Is the Clunker Deal Real?

My 1995 (14 years, 256,000 miles) Ford Explorer is needing more work, so I went down to Ford to check out the Clunker option.

Why Ford? The $4,500 price is really YOUR Money and My Taxes to Jump Start our economy. Buying a car made some place else does not stimulate OUR economy. A Ford is made here. It was transported here and sold here by someone that lives here.

Why $32,000? That is the quoted price after ALL THOSE THINGS on the invoice and TAX AND that is the price AFTER the $4,500 TRADE IN ON THE CLUNKER.

Why Escape? Cargo Space vs MPG vs Price. I simply wanted to be able to carry more than my FAT BUTT around without a trailer, only occassionally. A smaller truck basicly.

Why Hybrid Escape? Mileage. My Ford still runs and gets 12 miles per gallon on a good city drive. The PLAIN Escape gets 17 mpg. It costs only $2,000 LESS. The HYBRID gets 34 mpg.

Did I buy it? Not yet. I need MORE MONEY DOWN than you would need to put down.

But was it a good deal? Not sure. I am going to check out one of those Japan cars later this week... but I am told that I can not look at German Nazi Cars... like the Jetta Wagon Diesel at a rumored 50 mpg.

$5,000 down, 10% for a $480 monthly car payment on a Ford Escape Hybrid with 34 MPG.
or $3,000 down for $350 for a plain Escape with 17 MPG.

The clothes washer is down.... I just need to get a job before I get a new car.

Fred