Consumer Reports lists clunkers to cash in on
With Congress on the verge of passing some kind of 'cash-for-clunkers' legislation, it's time to take a look at what cars are worth trading in for the scrappage credit and what models would be better to sell by other means. The good folks at Consumer Reports have come to the rescue. Obviously, a car that has a retail value greater than the corresponding rebate is not worth trading in unless you just can't be bothered to stick a For Sale sign in the window. The CR staff has examined the prices and concluded that pre-1993-94 Cadillac DeVilles, Eldorados and Sevilles are all solid candidates.
One surprise car on their list is the 2001 Lincoln LS V8. The LS was a well-regarded (if blandly styled) sedan in its time. Those looking for a good handling rear-drive alternative to a BMW 5-series would do well to consider one of these at their bargain basement used pricing, and we'd hate to see a good one sent to the crusher.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, CR's truck list is quite a bit longer than their car list, and it includes such winners as the pre-1996 Ford Aerostar and Isuzu Rodeo. Check out the whole list of clunkers-to-vouchers over at CR. Thanks to Richard for the tip!
[Source: Consumer Reports]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
ronEbear 4:34PM (6/16/2009)
In on what?
Proofread title.
Thanks.
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Vik 5:10PM (6/16/2009)
In case it is not obvious, they are talking about cashing in on clunkers. I suppose you'd prefer "Consumer Reports lists clunkers on which to cash in" or something similar. Save it.
kumquat 6:25PM (6/16/2009)
@Vik
I assume he was trying to cite that "don't end a sentence with a preposition" rule. He sounds pretty snooty.
fixitfixitstop 9:54PM (6/16/2009)
Snooty or not, some of us actually speak English and expect writers to write in it.
Randy 1:17PM (6/18/2009)
It's a BLOG not Wall Street Journal!
Gray Smith 4:37PM (6/16/2009)
Hmm..I see no 2000 Chevy Impala on that small list....darn, it certainly is a clunker..
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KeatMP 12:28AM (6/17/2009)
It gets better than 18MPG combined, therefore doesn't meet the main requirement.
BoxerFanatic 4:41PM (6/16/2009)
Lincoln LS is on the list?
The nicest Lincoln made in the recent past?
The one that Ford should have updated, but they haven't, and now it is elligible for cash for clunkers?
That makes me want to buy one.
Does anybody know if the V6 model's manual gearbox accoutrements will fit on the V8 car?
The V8 should have gotten a stick shift option.
That whole platform should have been revised, and given to Mercury, if Lincoln didn't want it.
A DEW98 v.2 chassis could have made a very nice mercury competitor to the Infiniti G-series, with the choice of 3.5/3.7 engine, or the Lincoln LS's AJ-derived V8, or Volvo XC90's V8... Or even modular V8...
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Shamdiddly 9:41PM (6/16/2009)
The V8 cannot be fit with the V6 getrag gearbox, and a custom flywheel needs to be made. I am fairly versed with the LS, and there was one floating around dearborn that had a tremec 6 spd - but there were several custom parts to make it so.
In the end, to make the LS V8 into a manual would take much more money and time than it was worth. If you want V8 power and a manual, supercharging the 3.0L works nicely, however, expect to kill clutches - the disc was sourced from the Mondeo and the pressure plate is so oversprung that all of the takeup occurs in about 1/2" of pedal travel. That was to get enough clamping force on a 200 hp V6 in a 4000 lb car. A supercharger would let you exceed the rating of the 3.9, plus the V8 isn't the best choice above 4000 rpm. (s/n ratio on the knock sensors are so high above 4000 that spark is fairly retarded there to stay safe)
Before the LS was killed, we tried to talk management into letting us do a CTS-V competitor - we proposed boring a 4.6L out to 5.0L and using a spray-in bore, along with a 6-speed manual.
Sigh. Tons of cool stuff always loses; the V6 lost the manual trans option in favor of offering a dolby-certified soundsystem in the 2003 refresh. (vehicle line executive was an audiophile).
Juggernaut 3:49AM (6/17/2009)
... or as a half way measure... you could get a six-speed J-gate shifter'box from an '03 Jag S-type...
BoxerFanatic 10:11AM (6/17/2009)
Thanks for the info, Shamdiddly.
Any hope for a new RWD MKR 4-seat sleek sedan or coupe from Lincoln, to compete with CTS, or A4/A5, and 3-series?
Or an Infiniti G-series competitor from Lincoln or Mercury?
P.V. 4:43PM (6/16/2009)
The Lincoln LS was a gem. It actually performed well to be competitive. It's truly sad that few bought it, and despite the merits of the MKZ in terms of the interior, it will never be an LS dynamically.
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Tomac 4:59PM (6/16/2009)
It's a shame the LS made the list, because it might just be the best Lincoln made in the past 40 years or so. Or perhaps, ever.
In fact, if I could find a decent manual-transmission example in the used market, there might be one in my driveway right now. I certainly wouldn't trade that in on a "cash-for-clunker" deal. Cheap 5-Series, anyone?
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DJ 5:01PM (6/16/2009)
This is part of the whole program that is going to confuse people. A lot of folks out there are under the impression that if they own a car or truck that only gets 12MPG and they buy a new one getting 18 or 20MPG, they'll get fair trade-in value AND the voucher. For example, you have a 2001 Lincoln Town Car and it's worth $7500 trade and you're buying a Milan hybrid, you are only getting the $4500 voucher, not $7500 trade and $4500 in a voucher. You would actually come out with a $3000 loss!
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DJ 5:08PM (6/16/2009)
Interesting that the LS's platform sibling, the Jaguar S-Type did not make the list. Most older S-Type look a whole lot worse for wear than older LS's.
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murray.scott 5:11PM (6/16/2009)
it is a shame that my 1978 Ford F150 7.5 litre 460 that does 7.8 miles per gallon doesnt qualify... i would have thought it was a great clunker to get off of the road.
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Wes 5:13PM (6/16/2009)
My 2002 Chrysler Voyager is about to have it's trade in value jump by 450%
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Patrick 9:44PM (6/16/2009)
Your Voyager isn't enough of a gas guzzler to qualify. The worst gas mileage listed is 16 and 22, for a combined of 19 mpg.
Wes 10:02PM (6/16/2009)
According to www.fueleconomy.gov, my 2002 V6 Voyager rates a healthy and convenient 18 mpg combined.
Joe K. 5:29PM (6/16/2009)
My family had a 95 Aerostar. Just got rid of it last summer after the side door jammed due to an idiotic guy slamming the door. That things was great. AWD 4.0L Extended in White and Mocha two-tone. What a beast. Towed our ski-boat at least once a month every summer of its life and still made it 217K without any drivetrain work. Took all three of the kids to college with all of their stuff. Moved my sister to Ann Arbor from NJ, my brother to TN.
So much space inside I helped move 5 of my friends so they wouldn't need a moving van. And I helped move stuff from garage sales and giveaways for a lot of the international students.
It's a shame that it is only being remembered by the media as a clunker. It was a well built (albeit sparse and trucky) and did more work than any minivan I know of, plus it was the same price as a Windstar and didn't blow its head gasket once a year.
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