In the US, we have a Government program called "Cash for Clunkers". If you trade in a car that gets less then 18 mpg, and buy a car that's at least 10 mpg better (28 MPG), the Government will give you $4,500 for your car.
One of the requirements however, is that the dealership you do the trade from, runs additives into the engine to destroy it, and then the car get crushed.
The purpose of the program is two fold. One is to stimulate auto sales, and the other is to increase the average fuel economy of this country. If you could just resell the car, the second point is lost.
Sadly, the purpose is to make the world more "green", but the carbon footprint of making a new car, far outweighs the delta between a 18 mpg car and a 28 mpg car being on the road.







