KBB.Com Cash for Clunkers Tool Should Be Sent to the Crusher
Friday July 10, 2009
Earlier, I had heartily recommended KBB.com’s Cash for Clunkers tool. Turns out it’s a clunker. I have received a couple of complaints about it being just plain wrong.
Now, that’s a big problem because KBB’s tool was inflating the combined fuel economy numbers of used cars. That means KBB.com was telling its users their used cars weren’t eligible, when in fact they were.
Simply put – stay away from the tool. It could give you bad advice. I won’t even give you the link to it, that’s how guilty I feel.
So, I hereby send KBB.com’s Cash for Clunkers tool to the crusher. My apologies for referring you to it in the first place. Even your humble guide makes a mistake every now and then. Unlike most automotive journalists, I’m willing to admit it!
Since there is liability in telling consumers what will qualify or not qualify, websites should be warned about implementing their own CARS qualifications form. Lawyers will be having a field day on KBB.
Everyone should just direct consumers to cars.gov or fueleconomy.gov websites since that will be what car dealers will use to validate cars that come in on trade.
One set of rule books and that are the sites that end in .gov for EPA MPG rulings.
Unfortunately, the CARS program will likely turn out to be “all show and no go”. I anxiously awaited this program to help me in retiring my 1992 Acura, only to find out that it will not qualify because it gets too high mileage. So now I’ll be forced to put more money into the old heap and forget any thoughts I had about replacing it.
Brian -
Excellent advice, which is why I will now only steer people to .gov websites. Cars.gov is the way to go and folks should check it frequently for updates.
Keith,
Your Guide to Used Cars
Car dealers are increasing prices for good MPG cars because of the increased demand (artificial) from the cash for clunkers program. Not being critical, but it is basic supply/demand economics.
With the price increases, some markets will will give consumers no net benefit. It is poorly written legislation. Especially since the turned in cars have a trade-in value of equal the scrap metal — because all cars under this program must be taken off the road. So some cars that qualify, may actually be worth more than the redemable voucher.
I don’t qualify for cash for clunkers because my car already gets good gas mileage. But my dad swears by the car buying process here:
http://tinyurl.com/laub3m