Cash for clunkers 2 – did it really make a difference?

The LA Times, quoting an Edmonds analyst, says, “not much.”

Automakers and dealers admit that the program is of marketing value even if cars don’t qualify. (If I were employed right now, I’d see if I could swap my 8-year-old Corolla out on a Prius, to be honest.) But, they also admit that the program brought in people who had money to buy, or almost buy, anyway. The car-buying pool may have been considerably shallowed after this rush.

On cash for clunker sales, it was clearly NOT formerly Big Three vehicles on the sales side of the equation. As for as vehicles bought, four of the top five are Japanese makes. So, any surge in former Big Three sales is due to other reasons, or the “cash for clunkers” as a marketing come-on.