Top 10 'Clunkers' and New Cars Purchased

Though the US government’s Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), better known as “Cash for Clunkers,” has been a wild success with consumers and has boosted recent auto sales, fewer than half (45%) of cars purchased under the program are American brands, according to statistics from the US Department of Transportation (via US News & World Report).

Data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administation revealed that the #1 vehicle being traded in under the program is the Ford Explorer, and all of the top 10 trade-ins are American-made vehicles. Eight of the top 10 are SUVs, while two are minivans.

New Cars Purchased

Though the American-made Ford (F) Focus tops the list of autos being driven out of dealerships under the CARS program, only four of the top 10 models are manufactured by GM, Chrysler or Ford.

The high percentage of foreign brand purchases is not surprising to research consultancy BrandKeys. The firm’s ranking of brands with most loyal customers, completed earlier this year, showed that nine of the top 10 most environmentally friendly and fuel efficient auto brands are not American. Only Jeep, which ranked at #10, made the list.

The Chicago Tribune reported last month that, for the first time, US auto rental companies are also buying more foreign vehicles than domestic brands.

Comments

[User 469923:]

The top 10 Fuel Efficient and environmentally friendly list is hard to believe. I would even call it bunk. Mercedes isn't known for fuel efficiency, quite the opposite. Jeep? I don't know a Jeep that gets good fuel economy. Where is Chevy? They have more fuel efficient models than anyone. I don't know that BMW is that fuel efficient either. This study is bogus based on the research I've seen.

Aug 11 12:40 PM

[User 469923:]

Dealers are dealers. Some are good and some aren't. The good service you got from Toyota has nothing to do with Toyota. It has to do with that dealer. I've heard a lot of opposite opinions about the service at other Toyota dealerships. Your Toyota dealership is run by Americans not the Japanese. Sub-par dealers need to learn from good dealers. I'm glad you have a good dealer but don't give the credit to the Japanese. I have a great Chevrolet dealer that I would put up against any Toyota dealer.


On Aug 11 12:21 PM Midas1 wrote:

> Two service situations yesterday. One with Toyota, the other with
> a professional appointment. As usual, Toyota delivered consistently
> excellent service; the other, the usual dismal service. Due to an
> "oversight" no one called to cancel the appointment when the person
> I was seeing knew 5 business days prior to the appt he would not
> be able to make the appt. I took time off without pay for that appt.
> Hats off to Toyota--great products, great service, great company.
> Toyota respects its customers; many other businesses carry an attitude
> of "we dare you to do business with us". I will do business with
> Toyota for life. We could learn much from the Japanese culture in
> how to do business such as humility, shame, and honor. Rest assured
> if Toyota management ran our financial services industry, we would
> not be in the mess we now find ourselves.

Aug 11 12:44 PM

[Cincinnati87:]

Midas1, you sounds like a sales in a Toyota dealer

Aug 11 12:52 PM

[flexmarketman:]

Jeep in the top 10 for fuel efficient makes? Mercedes? BMW??

Garbage. This is someone's opinion not reality.

How many Jeeps, Mercedes and BMWs qualify for Cash 4 Clunkers?

Aug 11 12:54 PM

[Jeff B.:]

That Top 10 Environmentally Friendly Brands List is clearly wrong. Honda's corporate average fuel economy has been at the top of the heap for probably a decade, and they have more cars with ULEV engines than almost anyone. There is no way that Jeep would finish in the Top 10. This list frankly casts a suspicious shadow over the entire article. Very disappointing. I expect SA to cite more credible sources for articles.

Aug 11 01:04 PM

[sethmcs:]

Damn fuel efficiency. I want a 5,500 lbs auto with 260 hp V8 with a real frame and real bumpers. Gas is the cheapest thing you put in a car.

Aug 11 06:22 PM

[bushrod lee:]

this is all i say all BS.

Aug 11 06:38 PM

[Jobu37:]

Actually he sounds more like an idiot.


On Aug 11 12:52 PM Cincinnati87 wrote:

> Midas1, you sounds like a sales in a Toyota dealer

Aug 11 06:52 PM

[voss69:]

unfortunately Americans dont like Diesel cars. Every VW Golf or Jetta Diesel can get above 50 mpgs. In Germany you cant even GIVE a prius away.

Aug 11 07:34 PM

[rps50:]

Look at all them Ford Explorers still on the road after all them years of service and I bet they had over 200,000 miles on them. Speaks for itself

Aug 11 08:00 PM

[faackanders2:]

Is this a subjective customer poll, or an objective look at CAFE and Metro-Highway label? It may also penalize companies that sell trucks, if compared against companies that only sell cars.
Perhaps they should split trucks and cars, to have a better comparison.


On Aug 11 12:40 PM User 469923 wrote:

> The top 10 Fuel Efficient and environmentally friendly list is hard
> to believe. I would even call it bunk. Mercedes isn't known for fuel
> efficiency, quite the opposite. Jeep? I don't know a Jeep that gets
> good fuel economy. Where is Chevy? They have more fuel efficient
> models than anyone. I don't know that BMW is that fuel efficient
> either. This study is bogus based on the research I've seen.

Aug 11 08:52 PM

[faackanders2:]

If it was on the buy list that would be something, but it topped the turn in list, which implies people were looking for a reason to turn them in.


On Aug 11 08:00 PM rps50 wrote:

> Look at all them Ford Explorers still on the road after all them
> years of service and I bet they had over 200,000 miles on them. Speaks
> for itself

Aug 11 08:58 PM

[carparts:]

I would like to see a list of the cars purchased by all the people who turned their Explorers in. I wonder how many purchased a new Ford vs how many purchased foreign or other. It just goes to show you though, the '94 through '99 Explorers turned in prove how popular SUV were when gas was cheap.

Aug 11 11:05 PM

[Serrecko25:]

After all of these clunkers are off the highway, and have been replaced by cars that get much better mileage..... how does Uncle Slam make up for the last revenue NOT collected at the gas pump?

Better mileage = fewer gallons = less tax revenue.

What is Uncle Slam going to tax next?

Aug 11 11:49 PM

[smartconsumer:]

I've had toyota's and honda's most of my driving life and there is no comparsion to the american cars in dependability, service and the quality of parts that they use. Americans are'nt dumb. Thats why the Japanese and the Koreans sell so many cars in this country. If I was a american auto worker building Toyota's and Honda's I would be pissed off at Obama using their tax dollars to support the UAW. GM and Chrysler are going the way of the Rambler.


On Aug 11 12:44 PM User 469923 wrote:

> Dealers are dealers. Some are good and some aren't. The good service
> you got from Toyota has nothing to do with Toyota. It has to do with
> that dealer. I've heard a lot of opposite opinions about the service
> at other Toyota dealerships. Your Toyota dealership is run by Americans
> not the Japanese. Sub-par dealers need to learn from good dealers.
> I'm glad you have a good dealer but don't give the credit to the
> Japanese. I have a great Chevrolet dealer that I would put up against
> any Toyota dealer.

Aug 12 03:28 AM

[riggs:]

It's not which brands are the most efficient but PERCEIVED to be the most environmentally friendly and efficient. We're talking brand loyalty and perception here, which is exactly the point.


On Aug 11 12:40 PM User 469923 wrote:

> The top 10 Fuel Efficient and environmentally friendly list is hard
> to believe. I would even call it bunk. Mercedes isn't known for fuel
> efficiency, quite the opposite. Jeep? I don't know a Jeep that gets
> good fuel economy. Where is Chevy? They have more fuel efficient
> models than anyone. I don't know that BMW is that fuel efficient
> either. This study is bogus based on the research I've seen.

Aug 12 11:08 AM

[GMFORDCHRYL...:]

American cars are garbage period.....

Aug 18 12:18 PM

[GMFORDCHRYL...:]

I rather walk than owned or buy shits made by GM,FORD OR CHRYLERS.

Aug 18 12:20 PM

[GMFORDCHRYL...:]

I will only buy or drive japanese....It's the best out there.

Aug 18 12:22 PM

[GMFORDCHRYL...:]

You r full of shit.I used to have ford and they did nothing for me but headache.I've spent more money fixing them than getting anything out of them.


On Aug 11 08:00 PM rps50 wrote:

> Look at all them Ford Explorers still on the road after all them
> years of service and I bet they had over 200,000 miles on them. Speaks
> for itself

Aug 18 12:24 PM