'Clunker' vouchers allowed as eligible new cars get scarce

Source: USA Today

DETROIT — As the "cash-for-clunkers" program finishes its fourth week, the government is offering a voucher program that could let consumers take delivery later of new cars that are unavailable now.

The Transportation Department said Thursday that consumers who want to purchase a new car not yet on a dealer lot can still be eligible for the car rebate program. This helps dealers and automakers who are finding it difficult to keep some hot-selling vehicles at the dealerships because of the popular government incentives.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the changes will expand buyers' choices and keep production lines running. He calls it a "wildly successful program."

Before the changes, eligible car buyers could only choose from vehicles on a dealer car lot. Ford, Toyota and Honda have increased production to meet demand from the clunkers program.

Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich., and Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., had asked LaHood to consider allowing consumers to use vouchers.



Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2009-08-12-clunker-vouchers_N.htm

No wonder the Repukes hate this program - it's working

so they can fill the need.

Success!

What with the vouchers, I wonder if inexperienced or otherwise less savvy buyers are out there paying full price and feeling like they got a great deal because of the clunker voucher combined with the usual dealer bullshit.

sell a car to me that they gave me a steal on my new car, a Honda Element, copper colored. :) I am in lurv.

that's the consensus of the www.roadbikereview.com crowd

Alaska winters and can carry my little dogs in their crates. It has everything that I need and nothing I don't want. Plus, its cute as a bug. Its the most unique car in my area and its color makes it stand out. I am glad that my utilitarian needs coincided with my artistic bent. :)

I love my mom's minivan. It annoys her that I consider it the nicest car she has ever owned, considering she traded in her fine euro-sedan for it, but it really is sweet. I don't know if I would expect it to still be around as long as a Honda Element might. But you never know- Sedona and Sienna might be the rebirth of the Deadhead van in the next decade.

winter. my element can go up steeper inclines than a van so I am happy. I like cars but I'm not a car head. Just someone who dabbles. :) I like the shape of the element, rather jeep like I agree and that its copper, my favorite color is the cherry on top. :)

attachment and a good car but too many miles. I met someone there who had a car that made 19 mpg. I was so sad for her but they are making great deals anyway. Need to move the 2009's to make way for the 2010 models.

On top of the cash for clunkers, another trade in, and the matching rebate.

Jeep dealers on the east coast have almost no Jeep Patriots/Jeep Compasses left.

Two Patriots and a Compass...


I see new ones all the time with temp tags as well...those two are selling like hotcakes!

Stripped 4x2 base models were just under 10k. Jeep canceled their match but not before selling out the 09's. Depending on how you count (the .gov counts each engine/drive type as separate vehicles for sales purposes) the Jeep Patriot was #3 on the sales list from C4C.