O'Reilly Factor guest host Monica Crowley fawned over guest Scooter Libby and expressed her outrage over how he was treated during the Valerie Plame trial.
Dealers crave cash-for-clunkers buyers; what qualifies? Posted on 7/27/2009
Sales-starved automakers have begun an ad blitz to coincide with the kick-off of the so-called cash-for-clunkers program that gives government rebates to people who trade in older vehicles for new ones that get better mileage.
What triggered the flurry: The government published rules Friday for the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS) program.
The program has been in effect since July 1, but it's been unclear until now how dealers and buyers are to use the system.
Electronic Transfer The government makes an electronic transfer of $3,500 or $4,500 to the dealer for each qualifying sale.
Scrap Yard Vehicle The dealer has to ruin the engine of the trade-in so it never can be reused, then send the vehicle to a scrap yard.
CARS runs until Nov. 1, or until its $1 billion budget is gone.
Website Details The government website www.cars.gov has full details.
Generally speaking, the new car has to be rated 22 miles per gallon or more by the government in combined city-highway driving.
The trade-in can't be older than 1984 and has to be rated 18 mpg or less
Truck Details Trucks are more complicated.
In some cases, the new one doesn't need to get better mileage than the old one, as long as the new one is no bigger, measured by a specification called gross vehicle weight rating.
The regulations set a maximum window-sticker price of $45,000, but that's the base price, before adding options, dealer accessories and shipping.
For instance, a loaded $60,000 BMW 335d sedan qualifies because it's rated 27 mpg and is $43,900 before options.
