Poll: So who actually picked up a Prius using the cash for clunker trade?

Just traded our '94 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd which had a trade-in value of about $1700 and got the $4500. That "effectively" got us nearly 10% off on our model IV, a very sweet deal.

 

AND>>>>I am STILL waiting! When I go to pick up I am going to try to get them to give me my Scrap value as well. Anyone know what that should be in Ct. ?

 

I was lucky as dealer knew what I was looking for and called when it came off his truck...I drove,,paid...and drove home...Winter Grey PKG V w/NAV...awesome!! Got full $4500 for 01 caddy with 121K

 

The Sunday papers are full of the $4500 cash for clunkers deal in the car advertising section. The car dealers are going all out as a sales promo. They already have it deducted from the new car cost--along with college grad rebate, the rebate if you have two left feet,etc. They can turn a $20K into a $10K car in a blink with all the small print.

 

I was the first customer at Miller Toyota of Anaheim(CA) to take advantage of the CARS program. I felt guilty but I figured this was my bailout from the government. They called me back in the next day because, initially, the $4500 was deducted after the state tax was applied but it was supposed to be deducted before tax. I ended up saving an additonal $500(approx.)!

 

I test drove one and gave a downpayment for my 2010 Prius II on 7/3. Car arrived on 7/20. Traded in our 1990 Ford Aerostar clunker on 7/24 and drove the car home! This is my first Prius.

 

Couldnt find any Prius II in so. Cal..found one in Las Vegas, gave deposit over Phone, drove up and picked it up....Turned in 2000 Ford Explorer with cracked head and warped brake rotors...really impressed how quiet and smooth driving from Vegas at 80MPH

 

Short story version: We got our 2010 Prius gen 3, package 3, black with gray interior!

Long story version: My wife recently injured her back and can't drive our Subaru Wagon with the manual trans. A friend mentioned the CFC program on Friday, 7-24. That night we looked up the program and found that our 1995 Chevy S10 that our daughter has been beating into the ground actually qualified! Saturday 7-25, my wife said we should drive the 60 miles one way to just "take a look". Before departing I asked her what color she wanted for "her" car? Black with a gray interior. As we drive up to the dealer, there sitting in front, is a gen 3, black, with a gray interior. In fact, it was the only Prius on the lot. We do the test drive (she let me go first) and then went inside. It turns out this is one of those "best price" dealers which means no negotiating. I don't like to haggle, but I didn't like paying MSRP even with the $4500 CFC deal. As we drove home, I asked her when did she decide she actually wanted to buy the car? "As soon as I saw it when driving up" she replied. I was so doomed!

Now is the fun part. We gave them a down payment and told them we will be back the following Friday to finish the deal as my wife was traveling out of town on business (in my 1996 Ram Pickup truck because of her back injury). The salesman indicates he is worried the CFC deal may run out of money fast. He calls us on Monday and asks if there is any way we could complete the sale on Tuesday. Sure, if they can provide a loaner car... No problem. Apparently this was the last black package 3 in the mid-west because our dealer had to disappoint a young lady who found the car on the dealer's website after searching from St. Louis to Duluth. I headed to the dealer in the clunker (did I mention the muffler was bad and I discovered the brakes were shot?). So on Tuesday night we show up (with mother-in-law in tow) and complete the sale. Papers all signed and my wife is driving their 2009 Chevy as a rental and I drove my Dodge back home. The dealer promised to call as soon as the government program was approved (no, they didn't let us drive the car off the lot). Wednes passes, Thursday passes, Friday passes, and no word from the dealer. Saturday morning and I went into the office for a couple of hours to catch up and my phone rings. It was my wife with her "big idea". She is one of these "immediate gratification" women. She suggested we go to the dealer and write them a check for $4500 so she can have her car. I didn't think it was really good idea, but I lost that arguement. Apparently we were not the first customer to work out this deal. They completed a "We Owe" contract that we both signed. To help sweeten the deal, she made up a batch of cinnamon chip muffins, for the dealer, not for me! So on Saturday, 7-31 we pick up my wife's "mid-life crisis" car. I get to drive it half-way home and then spend 3 hours detailing it with Nufinish and Scotchgard. We love the car and on Thursday, 8-6, the dealer called to say our CFC deal was completed by the government. They mailed us back our check and it is all a done deal! We are very happy with the experience?!?

I must say I am a little baffled by the posts from people who drove in, completed the sale and drove off on the same day. I think some dealers were less conservative than ours. Also, I never thought to ask for the salvage value of the CFC tradein. Oh well, what's another $150 to make your wife happy? I think in retrospect, the goverment should have been better prepared for the program, but I am very happy with the new car (and the guys at the dealership really liked the muffins).

Todd
Phillips, WI

 

So your paperwork was submitted on the 28th and they got the govt approval on the 6th??? My paperwork was submitted on the 27th (website was down on the 26th). With any luck I should get my car released in the next day or two. This waiting on the Govt. is driving me nuts.

 

My dealer stopped making deliveries on 7/30. I put a deposit down on the last II on the lot on Saturday 8/1 and took delivery yesterday after the President signed the additional monies into the program. :juggle:

 

I am one of those who drove in the clunker and drove out with my Prius. On the contract it said $4500 for the CFC "pending government approval". The deal was done on July 25th. I have heard nothing from the dealer so I assume all is well and they have a Voucher# etc. But is there anyway I can check that for myself? I have gone back to the dealer to pick up some accessories that were owed to me. And saw my salesman, and he said not to worry. Really I think all is well, but I think my dealer (a large volume dealer) has more than 200 CFC deals done.

Fingers crossed. I would hate to be the last person in the bread line.

 

I traded my 2002 Jeep Liberty Limited (gave me 16 MPG) with 200K miles on it. Got the Max $4,500 CARS credit. I made the purchase on 08/05/2009. The Dealership was trying to get me to drive off the lot with the New Prius IV I purchased, so Salesguy said they would offer better rate than my credit union was giving me. End it up that the better rate was only 0.25% difference and only $2 less. I decided to give the financing business to my credit union. I have purchased 3 used cars with them already. Went back to the dealership on 08/06/2009 to pick up the Prius and drop off the Jeep. I do alot of driving and decided to get the EW for 8yrs/125K miles, that makes me feel alot better, knowing that the coverage is there, in case I ever need it(like any other warranty or insurance).

 

I wished my 1977 Toyota Corona (150KM) could qualify. No, it's too old. But it is still in great driving condition. I use it as a backup car, and drive 1 mile to Metro station sometimes. Actually, after I saw the horrible destinations of the clunkers, I wouldn't trade it even if it qualified. I don't have the heard to kill my old friend like that. I decide to donate it to my friend who just had his car totaled in an accident.

 

I was able to do it on the last Saturday of the C4C program (8/22). I had called around a bunch but couldn't find anything in my area (with a *very* broad definition of "area") except a couple Vs (out of my price range with options I didn't want anyway). But I gave my number to a couple dealers, making it clear that if a deal fell through, I had all my paperwork in order and was motivated. Got a call about 10 a.m. that someone who had ordered a II had decided they wanted more options afterall, so the dealership (in Illinois) had one waiting if I could get there. I put a deposit on over the phone, drove over, took her for a test drive and was taking her home a few hours later.
Cashed in a 95 Nissan Pathfinder that the EPA said got 15 mpg. Probably was doing a bit better than that, but not much, maybe 17.

 

I started looking for a Prius II in white or silver, without too many options, without any dealer add on, and without the market adjustment added, on August 7th. I had a HARD time finding something. But I found one that met my criteria on August 18th, 600 miles away in New Mexico. Put down a deposit over the phone. a White Prius II, no dealer add ons, and no Market Adjustment (selling above sticker). I drove my 96 Mercury Village all the way out, with a slipping transmission that I prayed would last a little longer. On August 20, I closed the deal. They went over my paperwork with a fine tooth comb though. They had to do a credit check to make sure that I didn't owe the IRS or for child support. They said the $4500 wouldn't be paid if I owed either. They also complained what a hassle the C4C program is and that they had to wait so long to get reimbursed by the government. Then they found a glitch in my proof of insurance papers. This caused me to be nervous. Imagine having to drive all the way back to Dallas in my clunker, all dissapointed. But my insurance agent faxed the corrected paperwork. And I drove my beautiful new Prius home! I was so happy and relived. The next day after I got home, the news leaked that the Cash4Clunkers program would end in a couple of days! WHEW.... I got what I wanted JUST in TIME!

 

Many amazing stories with C4C program. I for one, participated in it but what made my case more challenging is I tried to take advantage of sales tax examption program on hybrid cars getting 40MPG or higher here in Washington state. We have one of highest sales tax rate in the country, close to 10% but it was scheduled to expire on July 30th 2009. As you all know, C4C program officially started on July 27th. That leaves 5 days to complete the purchase and register.

Around mid July I decided to take advantage of both programs which totaled more than $7500 savings in my case. I had 1 week to locate the car that is available for purchase between 27th to 31th from a dealer doing the C4C program. With a pure luck I found a blizzard pearl pkg IV with solar roof craiglist from a dealer in other state 300 miles away. 2nd largest Prius dealer (local) in Pacific Northwest assured me I would never find a pearl white with SR package in this region this month period. Other dealers in the region had zero availability regardless of package type if I insisted on pearl white color.

Cool, so far so good. Little did I know this would turn into a nail biting, edge of the seat type of long wild emotional rollercoaster ride.

I had to fly across the state to get the new title issued on same day (normally 10 weeks else where in the state) for the clunker because my original title was previous signed and that invalidates the title. I learned this fact on Monday morning with 4 days to go.

Tuesday morning, I took first flight out of Seattle and returned few hours later with new title in my hand. Then there is a security breach at the airport locking down all exits indifinitely. Luckly it was reopened within an hour.
Got home and immediately hooked up the clunker on a u-haul rented trailer with borrowed SUV, drove down and picked up the Prius.

Cool, I have my Prius and everything is over. Sure...

On Thursday I learned that I must complete the registration in washington state by Friday to qualify for the tax examption. The rule for out of state purchase was pretty confusing and everyone I called at department of revenue and licensing interpreted the law differently.

Ok. cool, dealer can overnight the paper work. Sure... that would be too easy. The dealer is refusing to release the paperwork because they didn't receive the money from the bank yet on the loan. Only way they can release the paperwork is if I pay cold cash. No cashiers check even.

I had to borrow cash from a family member, packed up and drove down again on Friday morning, fighting through the Friday traffic and racing against time, picked up the paperwork (called MSO, Manufactures Statement of Original or something like that) and arrivied at a Washington state licensing office nearest to the state border that is willing to remain open few minutes late. My wife on the passenger seat had a laptop with wireless card and was checking on traffic condition and calling every licensing offices in few mile radius of state border. We ended up finding one nice lady willing to stay late and arrived 15 minutes after normal close time.

Then she discovers dealer forgot to sign the MSO

..... I ended up walking out of that office with two license plates and a registration paper but I won't bore you guys with details.

 

$4,500 from the Feds, $3,500 from the State, $50 (scrap value!) from the dealership. So ya, I took advantage of the C4C programs.

Traded in a '97 Mitsubishi Montero with a leaking transmission, a driver-side window that wouldn't roll down, and that barely passed its last emissions test, and that got 16 MPG. I loved that car and had it since high school, but it was time to let the baby go. In exchange I got a blizzard white II, with a decent amount of add ons, but nothing too ridiculous, and added leather to it a week later.

 

Took advantage of C4C by trading in my 2000 Rodeo with 140,000 miles. The a/c in the Rodeo has been on life support since February and finally died a few weeks ago. The gas guage always showed as empty. It needed new brakes and tires. Did the paperwork for my black Prius II about two weeks ago and then went out of town on vacation, just when they announced that C4C would end that weekend. My Prius came in Friday and I picked it up Sunday.

 

Got mine several weeks ago. My clunker (Ford van) barely made it to the dealership, so I was very relieved when I finally drove it into the dealership - sputtering and check engine light on, etc. After than, no problems & drove off in my new black 2010 Prius IV about an hour later.

Went from 14mpg to 50mpg - not bad.

What surprised me was how many rules there were regarding clunker qualification and proof, but I got through all that...