OAKWOOD - Two 'clunkers' met their end Thursday at an Oakwood car dealership as part of the federal government's $3-billion 'Cash for Clunkers' rebate program that ended Monday.
Tim Hayes, owner of Hayes Chrysler-Dodge, estimated 'Cash for Clunkers' brought him at least 82 new vehicle sales, but Hayes also sells used cars and trucks, and he said they're going be more expensive.
"It's going to drive prices up and it's going to make it hard to find those used cars for the customers," Hayes said.
Hayes said so far the government has paid him for two clunkers.
Cash for Clunkers boosted sales nationwide but has also created problems for dealers, many of whom have yet to be repaid for the clunker deals they have made according to an Associated Press report.
Under the program, dealers take rebates of $3,500 or $4,500 off the price of a new car in return for older, less fuel-efficient trade-ins that are sent to the scrap heap. They then must submit a 13-page application with proper documentation of the sale in order to get repaid. That has left many dealers with unpaid claims worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Hayes said he's bracing for the 'clunker hangover' following Monday's close of the government rebate program.
Hayes watched as a staff member poured silicone sulphate, required by the program, into the engines of a high mileage SUV and a pickup truck to render the vehicles useless.
Saturday
October 19th, 2024
8:26AM
