Cash for Clunkers

Editor,

While the Cash for Clunkers program may or may not have its desired impact, it will not, I am sorry to say, help Mr. Fitzpatrick who was interviewed for today’s article (Car sales jump start? June 24, 2009.) Like me, he will miss the cut-off point of 18 mpg. In consulting http://www.fueleconomy.gov, I found his car, a 1996 Buick Century, to be rated at a combined mpg of 21 (or 24 for the four cylinder engine) based upon the New EPA MPG Estimates. While lower, my 1995 Century is still rated at 20 mpg. I guess both of us will have to cut some of the anticipated gingerbread on our new cars.

I am sure many shoppers will be similarly disappointed when they check their car’s combined mpg. Just because it’s old, does not make it a sure bet that the car is a clunker. I would suspect that if the car does not have a V8 engine, it will very likely not qualify. Even my four-wheel drive 1995 Jeep Cherokee with a 4.0 L six cylinder only make the cut by one mpg!