Cash for clunkers USA style is a real dud
 

The House has passed its version of the "clunkers" bill.

To qualify the vehicle must get less than 18 mpg combined. That means my 2000 Chrysler minivan missed the cut by a measly 1 mpg! Tis a bummer because I would have bought a new car if my minivan had qualified.

There's nothing inefficient about an 8-passenger vehicle getting 19mpg combined. In your example the bill did its job (though that's not the job you wanted it to do).

Well I'm definitely in the clear!

Are they going by EPA ratings or actual mileage reported by the owner?

I can see loop holes written all over it without reading the document. You remember the whole tax write off with the donation of cars? I hope they close all the holes. There should be wording to prevent someone from going out to buy a 90's chevy truck which wasn't smog-able for 500 bucks and turning it in for 2k.