Originally Posted by sapiens

I don't have a source other than NPR, but my impression is that most people who are taking advantage of the program are buying cars that are very near the minimum mpg improvement required. If the goal of the program is environmental, it will take a long time to recoup the "carbon footprints" of all these new cars. Plus, many of the cars and trucks eligible don't meet mpg standards that will become effective in a couple of years.

$4500 a car is a lot of money. I'd prefer the funds to be used to improve public transit or something similar.