I work at a newspaper and have had to read our extensive -- and painfully ignorant -- coverage of Cash For Clunkers. It has made me so angry and depressed I can barely see straight. Packed with quotes to the effect of "I'm getting $4,500! How could I pass up this deal?" (Ummm ... you're getting $4,500 to lose $15,000) and, from a car salesman, "We're selling cars like candy today!" (Awesome, the economy is saved, really.) Finally in today's paper, at the very end of the article, our reporter talked to a couple people who weren't biting. The last one actually made me grin. I'd like to meet this guy and shake his hand:

"Wesley Smith, of Bear, also is holding on to his 1990 BMW. Its paint looks bad and it gets 16 to 18 mpg, but it's still running great with 408,000 miles.
"What would I want to get rid of it for?" he said."

Sounds like a kindred soul, Mercedes or not. Right before this guy they talked to a man with a 250,000 Tahoe who said he wouldn't consider junking it ... it runs like new. It was kind of nice to know these people are floating around amidst the madness. Of course we need people to buy new cars to keep the economy going ... but that can happen without forcing people to waste and trash things prematurely (especially since they do that naturally ... why push them?). The industry has a circle of life. Some people seem to get it; others don't.

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)