CHICAGO (WBBM) - Local new car dealers in the Chicago area appear as confused as consumers and politicians over the fate of the successful Cash for Clunkers car-trade in program.
Mike Rzadzki of Mike Anderson Chevrolet says he’s telling people who qualify for Cash for Clunkers that they’re probably better off waiting to see what the U.S. Senate does before buying. Rzadzki says a side-benefit of Cash for Clunkers is that customers are walking steadily through the door of the dealership, even if they don't have a clunker to trade in.
Car owners can get instant rebates of $3,500 to $4,500 if the car they trade in is old enough, but runs and has poor gas mileage.
Bo Hayes of River Oaks Toyota says that until he hears differently, he’s still pushing the Cash for Clunkers program.
Hayes says, "Until I see something coming from their end (Toyota or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) saying that program is over with, or the program is in distress, we’ll continue to do business as usual".
The federal government tells Newsradio 780 the program is in limbo, but that dealers should continue to promote it.
Bo Hayes of River Oaks Toyota says he likes the Cash for Clunkers program for two main reasons: It’ll help to improve the air quality and it’s bringing in buyers he never thought he’d see through the program: those with good credit.