The Cash for Clunkers End Game (Clunker Pics)

During the final days of C4C, I took a walk while my new tires were being installed. This was in the car-repair-and-dealer area on the fringes of an upscale 'burb, and included a dealership for several expensive makes. Upon returning, I remarked to the tire guy that a lot of the clunkers sequestered at one end of their lot looked better than what I was driving.

"The question is," he replied, "do they *run* better?"

Indeed. It's hard to l spot a worn-out engine that would never again pass smog without an overhaul and an extra grand worth of parts replacements around its induction and exhaust systems, or a tranny and transfer case that sounds like a coffee can half full of nuts and bolts rolling down the stairs, or the "California special" -- a freeway commute car that looks nice from 20 feet but has more miles on it than the Space Shuttle.

I'm sure some people used taxpayer funds to trade up from a car with a lot of life left in it, but a lot of the clunkers are probably there for a good reason besides the rebate, and in some cases, interior or body parts might be all that's worth having.

--Joe

The only car that I have that qualified is an '88 Toyota Supra, Targa Top.

Um, I DON'T THINK SO!

There were some good looking Jeeps in those pics.