Perki

Cash for Clunkers May Cost Up to $45,354 Per Vehicle

Interesting article and comments.
I believe the scrapping of 200,000 cars, provides an underestimated benefit to the auto industry, and indirectly but significantly, the financial industry.

The value of every used car in inventory, or held as collateral, will increase immediately due to the removal of 200,000 units. Granted, the increase may be small on an individual car basis, but quite significant across the millions of cars the financial industry is "holding" in auto inventory and consumer financing.