Saw this in the Wall Street Journal today. It has "triggered a stampede to dealerships and a run on small cars." Dealers are actually running out of stock.

This struck me as being a much more effective way to stimulate car sales in the US than giving money directly to the automakers. It would also get a lot of old, inefficient clunkers off the road too. What do you think?

Another article on the topic:
Compact Success: Small Car Sales Boom in Germany amid Automaker Crisis - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International

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04 G, Pearl Yellow, Clear Engine Bonnet, eGear (sold)

I think there's some merit to it, just so long as it's not mandated that you scrap your own car.

California has had a plan for years no big run on new cars......
"The voluntary accelerated vehicle retirement (VAVR) program, also known as a car scrappage or old vehicle buy back program, provides monetary or other incentives to vehicle owners to voluntarily retire their older, more polluting vehicle. A primary goal of the VAVR program is to encourage a more timely removal of older, more polluting vehicles from California roadways to be replaced with newer, cleaner vehicles or alternative transportation options"