New Van

So we have a seven passenger van and a family of eight. We want to replace our van, but not with something more expensive.

Yesterday the federal government gave us, and everyone else, the solution to this problem. The feds will give us $3500 if we trade in our van for a vehicle that gets 2 mpg better. First I've got to make sure our van doesn't get better than 18 mpg.

Edit: Here's a link to an article about the House passing the bill. http://www.leftlanenews.com/house-passes-cash-for-clunkers.html

The following is quoted from the article:

Trade-in vehicles must be rated at no more than 18 mpg to qualify, meaning it will benefit truck, SUV and van owners more than passenger car owners. For those who trade in a car that gets at least 4 mpg more, they’ll receive a $3,500 voucher; pick a car that averages 10 mpg more and those buyers will get an extra $1,000 for $4,500 total.

The program is designed to last for a year - or until funding runs out. The House says it will spend about $4 billion that was expected to be allocated to a war supplemental spending bill, rather than using previously allocated dollars - as had initially been proposed by Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow.

Dealers will be required to prove that traded-in vehicles have been crushed or shredded, and not resold.