Clunker facelift - long story.

[JeepinSoldier]

Yesterday one of my Soldiers came by my office and asked me if I was still looking for parts for my 90 Comanche that Im fixing up. I said 'A few yeah'. Then he told me about a Comanche and several Cherokees at a local dealership that had been traded in for the Cash for Clunkers program. He said I ought to go by and ask what was going to happen to them and see if I could get a few parts.

I went by and what I found almost broke my heart. A thrashed but rust free restoreable 88 Comanche, a beautiful one owner 95 Cherokee that looked brand new, and several nice XJ's, ZJ's and WJ's, along with about 75 other vehicles.

I went into the dealership and spoke to the manager. He told me that no parts could be taken off any of the vehicles, the engines had to be destroyed by pouring sand in them while running, and that the vehicles were to be picked up by govt contract junkyards that could not pull any parts and had to crush/recycle them.

He saw the look of utter dismay and disgust on my face and asked why I wanted to know. I told him that I was fixing up an old Comanche and could really use some of the parts off the Comanche and the nice Cherokee if they were just going to be destroyed. Then he said 'Nobody will see you over there - take any small parts you need and put the old parts off your truck back on so the go to the crusher with all thier parts.' You cannot take anything major or go inside them, dont be over there more than a few minutes.'

I got the complete grille, and headlight surrounds off the Cherokee and a licence plate light off the bumper of the Comanche. I was glad to get what I got, but still drove away feeling bad knowing that others could use the bed, tail lights, rear bumper, and tire winch off the Comanche and knowing that Cherokee was going to the crusher. Sure wish I could have at least pulled the doors and mirrors off of it.........

[dmaxjeep]

makes me sick.
and to top it off, the dealers are having a hard time getting paid for the "clunkers".
Fox news just ran a thing on it this morning, the dealers were supposed to be paid withing 10 days of submitting but they are getting the paperwork back denied for reason not listed (section blank).

[bluedragon436]

So explain to me how a WJ falls under a clunker rule for this program... I think that is complete BS... I mean I think crushing them all is complete BS... if you leave theme in a yard so at least the good parts could be taken off of them, so they can be used to keep other vehicles from becoming clunkers.... I mean I went by a friend of mine's dealership, and there was a nice 99' Cherokee, one owner, and a nice one oner TJ there, both traded in with the cash for clunkers program... I got told if they don't get paid by the government, that they would let me either get parts, or get a good deal to purchase them both whole...

[afjeep]

the government doesnt want them on the road anymore for whatever reason. it sucks.

[tomsjeep]

the government doesnt want them on the road anymore for whatever reason. it sucks.

The reason is they want you all in a Prius. While they and their rock star friends will still be ferried around in big, black armored SUVs.
We are infringing on their status symbols.

[Jeffb_79]

The reason is they want you all in a Prius. While they and their rock star friends will still be ferried around in big, black armored SUVs.
We are infringing on their status symbols.

No... they want gulfstream G550s.

[JeepinSoldier]

The reason is they want you all in a Prius. While they and their rock star friends will still be ferried around in big, black armored SUVs.
We are infringing on their status symbols.

Yup part of thier evil plan. Fricken liberals.

Well Ill NEVER be in a Prius. They will have to come and take my Ford Excursion diesel, 10 mpg lifted - armored LJ, and the Comanche by force.

If fuel gets too expensive Ill convert the LJ and Manche to diesel and make my own fuel from used french fry oil!!

[sincitycj]

Alot of the dealerships around here have stopped destroying the motors because the govt. is taking so long to pay them, some haven't been paid from the begining of this crap program. Most are scared that by the time the govt. gets around to looking over the paperwork the program will be out of money and they won't get paid. At least then they can resell the "clunkers".

[jeepfever]

Just wait a few years and watch what happens to the price of fuel as more and more economical cars hit the road. Those of us still driving gas guzzling dinasaurs will be priced out of being able to drive them.

[Marinedawg]

That is just a damn shame. I think I may swing by our local dealer and see what they have there. Wish they would give some of the salvage yards a shot at them before they destroy the engines and send them off to the crusher. At least we would be able to recycle the parts if they were at a salvage yard.