The federal government's "Cash for Clunkers" program has gotten potential customers "coming across the sidewalk" and into car dealerships along Burien's Auto Row.
"It's helped out a lot and that's always good," Bobby Lynn, Burien Chevrolet general manager, said. "We're thankful and excited that the community is out and about buying cars."
However, some dealers grumble about the delay in receiving payments from the government and wonder if it is worth it.
It's no secret that the economy has been struggling recently and one of the hardest hit by the crisis has been the automotive industry. It's also no secret that old vehicles that don't get good gas mileage are harmful to the environment.
The federal government came up with a program that they believe can address both issues.
The Car Allowance Rebate System or CARS is designed to get old "gas guzzlers" off the roads and also to stimulate the automotive industry.
The program gives qualifying car owners either a $3,500 or a $4,500 government rebate towards a new vehicle that gets better gas mileage than the car they own.
The oil is taken out of the old car and a solution is used that kills the engine and then the car is sent to a wrecking yard where it is crushed.
To qualify for the program car owners must have had at least one-year continuous registration and one-year continuous insurance coverage.
Burien Toyota sales manager, Tony Michaels, says that CARS has given "a shot in the arm" to his business. Michaels said that at any one time the Toyota dealership typically has around 220 new cars on their lot, but only had 16 as of last August 14.
"We're operating at levels previous to November of 2008,' Michaels said.
That is when the economic crisis started to have a great impact on the automotive industry.
Michaels said that Toyota was down around 24 percent from their pre-November 2008 numbers, but had recovered about 10-15 percent of that before this program began.
CARS helped Toyota recover the remaining difference loss in their sales.
When funding for the program runs out Michaels expects business to drop off slightly.
Mark Minium, Burien Honda general manager, said that he has seen a 50 percent increase in sales since the program began, but he still has his problems with the program.
"We haven't got a dollar back from the government yet," Minium noted.
Minium also said that the process of getting people's cars approved for the government grant has taken some time because of what he feels is a lack of staffing by the feds.
"They weren't ready (the government), they didn't think the program was going to be this good," Minium said.
Minium admits that the program has helped business.
"It does help stimulate the business; we have sold a lot of cars," he said.
Still, he wonders if all the work has been worth it.
"I'm really frustrated with it-- it has taken too many man hours," Minium added.
"I would disagree. Cumbersome? Yes. Detailed? Yes. But still a worthwhile venture overall," Michaels said.