Used the cash for clunkers program to get a new SUV. My clunker has a 16 MPG average according to the government and my new vehicle has an average of 21 MPG. This 5 MPG difference qualifies for the max payment of $4500 which is about 2000 more than the highest offer I got when I tried to sell my pickup outright. Not too many people wanted to pay a decent price for a truck with 150,000 plus miles which had seen every dirt road in Southern Oregon several times over. What is sad is that the truck will be scrapped even though it is still mechanically sound, uses little or no oil and still has a respectful looking body. Plus the old vehicle actually averaged 20 MPG, not 16. Makes a person wonder.

Tim