can be saved from a clunker vehicle after 120 days...not even a tail light lens, good useful parts get destroyed forever...making these parts no linger available...thus if demand is still high, you will pay through the nose for it.

Let's see you pay for that lift, those special tools, the training, the diagnostic equipmemt, the taxes on the garage and then you can change that transmission by yourself...but for YOU to do that job, it will take you a year plus to put that car on cinder blocks in the alley...in the rain...in the cold...in the dark and use your cheap, Chinese tools to do the job yourself...and then see if the $3K spent would be worth it.
- Larry, Nashua

A 1990 Ford Crown Victoria with only 4,939 miles on it which looks like brand new is getting crushed under this program. Dark red with a pristine velour interior with not even as much as a stain on the seats and the original carpet that looks like it was just installed yesterday getting crushed...that is a sin. This program has made me hate Democrats so severely.
- Larry, Nashua

The primary goal of this program was not to reduce the amount of polluting and gas-guzzling vehicles on the road, it was to give a boost to the ailing auto industry, which it did. Also, history shows that these "bailouts" can and do work. Look up the 1980 Chrysler bailout that made the Treasury $350 million richer three years later. The spare parts are just an added bonus and if the auto recyclers were smart, they'd invest in the extra manpower themsleves and not complain about "too much work".
- Bob, Hillsborough

I'm not understanding the need for a deadline. The goal was to get the cars off the road, and they are.

As for Mr. Kantor hiring more people to work on the 800 cars. It wouldn't be a prudent business decision to spend money he hasn't made yet. He'll be paying the employees, but won't make any money until the parts are sold.

There should be some kind of title tracking that shows the cars were ultimately crushed.
- DJ, Amherst

First of all if anyone of you leaving these posts are serioously blaming the Dems for this your are all out of your mind. If anyone seriously believes that the owner of this recycling plant really cares about people needing these parts you are all crazy. His one and only concern is his wallett. Come on a comment in this article sataes that low income families will need these parts at an affordable price, I have had engines replaced in cars before and not once did anyone ask me if I could afford the cost, they all told me what I would pay. The mechanic who replaced my transmission in Feb. when I had been unemployed foro nearly 6 months still charged me almost $3000 to do it and I am still paying it off. Don't give me that it will cost people more to buy used cars and parts because of this program, this is just an excuse for car dealers, used auto parts brokers, and mechanics to save themselves money and make more money. Now I don't begrudge anyone making a buck but don't use this bull**** about trying to do this for low income people. If you were that concerned then replace my engine for me for a reasonable price as I am still unemployed and cannot afford it. Remember the three worst professions are Lawyer, Tow Truck Operator and Mechanic.
- cmicke3, Freedom

Robert from Deerfield. I don't why you work the party of Lincoln (GOP) into this, as opposed to the party of the KKK (Dem), but you did and you are clearly upset that the Dem party totally botched the CfC program and did not think about all those "scrapped" cars and all those people who need one of those cars. So much for being 'the peoples" party. As for me, i'll wait for my deal when probably 50% of thos new cars on the road show back at dealers as re-po's...Now That's a DEAL!!!!!
- David, Merrimack

Typical....and these idiots want to run healthcare?!! NO WAY!
- Mike, Concord

Cash For Clunkers: Another failed government auto industry bailout that we'll all be paying for, in the name of environmental "improvement".

Thanks, liberals.
- Dennis, Hooksett

Nobody is monitoring this, just take your time.
Of course now that you put yourself in the paper it may be an issue, but other people can relax.
Think of your business first because the gov't certainly isn't.
You don't really think that car dealerships didn't make the best of this do you?
Think before doing- trust me, you will profit.
- Pauline, Franklin

Boy government should has the midas touch - only instead of everything they touch turning to gold - it turns to into money losing, resource destroying, chaos. Now wait till these incompetents "touch" health care.
- mike, cornish

John Norman You Elitist Clod...Just because you would not be caught dead owning a vehicle that is not of the model year of which you are living in does NOT mean that other people should be doing the same thing. Inj fact I am just the OPPOSITE!!

I drive a 1984 Toyota pickup in which not only did the original frame rot away over the years, I went out of my way to replace the frame with a very clean one from a 1992 Toyota I got from a junk yard. Then I rebuilt the engine and I am still driving this same truck a quarter of a century later. In fact, this past weekend, I sprayed oil inside the frame of that truck and all over the underside of it - like I did the past couple of years so that it will NOT rust.

I didn't even mention my other cars - the 1963 and 1972 models. I'm still driving the car I drove when Jimmy Carter was still in office.

Most likely I will still be driving my 1984 Toyota when Jeff Kantor starts lining up the first of a large nunber of Priuses waiting in line for the crusher.
- Larry, Nashua

Spike, as you can see has no problem with asthma, watching baseball games, cashing trust checks, or taking advantage of government services for which he hates to pay. But he knows everything about what you need and want. His government provides his tax cuts, roads, military, legal services etc. but he thinks that is just his due. The rest of us that have to work for a living, have kids with health problems should just go to church and pray for someone to give us a hand out. My social contract includes improving the environment, general health, compassion for those who are not on the top of the pile. That's the new New Hampshire way. Then there is Harriet having the government require that ---- well, anything. But don't pay for it that is tax theft. If you want to be selfish, thoughtless, backward looking, join the G-No-P - soon to be the G-No-People.
- Robert, Deerfield

To John in Concord, The engines were disabled so that they could never be run again. The dealers had to put an additive in them which seized them. If the vehicles did not go to a salvage yard where else can they go. The whole Idea was to get the gas guzzlers off the road. If the recyclers can use some of the other parts there is nothing wrong with that
- Bob Bruce, Candia

I seek to many junk cars in people back yard where the parts were junk with no warrenty . But a junk yard will give you some kind of warrenty. Also Obama cash for clunker had some problem. But I will keep my clunker and it still on the road with good milage and runs fairly clean due to good maintence. Think about it.
Yes I have got part from a junk yard and after market parts.Its get me from a to b.
- mo, plymouth

John Norman...Jay...
Why dont you read the article and try and understand what is actually happening before you throw out inane comments.
Mr. Norman, its good that youa re privileged to be able to drive only the newest and cleanest vehicles. Dont forget that a lot of the peoplt that support your life only make enough to drive 10 year old cars and fix them withused parts. Dont be such an elitist pig!
- John, Manchester

It's always nice to get up early and see the liberal posts about greed from the far left. One man's hard work ethic is another man's greed in today's society.
- Melvin, Keene

IN this world of Environmentalist I don't understand a law which did not require the recycling of all possible parts before destruction. It makes me so sad to see the amount of waste this Cash for Clunkers program promoted, without regard to teaching the usefulness of one mans "Junk" is another mans treausre.
- Harriet E. Cady, Deerfield, NH

That a state with NO air pollution problem that has a measurable impact on human health should destroy perfectly good cars, and rush to prove to the US government that we did it by a deadline, is the same mindset that made us tear up farmland and convert it to "remediation" swamp to apologize to the Pachamama for building NH-101. It is a religion, its hymn is John Denver singing, "More people, more scars upon the land." This is Barack Obama and his pawns in our Congressional delegation, bleeding your homeland to death to make the world a better place.
- Spike, Brentwood NH

"he wanted to be sure his auto recycling business would get its share of cars."

The government gives you a gold mine of spare parts and you are to cheap to hire more people to get the parts out in time.

Hire some people or crush the cars.
- Jim, Loudon

The corrupt, community organizer will not get my gun, my Bible, or my clunker.
- Bill Howard, Exeter

How was he able to buy these cars? By law, they are to be destroyed. He needs to be reported to law enforcement.
If I hear the excuse about selling parts to low-income people one more time I'll become a Republican. This is the problem : older cars pollute. So EVERYONE must adhere to the clunker program. I'm suppose to breath foul air and be subjected to continuing junk on the road so someone who should not be driving for reasons including income can have car? You have to be kidding.
- John Norman, Concord

I thought the idea of the whole program was to get the gas hogs off the road. I cannot beleive that the engines are being recycled. This sounds corrupt to me.
- Jay, Manchester

2 extra employees for 800 cars?? Put an add in the paper, I hear there's a work shortage. Spare me the sob story........this is just greed at its finest.
- Jake, Manchester

Whats the big rush?

The so called program did it's job, it took all these so called inefficient cars of the roads and out of the hands people who wanted the $4000 in free money so they could go out and buy ahead of schedule.

So the cars are sitting over at Murrays and Car World ready to be greenfully disposed of, why is there a clock ticking?
Granted they won't be able to salvage the engine because the program stipulates the engine must be destroyed but what about all the other parts that might be able to be sold to folks that still
are driving clunkers as replacement parts.
- Jack Alex, Manchester

$1200 to $1500 for a ford motor? Fred, I'll show you a guy wit a 1999 ford windstar on craigslist selling the parts out of his backyard. He'd sell you the motor for $500 with no haggeling. In fact, I bet he'd sell any part for less or a little more than half of what a junkyard will charge. I'll show you a guy who can find any part you need for any vehicle at nearly half of the rate of any junk yard. I can even find a whole 1999 ford pick-up in good running order and no rust for less than $1200. Forget about buying the motor for $1200 in this market.

Bryce1Brad@gmail.com
- Bryce, Concord

What a waste of perfectly good resources and parts.
Now how is this suppose to help the environment?

How can anyone actually justify that this program benefits the environment or the economy (Unless you live in China or Japan).

I wonder how long it will be till all those new car owners get behind in their payments and start defaulting on their overstretched loans.
- Max, Manchester