The Cash for Clunkers was supposed to do three things - stimulate the auto industry, help the environment and reduce our dependence on oil (of any kind).

And by those measures it was a smashing success.

The 10 most traded-in cars were all American trucks and mini-vans - from the 4WD Explorer that got 15 miles to the gallon to the Dodge Caravan and Ford Windstar at 18 mpg.

I was wondering why can't people who can't afford a new car trade in their heaps for the clunkers that were turned, provided an increase in gas mileage. After all these cars are being destroyed. It' just seemed wrong.

But that's a pretty good top ten list when you consider the top cars that are being bought are the Corrolla, Focus, Prius - all with great gas mileage, some more than double the MPG of clunkers (then there's the Escape. ..)

Still there are plenty of Cadillace Sevilles, Saabs, trucks and other V-8 owners that might like to get something a little newer and a little more economical and don't want a $300 to $600 car payment for the next six years. We can all move forward.

And I know if I were a a 16-year-old again, I would be so pissed that someone wasn't allowing me to buy one of those cars for a song. I would have picked a Jeep Cherokee or a Chevy Blazer. My third car was a 10-year-old Ford Bronco II. I loved it but it was a terrible car with terrible mileage. But I digress.

By the way, the list of new cars with the worst gas mileage:

* Two-seater: Lamborghini Murcielago (manual): 8 mpg city; 13 mpg highway

* Subcompact car: Bentley Continental GTC (manual): 10 mpg city; 17 mpg highway

* Minicompact car: Aston Martin DB9 Coupe (manual): 11 mpg city; 17 mpg highway

* Compact car: Bentley Azure (automatic): 9 mpg city; 15 mpg highway

* Midsize car: Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (automatic): 9 mpg city; 16 mpg highway

* Large car: Bentley Arnage RL (automatic): 9 mpg city; 15 mpg highway

* Small station wagon: Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD (manual and automatic): 15 mpg city; 24 mpg highway

* Midsize station wagon : Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Wagon (automatic): 13 mpg city; 18 mpg highway