CHENANGO COUNTY – Local car lots have definitely seen an influx in traffic over the last week as area residents seek to take advantage of government incentives to upgrade their gas-guzzling vehicles for newer, more fuel efficient models. But whether Cash for Clunkers will indeed translate into the promised panacea for the struggling automobile industry is still up for debate.

“There has been a tremendous amount of interest,” reported Christman Motors General Manager Hank Scudder, who said the offer has brought a slew of prospective customers to the lot, some of which have never been in the market for a new car before.

While Scudder said the dealership has closed some sales because of the program, other potential buyers have left disappointed.

“They come expecting to qualify, and they don’t,” he explained, because either their vehicle doesn’t meet the miles per gallon requirements or they don’t have the necessary documentation. Buyers must have proof of insurance and registration for the last year as well as a clear title and identification.

Even for those who do qualify, the process isn’t necessarily an easy one.

“It’s a horrible application process,” Scudder said. “It’s just a nightmare.”

That process is the primary complaint of Jim Bleyle, co-owner of Chenango Sales, who said the bureaucratic nightmare has led to some customer dissatisfaction at his Ford dealership in Greene.

“(The government) wasn’t prepared,” he said. Even registering the dealership was a labor intensive process, and they are still waiting for confirmation that applications filed last week have been accepted. According to the website, he explained, those applications are “still under review.”