Cash for Clunkers "Back on the Road," but is it for real?

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Cash for Clunkers "Back on the Road," but is it for real?

Posted by SharK at 4:38 PM

Filed under: MPG, Legislation and Policy, Green Daily, USA

The Cash for Clunkers website sent out a short and sweet email update on the roller-coaster status of the program: "CARS Back on the Road." Thanks to quick Congressional action on Friday, CARS was given a $2 billion revival shot - enough to maybe keep it alive for another two weeks - by the House, and the website currently states the following:

The CAR Allowance Rebate System (CARS) is still operating.

Consumers can still take advantage of the government program and receive a $3,500 or $4,500 discount for their trade-in vehicle when purchasing or leasing a new vehicle.

Check back often to this site for updates and information.

Every few minutes, perhaps, because Senate approval for that $2 billion is anything but guaranteed.

Meanwhile, Mazda released a statement saying that CARS has been great for showroom traffic and that 57 percent of new Mazdas sold using CARS have been the company's most fuel-efficient model, the Mazda3. This is in line with announcements from other automakers that say customers have been ditching trucks and SUVs for smallers cars.

There were also two rules changes to CARS. First, dealers can now wait until after they've gotten the check from the government before disabling the clunker's engine (see video of what that's like here). Second, the insurance requirements in New Hampshire and Wisconsin have been waived because of state laws. Big changes about mileage requirements on the low or high end have not been made.

Gallery: 2010 Mazda Axela (Mazda3)