Was just driving back from lunch, and I heard that Champion had so much success with the "cash for clunkers" program that they had a ton of used inventory, and would rather sell them for CHEAP!!! rather than dispose of them, and the savings is passed to you! Last I checked, ALL cars that qualified for the program had to be destroyed. Thoughts? Am I missing something?
It's their inventory of pre-clunkers used cars. Fewer buyers because their potential customers got upsold to new and improved cars. So it's your chance to Save Save Save. But act fast. This is a limited time offer.
I'll have to listen again to the exact wording, but it sure sounded like that to me. I heard it on 610, BTW.
Seems pretty clear that they're saying they have more used cars because people who traded in their clunkers were forced to buy new cars...
They probably sold zero used cars during c-f-c. Now they are getting hit for interest on these units (being month-end) and so they want them off the lot as fast as possible.
I guess if they file the paperwork for cash for clunkers they could still resell the traded in car. Of course then they would also have to swallow the $4,500 that the government would've reimbursed them.
I have not heard the ad, but I still think it's clear what they're getting at. I happened to use the state program (AirCheck) to get a car a couple of weeks ago, and there were several times throughout the purchasing process that employees at the dealership mentioned how their used car sales had been negatively affected by the popularity of the rebate programs. Granted, I could see how one might misinterpret the ad initially, but when you stop and think about it I don't see how one could still think they were trying to sell "clunkers".
You and the dealer have to sign paperwork saying that all parts of the car that are related to emissions will be destroyed (engine, air filter, intake manifold, exhaust, fuel system, etc.). There is no reselling allowed at all. That would defeat the purpose of the program completely.
I think Sishir's point is that if they wanted to, they could just keep the clunker and not file paperwork for reimbursement of the $4500 from the government. It would be treated like any other trade-in they normally get on a car sale. Nothing illegal as long as they don't try to get the $4500 credit AND resell the car.
Well, that doesn't make much sense anyway. Why would anyone have traded in a car under the cash for clunkers program that was worth more than $4,500? They would have just done a regular trade in for the cars actual value. Sure, a dealer can take a $3,000 trade in and sell it for, say $5,000, but they'll have to put man hours into checking it over and restoring it for resale. Rather pointless if you ask me. They'd just take the $4,500 credit. But that's a moot point, I would think. The government wouldn't leave such an obvious loophole in the plan, even if it's largely pointless.
