Alvin, named for his former owner, has served faithfully. The 1986 Chevy truck has hauled wood, carried furniture, and delivered bags of dirt and plants for community projects.  I could tell you how much we paid for this “very used” truck, but Alvin is priceless. However, his days are numbered.

He will soon be in turned in for the “Cash for Clunkers” program.  We look at his crushing as a respectful demise for the metal giant.

In search of greater gas mileage, we will be purchasing a Prius hybrid . Our primary vehicle is 6 years old, and this seems a chance to upgrade. We will use the 6 year-old mini-van as a trade-in. We look forward to a more fuel efficient car, especially if gas prices spike again.

My niece, who will be starting college in the fall, was able to trade in a very old Jeep Wagoneer clunker that she got when she was sixteen and get a new Dodge Caliber, which will see her through four years of college in a warranty-covered vehicle. Using my brother’s Chrysler employee discount, she got a terrific deal.  Her parents won’t be as worried as she drives back and forth to her school in Northern Missouri.

There has been a lot of controversy concerning the CARS (Cash-for-Clunkers) program.  Legislators who had no problem handing over 100s of billions to the insurance, banking, and car industries who were “too big too fail,” are now outraged over the 1-3 billion which will benefit the American consumer and the auto dealerships and salespeople.

I have heard that the program is just going to entice poor people into bad deals that they cannot afford.  On the other hand, some say it is only for rich people who would buy a car anyhow. I don’t see that my niece or we are in either of those categories.

Others say that buying a Japanese car is un-American and a waste of money.   The American salespeople, employees, and owner of the Missouri dealership seemed pretty American to me.  And I imagine that their salaries get spent in this country.

Most people seem to trading up to more fuel-efficient vehicles.  That seems to be a plus for future generations and the environment.  The program will give some of the ground level car industry employees a boost.  Lots that were glutted with cars seem to be emptying out.  I think they will need new 2010 models to stock them. These results seem to be a good thing and a stimulus to the economy.

However, we still wait for the slow, government computer system to kick our approval back to the dealership so that we can pickup our Prius.  That part of the program hasn’t seemed to work too well.

Perhaps it needs a stimulus.