Auto hobbyists, collectors and parts suppliers are lining up to oppose federal legislation that would take older cars off the road and into the crusher.
The so-called “Cash for Clunkers” vehicle scrappage bills, introduced recently in the Senate andHouse, would reimburse drivers of cars or trucks with credits up to $4,500 for scrapping vehicles with economy ratings under 18 miles per gallon. The credits would be in the form of vouchers to purchase new, fuel-efficient vehicles or use mass transit.
The legislation, first introduced in the Senate by Sens. Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Charles Schumer (D-NY), is designed to spark sales of new vehicles to help the sagging auto industry while lowering U.S. fuel consumption and air pollution.
Outspoken scrappage opponent Bill Gilmore, a legislative lobbyist for the Arizona Auto Hobbyists Council, an umbrella group of auto-hobby groups, said the legislation would result in “a vehicular holocaust” without any positive results.
“It is estimated that over six million used pickups, SUV's, high-performance cars, large-displacement motorcycles and collectable vehicles of all years and models would be crushed over the next four years in this twisted attempt to spur newer car sales,” Gilmore said. “Believe me, our beloved car and motorcycle hobby will never be the same, and we will all be disproportionately affected.”
Arizona legislators had attempted a similar state law several years ago but were dissuaded by the efforts of hobbyists and the collector-car industry. The state has many older private cars and trucks still in regular use, preserved by the dry climate.
“Those so-called ‘clunkers’ are cars that other people might love to own and potentially restore,” said Robert Stinnett in a blog on a car-hobbyist web site. “Just because something is old doesn’t mean it isn’t useful. This is a wasteful program that does nothing but waste taxpayer dollars and encourages people to go further into debt buying new.”
Rated at just 15 mpg, this 2007 Chrysler 300C SRT8 could be targeted by the scrappage bill. » More Photos
Officials of SEMA, a trade group of aftermarket manufacturers and dealers as well as professional auto restorers, customizers, racers and car clubs, said the plan would threaten the availability of valuable parts for repairs and restorations, and “risk destroying classic, historic and special-interest vehicles, our American heritage.”
“The program will fail to achieve its goal of improving fuel efficiency and stimulating car sales, but will increase unemployment and the cost of used cars and parts,” SEMA said in a press release.
SEMA ticked off a number of reasons why the program would be a bust with adverse effects:
Given the minimal $1,500 – $4,500 voucher value, the program will lure rarely driven second and third vehicles that have minimal impact. The program will reduce the number of vehicles available for low-income individuals and drive up the cost of the remaining vehicles and repair parts. The program will remove the opportunity to market specialty products that are designed exclusively for the targeted pickups and SUVs, including equipment that increases engine performance and fuel mileage. This would eliminate jobs and reduce business revenues. The program also will hurt thousands of independent repair shops, auto restorers, customizers and their customers across the country that depend on the used-car market. The program fails to acknowledge driver needs, such as the ability to transport a family, tow a trailer or rely upon the performance, safety and utility characteristics associated with the larger vehicles.
As conceived, the program would operate for four years and would encourage the scrappage of about one million vehicles per year. The targeted vehicles would be those with overall EPA mileage ratings under 18 mpg, no matter what year, and the vouchers would be good for vehicles earning at least 25 percent more mpg than its overall class.
Vouchers also could be redeemed for local transit fares.
“We face real challenges with trying to encourage drivers to trade in their older, less fuel efficient vehicles—particularly in this tough economic climate,” Sen. Feinstein said in introducing the legislation. “If enacted, this bill would be an important part of helping getting America’s struggling automobile industry back on its feet—and help consumers who are concerned about covering the cost of buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle.”
Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEEDtv.com,
