My impression of the Cash for Clunkers is that it attracted two groups of buyers; 1. those who were going to buy a car in the near future and saw an opportunity and 2. those who were enticed into buying a car by the hype. Those who were going to buy a car anyway pulled their purchase up to now instead of waiting a few months. This means that they didnt increase the number of cars sold; they just lumped them into a shorter time period. This is a common US industry happening; yank tommorrow's sales into today. Then, when tomorrow comes, yank some more and hope.

Those who were enticed to buy probably bought over their heads. There is a reason that most drove "clunkers"....that's what they could afford. At some point in time, those folks will have to dump their new car by either letting it get reposessed or by selling it on the used market. This flood will lower the value of used cars because of the increased supply....a loss.

All the government did was to take $3billion from the private auto sector and redistribute it.

This and the auto bail out are great examples of people who think they have the solution screwing up other people's lives. IF McDonalds goes out of business because nobody buying their product, the entire hamburger industry doesnt collapse....people who buy burgers go elsewhere for a better product. The Union guy who sold buns now sells more to Wendy's or Carl Jrs or Burger King. The guy who makes the cardboard boxes still sells the same.....people dont quit buying burgers, they just adjust their choice of suppliers. Same with the auto industry.....there are going to be xx million cars sold next year.
Bailing out GM or Chrysler will not sell more cars...it will only pay your campaign debts to those who supported you.