Comments on: Smart fortwo: $99 a Month Car Offer

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:36:00 +0000

Shawn,

That’s the liberals answer to everything: Tax those that need or use something different from themselves.

I’d love to see how you suggest I get firewood so I can heat my home.

I’d like to see how you’d get a new tire from the shop to my tractor.

I’d like to know how you would tow my front loader to the jobsite.

My 1-ton diesel pickup is necessary to my life and the lives of people in the community. A Prius may work great for you and your life, but don’t assume it’s the standard to how everyone should be. Like it or not, these evil big diesel trucks are necessary to build and maintain the infrastructure that your reliant on.

By: Cory

Cory — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:53:11 +0000

@Shawn, while I can’t see any sense in having more cars than drivers, a single car won’t work for most families in rural areas.

My work is 18 miles from home. My wife’s is 22 miles. School is 8 miles the opposite direction. My wife and my schedules do not match up.

Get new jobs? There literally are NO jobs available for decent pay more than 5 miles closer and none at all in my field which are closer.

Move? Were I live now I have a garden and raise chickens (both meat and eggs.) Reducing CO2 created producing and shipping those things. Plus I can actually eat the stuff without reading its label. Things I am not going to give up.

The solution, for us, would be very high MPG vehicles. Public transportation just won’t pay here due to lack of enough potential customers.

By: Jasper

Jasper — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:36:17 +0000

@ John P., T.D.: Yes, people misunderstand rural living. But you misunderstand the choices you have. You do have a choice to live in a bigger city (allthough currently, you might be stuck with your mortgage). But more importantly, you do have a choice to vote for politicians that favor public transportation. More roads and cars are not always the answer. Even in rural areas.

By: Todd S.

Todd S. — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:08:01 +0000

@John P., You are not being forced to do anything, it is an incentive program. If the trade-in vehicle exceeds the maximum rebate of $4500, there would be no reason to bother. The trade-in vehicle cannot be resold, so that sets the upper limit on the value. Plus, neither of your two vehicles would qualify as they already get more than 18 mpg. The whole point of the program is to remove older, less efficeint vehicles from the road and stimulate new sales in the process. The new car purchase requirement is a bit limiting as not everyone can afford it.

By: T. D.

T. D. — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 23:08:21 +0000

Yes, some people here misunderstand Rural life. One car per family is NOT ENOUGH. I live in West Virginia, and absolutely nothing is within walking or even biking distance. Grocery store? About 15 miles. Doctors office? 20 miles. Elementary School? 15 miles. With everything so spread out, it takes time to go between places. Imagine a family with one car: Kid gets out of school at 4, dad works until 6, and mom works until 7. So kid had to wait until 7 for mom to get out of work, and dad, too? Then, you have traveling time. Oh! But it’s time to go to the grocery store! But you can’t, because kid has soccer practice and the grocery store is at least 40 minutes from the practice field. See where I’m going?