Dealers win one more day to file online for cash-for-clunker deals

By TIM HIGGINS AND JUSTIN HYDE

FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITERS

Citing an overloaded computer system, the Obama administration today extended the deadline for auto dealers to file transactions under the cash for clunkers program to noon Tuesday, while maintaining the 8 p.m. deadline tonight for deals to be arranged.

"Despite a large increase in the system’s capacity, the website was down temporarily this afternoon," the U.S. Department of Transportation said today. "Because of the temporary shutdown, dealers have been given extra time to file the necessary paperwork."

The National Automobile Dealers Association said it had received reports from 2,000 dealers of trouble filing transactions with a federal web site today.

Dealers and U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton, the Ohio Democrat who was the original House sponsor of the program, pressed the Transportation department to extend the deadline today.

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This is going to become such a mess. Our local Hyundai dealers are considering a class action lawsuit against the government. One dealership in particular, Dennis Hyundai, is owed 1.5 million dollars by the government.

Herrenstein Hyundai has over 120 cars they haven't killed or been paid for, and it's going to become a catch 22-they aren't going to get paid until they kill the cars, and they aren't going to kill the cars until they get paid.

At $4500 a car, how many new Hyundai trades is THAT?

Chris