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It was good while it lasted. The free money flowing out of the cash-for-clunkers spigot proved to be an even better party starter than its architects dreamed it would be, but it couldn't last forever. Everyone knew that September was going to bring on one bad hangover once the keg of rebate cash sputtered and died toward the end of August. However, it was probably time to hang it up anyway, as most clunkers-eligible would-be buyers had already been pulled in off the sidelines, and many dealers' showrooms were bare.